trouble vendors

[70Z]

I was just browsing through some threads in the suspension section and was really shocked to see one of the supporting vendors (DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE) being a complete you know what. Abusing one of the members and throwing his opinion around without any tech to back it up. It got pretty personal. Eventually the thread had to be closed.

I kind of expect that once in a while from members, but not from a vendor. I can't stand that kind of unprofessionalism so I'll be steering clear of that particular vendor. It's too bad because I like some of their products, but in my experience dealing with people like that usually ends up being more trouble than it's worth.

So does anyone else share this philosophy or do most people just go for the best product/value? Just curious. It's a character issue for me.

[syborg tt]

nope i agree with you. I am still having problem with a supporting vendor and they keep promising me that they sent my credit check but that's been about 3 months and still no check.

ps it's $600.00 so it sure would be nice to have

[68Formula]

If I have to deal with someone like that, it's not the best product/value. Customer support counts. If they're treating others that way, I can't expect they're going to be any better towards me.

[rocketrod]

Your not the only one that has noticed.

[Matt@RFR]

I was just browsing through some threads in the suspension section and was really shocked to see one of the supporting vendors (DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE) being a complete you know what. Abusing one of the members and throwing his opinion around without any tech to back it up. It got pretty personal. Eventually the thread had to be closed.

I wonder who you're talking about. Here's the thread for anyone that's lost.

Do me a favor and read every single of my 1350 posts and tell me how many have a negative impact. While you're reading, please note how many times I've offered for guys to come to my house to learn how to weld for free, also how many times I've told people to call me -no matter the time of day- with questions and problems. Also, please take note of the depth of the tech and experience that I bring to this forum, and then tell me I'm an big meany head.

[Blown353]

Being a meany head (although maybe slightly less on the meany side) was needed IMO, I think that subframe is completely unfit for use on public roads and I don't need to do any stress analysis to back that up as it would be a total waste of my time. Matt just told it like it is and his rather blunt approach seemed to have ruffled a few feathers.

Bad, bad design everywhere you look it from the single shear UCA and shock mounts to the nil-buckling resistance of the subframe mounts-- and that's only what you could see in non-detailed photos.

I will admit Matt can come across a bit harsh but tends to only do this when faced with something really, really blatantly wrong-- especially in the tech / fab department.

Matt was 100% right in what he was saying IMO but I will admit he could use a *little* more tact sometimes (hehe!) in how he says it, this instance being one of them. You can still get your point across about the overall "crap-factor" of something while appearing to be a nice guy in the process. Just need the right Weasel-Words to do so. And this is even more important if you are a vendor, poor customer relations be they direct, indirect, or perceived via attitude can really ruin a lot of current or potential business no matter how good the product is.

It's double edged though, sometimes I really like the blunt approach. I've been fed many lines of BS and coy sales tricks by other vendors in the past and it's often refreshing to have someone cut right through the crap like Matt has, just need to have a thicker skin to deal with it.

Although, faced with overwhelmingly sloppy product it's hard not to fall back to 4 letter words and name calling...

My two cents anyways.

[Beige]

The "vendor in question". went up a notch in my book based on the "thread in question". (I don't really like tiptoeing around the issues with terms like that. But, since I think you're trying to go beyond that "thread"/"vendor" in this topic, I'll keep doing it.)

The "member being abused" didn't post anything that could be disputed technically. Anything that sounded technical was just jargon.
Even then, the "vendor" still replied in as technical of a manner as possible. While the reply could have been less harsh, it would have come off as condescending and still made a bad impression to "people".

------------------------------------------------------

With vendors that I don't care for, I'd find an alternative to their parts.

[DusterRT]

The post that got that started by defending the Scott's clip smelled fishy to me; for someone to come to this site, register, and whose first post was that (and last post was there at all). Wouldn't have been the first time I've seen vendors defend their stuff through an "anonymous happy customer" that just happened to be strolling through while their product was under fire (not here, but other forums). To me, it sounded like Matt was simply calling him out, either trying to get a response that would give him away as A) being more involved with SHR than he claimed, and/or B) having no idea what he was talking about other than throwing out catch phrases like '100% TIG Welded' and '304 SS billet.'

Maybe the execution was not as tactful or politically correct as it could have been as previously mentioned, but it's not like a subframe isn't a critical component of a car as far as function and safety are concerned. Something like that is going to come under heavy criticism (as it should, really), and honestly I'd prefer to see that criticism come from people who truely know their stuff.

Just my $.02

[kamaroman68]

The way i see it is Matt knows his stuff. He has helped me numerous times on the phone even drew a diagram for me and posted it on this site because I am a dumbass and didnt understand his concept over the phone. If i were to go a different way with my car (too far into it already) i certainly would buy from his company. Chris

[68Formula]

Just for the record, I was responding to the general question. I hadn't read the thread that people are now referencing when I made my comment. I do try to look up the track record before I make my final assessment.

The originator was trying to make their point without implicating anyone (hence the vagueness), not to mention there is probably more than one vendor out there that's done it. Frankly, I've seen it happen on other sites on occasion, so it's not a huge surprise when it happens.

Since the thread is now going from general to a personal, I'm outta here!

[Beige]

If you think this is bad, you should see the John Hennesey stuff floating around on the internet.

[James OLC]

Personally, I appreciate vandors that can provide an opinion. Especially those who are enthusiasts first and vendors second.

[JoshStratton]

...and then tell me I'm an big meany head.

well, you are.

[toxicz28]

and then tell me I'm an big meany head.

You big meany head!

[Modo Innovations]

I can speak in favor of Matt. He has offered his help to me several times without me even asking for it, from advise on suppliers to even offering to do some solidworks stuff for me. Also I was a customer of his a longtime ago, he built me a custom air cleaner base (workmanship and welding is second to none). He is a top notch guy who has alot of useful skill and information that is very helpful for a forum such as this.

[MrQuick]

no you are all wrong....Matt is a poopoo head. That smells like burning leather. ~

[Mkelcy]

I was just browsing through some threads in the suspension section and was really shocked to see one of the supporting vendors (DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE) being a complete you know what. Abusing one of the members and throwing his opinion around without any tech to back it up. It got pretty personal. Eventually the thread had to be closed.

I kind of expect that once in a while from members, but not from a vendor. I can't stand that kind of unprofessionalism so I'll be steering clear of that particular vendor. It's too bad because I like some of their products, but in my experience dealing with people like that usually ends up being more trouble than it's worth.

So does anyone else share this philosophy or do most people just go for the best product/value? Just curious. It's a character issue for me.

To answer your question, if it was the Scott's Hotrod subframe thread; no, I would have absolutely no problem dealing with Matt and that thread didn't strike me as reflecting badly on him. There are other cases, however, where vendor conduct on this board has put me off and has affected my decision to use their products or not; however, in the long run the quality of the product and the need of my project has always won out.