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Re: I want to blow off some steam.

To: "Rolf R. Radicke" <104071.2715@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: I want to blow off some steam.
From: "Glen R. Wilson" <railroad@itw.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 17:59:19 -0400
Rolf R. Radicke wrote:
> 
> According to what someone has posted on the MGcars WWW page,
> British Miles is a rip-off organization, and owner Tom Zofchak is
> a professional scam-man.  The story had something to do
> about an MGA and a 500 dollar finders fee.  I don't feel that
> because this guy heard from another guy that Tom gives finders
> fees, and because what that guy said could have been wrong
> that he should post his anger towards British Miles on the a WWW
> page.  That in my opinion is very incorrect, esspecially since any one with a
> computer and a modem can see it.  I do agree that Tom is not the
> easiest person to get along with.  If the person or persons who had
> anything to do with this would like to show their anger email British
> Miles at britmiles@aol.com.  And I garuntee you that if you send email
> to them you will have answer.  Hell, I'll see to it my self on Monday
> morning.
> 
> Kai "a happy customer of British Miles" Radicke
> 1966 MGB (under restoration)

I never saw the message you describe in opening your letter, so I can't comment 
on that.  I think 
you'll find that many people have come away from business dealings with Tom and 
British Miles 
feeling that they have, in one way or another, been taken advantage of, that 
their patronage of his 
business was not appreciated, and that he couldn't care less about building 
long-term relationships 
with customers and generating return business.  These messages do not pop up on 
the list every day, 
but they are a regular occurence every few months.  There's obviously something 
about the way 
business is conducted at British Miles that causes people to feel less than 
satisfied.

Word of mouth has always been important to the success of any business.  The 
Internet is no more 
than informal word of mouth, and anyone doing business in a specialty area like 
British 
automobiles had better be aware of the type of reputation their handling of 
customers may be 
earning for their business wherever British car hobbyists meet and exchange 
views.

If it were my business, I would keep abreast of the news and opinion on the 
mailing lists.  If I 
found I had a problem, I would take a good look at things and decide whether or 
not I could be 
doing a better job for my customers.  If not, I would respond by defending my 
business via the net, 
probably by contacting the unhappy customer by individual e-mail to see if the 
situation could be 
helped in some way.

One final thought might be that even the fairest and most honest business 
person can occasionally 
run up against a totally unreasonable customer or an honest misunderstanding 
that can't be put 
right.  

-- 
Glen R. Wilson          

Railroad@itw.com
 
http://www.itw.com/~railroad

1970 Rover 3500S        1967 MG 1100 Sedan  

1966 MG Midget (blue)   1966 MG Midget (green)

Southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

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