procomp
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 02:25 PM |
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Hi GTS are not the only people who do an ( 11 ) there is also WESTFIELD.
cheers matt
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Kelvin
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 02:28 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by procomp
Hi GTS are not the only people who do an ( 11 ) there is also WESTFIELD.
cheers matt
Oh indeed, had a drive of their yellow demonstrator over Xmas. Their's is Midget based though......
[Edited on 19/1/07 by Kelvin]
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procomp
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 02:39 PM |
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Hi it is indeed.
But nothing to stop people changing certain parts that they dont like and creating there own version based on westfields verry good quatity kit.
[img]http://wwwlocostbuilders.co.uk  [/img]
The pic above was one off the verry first that westfield originaly did and then modified for racing.
Cheers matt
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Kelvin
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 02:47 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by procomp
Hi it is indeed.
But nothing to stop people changing certain parts that they dont like and creating there own version based on westfields verry good quatity kit.
The pic above was one off the verry first that westfield originaly did and then modified for racing.
Cheers matt
No argument there from me (going very off topic this now!) but I don't really want the hassle this time of going to the extremes of changing all
the bits to suit another donor.
The GTS one appealed due to it effectively being a cloak of the Locost chassis.
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Fizzie
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 07:18 PM |
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Seems too be contageous 
link
Fizzzzzzzz
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jamesg20
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 07:55 PM |
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I'm stunned to be honest. This kind of bad press will sink a company in a competitive market pretty quickly.
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zxrlocost
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 08:34 PM |
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you couldnt be more wrong in the Kit car industry it gets you more business
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PLEASE NOTE: This user is a trader who has not signed up for the LocostBuilders registration scheme. If this post is advertising a commercial product or service, please report it by clicking here.
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TimC
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 10:14 PM |
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A bit off topic, but an excellent example of good service.
I ordered parts from www.pegasusautoracing.com in Wisconsin USA on Wednesday night. They arrived TODAY. F***ing incredible.
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stantheman
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 11:27 PM |
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more woes
JBA falcon
Another satisfied customer,not.
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Noodle
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| posted on 19/1/07 at 11:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by stantheman
JBA falcon
Another satisfied customer,not.
Blinkety-flip!
Your sort make me sick
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Kelvin
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| posted on 20/1/07 at 07:33 AM |
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Such a frustrating thing to see with a company that obviously has a product that people want and is willing to go into the market place to save other
companies from folding but just isn't making the most of the opportunities that are available to it.
Simple customer service is lacking (from an external view) which if fixed could snowball into being a major player in the market with a big turnover
and profit, not a perceived major player with potentially a cupboard full of winding up orders.
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BKLOCO
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| posted on 21/1/07 at 02:45 PM |
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Unbelievable
Hello everyone.
I'm back.
WITH AVENGENCE.
So let me get the gist of this thread right....
You want Darren to employ more people?
OK I'm sure he would happily do that...
However would YOU be happy to pay that persons salary in increased prices for the parts you buy?
I think not somehow.
You all seem to forget that EVERY kit car supplier is efectively a cottage industry. They ALL have things wrong with them to a greater or lesser
extent.
That may be what is percieved by some to be poor customer relations, as with GTS, or badly fitting bodywork, as with MK, or any number of other things
with other manufacturers. The fact is "you pays yer money and takes yer choice"
If you want a super slick organisation to deal with you shouldn't be building a kit car in the first place because you WILL be dissapointed.
Although I have NOT got as much experience as some on here regarding building cars I DO have quite a lot of life experience and quite honestly there
are a lot of posters on this forum who maybe need to keep quiet until they can say the same.
I built a GTS Panther in less than 7 months, in my spare time. I had one or 2 delays yes but NOTHING that couldn't be sorted out with the
supplier (who wasn't allways GTS) with a polite but firm phone call.
Might I suggest that some people need to learn some "people skills" before posting on here. Maybe then they could use this forum for what
it was set up for.
To give help and advice on technical issues encountered in the building of kit/scratch built cars.....
NOT SLAGGING OF INDIVIDUALS OR MANUFACTURERS IN A VINDICTIVE IMMATURE WAY THAT DOES NOTHING FOR ANYONE. BUT SHOWS THE POSTER UP FOR WHAT THEY ARE.
"Brian has again left the room"
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want!!! 
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flak monkey
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| posted on 21/1/07 at 02:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by BKLOCO
Hello everyone.
I'm back.
WITH AVENGENCE.
So let me get the gist of this thread right....
You want Darren to employ more people?
OK I'm sure he would happily do that...
However would YOU be happy to pay that persons salary in increased prices for the parts you buy?
I think not somehow.
You all seem to forget that EVERY kit car supplier is efectively a cottage industry. They ALL have things wrong with them to a greater or lesser
extent.
That may be what is percieved by some to be poor customer relations, as with GTS, or badly fitting bodywork, as with MK, or any number of other things
with other manufacturers. The fact is "you pays yer money and takes yer choice"
If you want a super slick organisation to deal with you shouldn't be building a kit car in the first place because you WILL be dissapointed.
Although I have NOT got as much experience as some on here regarding building cars I DO have quite a lot of life experience and quite honestly there
are a lot of posters on this forum who maybe need to keep quiet until they can say the same.
I built a GTS Panther in less than 7 months, in my spare time. I had one or 2 delays yes but NOTHING that couldn't be sorted out with the
supplier (who wasn't allways GTS) with a polite but firm phone call.
Might I suggest that some people need to learn some "people skills" before posting on here. Maybe then they could use this forum for what
it was set up for.
To give help and advice on technical issues encountered in the building of kit/scratch built cars.....
NOT SLAGGING OF INDIVIDUALS OR MANUFACTURERS IN A VINDICTIVE IMMATURE WAY THAT DOES NOTHING FOR ANYONE. BUT SHOWS THE POSTER UP FOR WHAT THEY ARE.
"Brian has again left the room"
Amen 
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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JoelP
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| posted on 21/1/07 at 03:00 PM |
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sorry lads, but employing staff is an essential part of growing a business. Darren is clearly at his limit, where supply is the limiting factor. If
there is an excess of demand, and he feels inclinded to attemp to meet the demand, then he simply has to employ staff. If he doesnt want to, fair
enough, his turnover will be limited by a lower productivity*. Im sure that in the long run the bad press will do no damage, because as people get put
off he will be better able to meet the demands of those who stay.
By productivity i dont just mean his ability to produce items to sell, i mean it to include his ability to sell them and take orders.
[Edited on 21/1/07 by JoelP]
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Kelvin
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| posted on 21/1/07 at 04:12 PM |
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Quite right Joel.
As I said originally, I have no axe to grind with Darren or any of his companies, I am merely posting as someone who is looking to purchase another
kit and has done research on this forum, which most people with internet access, I would imagine, would do.
Employing a member of staff to deal with admin/emails etc is merely one possibility, but what i will say is that in my experience those companies with
good customer service records are more likely to get my business and return business. In today's culture of so much choice, there has to be
something to 'sweeten the deal' if you like, and that isn't always the price.
Describing any company as 'just a cottage industry' is no excuse for poor customer service, it should be at the forefront of your thoughts
when dealing with the people who are putting the money into keeping your business alive, no matter if it be a multinational or small one man band.
Unfortunately I think the damage has been done (whether rightly or wrongly), in the view of some readers of this forum at least, which means that
this type of thread will now always be jumped on immediately by both sides.
Shame, as GTS have, from what I have seen, to be a very nice product that I would definitely consider purchasing, if I could gain confidence in the
supplier. Unfortunately, I think that may be a hard thing to achieve.
Sorry, I must seem like a cracked customer service record, but it's something that really bugs me about business today.
[Edited on 21/1/07 by Kelvin]
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Fat boy 1
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| posted on 21/1/07 at 09:51 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Kelvin
Quite right Joel.
As I said originally, I have no axe to grind with Darren
Then why Post, Have you ever puchased any thing from GTS ? because Darren has only done the best he can for Locost builders, he's got the right
product at the right price.
And when he F---ks OFF because of all the aggro it will be GTS customers that suffer, not the people who are on the guy's back who haven't
bought a thing of him. which is most of you as far as I can see.
[Edited on 21/1/07 by Kelvin]
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Kelvin
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 08:43 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Fat boy 1
quote:
Originally posted by Kelvin
Quite right Joel.
As I said originally, I have no axe to grind with Darren
Then why Post, Have you ever puchased any thing from GTS ? because Darren has only done the best he can for Locost builders, he's got the right
product at the right price.
And when he F---ks OFF because of all the aggro it will be GTS customers that suffer, not the people who are on the guy's back who haven't
bought a thing of him. which is most of you as far as I can see.
Okay, I'll try and explain in simple terms as you seem to have not bothered reading my posts.
You are quite correct, I haven't purchased anything from GTS, which is why, in my first post, I said;
quote:
Originally posted by Kelvin
I must make it clear that I haven't tried to contact GTS via phone, email etc, so I have no axe to grind, no parts outstanding, no money owed. I
have spoken to them at Brands and they seemed like nice, chatty, knowledgeable people.
I am posting because I am a potential purchaser of a kit. As a potential purchaser of a kit I have done some research and have read the topics here
in the GTS forum (I've been a member since 2002 or a couple of cars ago) and those available on Google. Those threads and search results, you
have to admit, do not paint a good picture from the perspective of someone wishing to invest some of their hard earned into a hobby.
As I also said, GTS have what appears to be a very nice product, which I would definitely consider purchasing but for the aforementioned issues raised
on this forum/searched via Google. I don't believe any of my posts have been inflammatory towards GTS or Darren personally, they have merely
been personal views that could be applied to any business in any field where customer service is an important factor in business growth/customer
satisfaction.
I fully agree with you, GTS have offered another choice in the already crowded Locost market and their prices are very tempting for which they should
be applauded, but those prices mean nothing if there are issues with actually getting hold of the parts after payment has been received.
As a potential customer, I have decided not to buy a GTS after reading these threads and my own research, purely due to the customer service issue,
not to do with the quality of products or manufacture. That is just me though, as it is an area of business I feel strongly about. There are just
too many scare stories, whether they be true, half true or whatever, to make me feel comfortable.
As to your question of why post, well, this forum depends on posts and conversations to live, so if someone has a point or an opinion to make then I
feel it is important that it is posted and can then be debated. I have an opinion, much like everyone else, and I was offering my perspective. I
kept my posts general and made my position clear from post 1 in this thread, I'm not a GTS customer, I have no complaints with them, but due to
the evidence available to me I would not be becoming a future customer and here's why and explained what I felt could make the experience
better. I'm one person who is not going to put 3 - 4 thousand into GTS who has posted, how many are there who haven't posted?
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flak monkey
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 10:37 AM |
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If you have had no dealings with GTS then reserve your judgement. Fair enough some of the posts may put off some would be customers, but inflaming the
situation doesnt make it any better.
Darren doesnt post on here anymore because of the aggro, and I cant blame him. Unfortunately we live in a world where people are quick to slag off a
company, and loathe to leave positive comments. I know of many satisfied GTS customers both in the UK and abroad. unfortunately any thread in this
section seems to deteriorate into an argument.
I set up a GTS forum on the owners club site, and Darren does regularly visit it. I would urge any GTS customers with technical issues to use that
forum rather than this one. This is a joke and ultimately a waste of everybodies time. 
Rgds,
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Kelvin
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 10:56 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
If you have had no dealings with GTS then reserve your judgement. Fair enough some of the posts may put off some would be customers, but inflaming the
situation doesnt make it any better.
Darren doesnt post on here anymore because of the aggro, and I cant blame him. Unfortunately we live in a world where people are quick to slag off a
company, and loathe to leave positive comments. I know of many satisfied GTS customers both in the UK and abroad. unfortunately any thread in this
section seems to deteriorate into an argument.
I set up a GTS forum on the owners club site, and Darren does regularly visit it. I would urge any GTS customers with technical issues to use that
forum rather than this one. This is a joke and ultimately a waste of everybodies time.
Rgds,
David
David,
Sorry, no, I will not reserve my judgement, or keep quiet as it's not what GTS owners want to hear, which is probably more the case.
I will say it again, I have no reason to doubt Darren or GTS, I am merely posting as a former potential customer and explaining the reasons for me not
wishing to purchase from GTS. These are valid reasons open to serious debate. I admit, most of these threads degenerate into petty name calling,
which in my view this thread hasn't, it has raised some valid points. They do not inflame any situation.
There is a distinct difference between myself and someone who is currently experiencing problems, whatever they may be, with GTS or infact any company
they may be dealing with.
Everything I have posted has been generalities, which could quite easily pertain to any company in any industry. It just so happens that this topic
is in the GTS forum.
I am trying to ascertain why and maybe understand the reasons for there being so many posts of a bad nature.
To my mind, Darren could do a lot worse than putting a post here, maybe 'stickied' (sic) at the top, explaining once and for all how to
contact him, how to deal with any delays be they expected or not and finally put the problems to bed. It would show a willingness to make matters
better and save Mark and yourself the hassle of being an intermediary.
I think you're right, there does need to be more postings of a positive nature as I firmly believe he has a good product, as evidenced by your
very nice build.
[Edited on 22/1/07 by Kelvin]
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BKLOCO
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 11:28 AM |
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Kelvin
You flatter yourself.
Do you really think that real GTS owners give a flying fcuk about your opinionated views?
We've built GTS's and mostly have a good relationship with Darren and all the other guys down at the w-shop.
Stop wasting yours and everybody elses time and go build a car....
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want!!!
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Kelvin
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 11:41 AM |
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Ah, and the thread descends.
Maybe a few more positive posts from people such as yourself would have helped the situation in the first place.
Yep, I fully admit to being dogmatic in my views when it comes to spending hard earned on a hobby. You pays your money etc etc etc.
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Micael
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 03:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by BKLOCO
Stop wasting yours and everybody elses time and go build a car....
Some are waiting for parts from GTS. And i suspect they will be hanging here utill they get them and can continue with their build.
Maby thats why there are not so many thread like this in MK, Luego, MAC- forums. People got their stuff and are building, instead of lurking here
Micael Moose Åman
Petrolhead and all around nice guy
"Don't leave the duck there. It's totally irresponsible. Put it on the swing, it'll have much more fun." //Sleep Talkin Man Dec 23
2009
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MartinDB
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| posted on 22/1/07 at 04:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by BKLOCO
Kelvin
You flatter yourself.
Do you really think that real GTS owners give a flying fcuk about your opinionated views?
We've built GTS's and mostly have a good relationship with Darren and all the other guys down at the w-shop.
Stop wasting yours and everybody elses time and go build a car....
If GTS owners don't care about his posts, why are you getting so worked up?
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Fat boy 1
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| posted on 23/1/07 at 12:11 AM |
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If GTS owners don't care about his posts, why are you getting so worked up?
The one thing We ain't doing is geting worked up, to many people to quick to call, and most who haven't purchased a thing from GTS, or
never will because of post like these, Darren has only do good for us locost builder, as I said the right price for a very good product, my not be on
time my be hard to get hold off but he's never not deliverd for us guys.
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