Vendor screwing me. Need advice please.

[ptschram]

Being a vendor here, I'm hyper-sensitive to such threads as I try to go out of my way to not end up on the receiving end. I cause myself enough problems.

It's sad that these threads always turn into a bash-fest. Once the particulars are sorted out, it seems to me that the only function of the continuation of these threads is to bash and defame the vendor.

I've dealt with many, many vendors. Nobody's perfect (especially me, if you've waited ages for parts from me, I'm sorry), but the thing that sets all of the vendors apart is how they deal with the mistakes.

In this case, the engine was replaced and I think it all should have stopped here as at that point, the buyer was made whole. Expecting a refund because the engine had slightly higher miles is a non-starter to me as I have seen these engines go more than 300K miles and I have two with more than 200K miles. I'm going to start driving a DII soon because it has 65K miles fewer than my other daily driver.

Let's not bash Will because he's short on the phone. Let's not bash Marty because he replaced a bad engine. Go ahead, bash me, I'll take one for the team.

You got your engine, Marty probably didn't even ask for the bad one to be returned, probably didn't ask many questions at all. What more would a reasonable person ask for? I don't know that an apology is in order after replacing the bad engine.

I try not to bash vendors, but if I've had a bad experience, there is something of a responsibility to help someone avoid such a vendor and perhaps direct them to a better source-and, it's not always gonna be me.

 

[Tugela]

Okay, PT, you asked for it:

The last time I placed an order from PT Schram, or so he claims to be, the whole transaction was screwy. He was "away from the shop" when I called so he couldn't take payment for the parts I wanted and since he didn't store my credit card information he couldn't just charge me when he did get back to the shop. PT goes ahead and just ships me the parts with an invoice, without even taking payment up front. I mean seriously, who runs a business that way? Just giving away parts, hoping people will pay him after they are delivered? It's crazy, plain and simple. On top of that, the parts took four whole days to get to me. Who has that kind of time?

And before that, when I was working on my fuel system, PT sent me a pack of new fuel injector O-rings because the ones I'd bought somewhere else were the wrong size. And he didn't even charge me! What is going on here?

Every time I call the guy up he's always so damn bubbly, going on and on about how great life is, how much he enjoys working on Rovers, taking a genuine interest in me as a person and wanting to know about my dog. Again, is this a way to run a business? Who tries to establish relationships with their customers? Are you trying to sell parts or are you auditioning as the replacement host for the Oprah Winfrey Show?

So there you go, Discoweb, put that in your intake manifold and smoke it. From now on I'm going to the dealership where they always know what they are talking about, always have the right part in stock for my 13-year old truck, and will sell it to me at a fair price.

 

[Drillbit]

. He was "away from the shop" when I called.

I stopped reading here, Pt never leaves his shop. I know this because he calls me from there at hours ranging from 6am (when he has been working for two hours) to 9pm on weekend nights.

 

[seventyfive]

I hope I'm not the only one who learned a lesson here today.

Thanks again everyone, take it easy out there and please remember to Tread Lightly.

i think it's safe to say marty and i can't stand one another, but i'd buy parts from him, we just bought a motor from marty via randy.

coming on this board you have to be very careful what you type, most of these guys live for nothing more than picking apart everything you type....and you fucked up by stating you bought a used motor without knowing the mileage. that is dumb. the beef you have with marty will not sway anyone here to not buy from him.
the fact that you didn't get a gems 4.6 to swap in your d2 is a bit surprising. as for the mileage, it doesn't matter on these turds....my trail truck is on it's third rebuilt motor and the '03 has 190k on it's original motor. mileage doesn't mean too much.
personally, i don't know how marty, joel, will, randy, etc puts up with these kinds of headaches.

 

[brianhoberg]

I stopped reading here, Pt never leaves his shop. I know this because he calls me from there at hours ranging from 6am (when he has been working for two hours) to 9pm on weekend nights.

He doesn't leave because ShopMoggy has the keys around his neck. The only way to get the keys from ShopMoggy is when ShopMoggy is passed out drunk, which normally occurs every night around 10:30. It's a scary place at PT's shop I tell ya. :smilelol:

 

[ptschram]

He doesn't leave because ShopMoggy has the keys around his neck. The only way to get the keys from ShopMoggy is when ShopMoggy is passed out drunk, which normally occurs every night around 10:30. It's a scary place at PT's shop I tell ya. :smilelol:

DiscoJen sent me some kittie treats, if I promise her some, ShopMoggy sometimes lets me out in time to eat with the family.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

i think it's safe to say marty and i can't stand one another, but i'd buy parts from him, we just bought a motor from marty via randy.

coming on this board you have to be very careful what you type, most of these guys live for nothing more than picking apart everything you type....and you fucked up by stating you bought a used motor without knowing the mileage. that is dumb. the beef you have with marty will not sway anyone here to not buy from him.
the fact that you didn't get a gems 4.6 to swap in your d2 is a bit surprising. as for the mileage, it doesn't matter on these turds....my trail truck is on it's third rebuilt motor and the '03 has 190k on it's original motor. mileage doesn't mean too much.
personally, i don't know how marty, joel, will, randy, etc puts up with these kinds of headaches.

Whoa, whoa now, I thought we were clear here. I am not swaying anyone from buying from him. Again, to be clear, I bought an engine with known mileage. The replacement engine's mileage was at question here.

Let's make it crystal clear for the Johnny-Come-Latelies:

It was proven to the satisfaction of the courts that: The vendor was not screwing me over. I apologised, case closed.

It was proven to the satisfaction of the courts that: I alone was responsible for the costs of install. Case closed.

It was further proven to the courts that PTSchram's diplomacy skills are second only to Henry Kissinger's and that if Drillbit's Public Relations Department needs a new director, that it should be none other than Mr. Schram.

I thought that we were all just sitting around wondering who's going to buy the first round here!

Seriously, no bad blood on my part and for what it's worth nobody thinks clearly when they are nearing "wit's end" - I think that's the definition of the cliche.

Again, thanks for keeping things civil.

 

[roverover]

i think it's safe to say marty and i can't stand one another, but i'd buy parts from him, we just bought a motor from marty via randy.

Remember you brought this out when it arrives with a big log in the Valley

 

[Drillbit]

Fed ex'ed your check tracking 797393323496 Sorry I wasn't up for phone sex earlier.

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

Sorry I wasn't up for phone sex earlier.

What were you on the phone with Tami?

 

[eliaschristeas]

ten paces TURN & FIRE!!!! anyone fans of bond on xbox? the RCP-90 would wreck ALL!!! that or licnese to kill on "slaps only."

 

[p m]

I'd buy an engine of unknown vintage and mileage from a vendor I trust.

 

[Auriga]

He blamed the original overheat on the fact that my electric fan was dead.

I think your mechanic is full of shit. First, the melted CkPS is completely implausible. I believe it's molded from a thermoset plastic, and pretty much can't melt, at least not at temps low enough where you wouldn't see the aluminum block melting down.

There had to be more to it than just a failed electric fan. I don't even HAVE an electric fan on my truck anymore. Haven't had it for 2 years. It seized at some point, and I realized that since I haven't overheated yet... probably don't need it and it'll just seize again. I just removed it.

I've done lots of off-road driving, with A/C, as well as some pretty hot ambient temps on the road, with A/C, and the engine temp never goes over 217. UNLESS I have mud packed in the rad. Which has happened. That fan is mostly there only to improve air conditioning performance.

Makes me wonder, if your previous engine overheated because of another problem he didn't find, and then he overheated the first replacement engine. Especially since the thermostat is external to the motor...

 

[I HATE PONIES]

Hey Marty! I'm kicking around the idea of getting the "94" running again. How much for a GOOD 3.9 from a 94 shipped to my house?

 

[mud ruts]

Wow that was a long read.

So if Marty would make up a warranty doc then it's all good,right?

His warranty is so simple it would be a blank page.

I'll do up the form.

The engine has _____ miles and the warranty is _______ months.

That is his warranty, I bet he didn't even ask for the old engine for proof.

I buy a lot of stuff from Marty and his no hassle warranty keeps me coming back. His warranty is his word.

When I buy from LKQ and need to file a claim they need the part, a blood sample and enough paperwork to choke a horse, but they have a nice warranty paper.

Yes when you buy a used engine with no labor warranty you pay the shop twice.

I would question your shop more, the electric fan is just for the a/c or when the engine is so hot it's going to blow anyway.

my .02

 

[wheelen disco]

I have never bought anything from Marty, but I would. I have purchased parts from Justin, Paul and will and they are all stand up dudes. From reading this entire post I'd say that it is most probably your mechanics fault like 98%. If he told you that the ckps was melted he is wrong, I have a junk one sitting on my shelf from my replacement yesterday (buddy's truck) and it doesn't melt, you can start it on fire with a propane torch, but it doesn't melt. And yes I am a bit drunk and still in my shop burning sensors at 12:30 a.m. if any person has been in the business of selling used parts long enough they can tell in short order if a engine is overheating. I could understand if the engine in question had a slightly cracked block and Marty not catching it. But if your mechanic installed the engine and it overheated on its first test idle, it either had air in the system or no coolant in the damn thing at all. In the winter I take my fan off to gain a few mpg's and the damn thing never gets hot on the street or at idle I literally sat in the truck on a job site in below freezing temps with the truck running for 8 hours every night for about a month. My point is your mechanic is trying to pass the blame, And Marty is just sitting back with his mouth shut.



Edited for drunkenness and slight double vision

 

[Drillbit]

Hey Marty! I'm kicking around the idea of getting the "94" running again. How much for a GOOD 3.9 from a 94 shipped to my house?

750 shipped to your zip. Find me a business to ship it to and I am not going to send you paper work of any kind.

 

[Drillbit]

enough paperwork to choke a horse

Maybe that's why he wants warranty documents, he is using them for livestock feed.

 

[Auriga]

If he told you that the ckps was melted he is wrong, I have a junk one sitting on my shelf from my replacement yesterday (buddy's truck) and it doesn't melt, you can start it on fire with a propane torch, but it doesn't melt.

That settles it then, definitely thermoset, and impossible to melt. If he is talking about the metal stud sticking out the end, I believe it's steel so... How is any of that going to realistically melt when it's bolted into an aluminum block?

 

[crown14]

Knock sensors melt on overheated blocks pretty regularly, perhaps thats what he thought he was calling a cam sensor.