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Good Words For Good People

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:01 am
by Lifer
The machine shop that's rebuilding my engine notified me at the end of November that my oil pan was beyond repair and unusable. John Bizal at Midwest Military had a NOS oil pan available, so I ordered one in mid December and he sent it out within a week without waiting for payment. You can't beat that!

When the machine shop got back to work after the holidays, they called to tell me that they had lost the front gasket retainer and asked if they had sent it back to me with the other parts they weren't going to install. I searched the box of parts, and found no retainer. I sent John an e-mail and he sent me the needed part the next day, again without waiting for payment. I'm telling ya, John is a great guy to do business with.

I took the part to the machine shop yesterday, and the owner apologized profusely for having lost the original. It turns out that the "brain dead" high school kid who helps out on Saturdays had picked it up with the other scrap he was loading up to go to the salvage yard. He then reimbursed me for the cost of the part plus shipping, saying that since he lost the part, he was obligated to pay for the replacement. He could very easily have told me that the original part was broken or otherwise unserviceable and avoided the extra expense, but he didn't. I like doing business with folks like that!

From now on, if anyone asks where he can get parts for an M37, I will recommend John. If someone wants to know of a good machine shop, I'll recommend Palmer's. Both are good people! :D

Stand up guy...

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:01 am
by Nickathome
I've dealt with John Bizal a couple times and I agree that he is a very standup guy. I'm glad to see that the machine shop did the right thing. Its a rare thing indeed to have someone actually do the right thing instead of the usual bone jobs that most of them put us through.

We had a guy work on my wife's car about two years ago. Local shop near work, had a good reputation. Wife had inspection and emmissions test done thats all. She's driving home from work about 3 days later when she hears a loud bang and then the front end starts shimmying real bad. Turns out the mechanic after checking her brakes torqued two lug nuts to the point of over stressing them, and they let go on the highway. Fortunately no accident occurred. Needless to say, I called the guy up and read him the riot act about what could have happened etc. I made a point to mention the reciept I had lying on the counter with the fresh date of only 3 days prior proving he was the last person to touch the vehicle. We had the car towed to the dealer, and the mechanic paid for it all. He apologised out the wazoo, whic hI appreciated however we never took another vehicle to him. Just a bad taste in our mouthes with that incident to risk another. I'm glad at least there are some reliable people still out there.

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:42 am
by HingsingM37
Yes, John is a good guy. He always answers my emails within one day and has fair prices. :D

Lifer, glad the machine shop was straight up with you. Bet you cant wait to get the engine back.
Nickathome, glad your wife's situation wasn't worse when those wheel studs broke. Sadly not many techs use torque wrench's on lug nuts when they are supposed to.

Unfortunately with many shops and vendors nowadays good customer service winds up being the exception not the rule :(