Obsolete Ford Parts....

[McGrath]

FatCat over on the RRT said that some of you have had problems with them. I ordered a Throttle cable for my '65 F100 from them a couple days ago. What kind of problems should I look forward too?

I guess I should have asked before I ordered http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[Unkl Ian]

Roothawg is your man.

[modernbeat]

You can look forward to an immediate charge to your credit card. Then a long wait followed by you making a phone call to OFP as to the status of your order. After being told that they can't find any record of your order for two or three calls, they will admit that they DO have an order placed by you that they charged express shipping charges for, but hasn't yet left their store because it's backordered. When it finally comes in they will ship it out using the slowest delivery service that inflicts the most brutal handling to their under-packaged shipment. When you unwrap your beat up box of parts you won't find an invoice which will mean that you can't verify that you were shipped the part number that you ordered. The part will be incorrect AND most likely a fantasticly cheap Taiwanese version of a Japanese version of an off-brand aftermarket piece that might have fit a Ford if installed with a large hammer and an OA torch. When you call OFP to complain, return, or exchange the part, you will meet the most incompetent parts service personell that exist today. They will claim that you received the part you ordered, that you will have to pay a huge restocking fee to return it or exchange it, and that the part that you really wanted is still backordered.

There might be more horrors, but I learned to stop dealing with them after only one mail order experience. I'll still stop in the store and buy stuff out of the "old parts" cabinet full of swap meet nick-nacks that are only marginally overpriced.

Good luck.

[$pomadepete$]

wow... tell us how u really feel. dont hold back this time.

[bluegrassboogie]

i love to get the change to bash that poor excuse for a partshouse!modernbeat described my experience with them to a t!i cant wait for roothawg to get here.

[Deyomatic]

I thought that is how ALL customer service worked these days.

[Roothawg]

Crappy South American parts, liars for counter men, a 20% restock fee even if they stock it and you carry it to the counter, smart ass responses from the unknowledgeable staff of retards, and basically they mark up all the parts they buy from other dealers and try to sell as their own. Buyer beware.

[McGrath]

I better look and see if I can stop payment. I'll bet I'm too late.

One thing i'll never figure out is how the Hell company's like that stay in business...

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green">ModernBeat hit it all square.

We must have been after the same part!

May the FORCE be with you!

I actually believe you would get a set of Supremes outta INYA sooner than what you want from OFP:) </font>

[CURIOUS RASH]

[ QUOTE ]
One thing i'll never figure out is how the Hell company's like that stay in business...


[/ QUOTE ] <font color="green"> Plenty of first timers out there. You have just become a statistic!

It doesn't hurt so bad if you don't tense up!!! </font>

[McGrath]

Well, too late. They don't waste any time Charging your Credit Card!

I looked all over the Web for that damned Cable and the Ford forums all said that Obsolete Ford was the only place that kept them. I found a couple in the Junk Yards, but they were in bad enough shape I wouldn't have trusted them.

I guess I should have just went with a Lokar Spoon Pedal and their universal cable.

[FLAT-TOP BOB]

short and sweet, THEY SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deyomatic]

They stay in business because they have a good marketing team and a great name. The name alone suggests that they can get parts that other people can't.
I have been trying to figure out for the last few weeks whether the sales/service industries just suck or if it is our fault, that we've begun to expect too much. I expect my bank to NOT charge me for calling them with a question, and I expect to get the items I order in the mail, I expect to NOT be charged for FREE shipping, I expect to get the magazine subscriptions that I paid for. Has it always been this way. With the exception of 2 companies with GREAT service (Miller Electric, the welder guys and Foreign Auto Computer Repair in Florida) of the 15 or so that I've done business with, I have had to call every company I've dealt with over the last year to find out WTF. These are the only 2 companies that have been very helpful.

BTW, if anyone gets any Pertronix parts, SAVE YOUR RECEIPT becaue if it mysteriously breaks after 4 months, they don't honor their warranty without a receipt.
Sorry for the rant. I don't want others getting as pissed off as I got last week.

[Smokin Joe]

They stay in business the same way P.T. Barnum did...
There's a sucker born every minute.
Kinda like the guys on E-Bay that charge 6 bucks shipping and handling to send you a 2 dollar magazine and won't combine the shipping if you win more than one. If you don't fall for it, someone else will. The market's too big. We're about due for a "Street Beasts" post again now I guess. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[captcarstop]

hey Guy,

I was new to the trucks about a year ago, and learned the hard way too. I have now aquired quite the collection of good parts for good prices. Check out the guys at this Truck Club SLICK 60's (http://groups.msn.com/slick60sfordfseries61to66/_whatsnew.msnw) . The club is for the 61-66 F series. Great bunch of guys, they know where your parts are, and over 1000 strong, some body probally has a spare of what ya need! They also know whom to avoid. You can catch me over there under the same Screen name.

Ron

[manyolcars]

Modernbeat really got it right and saved me a lot of typing. My experience with them (one order) dragged out over 9 months.

[daign]

Call and cancel your order. Then call your credit card company and dispute the charge and tell them the truth about what you learned here. They are usually really good about resolving situations like this.

Don't let them give you the run around. Just call your credit card company.
-Dane

[CrazyDaddy]

My dealings with them wasn't the best, either. Counter help doesn't know what they sell. I asked if they stocked 1932 ford 3-window door latches. The counter dudes (yes, more than 1) looked in their catalog. Found a door latch for a 1932 Ford. Since that's the only one in their catalog it has to be the right part. yeah right. The only parts I've bought from them were some stainless door hinges, but I went through several before I found a set that were acceptable. If I mail ordered I'm sure that they would have just pulled out the top few in the pile. Hopefully the right pile.

[Roadsters.com]

After reading a post about this company several months ago, I removed the link to their site on the following page, on which you will find links to some good sources for early Ford parts. If I missed anyone, please let me know.

http://www.roadsters.com/ford/

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/

[modernbeat]

It may sound like I was harsh, but no, they really are that bad.

But, there is a circumstance that they'd get my money.
If NOBODY else had the part I needed.
If I was in their shop or at their swap-meet trailer.
If upon inspection the part looked good.

AND

I was willing to take the huge karmic hickey about supporting a business that has absolutely no intention about improving their service or making their customers satisified.

Still, if they have the part, most likely someone else has it. Someone that cares about selling their parts to you and will do a good enough job to get your second order too.

[shoebox72]

I'm glad this came up,and I was going to PM Roothawg to ask why they suck. Then there was a current catalog in the Ranchero I recently got and the catalog even sucks. they are way overpriced and alot of the Illistrations are'nt even of what they are describing. For example,the MASTER cylinder rebuild kit has an exploded view of a WHEEL cylinder above it.

I hate to see companys like this that fuck the people, but thank you guys for the heads up on these crooks.

Thanks again, Billy

[greaseball]

Roothawg and Modernbeat nailed it-
And you SHOULD DEFINATELY do what Dane said too-

Fuck those IOF's (TM)
(Inbred-Okie-Fucks)

Seriously....

[metalshapes]

Yeah, thanks, this is good information.
I need some parts for my truck, but I will NOT call them!

[flt-blk]

My turn.
First experience was off the truck at the swap meet, all went well.
Second experience was again at the swap but they didn't have all the parts on the truck, no problem they will ship it as soon as they get back to Oklahillbilly.
No word after a week so I call....It's on back order and should be in this week.
2 weeks later no parts, call again and they can't find the order. Finally they find the order (long distance on my phone) and the parts are on back order, should be here next week. I ask the guy to be straight with me and tell me if I am ever going to see the part and he says they are on
BO and should be in next week.
Finally got the parts, but it was not worth the wait or hassle.

Now I just stop by their truck at the swap meet so I can steal catalogs.

For model A parts I have had great results with CW Moss. in Orange CA. Stopped by once and they were great, mail order was also great.
TZ

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
wow... tell us how u really feel. dont hold back this time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Modernbeat certainly isn't alone, as you can see from the posts so far.

Personally, I think they suck.

And if you follow this link you'll find a bunch of others who think they suck, too.

The post is from Fordbarn.com and is called "Obsolete Ford Parts sucks."

http://www.fordbarn.com/earlyv8/forum03/messages/11691.htm

It's hard to overstate how bad they are.

If you don't want to (or can't) cancel your order, just don't order from them again.

And help others by passing the word. Prevent future suckers from getting stung.

--Matt

[McGrath]

I have looked everywhere on the Web for that Cable and can't find it anywhere else. I guess i'll just wait and see, but I definitely won't order from them again, even if they get it here in a week. I am not going to support any Company that has pissed off so many people.

[modernbeat]

NAPA carries universal BALKAMP push-pull cables. They come in a huge variety of lengths and with almost any terminus you could want.

[McGrath]

I have emailed them everyday since I ordered that Cable and they have not answered any of them so i called them on the phone and was told that it was on Backorder...

I went ahead and Cancelled the order. Now I wonder if the Jackasses will charge me a re-stocking fee even though it wasn't in stock?

[lesabre59]

I ordered patch panels for my A from them (before the HAMB enlightened me on MACs and Snyders and Howells) anyway, got the same identical "backorder" runaround, called every other day for 6 WEEKS with no change. Ordered from Macs and had in less than a week, called back to OFP and they actually asked me where i got the parts cause THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOME ALSO..buncha B.S. I havent even received a refund and that was 4 months ago, SCREWEM

[manyolcars]

You wont EVER get a refund from them! They dont give refunds. They give a 'credit'. And if you dont use the credit in a year, you LOSE your money!

[Andy]

Thay have one trick that really will get you. You call up and order a part and get a quote. When you get the item(if you get it)you will be charged whatever thay want. I have called and complained, but was told it was a price increase. Price doubled. DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!

[TV]

Are you guys talking about the place in so cal or is this a different place.The one your talking about sounds like it sucks.--TV

[manyolcars]

Its in Oklahoma City

[Deuce Rails]

I really like Mac's Antique Auto Parts.

bftwcs, what are the specs for your '65 F100 throttle cable? Can't you get one from NAPA, like Modernbeat suggested? Or perhaps from Lokar, without their spoon pedal.

Isn't there someone else who makes a lot of various cables?

[weeds]

you shoud have asked me or tommy. you are ok master card will make it OK... later steve o .

[McGrath]

I ended up ordering a Lokar Spoon Pedal, Cable, and Carb Bracket for $83 from Summit. Thats what I should have done in the first place.

I did go by NAPA, but they didn't have it either. Or maybe the counterman was just too lazy to look it up in the books. He just told me that if it wasn't in the computer, they didn't have it...

[28rpu]

Control Cables in ca. will make up about anything you want. Decent prices, great service. They advertise in some mags. Look 'em up.

[Elrusto]

I had a little different situation dealing with them. I had ordered a bunch of stuff from them which included a windshield gasket that they didnt have.Told them if they didnt have something dont back order it.Well about a six weeks later the gasket shows up on my doors step. That was about a year ago and they never did bill me for it!!!!

[McGrath]

4inchbore, over on the RRT said he didn't have any problems with them either, you guys are definitely the minority though.

I got my windshield and rear window gaskets from LMC Truck. Haven't used them yet so I don't know about quality, but they shipped them fast.I had them about 4 days after I ordered them.

[manyolcars]

Dales Manufacturing in Oklahoma City is owned by Dale who also owns Obsolete. you will do good to avoid their products on ebay.