[ossodiseppia]

You guys amaze me. This poor guy wants a hard to find part for his car. He calls THE source for hard to find stuff and has a horrible experience. My experience with APE and small parts is that there is a minimum fee for small stuff. 20 years ago it was something like $25.

It's really not fair for everyone to give the OP a hard time because he had a bad experience with someone at APE. He is just sharing his experience.

My last experience with someone there has made it my last experience with APE. I needed a bell housing, I called said exactly what I wanted and gave my credit card number, etc. Sr. called back for clarification and the part showed up some days later. It was full of cracks. I called back to get another and asked that it please be inspected before sending it. I got chewed out and told that these cars are 40 year old effing pieces of s**t. The conversation got worse. I was sent another un-inspected bell housing. How could I tell? It was covered in a thick layer of dirt and grease, just like the first one. I don't mind dirty parts, but I do mind parts that are not serviceable if I pay for one that is serviceable.

I prefer to do business with people who want my money. I consider myself reasonable and am willing to pay asking prices. I will not shop at APE ever again. I'd rather pay $200 for a small part from someone who appreciates my business than to have to put up with moody, burnt out employees and business owners.

I'll buy used parts from anyone other than APE.

 

[aldo]

In Larry's defense, we're getting old. Our blood is thickening. Maybe the morning coffee hadn't greased the plumbing. He has always treated me well.

 

[ossodiseppia]

In Larry's defense, we're getting old. Our blood is thickening. Maybe the morning coffee hadn't greased the plumbing. He has always treated me well.

We can defend and/or make excuses for most anyone. All that does is support poor attitudes and behavior.

 

[Sfizio]

In Larry's defense, we're getting old.

Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Those prophets were pretty old too.

 

[DPeterson3]

I have come to understand that one of my challenges/opportunities in this life is to learn humility and tolerance. For this to happen, I must encounter people that try my tolerance, and force me to surrender ego as the ultimate demand.

In every case, doing so has brought more good into my life than the price that was exacted.

In the case of the Larry's, I've chosen to admire the supreme curmudgeonry that they have achieved, Sr. being naturally farther along the road than Jr. I choose to admire the art and freedom of self expression rather than focus on whether my ego has been stroked.

I still struggle mightily with the local Sonic Drive-in help that cannot, or will not, listen to the order being placed, preferring to interrupt in the middle of the conversation to ask questions that were already answered. But then, perhaps we are all being asked to contribute to the education of smart-*** teenagers, and in so doing, become accomplished curmudgeons ourselves.

"Get off my lawn!!!"

One of my bucket list items is to go to work as a Walmart greeter and set the record for the shortest amount of time to get fired without actually touching or saying something to anyone, or breaking any public indecency laws.

 

[Norcal]

Hi. I think the post has served its purpose. A vendor review. If you like him, great. If you don't, great. I obviously can't put the entire Congressional transcript of our call here. He called me back to tell me he had the part, and was getting my address to ship it. He started scolding me like I was a 2 year old because I was "talking to fast" and hung up. Hung up a 2nd and third time after a minute or two of conversation when I called back to try and understand what set him off. It has nothing to do with parts being too cheap, It has to do with his lack of patience, which sadly prevented him from getting other more profitable orders from me.

If I can figure out how to delete the post, I will. Can't find the "delete" button. It's served its purpose. If I can't, well, then, Larry is a vendor that I didn't know from Adam, and I provided an objective review. I'm not going to remove the post simply because he is the apparent Amazon of Alfa parts.

I want to reiterate my prior appreciation that I posted a couple of weeks ago in the 105/115Spider forum to the many people who have provided information on my car. This has been a great board, and I look forward to helping future members with the knowledge that I have acquired through the help on the board.


1987 S3 Spider Quad 81k miles- California car- no rust - always garaged - everything works!, until it doesn't.......

 

[Norcal]

Well said DPeterson. After a good night of sleep (yesterday was a frustrating day on many fronts), I would probably figure a way to do it differently. Ok moving on. I'm done with this post.....(my 43 year old attention span has reached it limit.... ))


1987 S3 Spider Quad 81k miles- California car- no rust - always garaged - everything works!, until it doesn't.......

 

[evieceli]

Some good came out of this post. I'm not here to bash anyone but instead to thank everyone. I've never heard of Alfa Parts Exchange so I went to their website and looked at photos of so many awesome cars. I've been exposed to wrecked cars my entire life as my dad is a retired auto body master craftsman. You know the kind.... the ones that can actually "make" any body parts and none would know that they weren't factory panels.

Anyhow, thank you for the new source of parts and possibly future project cars as well as some fond, indirect memories of working with my dad. I love this BB!

Kind regards!

 

[ossodiseppia]

I have come to understand that one of my challenges/opportunities in this life is to learn humility and tolerance. For this to happen, I must encounter people that try my tolerance, and force me to surrender ego as the ultimate demand.

You're reading too much into someone's post, maybe mine. This has got nothing to do with ego and everything to do with being polite. Life is too short to put up with this kind of attitude from anyone.

If I can figure out how to delete the post, I will. Can't find the "delete" button. It's served its purpose. If I can't, well, then, Larry is a vendor that I didn't know from Adam, and I provided an objective review. I'm not going to remove the post simply because he is the apparent Amazon of Alfa parts.

Don't delete your post. It's a objective as you said.

 

[GV27]

If you're going to own Alfas, you'd better learn how to interact with quirky weirdos.

That's the best piece of advice on this thread - and it applies to the old car business in general. Man, you meet some seriously grumpy and weird dudes sometimes! I try to deal with them by smiling and calling them sir and just being friendly to a fault and that usually works out OK. But yeah, sometimes dealing with the old donkey just isn't worth it.

Don's advice is good too and I don't think aimed at anyone on this thread. I think he was talking generally about dealing with grumpy weirdos at junk yards.

I have used APE a couple of times and it wasn't a bad experience per se, but I don't use them for parts I can find elsewhere just to save a few bucks. But for some parts it's hard to know where else to turn.

Definitely don't delete your post. People need to know what they're getting into.

 

[nealric]

For what it's worth, I had a good experience ordering a small part from APE. I needed a reverse thread spindle nut. It was a bit pricey for just a nut (he has a $20 minimum), but APE was the only place in the U.S. that carried them. It was actually kind of fun to order from him. My street address has an unusual spelling and it started some amusing banter. The nut arrived promptly, and most importantly was the correct one.

 

[evieceli]

You guys amaze me. This poor guy wants a hard to find part for his car. He calls THE source for hard to find stuff and has a horrible experience. My experience with APE and small parts is that there is a minimum fee for small stuff. 20 years ago it was something like $25.

It's really not fair for everyone to give the OP a hard time because he had a bad experience with someone at APE. He is just sharing his experience.

My last experience with someone there has made it my last experience with APE. I needed a bell housing, I called said exactly what I wanted and gave my credit card number, etc. Sr. called back for clarification and the part showed up some days later. It was full of cracks. I called back to get another and asked that it please be inspected before sending it. I got chewed out and told that these cars are 40 year old effing pieces of s**t. The conversation got worse. I was sent another un-inspected bell housing. How could I tell? It was covered in a thick layer of dirt and grease, just like the first one. I don't mind dirty parts, but I do mind parts that are not serviceable if I pay for one that is serviceable.

I prefer to do business with people who want my money. I consider myself reasonable and am willing to pay asking prices. I will not shop at APE ever again. I'd rather pay $200 for a small part from someone who appreciates my business than to have to put up with moody, burnt out employees and business owners.

I'll buy used parts from anyone other than APE.

I second that. Don't beat up the guy just because he simply wanted to forewarn anyone that this can happen. I'm sure his intentions were honorable. I appreciate a heads up for this sort of thing. Of course, I wouldn't shun Alfa Parts Exchange either. Please don't delete your post. It contains useful information.
Like others stated earlier, Larry probably had a bad day. Anyone can get annoyed or upset, that's understandable. Do I condone or support bad behavior on either side of the fence? Of course not but if and when this happens, just walk away for a while and then try again at another time.

 

[Lokki]

I have no problem with NorCal warning people that the Larrys are kooks. They ARE. They can also be disagreeable kooks. The first time I called Larry Sr, he told me I didn't know what year my car was, so he wasn't going to sell me the part I wanted. I had to send an email with a picture of my engine to prove it was in fact a 1750 and he grumblingly agreed to sell me what I wanted. . I also agree with DPeterson that sometimes you get uninspected used part. Finally, after I had done some business with Larry, I was able to order a particular part for a friend after Larry had refused to sell it to him for some obscure and impossible to understand reason.

The experience is a lot like trying to persuade a 9,000 year old dragon to give you a piece of his gold. Sometimes you get the gold but sometimes you get your head bitten off.

I will further state that I usually pay a little more for a new part from one of the usual suspects, er, suppliers rather than call APE.

Having said all that,I have reached the point where I can deal with the old curmudgeon, (I have a little less luck with the curmudgeon-in-training) and I actually kind of enjoy the adventure. The crotchety dragon has a lot of things that nobody else has and if you want one, well, let the games begin!

 

[alfaparticle]

Did any of you complainers have the pleasure of dealing with Tom Zat? Alfa Heaven was a great resource and I miss them but I never expected a "Have a nice day" from Tom.

 

[DPeterson3]

You're reading too much into someone's post, maybe mine. This has got nothing to do with ego and everything to do with being polite. Life is too short to put up with this kind of attitude from anyone.




Don't delete your post. It's a objective as you said.

"I guess you think this song's about you...."

Nope.

 

[alfaparticle]

The title of this thread should be edited - delete "Avoid". Moderators?

 

[wutdhec]

I don't think Norcal will mind a slight highjacking of this thread....

While we're on the subject of old, quirky Alfa dudes....does anyone remember the owner of Alfa Only in Glendale, CA?

He was a pleasant enough fellow, but what I remember most were his highly detailed yet inscrutable invoices. There were distinct letters that were consistently written and formed "words", but it was like reading a foreign alphabet like Klingon perhaps. I think he retired a few years back.

 

[Jim G]

Larry Sr. is like Mister Rogers compared to the guys who have been hoarding antique boat parts for the last 50 plus years. I find Larry funny even when he goes on his rants.

I've learned over the years that when I call someone looking for used hard to find parts. Is to first introduce yourself. Ask how their doing today and how the weather is. I've found that this pretty much puts even the grumpy ones in a good mode. I think most of them deal with jerks most of the day and someone pleasant catches them off guard and puts them back into a pleasant mode.

Theres one guy I have to use for the really hard to find antique marine engine parts. When you call him up and ask if he has a part. He will say yes and give you a price. If you complain about the price he will hang up on you. When you call him back the price will have gone up about 150%. Which is a lot when most of these parts are in the hundreds of dollars.

So the best thing to do is take it all stride and go on with life.

 

[Alfissimo Int.]

I love Larry and having chats with him. I am not 72 but also hate searching for cheap parts but since I am younger I do it. I'd hang out with Larry all day long. He is my type of guy and has my sense of humor which maybe you did not get! My suggestion is ask for larger more valuable parts, then ask for the cheap stuff, he will be more willing to throw those in and so will I. Burning this bridge may be a bad idea as all of us Alfa vendors offer something that the others may not.

APE is a great resource, all alfa guys are.

 

[kuni123456]

I have two Milanos and would not be able to drive them unless without Larry's help. I do not think that there is anyone making parts for Milano cars. I purchased my 1988 Verde new from an Alfa dealer and have been buying parts since 1988. The problem is finding parts like exhaust manifolds, window mechanisms, brake boosters and many other parts that are now longer supplied. I have many used and new parts for both Milanos and still have to ask Larry for parts to keep my cars on the road. I have restored a number of Giulietta cars and finding parts is much easier because many vendors sell reproduction parts.