BOR, haven't had that exact experience but their phone answer-ers don't seem to have the knowledge they need, they always have to refer to someone else or go ask... Sy and Diane always give me top rate service.. Sy is the owner, ask to speak to her if you call again or at the show... always had good dealings with those two ladies for 20 years.

john

 

Ive he nothing but good to say about MidFifty. One exception would be their shipping rates but I do live in PA. But within the last year I have noticed that the girls that answer the phone are not as knowledgeable as they were in the past.

This may be because they took on the 48 to 52 business and are too big.....

 

I've ordered from them before but their shipping is ridiculous, especially when others offer flat rate shipping (Dennis Carpenter) or free shipping with a minimum order (Summit, etc.). If they are the only game in town I'll bite the bullet, but more often than not I'm passing them over for someone else.

 

I like dealing with Midfifty , but after getting a shipping quote of $510 to send an ABS headliner to Australia , i'm looking for a new supplier .

 

Well, at least I don't feel like the Lone Ranger, then. I've had some fairly minor issues with LMC before and haven't used them since, but with free shipping AND truck freight on orders over a grand, I think I'm willing to give them a second chance. It's pretty easy to put a $1000 order together on these trucks. Too easy! And I'm sure I won't have to call them multiple times and beg them to take my $$$ either.

 

And one other thing to keep in mind when shopping is that most of the suppliers carry the same product from the same manufacturer. Now I said most, not all. I realize that some suppliers are the manufacturer and may keep their product for themselves and not distribute them to other vendors. Example: Last century when my son and I were restoring his '68 Mustang, we ordered tail light gaskets from three different vendors (because none fit right, we kept trying different vendors) only to find out they were all selling the same poor fitting crap. So when I buy now, it is on price and shipping price. It takes a few minutes to make a list to check but when you find you are saving money, it makes it worth the time.

Later!
Mr. Ed

 

One thing I have wondered about them and not got around to asking is whether their shipping estimate includes import taxes. The amount suggests it does but nothing in their quote tells you whether it does or doesn't. Did you get an answer Scott or you decided, like me, that it was too dear either way?

 

It seems like MF has a decent selection and some knowledgeable staff... if you can get ahold of them. When trying to acquire my steering kit over the course of 15 months, I'd call regularly and get a "let me check on that and call you right back". I'd never get a call back and would just try to remember to call and check in every month or two. After some back and forth recently, I got my kit last week. They were always nice and polite, but never getting a call back and waiting that long without any info was a bit frustrating... perhaps a bit too busy? Less than ideal, but I'd still order from them again.

 

There are no import taxes into Australia if the item is under $1000 .
Interestingly , I have contacted Roddoors and they can ship me the exact same item for $125 .

 

Don't forget they're a smaller company, who only recently got into selling parts for years other than 53-56. While similar they're are a lot of differences to learn and find what would work for a client, the business seems more orientated on this than others. They would also probably need to do structure changes to their business, it's possible there is a completely different crew that deals with 48-52 parts.

The reason I like to buy from them is honestly the way their catalog reads. Makes me feel like they've tried out different parts in their own truck and letting you know what they found. I like that better than the feel of a mega dealer that just knows what the computer tells them about that serial number. I also like to support smaller companies when possible.

Truthfully they're probably still adjusting to the changes, it's not an overnight change even though it seems simple enough. Calling a client back can quickly get washed away if you have 40 new calls a day with their own problems, especially when the person answering the phone isn't the one who knows every single answer possible. It's possible one person's job went from nice and steady about things they knew like the back of their hand to swamped with 5 times the work and about things they were unsure about. It wouldn't be intentional they didn't call you back, it would literally just get washed away. And they could be at that point where there is too much work for one person but not enough work/income for a second person.

They've fixed professionally any problem I've had over the years with any parts I've bought. To me that's the biggest thing; to know once I've spent my money that I'll get what I'm supposed to.

 

Sorry if my post came off too negative, I did not mean it as such. I value having knowledgeable folks like MidFifty in business. And yes, it can be difficult keeping up at small specialized outfit taking calls all day (that's part of my role at small, industry leading ag company). Being small has both it's pros and cons. I'm glad we have places like MF.

 

Hello BORage,

I would recommend going to the show and speaking with Diane or Sy directly to see if they can work with you. Like someone said some of the staffing is new and young. Often times not a good mix, lol. I am a fellow Hoosier by Birth, Fort Wayne. Back in 1991 as a 20 something I drove down to Franklin, IN when they were based in Indiana. I have dealt with many of the vendors over my years as a 53-56 Fanatic. Most have great intentions. Talk to them in person Diane or Sy and if your experience is still the same IN person you might be at a cross roads for your parts supplier. Wish you well in pursuits.

 

No worries ghart, it wasn't. At 15 months you should have been well informed on why it would take that long good and proper, and the only frustration the time needed.
Hopefully I didn't come across as crass as it wasn't my intention. I was mainly thinking on why they might have missed a price check call back.

15 months on the other hand, that's a different issue. Guess it's one thing if it has to be custom made and ordered and all of that, especially if they just offered it (a lot of time a prototype is figured out, then management pushes it and the guy who has to make it wasn't ready to make a production model). Though they should have been able to tell you the manufacturer was delayed and they're best guess on time. If it was off the shelf that's a completely different story. I dunno, just speculation and past experiences with different companies or businesses at this point for me.

 

Donald,

I definitely plan to pay the their booth a visit next week and look up one of the boss ladies to make them aware of the situation - diplomatically of course. But apologies and understanding won't put the parts in the bed of my truck that I had wanted to pick up at the show. According to the girl I talked to on the phone twice, the 8th was the deadline for show orders. That ship has sailed now. I'll still be looking for those parts - but at another vendor's booth.

Stephen,

I get that they have expanded and that expansions come with their share of headaches. But that expansion happened about 2 years ago. Growing pains are no longer a valid excuse in my opinion. And I didn't need parts help, advice, extra free tootsie rolls or anything else that would complicate or delay the order or require special knowledge. I had part numbers ready to go and I just needed an order processed. I know all too well how busy offices can cause things to slip through the cracks. It's life and it happens. And that's why I called back - once. I guess I don't feel like I owe them any more "slack" than that. For the most part, all of these vendors sell the exact same parts. Service, selection, and competitive pricing makes the sale for me. If the help that answers the phone is so swamped or inept that they can't process an order, then I suspect that it's only a matter of time until they're not so swamped anymore. Maybe my expectations are unrealistic, but I feel like that when I'm standing there with a fist full of dollars, I damned well better be important enough to them that I don't just get "washed away" as you put it.