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ducman
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2005
Posts: 72
Location: northwest
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 Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I will and I agree. |
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covelo
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005
Posts: 825
Location: Fairfax, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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God, this is a nailbiter. I hope those people are alright. They sent me some nice chrome strips cheaply and quickly. Maybe we should ask someone on the Bay Window forum to go check. There's a whole bunch of PDX folks in there.
(Maybe they just got tired of the rain and decided to take a trip to Mexico).
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'80 Vanagon Westfalia
'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009 |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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I already spoke to Martin about this thread two days ago so y'all just hang on to yer panties 
Some of you sound like a bunch of nosey, fence-gossipers. In an ideal world Business 101 would be followed to the letter...but this is a real world so just think of it as quirky, personallity, idiosyncrasy, or whatever but build a bridge and get over it.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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localboy
Samba Longboarder
Joined: December 06, 2003
Posts: 5153
Location: "Mainland", PNW
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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This sorta thing sounds very familiar. 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136505&highlight=plf
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=107027&highlight=plf
I've met Martin only once and did (and will) do business with him again. However, I agree with Tram & Neil et al it's not an ideal way to run a business. I am not accusing Martin of anything and think he's a nice, honest guy, BUT he should at least communicte honestly with his customer(s) and now repair the rumors etc. Read some of those above threads re: Dawn/PLF and her lack of service. Pretty shitty way of doing business. She took me for a few dollars and it pissed me off.  Now I WON'T EVER do business with her again. And her rep is taking a beating. Yet, ironically, she STILL has her defenders.  It's nothing personal: it's business. The money's been paid...the product should be delivered.
One more: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130463&highlight=plf
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One man's "patina" is another man's cancer...
Black '65 Resto-Custom S Notch 2110 cc powered
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ducman
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2005
Posts: 72
Location: northwest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I saw JBow's motor an hour ago. There was two sides to the story and if JBow isn't happy w/ this engine when he gets it I'll buy it. I PM'd JBow and he is in the loop. The engine really trick and custom and almost ready to ship. The shipping crate is sitting on the floor next to it. Can we get off Martin's back now? |
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Erik G
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13280
Location: Tejas!
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FASTBACKDON
The other insensitive jerk like Neil
Joined: October 08, 2004
Posts: 3592
Location: TORRANCE CALIF
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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martins area of the country has had something like 25 days of constant rain give him a break
but on the other hand 6 months? there must be martins side of the story
martin seems cool and I would trust him I am sure he is not going to lose his rep over 1 engine
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Tram
Samba Socialist
Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 22727
Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| ducman wrote: |
| I saw JBow's motor an hour ago. There was two sides to the story and if JBow isn't happy w/ this engine when he gets it I'll buy it. I PM'd JBow and he is in the loop. The engine really trick and custom and almost ready to ship. The shipping crate is sitting on the floor next to it. Can we get off Martin's back now? |
How come you had to PM the guy?
You CANNOT run a business and not communicate with your customers.
The engine was supposedly done in Oct. and is just now almost ready to ship?
Quality takes time, and when you're running a business, sometimes it's hard to find time to communicate. Believe me, I know this full well, as I run a German car restoration shop. I also run an antique phonograph restoration business. I also run auctions about twice monthly on eBay... big 50 to 150 item auctions. I also do some freelance copy writing, so I'm constantly under the weight of some deadline, somewhere.
I do it all myself, with my wife helping with some packing and shipping as she's able.
Very seldom, if ever, do I meet an estimated deadline on an auto or phonograph restoration. There's always some finish that didn't set up just right, adverse weather conditions that can make paint "cloud" (I'm in the exact same weather situation as Martin). There are parts that don't show up or get backordered. The guy who does my beadblasting got sick or is on vacation. The windshield guy dropped the windshield that has to go into that SL tomorrow, now we have to order another one, and that's gonna take another two weeks. On top of that, the original WS is already out of the car and it's going to be pouring rain for the next two weeks- which means half my shop is tied up.... and on, and on, and on. It never ends.
SO, don't think that I don't understand how it is. 
But you know what? I'm in constant communication with my customers, even when I'm totally overfuckingwhelmed and want to do nothing worse than run away, join the circus, and take large quantities of hallucinogenic drugs. I send out weekly progress reports via Email. Oftentimes I'm on this freaking computer until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. When things go south or get behind on a job, I just let 'em know it up front, and apologetically let 'em know that they can either have it right, or have it 'on time'. 
The ABSOLUTE WORST situations that I have seen develop between vendors and buyers, (fraud and thievery aside) have ALWAYS come about because the vendor "didn't have time" to communicate with the customers.
Maybe it's because I spent so many years in retail management, but if there is ONE THING that business success or failure hinges on most, it's communication and customer service.
I know that Martin is a good tech, as well as an honest and concientious guy. That was never an issue here. But, this thread started on Monday, and it's now very late Thursday. If, for some reason, Martin was unable to answer his phone, or had no access to Email, even a freakin' postcard saying "Don't worry, I'm just swamped right now- We'll talk soon" could have made it to Kansas in this amount of time.
"Getting off Martin's back" isn't an option if you know he's a good guy who needs to get his shit together.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.
| Bryan67 wrote: |
| Just my hands. And a little lube. No tools. |
To best contact me, please use the EMAIL function in my profile |
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spoon
Samba Penetrator
Joined: September 08, 2005
Posts: 1458
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I can honestly say I will never do business with DDB. One potential customer lost. |
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ducman
Samba Member
Joined: December 17, 2005
Posts: 72
Location: northwest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Kick his ass on the way to the Type 3 invasion. |
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B. Get some buddies together with case of whiskey and ride on over to the oregon trail or whatever over there and put that sumbitches mouth on the curb then stomp him on the back of the head.
Dude, ... |
Those were your previous postson this thread, "Spoon". Nice one.
Have you ever done business w/ DDB before? If not, shut your pie-hole.
I ran a business for eight years and had over 8,000 active client. w/ 45 employees. We screwed up our service with some clients and lost thier business rightfully so because of it. We also lost clients because they expected way too much from the beginning. In the end you do your best to make your customers happy but sometimes it isn't possible. As far as communication goes, none of us know how much or how little communication actually went on between theses two guys. I PM'd the guy because I happen to be going over to the shop today and was trying to help both him as well as Martin's reputation. This whole deal has been blown out of proportion.
This whole thread is about one problem one guy is having who, by the way, has a sweet motor coming his way.
If you ever make it up to the Oregon trail Spoon and visit Martin's shop, do business with him, or talk to him you may change your mind about bashing in his head and go beat your dog instead. |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| spoon wrote: |
| I can honestly say I will never do business with DDB. One potential customer lost. |
Actually, with people like you, it's not a loss. Thanks for clearing the air, we really needed to hear that from you.
Who are you, again?
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
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ibjack
Samba Member
Joined: February 06, 2002
Posts: 2106
Location: Imperial Beach CA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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Toby, stop being a jerk and stop defending Martin. Maybe if he really cared he would take the 2 minutes to email or call this guy and set the record straight. Martin is a cool guy and I;m sure that HE cares about losing potential customers.
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:15 am Post subject: |
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I defend my friends. If you were my friend I'd defend you as well
Not everyone is an expert business-man. Except Tram. He can do anything to perfection it seems. Anyway, there's only one story given here and it seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon playing arm-chair business-man.
As for being a jerk...it's more like "asshole". I'm tired of sugar-coated dialogs to other jerks. They're not polite so why waste my time? If Tool, er, Spoon doesn't want to do business with the DDB, fine, it's her decision, more power to her. But did she really need to say anything about it? If she's allowed her opinion then so am I.
With the many mechanics I've spoken with, the vast majority don't give a hoot about losing a worthless customer. Less hassle and frustration for them because those customers waste a mechanics time the most.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:27 am Post subject: |
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| ibjack wrote: |
| Toby, stop being a jerk and stop defending Martin. Maybe if he really cared he would take the 2 minutes to email or call this guy and set the record straight. Martin is a cool guy and I;m sure that HE cares about losing potential customers. |
So you don't think this asshole is a jerk?
| Erik G wrote: |
I'd call his ass at home (503) 737-0172 this is publically listed so I don't want to hear any shit about privacy
JHC PI |
I hope he gets hit by a Greyhound bus...at night...in the snow (or ice, I'm flexible)...in a Geo...at least two hours away from any hospital. His "contribution" has nothing to do with privacy.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
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Erik G
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13280
Location: Tejas!
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:45 am Post subject: |
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you hope I get hit by a greyhound? I offered the guy his home phone # since Martin can't seem to pick up his shop phone. If everett want's to delete it so be it, but anybody can find Martin's phone # in the phone book or online.
I have been into type 3's for years and have gotten nothing but bad service from theddb. say what you want, so will I. I ordered a black T3 vw labled coil from him a year and a half ago and have never recieved it. It was only $20 so I don't really care. I would have bought a lot more but since he couldn't come through with a small part, and he diddn't answer his phone then either, I continued buying my parts at bill and steves.
so screw you buddy talk to you soon
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90volts
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2005
Posts: 2637
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 7:17 am Post subject: |
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you're not helping anyone's rep by PM ing someone. it's all out in the open here now so someone better post what the deal was here in the open to clear it up.
yeah maybe it was a mistunderstanding or the customer was wrong,but everyone who's reading this thinks otherwise. so an explanation here would be warranted.
all you're doing is keeping it one sided and thats not going to help his rep.
and there is no such thing as a worthless customer. if thats your thinking then its no wonder you HAD a company. for every one that says they won't go there-there are another 15 or 20 that don't say anything. like the old breck commercial- they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and...
so what was the deal? |
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spoon
Samba Penetrator
Joined: September 08, 2005
Posts: 1458
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:39 am Post subject: |
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| ducman wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Kick his ass on the way to the Type 3 invasion. |
| Quote: |
B. Get some buddies together with case of whiskey and ride on over to the oregon trail or whatever over there and put that sumbitches mouth on the curb then stomp him on the back of the head.
Dude, ... |
Those were your previous postson this thread, "Spoon". Nice one.
Have you ever done business w/ DDB before? If not, shut your pie-hole.
If you ever make it up to the Oregon trail Spoon and visit Martin's shop, do business with him, or talk to him you may change your mind about bashing in his head and go beat your dog instead. |
| ispoonducmansmother wrote: |
[b][i]Yall don't drink whiskey up there do ya? It's a joke guys... just tired of these deadbeat ass business owners taking our money. Stay local at all costs, save you tons of worry and trouble.
Better Business Bureau. http://www.bbb.org/ |
They were jokes and my last two responses were legitimate. Apologies go out to those of whom I have offended. Get over it please.
JBOW1076... hey have you gotten a respose yet? I sure hope you get your stuff back. Take it to small claims court already. A small claim is defined in Kansas as a claim for recovering money or personal property from an individual, a business, or an organization where the amount involved is $1,800.00 or less. If the claim involves more than $1,800.00 it's a criminal case. Get a lawyer. Go get your shit back and don't ever give him your money again, unless of course you feel comfortable doing so.
Justin |
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jbow1076
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2004
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:58 am Post subject: |
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| WOW--this thread got way out of hand. I was trying to be very vague in the beginning to try get someone who personally new Martin to talk with him to try to figure out what happened. I have only spoken to Martin on the phone and he seems like a genuine guy, but I really don't know him. After paying him in full and getting a promise that the engine would finally be shipped and then never hearing from him made me nervous. I am sure something happened with him and there is a reason why it wasn't shipped. Martin dropped the ball my not saying something, I just wanted the truth. People making threats on here is a little crazy, I don't think there is a need. I hope I don't need a lawyer either, I just need a phone call or an email. I have had Martins home number for quite a while now and i have left messages there too, but never a call back. I am sure his engine building skills are far better than his customer service skills, if not I am in trouble. The ducman said he spoke with Martin and that my engine is done, but he is painting the carb linkage and then he is going to tune it and then ship it. I am hoping Martin contacts me by Saturday to tell me know how everything is going and that he has shipped my engine. I am truely sorry for all that I have stirred up here!!! |
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spoon
Samba Penetrator
Joined: September 08, 2005
Posts: 1458
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| I have been in your shoes am purely amazed by your patience. |
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Air_Cooled_Nut
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004
Posts: 3040
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| 90volts wrote: |
you're not helping anyone's rep by PM ing someone. it's all out in the open here now so someone better post what the deal was here in the open to clear it up.
yeah maybe it was a mistunderstanding or the customer was wrong,but everyone who's reading this thinks otherwise. so an explanation here would be warranted. |
Who is this aimed at? And only the ignorant would think otherwise because they are the ones that wouldn't think of the 2-sided story.
| 90volts wrote: |
all you're doing is keeping it one sided and thats not going to help his rep.
and there is no such thing as a worthless customer. if thats your thinking then its no wonder you HAD a company. for every one that says they won't go there-there are another 15 or 20 that don't say anything. like the old breck commercial- they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and...
so what was the deal? |
Who is this aimed at? If me, I never had a company and there are such things as worthless customers. Businesses don't have to put up with jerks if they don't want to.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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