Scott we have several places to archive all of this information. Patricks
site, cinnabars technical publication and the GMC Motorhome marketplace.
Everytime we find a suitable substitute for our needs such as hubs, etc we
should archive it so everyone can use the information. That means we need
to post the source, manufacturer, part number and cost and where we bought
it. In my experience talking about it makes us feel good but does not
necessarily help the next guy that has the problem.
One thing we can to easily forget in our haste to condem higher prices for
some parts. Businesses like Gateway, cinnabar and Golbys are very small and
cater specifically to the GMC motorhome market. That is not a big market by
any stretch of the imagination. They simply have to get more for a part
that has such a restricted market. Remember in lots of cases Golby and
Cinnabar have signed contracts to manufacture these parts again long after
the individual manufacturers have ceased production. That costs money. IN
these situations we are paying for several additional things. 1) guarantee
that we will be able to get an exact part 2) Get it when we really need it,
even over night if need be 3) More overhead to the business because of the
restricted market.
sure you may find the same gasket a few weeks later for a lower price. but
the only reason you were able to find it was that you had the part number
and manufacturer from the already bought part. What you paid for is someone
elses research and work in finding it. In the case of the frame rails, how
many of them do you think they sell in a year? It takes time to get the
steel, pay for the shipping to your facility, prep it, drill the holes and
than ship it out. How much is it worth? What anyone is willing to pay.
But one thing is for sure, can you get a frame for any other 20 year old
motorhome? Many times to me the higher price for the part is more
desireable than hours of researching to find the same thing. Bottom line is
I am glad that these dealers are available to us. What other 20 year
motorhome is fully supportable? I will gladly pay a little higher price for
parts just to keep them there.
Just my slant on these dealers.
>
>>Our engine builder had to buy the whole gasket set just to get the separately
>>packaged neoprene rear main seal. The rear main seal part # ended up
>>crossing over to a Ford seal which actually could have been purchased
>>locally had we known (notice he didn't mention it).
>
>Hi Zak!
> Thank you for saying somewhat of what I said 2 weeks ago and basically
>got reamed out. I mentioned that rear main bearing seal in one of my e-mails
>and was told the rope type was better. Mondello uses them and now I suppose
>they are OK! Have you ever tried to install a rope seal? It's terrible! We
>are not hot rodders. Most of us are not tremendously wealthy. We have other
>obligations other than spending all our money on Mondelo engines, Ragusa alu.
>products, Caspro A-J-USA, Harrison Brakes, Offenhauser heads and intakes, etc.
> I have bought something expensive and two weeks later, I've seen the
>same identical item, different name mind you, but the same, at 80% of what I
>paid. Now what did I pay for, the fact that it had a "better" name? It was
>made by the same manufacturer but labeled different. How do you think that
>made me feel? I don't mind paying reasonable prices for items but when you
>have a very limited market of buyers and sellers, what happens is competition
>is limited, therefore higher prices. Then if you add in the ego trip factor
>"education and knowledge" you even get greater prices. To me all of these GMC
>suppliers feed on instilling fear.
> What would happen if we asked Mondello how much would he charge for
>fifty engines? I'm sure there are other engine builders out there just as
>competent. Do you think he would charge $6,500 a piece for fifty, I don't
>think so. Now who has the control!? We do! This Internet can make or break a
>company and lower prices if you buy together. Why did all the mom and pop
>hardware stores go with HWI or other buying groups? They had to because of
>Scotties, Builders Square, Wall Mart, etc., they could not compete alone. It
>is just like us. As Arch has said, things are changing and the Internet is
>leveling the playing field.
>
>Today, I received a beautifully done sales brochure from one of our suppliers
>"you're buying direct at the best possible prices" I don't think so! What
>would their price be if we bought 50? I'm sure lower, if they won't go lower,
>who are they going to sell there products too? They certainly will not get
>any of my business at the prices charging now. Maybe some of our wealthier
>members will bite, but I won't----it is unfortunate these products are so
>expensive.
>
>Most of you have seen my web site, I think by now. I called all the big name
>GMC suppliers for the side rails. They were all about $1,400 for the pair
>(holes drilled)not including shipping. I even inquired how much it would cost
>to replace them. To much for my pocketbook. I did save a considerable, like
>lots, by having the rails made myself and drilling the holes. And it was fun!
>
>For the last month I have spent a considerable amount of my time finding
>suppliers and manufacturers of different parts on my motorhome.(That would be
>yours also).
> I rent part of my building to a friend who has been in the auto repair
>business for 30 years. So I am privy to what wholesale prices are for various
>parts and manufacturers and rebuilders. That is why my butt hurts so much. I
>bought a molded 90 degree rubber fuel filler hose for $18.50 from a well known
>GMC supplier. I now can have them manufactured a ton cheaper. I spent a half
>day last week, in Toledo, with a manufacturer of wheel hubs, he said ours are
>cast, whereas he would make them out of forged steel, which he said are a lot
>stronger. This guy makes thousands and thousands of wheel hubs with installed
>bearings. He has 20 $150,000 machines that do all the machining at once, 10 at
>a time, and in seven minutes. He is setting up now to make rotors.
> Some GMC supplier is selling precut insulating material for the engine
>compartment, $195, I've got a razor knife, material costs $50.00.
> One supplier seem to think a new hub should cost $450. Well, I don't
>think so!
>
>Scott Adohen
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
site, cinnabars technical publication and the GMC Motorhome marketplace.
Everytime we find a suitable substitute for our needs such as hubs, etc we
should archive it so everyone can use the information. That means we need
to post the source, manufacturer, part number and cost and where we bought
it. In my experience talking about it makes us feel good but does not
necessarily help the next guy that has the problem.
One thing we can to easily forget in our haste to condem higher prices for
some parts. Businesses like Gateway, cinnabar and Golbys are very small and
cater specifically to the GMC motorhome market. That is not a big market by
any stretch of the imagination. They simply have to get more for a part
that has such a restricted market. Remember in lots of cases Golby and
Cinnabar have signed contracts to manufacture these parts again long after
the individual manufacturers have ceased production. That costs money. IN
these situations we are paying for several additional things. 1) guarantee
that we will be able to get an exact part 2) Get it when we really need it,
even over night if need be 3) More overhead to the business because of the
restricted market.
sure you may find the same gasket a few weeks later for a lower price. but
the only reason you were able to find it was that you had the part number
and manufacturer from the already bought part. What you paid for is someone
elses research and work in finding it. In the case of the frame rails, how
many of them do you think they sell in a year? It takes time to get the
steel, pay for the shipping to your facility, prep it, drill the holes and
than ship it out. How much is it worth? What anyone is willing to pay.
But one thing is for sure, can you get a frame for any other 20 year old
motorhome? Many times to me the higher price for the part is more
desireable than hours of researching to find the same thing. Bottom line is
I am glad that these dealers are available to us. What other 20 year
motorhome is fully supportable? I will gladly pay a little higher price for
parts just to keep them there.
Just my slant on these dealers.
>
>>Our engine builder had to buy the whole gasket set just to get the separately
>>packaged neoprene rear main seal. The rear main seal part # ended up
>>crossing over to a Ford seal which actually could have been purchased
>>locally had we known (notice he didn't mention it).
>
>Hi Zak!
> Thank you for saying somewhat of what I said 2 weeks ago and basically
>got reamed out. I mentioned that rear main bearing seal in one of my e-mails
>and was told the rope type was better. Mondello uses them and now I suppose
>they are OK! Have you ever tried to install a rope seal? It's terrible! We
>are not hot rodders. Most of us are not tremendously wealthy. We have other
>obligations other than spending all our money on Mondelo engines, Ragusa alu.
>products, Caspro A-J-USA, Harrison Brakes, Offenhauser heads and intakes, etc.
> I have bought something expensive and two weeks later, I've seen the
>same identical item, different name mind you, but the same, at 80% of what I
>paid. Now what did I pay for, the fact that it had a "better" name? It was
>made by the same manufacturer but labeled different. How do you think that
>made me feel? I don't mind paying reasonable prices for items but when you
>have a very limited market of buyers and sellers, what happens is competition
>is limited, therefore higher prices. Then if you add in the ego trip factor
>"education and knowledge" you even get greater prices. To me all of these GMC
>suppliers feed on instilling fear.
> What would happen if we asked Mondello how much would he charge for
>fifty engines? I'm sure there are other engine builders out there just as
>competent. Do you think he would charge $6,500 a piece for fifty, I don't
>think so. Now who has the control!? We do! This Internet can make or break a
>company and lower prices if you buy together. Why did all the mom and pop
>hardware stores go with HWI or other buying groups? They had to because of
>Scotties, Builders Square, Wall Mart, etc., they could not compete alone. It
>is just like us. As Arch has said, things are changing and the Internet is
>leveling the playing field.
>
>Today, I received a beautifully done sales brochure from one of our suppliers
>"you're buying direct at the best possible prices" I don't think so! What
>would their price be if we bought 50? I'm sure lower, if they won't go lower,
>who are they going to sell there products too? They certainly will not get
>any of my business at the prices charging now. Maybe some of our wealthier
>members will bite, but I won't----it is unfortunate these products are so
>expensive.
>
>Most of you have seen my web site, I think by now. I called all the big name
>GMC suppliers for the side rails. They were all about $1,400 for the pair
>(holes drilled)not including shipping. I even inquired how much it would cost
>to replace them. To much for my pocketbook. I did save a considerable, like
>lots, by having the rails made myself and drilling the holes. And it was fun!
>
>For the last month I have spent a considerable amount of my time finding
>suppliers and manufacturers of different parts on my motorhome.(That would be
>yours also).
> I rent part of my building to a friend who has been in the auto repair
>business for 30 years. So I am privy to what wholesale prices are for various
>parts and manufacturers and rebuilders. That is why my butt hurts so much. I
>bought a molded 90 degree rubber fuel filler hose for $18.50 from a well known
>GMC supplier. I now can have them manufactured a ton cheaper. I spent a half
>day last week, in Toledo, with a manufacturer of wheel hubs, he said ours are
>cast, whereas he would make them out of forged steel, which he said are a lot
>stronger. This guy makes thousands and thousands of wheel hubs with installed
>bearings. He has 20 $150,000 machines that do all the machining at once, 10 at
>a time, and in seven minutes. He is setting up now to make rotors.
> Some GMC supplier is selling precut insulating material for the engine
>compartment, $195, I've got a razor knife, material costs $50.00.
> One supplier seem to think a new hub should cost $450. Well, I don't
>think so!
>
>Scott Adohen
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
