[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] Fw: Bamforth Spares

[james gardner]

Hi Bob

Quite amazing how much abuse the Bamforth family get. I am surprised they even bother anymore. Why complain, I just don't get it. In the case of the "couple of chrome screws" for £30.00. No one is forcing anyone to purchase anything - if you don't like the price don't buy it. Having had many custom parts made over the years for various cars I find it unbelievable that these prices are being complained about. Remanufactured parts for such a small market are hugely expensive and I see the Bamforth spares as amazing value for money. This bickering is simply pathetic.

I have never met David, but I have met Simon a couple of times who incidentally drove to my house some 80 miles to look at my car and give restoration advice and did not want to charge me a penny. When I start work on my Alpine I am sure I will be relying heavily on the Bamforth family for parts and also advice (something they do not charge for).

The answer for anyone unhappy with any aspect of their business is to go elsewhere and source your parts. Luckily for me they continue to supply spares, and lets face it they are running a business. Just like the rest of us they too need to make a living.

J Gardner
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: RA Hamilton 
  To: STAOwners at sunbeamtalbot.info 
  Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 10:31 PM
  Subject: [Sunbeam Talbot Email List] STOC Re-incarnation as commercialfund-raiser.




  FYI, there appears to be more to the message I sent out this afternoon.


  Bob Hamilton
  Waverley, Nova Scotia



  -------- Original Message --------
  From: "RA Hamilton" <hamilton at accesscable.net>
  Date: May 14, 2010 6:21:39 PM
  Subject: Re: Fwd: STOC Re-incarnation as commercial fund-raiser.
  To: terry poole <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk>, Bob Hamilton <hamilton at accesswave.ca>
  Cc: info at sunbeamtalbotspares.co.uk>, Paul Walby <stardusteditor at aol.com>, John Badger <john_badger at btinternet.com>


  Hi Terry,


  I guess there is more to this story than what is on the surface and there appears to be some infighting from different camps that we across the water are isolated from.
  Are there any others out there who would like to add to this discussion?
  Regards,
  Bob






  On 05/14/10, terry poole <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
          Hi Bob, 

          Hope all is well with you.
          You may well not agree with this but I've sent it anyway.


          Regards,


          Terry.



          Begin forwarded message:


            From: terry poole <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk <terrypoole at blueyonder.co.uk>>
            Date: 14 May 2010 19:51:06 BST
            To: info at sunbeamtalbotspares.co.uk <info at sunbeamtalbotspares.co.uk>
            Cc: Paul Walby <stardusteditor at aol.com <stardusteditor at aol.com>>, John Badger <john_badger at btinternet.com <john_badger at btinternet.com>>
            Subject: STOC  Re-incarnation as commercial fund-raiser.


            Hi,

            I've just read about the "new" Sunbeam Talbot Owner's Club re-formed apparently for "our" benefit - lovely. But!! Never believe anything you hear and only half of what you see!

            All sounds very laudable, but would I be correct in anticipating that the main beneficiary will be STS, who will have the benefit of "free" tooling, paid for by STAR members, plus the profits on the parts to be sold at their valuations to the people who paid for the tooling? Nice work if you can get it - as they say.

            The figures relating to fees and tool hire are undisclosed, so could be minimal in real terms.

            Will the eBay STS seller be part of the deal? If their prices are a guide then there won't be many bargains for contributing members, or will there really be 2 price lists?

            I recall years ago that keen members of STAR made voluntary contributions towards the "spares fund" but I don't recall them receiving any benefit over people who hadn't contributed (Correct me if I am wrong).  Not that I am complaining about that - it all appeared to be in a good cause at the time.

            I know I am being skeptical, but I put that down to the times we live in, where the £ is king.

            I would be very pleased to learn that my skepticism is unfounded.

            Further, on a different note, I fully approve of meetings which don't involve sitting in an expensive field all day, looking at stationary cars that we mostly know from back to front trying to look as though it's fun, while yet again we fill our voting forms in, and well worth the expensive drive there and back!?

            Interestingly, already we see STOC (aka STS) giving STAR a (deserved?) kick up the rear end on that subject!  What hope for future "cooperation"?

            I can foresee that as the existing 50yr. old++ STAR membership falls off the branch, all relevant  Sunbeam Talbot interest will be with STOC, which, as an Oldie I can say, is where we came in!

            Maybe call it "progress" - maybe not?

            Just a thought - we must have survived at least 4 decades of doom and gloom regarding the warnings of "no more of our cars on the road in 10 yrs. time unless etc. etc. re: spares".  Compared to rust - minimal. The efforts of various suppliers over the years to produce replacement body repair panels which fit has been abysmal. Mainly because "we" expect to get things for nothing - see how many tips there have been on how to save 10p using a paper clip doing a £100 job!
            Now have a look on eBay at the "couple of chrome screws" you can buy for £30.00.

            I bet STOC won't be tooling up for much bodywork, chrome screws are much more fun.

            Hey-ho, hope I'm wrong.

            Enjoy the field.

            Regards,

            Terry Poole.
            Region 8











         



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  Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton
  Waverley, NS

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  -- 


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  Robert (Bob) A.C. Hamilton
  Waverley, NS

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