rulloyd Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 As many of us strive to make our cars as good as possible, we have probably all gritted our teeth and bought something for far more money than it's obvious material cost justifies, putting aside the cost incurred by manuafturing low qualities of rare products. Having just bought 2 courtesy light switches for £29 (inc postage) I thought it may be interesting to hear your examples. The courtesy switches aren't my worst investment. I bought this little bit of rubber from Spitsbits in the US - the only place that seems to have it. Some may recognise it as the little flap (about 2" sq) that covers the drain hole on the heater air inlet on the bulkhead on some of our cars. $12 for the item - I thought that was a rip off but wait for it...$19 shipping!!! Total $31 😭😭. Spitsbits don't actually quote the international shipping until after you've paid for the part - they add it afterwards - be warned!!! I fully accept the title "Mug". Rich poppyman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 10 minutes ago, rulloyd said: $12 for the item - I thought that was a rip off but wait for it...$19 shipping!!! Total $31 😭😭. Spitsbits don't actually quote the international shipping until after you've paid for the part - they add it afterwards - be warned!!! I fully accept the title "Mug". Rich I wonder what they would have charged Colin for shipping........ Tony. Colin Lindsay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn wright Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 Hi! Sorry I paid £12 from Rimmer for the same part? Pt no 616206 and I thought that was expensive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 Dolomite Sprint carb mounting rubbers from a major supplier. Didn't fit them for 3-4 months, cracked and falling apart 3 months after fitting. Supplier totally uninterested, allegedly because I had them more than 6 months before retiring a fault. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 Bought some drilled and grooved "go faster" brake disks, £££! They worked OK, but didn't make any difference to braking efficiency and nobody tells you beforehand, they are NOISEY!!! Couldn't be doing with that! So moved them on. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 34 minutes ago, poppyman said: I wonder what they would have charged Colin for shipping........ Tony. You just beat me to it!! You'll love this one, then - it's the small bolt that goes through the steering coupling on a Herald: poppyman and rulloyd 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 8 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Bought some drilled and grooved "go faster" brake disks, £££! They worked OK, but didn't make any difference to braking efficiency and nobody tells you beforehand, they are NOISEY!!! Couldn't be doing with that! So moved them on. Doug And they wear out fast. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted October 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 44 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: You just beat me to it!! You'll love this one, then - it's the small bolt that goes through the steering coupling on a Herald: 😆😆😆 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rulloyd Posted October 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 1 hour ago, martyn wright said: Hi! Sorry I paid £12 from Rimmer for the same part? Pt no 616206 and I thought that was expensive! I hate you. In my defence, I naively thought the shipping charge from the states was $1 - which is what they showed on the order summary - being so small I assumed they'd stick it in an envelope with a $1 stamp, D'oh, I know, I'm an idiot!! (no more comments on my stupidity please). Colin Lindsay and poppyman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 it all starts with buying a car in the first place its downhill from then on. Pete rulloyd and Roger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: it all starts with buying a car in the first place its downhill from then on. Pete Then there are those that don't learn by their 'mistake' and buy a second or third or even fourth car. No help for them we just need to smile at them and keep them away from the public poppyman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 8 minutes ago, Chris A said: Then there are those that don't learn by their 'mistake' and buy a second or third or even fourth car. No help for them we just need to smile at them and keep them away from the public They might even get married............ Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 3 minutes ago, Chris A said: Then there are those that don't learn by their 'mistake' and buy a second or third or even fourth car. No help for them we just need to smile at them and keep them away from the public Yep, that will be me then... In my defence, I need my little classic fleet for my work with Practical Classics. Think I'm still getting away with this excuse at home! Five classics now, should stop really, though there's enough space for another! Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 Colin you could have brought a shanked bolt and cut it to length, but that would have only been available from a bolt bar shop/factors and they would have had a min order cost of $10. So the upshot is you can't win!! My wife wants to know why I have so many nuts and bolts it's because I always make the order to more than $10 by buying more than I need! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 10 hours ago, Peter Truman said: Colin you could have brought a shanked bolt and cut it to length, but that would have only been available from a bolt bar shop/factors and they would have had a min order cost of $10. So the upshot is you can't win!! My wife wants to know why I have so many nuts and bolts it's because I always make the order to more than $10 by buying more than I need! Peter,those bolts are shouldered, not just a shank. The very early joints used those re-usable wired ones, later they "staked" the bolt ends meaning they are more or less impossible to re-use. A shame, as the steering joint can be effectively/reliably reconditioned using poly bushes from Witor. Costs more than a repro joint, but will last for many many years, probably as many years as the repro one will last weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 Yep Clive your right they are stepped, but they have poly washer/bushs at each side of the circular middle sleeve, this is my spare its the older type with holes to lock/tie the bolts together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 I have wondered about using a tube sleeve. Especially after my recent issues with dreadful replacement UJ type (again fixed by Chris Witor. I really do not know what Triumph owners would do without the handful of decent suppliers) Iain T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 15 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: it all starts with buying a car in the first place its downhill from then on. Yes, When I bought my GT in 1978, unknown to the novice me, it had a broken rear leaf spring, knackered front springs and a knackered engine which needed a re-bore and re-grind. Then a trunnion gave way due to lack of maintenance and the front suspension collapsed. And then................ Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 55 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Yes, When I bought my GT in 1978, unknown to the novice me, it had a broken rear leaf spring, knackered front springs and a knackered engine which needed a re-bore and re-grind. Then a trunnion gave way due to lack of maintenance and the front suspension collapsed. And then................ Doug From the sound of it you got of lightly, l have ended up with three Mk1 2L Vitesse convertibles only one of which is roadworthy and one of the others occupies several sheds. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 13 hours ago, Peter Truman said: Colin you could have brought a shanked bolt and cut it to length, but that would have only been available from a bolt bar shop/factors and they would have had a min order cost of $10. So the upshot is you can't win!! I'm currently reconditioning one of the old couplings, have bought polybushes but thought I'd check on the availability of the bolts too - some of them were hard to release. I'll reuse the old ones, they're perfectly serviceable. Especially at that price... Here's another rip-off postage item: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 3 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: I'm currently reconditioning one of the old couplings, have bought polybushes but thought I'd check on the availability of the bolts too - some of them were hard to release. I'll reuse the old ones, they're perfectly serviceable. Especially at that price... Here's another rip-off postage item: They are out to get you Colin........ Your money anyway. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 7 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: I'm currently reconditioning one of the old couplings, have bought polybushes but thought I'd check on the availability of the bolts too - some of them were hard to release. I'll reuse the old ones, they're perfectly serviceable. Especially at that price... Here's another rip-off postage item: Is that from the UK? Seems an odd P+P price. Or is it the NI postage tax? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 Look at some of the eBay UK to international pLaces delivery costs small item greater than 20 quid I sometimes have to get items sent to a UK address then sent on at fair postage costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 14 minutes ago, clive said: Is that from the UK? Seems an odd P+P price. Or is it the NI postage tax? Northern Ireland is still UK postage rates, but some of the suppliers - one very large supplier in particular - insists on International Air Mail, which is the reason why he doesn't get my trade any more. 'Computer says' - so that's it. I've become very sneaky sometimes; I bought a remanufactured Herald 1200 rear valence online which stated free UK postage, and it was sent to me with no bother, but when I bought a 1200 front valence from the same supplier, I thought I'd better check - and they charged me £25 extra for carriage simply because I phoned and gave them the opportunity. My mistake! There's absolutely no reason for it: here's a perfect example I found this morning - ONE sparkplug for £4.99 but a whopping £19.95 postage, whilst I can buy a complete set of four for £7.89 with free postage from another UK seller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 I sent to Aldon in the USA for a spare part for my electronic ignition (When I took the head off something caught on the EI and pulled a wire off flush with the sensor (IDIOT!!! )) The postage was reasonable, but no one told me there was import duty!!!! Might as well have bought a complete new EI. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now