New title: Lesson learned- Buy local! No more mail order (except for Bratton's).

[P.S.]

I live about 1.5 hour's drive from Sacramento Vintage Ford. However, they are almost always out of what I need. They do offer to backorder everything, but it is getting really old. So, decided to try some of the popular places with websites.

Bratton's has some good stuff, and have placed a few orders with them. Never had to utilize their customer service for anything until today, and am not pleased.

One of the items in my order was a rebuilt item sold on exchange basis only. I sent my core, they sent the item. It's defective. Whoever "rebuilt" it forgot a couple of key things. One of the key items is so corroded, it is about ready to fall off, but they powdercoated right over it despite being clearly, visually, about 1/2 the size it should be due to severe corrosion underneath all that pretty black powdercoat. This never should have been sent out, even someone with little knowledge of the part would be able to spot this flaw immediately. Yet, Bratton's shipped it out this way.

So, I called today, 10 minutes after receiving the package and opening the box. I got transferred to another gentleman (nameless) who was VERY abrupt. He gruffly said "What's wrong?" and I told him, very nicely. He said very abruptly, "send it back, we'll send you a new one" (click) hung up. Yes, he offered, I'll agree to that. However...

Wow.

I have been to Sac Vintage dozens of times and even though they seldom have what you need in stock, at least you have the opportunity to inspect it before you take it home. This "rebuilt" item should have cost just under $100, but now add shipping for the core, and shipping for the defective part back, and hopefully not shipping for another, and the rudeness on the phone, it is totally not worth it!

For you guys that live close enough to a Model A parts dealer, please learn from my mistake. Would have come out ahead to wait for Sac Vintage Ford to get around to stocking this item!!

This is likely also the very last Bratton's order for me. Is that just the way they are over there? Is that sort of rudeness "normal"?