MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

TR parts and Triumph parts, TR bits, Triumph Car Spares and accessories are available for TR2, TR3, TR3A, TR4, TR4A, TR5, TR6, TR7, TR8, Spitfire and Stag and other TR models are available from British car spares and parts company LBCarCo.

Triumph TR6 - Parts Sourcing Question

Hi folks...

I have a dozen or so places known to me in Canada where I can buy TR 6 stuff and almost as many in the US. Many if not all of the resellers (Canada or US based) buy from Moss. Can you tell me why we all don't order directly from Moss... the wholesaler/distributor? They publish a catalog and seem to be in the retail business and their prices seem to be similar to the resellers - to protect their wholesale business I assume. A rhetorical question I suppose.

Is it a 'service and relationship' thing where we get to know a source, we get advice, we develop trust, etc?

During my previous life (when working - not in the automotive industry), buying from the manufacturer, the distributor, wholesaler, etc. was not possible. The retailer serviced the public.

Ken

PS. As an example, there's a shop about 30 miles from me that hands out the Moss Catalog as though it were their own catalog and tells me to add 35% to the prices and they'll order the parts. Heck, it may be cheaper for me to order from Moss directly or LBC Co, or BPNW, TRF, Vic British, Octagon Motors, etc.
Ken Shaddock

Ken
The guy is literally telling you his ++ mark-up.
Granted that is shipping, duties, taxes, and dollar exchange (very little though) included. I do believe he brings the parts into Canada duty free as they are antique car parts.
If you look at an item directly from MOSS and the same item from LBCC you will see Jeff sells for 15% less. You can see at least one reseller sells for less than MOSS. I do not know what the situation is with other us resellers. So, which person to buy from??? I suppose the best way to find out is get a price (quote) from different suppliers. I would guess that it would be cheaper to buy from a US supplier. NOTE: make sure they send it via USPP as Fed Ex and UPS have to add duties and taxes. OR in your case Ken, buy it all in the US and have it shipped to you in FL. Shipping is a lot less expensive within the US.

Rick
Rick Crawford

Hello Rick,

Often they send order by UPS and this mean you have to pay $35-50 or more brokers fees per order. The only occasion you have an advantage to order directly: if you have a big order.
An example, la winter V.B. have their winter special sale. I had an order of $400 and shipping cost were $125 by UPS + brokers. This was almost the same price than buying from my local Moss reseller. And my reseller has a good knowledge of Brit. cars which is usefull sometimes. My final decision was to cancel that order.

The only advantage of buying from U.S. is a CIE agreeing to ship by USPS as federal mail from both contries do not need a broker.

Cheers,

Jean G.
J. G. Catford

Good advice guys... thank you. I had not considered UPS/FedEx broker fees in the equation. My experience has been that ordering from the US for shipment within the US is a less costly way to go but I'm still learning hence like the input. It's annoying that a shipment to Niagara Falls NY from within the US is CONSIDERABLY less costly than a shipment from within the US to Niagara Falls, ON. But for a stroll over the Rainbow Bridge... one might think it should be a wash.

A friend out west almost always buys from the US and has his goods shipped to a US border town not far from his home. Once a month or so he picks up the accumulated goods in the US, declares everything at the border and pays his fees, and still finds this a better business proposition than having the goods shipped to his house or place of business in Canada... even when considering fuel, time, use of his car/truck, etc. The process seems rediculous but is the best option for him.

Appreciate the input... I acknowledge my thoughts don't help our Canadian suppliers but I have no guilt there. I have spent $$$$$$$$$ in Canada on my car.

Take care,

Ken
Ken Shaddock

An example the ship cost thing just this week... I was going to order an RV cover from Camping World. $28 covered shipping anywhere within the 48 states. To moi in Ontario the cost was $86. I said no thanks.
Ken Shaddock

Ken,
If you have a few spare bucks to invest at a very attractive ROR considering the current market, consider TRF. With Charles's investor setup, you'd get a 33% discount off retail price for MOST items. A few with a very low mark up are exempted, but TRF has practically everything for a TR-6. MOSS and Vicky Brit are also good sources and LBCCOM as Rick suggests, but none of them can compete with the discounted price from TRF and the service is first rate. Of course, you can always go to the sources at Rimmer Bros or Revington. My $.02!!
db
Doug Baker

If UPS and Fed Ex have to pay brokerage fees to Can. Customs, does Can. Post? That would account for the added exspence for Can. Post.

Rob
rw loftus

Doug... when you say 'invest' do you mean the membership fee which I think is $100 first year and in the second year one gets a $100 credit to offset their $100 member fee?

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Ken,
There is no membership fee to purchase from TRF. There is a "club" that has a $100 up front fee that's returned in "discounts" over the following year. That to which I'm referring is Charles' investment program where he invites venture capital in return for a competetive interest rate, currently about 7%, I think, but when I went this route it was a respectable 10%. The committment is for 5 years and he'll execute a promissory note for the principal. I don't recall the minimim investment, but go to TRF and look along the left side margin and click on the investment program. 33 1/3% off is money ahead in my book and the 10% ain't bad either. It's an unsecured loan so there's some risk, but hell, life's a risk!! I decided to do this with the anticipation of a full body off rebuild and have saved literaly $1,000's off retail prices. I don't buy everything from TRF, but they are my first choice. For instance, I got my cam from BNNW, but valves, springs, keepers, stems, etc from TRF.

You're well down the road with a running car. I'm still not yet begun reassembly so our situations are different and you do have the carriage and fee issue. The suggestion to take delivery in the US is a very good one if you can make it work for you.

Good luck.
db
Doug Baker

Jean G
I agree on the duties and taxes with the 2 big shippers, that is why I said use USPP (United States Parcel Post).

Doug, you have a good point with TRF. 33% off is nothing to sneeze about. You are right though in that his investment program is best suited to a guy doing a full body off.

Ken the good news is that you will have a par dollar when you go down there so it becomes a mute issue to buy up here in Canada. FOE SURE the same part will be considerably less in the US and you will have no duty or taxes. Remember you are immediately hit with 13% taxes up here before it is shipped to you.

Rick
Rick Crawford

Always good to hear from you guys and you know I appreciate your views and learning from your experiences.

Yes, my car is functional. I've finished or corrected most of the loose ends left over from the so called "turn key" purchase but I can't stop trying to make something work better or look better... it's an addictive hobby this LBC thing. So, I agree guys that pursuing the 33% discount level may not be as important at this stage BUT I can still find ways to spend money. I keep the catalogs beside my Archie Bunker chair and there's always something to circle, bookmark, tab, etc.

Rick, I got the pix of your engine (another thread) and if there's an incentive out there, your example is a great one. You also commented on fresh spark plugs to harmonize my efforts with electronic ignition, wires, coil, etc. Do you have a fav brand and type?

Thx everyone.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Rick,

The problem I faced with V.B. was they did not accepted to ship via USPS, it was UPS or nothing. When I buy from US, I always tried to have my goods using postal service which is the best considering the brokerage fees with private courrier.

G'Day

Jean G.

P.S. Thats amazing in Europe, no customs harrasment anymore for goods and people. And now, in America with a friendly contry we have to support an extra barrier for free circulation by the need of a passport. But thats another topic...
J. G. Catford

Jean,
It is easy to say they are not the only fish in the pond.
Ken I use Bosch Platinums. The ones with the single side electrode (old style). New plugs with multiple side electrodes are a waste of money. Electrical current will ALWAYS follow the path of least resistance so only one electrode will have spark crossing to the center electrode anyway. Besides, it is very easy to gap a single side electrode.

Rick
Rick Crawford

This thread was discussed between 11/10/2009 and 15/10/2009

Triumph TR6 index