showed up in the mail. Great catalog with lots of nice color photos, like the CI catalog. Lots of bird suitable cramaro parts. Not sure if/when I requested it but glad it showed up.
I look through their on-line catalog occasionally. They do have some good stuff. I think Rick may not like me since I told him the problems with one of the parts his manufacturing subsidiary produces.
When I was at the Eckler's Camaro Parts show at Old Town a few weeks ago, I heard that Rick has sold the company to the same owner(s) of Classic Industries. Anyone else hear this? This was a from a group of participants at the show that were discussing this subject...
For me, I have always bought from Ames. They have been just awesome in every aspect!
Yes, Rick's was bought out by Eckler's. There is a lengthy debate (complaint) raging over on the Team Camaro site that this change has resulted in higher prices and worse customer service.
This is unfortunate as Rick's carries stuff that even Ames does not have.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
That explains all... Had an inquiery running with Rick´s concerning some rattle paint cans I already have ordered from them 1 1/2 years ago - then without any problems. Now got a reply that they won´t send any rattle cans to Germany anymore. Period. S&h for other parts has gone through the roof, too -- same as with ClassicIndustries. Think they get a share of the FedEx costs... Will have to go back to Ames once again - although they went down the road, too... What a bummer!
That explains all... Had an inquiery running with Rick´s concerning some rattle paint cans I already have ordered from them 1 1/2 years ago - then without any problems. Now got a reply that they won´t send any rattle cans to Germany anymore. Period. S&h for other parts has gone through the roof, too -- same as with ClassicIndustries. Think they get a share of the FedEx costs... Will have to go back to Ames once again - although they went down the road, too... What a bummer!
I bought Rick´s part# 21-080 "FastCast Sandblast Gray" and part# 32-010 "Radiator Coating Gloss Black" 1 1/2 years ago. Both are aweome paints that you don´t get your hands on here in Germany. With this heat and chemical resistant "FastCast Sandblast Grey" I "cured" my master cylinder and disc brake calipers before installing them and both still look like new - no rust, no burn off (on the calipers) and no brake fluid damage (on the master cylinder):
Having purchased a 66 El Camino some months ago I wanted to repeat these works on the "new" car but my "inventories are depleted"...
BTW - to avoid hitchhiking on this topic - I had some short email-conversation with one of Rick´s sales managers concerning the change in quality and ownership and beyond all misgivings this left a positive impression with me.
That´s what I got for reply (I intentionally left away the sales manager´s name - not sure if otherwise any repressions would result for him/her...)
Quote:
We have heard a lot on the internet that people think we have "gone down the road". We are still the same people. There is no one from Eckler's in our building. We still carry the same quality parts. The reason we cannot send paint via Air any longer was prior to the buyout by Eckler's, FedEx really got on our case about sending a Hazardous material. They get really upset when cans of paint and shocks explode in their airplanes. At any rate, I hate to lose anyone's business. So, let me know what we can do to make it up to you.
and then...
Quote:
By the way, Eckler's does not own Classic Industries. Eckler's owns Classic Chevy International. So, Classic Industries has not swallowed us...we are still separate from them and we will continue to sell the best parts even if we have to pay more for them.
Sounds okay to me... The future will show if they will downgrade in quality to be on a level with CI or if they will stay one of the industries leaders concerning availability and quality of even rare parts...
