Parts frustration....., what else is new? Options

[Cairo94507]

So I have been ordering parts to keep the build going. Today I checked with Scotty and several parts, which were ordered months ago, never arrived. Remember I am in CA and my car is in VA and that is where parts are of course being shipped.

I spent about 2.5 hours on the phone with 4 different suppliers, well know suppliers, tracking stuff down and getting things sorted. As of now, all but one supplier have been able to address the problem and solve it. I am still awaiting an answer re my new 18mm torsion bars....

Oh well, what else could I possibly be doing with my time??????

[scotty b]

It's a very small, very niche market. In addition to what Eric was saying. Try being the guy taking care of 6 restorations, keeping track of parts for all those cars, tracking down parts for all those cars, dealing with phone calls, e-mails, lining up future jobs, trying to find competent help etc, AND trying to find time to do real work in the shop. Most days are 8:00 to about 10:30, with the majority of my actual shop work being done after 5:00 when the parts suppliers are closed, my employee is gone, and most of the other people in my complex have gone home ( don't get me started on the other shop owners that want to come over and hang out all the time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ) I know neither Eric nor I could have made a living just on 914's so we both had to expand. On my end at least, I never sought out the expansion jobs, I just had 911, 356 and now BMW, M.B. and hot rod guys showing up out of nowhere. One of my customers who owns a construction business referred to it as " GROWING PAINS ", which I think describes it pretty well.

On my end, I can't just hire some guy that worked on a collision shop, or some guy that wants to learn resto work for 10.00/hr. I need to find highly skilled, people who have a long history with this type of work. ( $$$$$$) I simply don't have time to train someone that more than likely won't stay around, or just doesn't have the skills/gusto. I've been dealing with this long enough to know people really do think it's like the T.V. shows. Both customers, and help that hasn't actually worked in this field. I have had guys in their 50's and 60's who had done body work their whole lives come in thinking they were a shoe in, and once they saw in process work, and a finished higher end job, openly admit they can't do this work. It's a totally different world than collision or run of the mill Mustang and Camaro restos. I know most of the 914 parts suppliers also deal in other Porsches, and some in muscle cars and hot rods as well, which leads to the confusion. And for those guys that are simply parts suppliers they have a staff that more than likely are people that know little to nothing about the cars they are supplying parts for....bingo.....f-ups. You just won't find someone with intimate Porsche knowledge that is going to answer a phone taking orders all day for minimum wage.

I've gotten to where I am leaving my phone in the office and try to get back to people later in the day or at night because I can't get work done with the thing going off 2-3 times and hour.

It's now 11:30 and I'm about to lose another 2-3 hours of work time for a doctors appt. Yet another issue (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

And like Eric said.... there are also the outside of work issues. Keep your day jobs kid.s<_<