Why I will not buy fron Andy Bernbaum again

[insaneradio]

I recently purchased a clutch plate from Andy Bernbaum. The gentlemen who answered the phone was just barely courteous. Very short and too the point type of guy. That caught me a little wrong but just considered it due to the fact he probably fielded calls all day. Even so considering I was the customer I thought his demeanor could certainly have been better. With that said here is the part that totally turned me off to doing business with him again. I had asked if he had clutch alignment tools and if he did if he could please include it with my order. His reply was that I did not need a tool to install my clutch. A little puzzled I asked how he recommended doing so and his reply was "You'll figure it out". What the heck of a comment from a man who wishes to sell his wares!! On top of that when I received my clutch it turns out to be a cheapy Western Auto refurb.

I will now take mey business elsewhere-----

Dave

[greg g]

typical of his modus operandi. You can pick up a plastic aligment tool from AZ or ADvance for around 5 bucks.

[Don Coatney]

Next time you need clutch parts call these folks. They will take care of you.

I have installed many clutches without an allignment tool. I simply eyeballed the disc and centered it. If that fails to work simply leave the pressure plate to flywheel bolts loose until the transmission in in place. Then tighten them.

[Joe Flanagan]

Don gave me the same suggestion and I'm glad I followed it. They are really nice people, they're reasonably priced, they ship fast, and they do nice work. I had my clutch redone by them and they included an alignment tool when they mailed it back to me.

I haven't done any business with Burn Bomb for years for the same reasons as you.

[JoelOkie]

Andy Bernbaum's sales counter manner does leave a lot to be desired. I posted a thread a week or two ago about a brand spanking new wheel cylinder I had installed that was missing a port bore, and it came from Bernbaums. I suppose every parts store gets a few bad parts time and again. I didn't try to return the part, as it looked like it (drilling it out myself) was easier to fix than to send it back and wait on another. From now on I'll get everthing I can through NAPA, just as quick, and they seem to have better quality on a lot of their parts. If I had gotten the cylinder fronm NAPA in the first place it wouldn't have been much of a hassle to take it to the store, show them what was wrong, and gotten another. Joel

Edited June 5, 2010 by JoelOkie

[michael.warshaw]

i use roberts they are great ROBERT MOTOR PARTS

[insaneradio]

Glad to know I am not the only one.

Dave

[John Reddie]

Unfortunately, a few vendors that supply auto parts develop a superiority attitude. Rudeness is inexcusable, especially to someone who wants to buy items from them.

John R

[JBNeal]

When repairing equipment of any type, it's the useless a-wipes that make me appreciate the knowledgeable folks who genuinely try to help out. I don't have to deal with the general public on a daily basis, but back when I did, I got to be a bit snippy too, but at least I tried to help out. AB kinda jipped me on some parts awhile back, sending me stuff that I later found at 1/2 the price at NAPA, so that's left a bad taste in my mouth. Roberts has done that on a couple occasions, but I've done a ton more business with them and they've been helpful every time I've called. I also learned not to call either place if the Pats or Red Sox have recently been defeated in a playoff game...yikes.

Now I ain't tried this, but I heard way back that a broom handle can be used to align the clutch disc. Knowing this, any wooden dowel could work. I think the trick is to align the clutch before installing the pilot bushing? Anyhow, I reckon that's what that feller was gettin' at by saying you'll figure it out.

[P-12 Tommy]

Well.....you know each to their own. I've been buying from AB for a few years now and have been lucky. So far everything I've bought has worked out good.

Tom

[Powerhouse]

I've bought from him...but will not anymore...3rd time of being spoken to like a moron...for no reason at all mind you...and that's it. EVERYONE in my old car club back in NY avoided him like the plague. And apparently at a certain PA car show/swapmeet...he can be observed scooping up all the MOPARTS and talking down the price to the point where you just want him to go away and give it to him. But that's business...and in business THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT! Even if they are wrong...hahaha. Someone should enlighten him with that wisdom.

[55 Fargo]

I've bought from him...but will not anymore...3rd time of being spoken to like a moron...for no reason at all mind you...and that's it. EVERYONE in my old car club back in NY avoided him like the plague. And apparently at a certain PA car show/swapmeet...he can be observed scooping up all the MOPARTS and talking down the price to the point where you just want him to go away and give it to him. But that's business...and in business THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT! Even if they are wrong...hahaha. Someone should enlighten him with that wisdom.

I phoned the Bernbaum once, to enquire about some part or another. I had full prior knowledge of his crusty demeanor, I phoned, I then proceed to talk his langauge, if you know what I mean, so had no problem, and he answered my questions.

I personally can live with business people being rude and obnoxious, as long as they can deliver a decent product, and provide good customer service, and return exchange policies.

I think Mr AB, may be lacking in some of these areas, but to his credit may supply enough decent product at decent prices to overcome his blatant shortcomings.

The market for our cars is much narrower than the other 2, Furd and Chebby.

As far as Roberts is concerned, no problem in dealing with Gary, good service, and prompt shipping.

I do think however Steele Rubber, will take the lead on a superior product with respect to rubber products.

My advice to anyone is to investigate, before contempt, make your decisions based on your own experience with AB, so far his record of happy customer realtions is weak, sorry Andy is you cruise this site, if you do, maybe you should look at your "hoist side manner".......

[rockable]

Hmm. I've bought from him twice. He's short and to the point but I got the right parts every time and they all worked. So far, he's not treated me like a moron. Maybe it's because I was in a hurry and appreciatate "short and to the point. I don't know.

[Powerhouse]

his prices aren't very good at all...but that depends on whom you know and where you live.

[PatS....]

Service...Price...Quality.

Pick 2

No excuse for rudeness though, but AB seems to transcend the usual tolerance of customers for being treated rudely. Not sure why, he is surely far from the only source of old Mopar parts.

Imagine the income he would have if he was a friendly, helpful and happy guy.

[woodie49]

I have purchased a number of times from AB. A couple times on the phone. My experience has always been fine. If you don't want to deal with his personality, you can download his order form and fax it in. I just did that Monday and the order arrived yesterday! I did it for the convenience, not because I didn't want to deal with him.

In my case, Burnbaum has been fine, I like to get to the point and so does he. It probably helps if you know what you want. He does have parts that are sometimes pretty hard to locate and you can check inventory online, which I like. I just bought a water distribution tube from him that I did not have a lot of luck locating elsewhere.

Try dealing with your bank or Microsoft over the phone. Courteous and 100% useless:mad:. You'll long for Andy on a bad day.

[Powerhouse]

Try dealing with your bank or Microsoft over the phone. Courteous and 100% useless:mad:. You'll long for Andy on a bad day.

HAHAHA...and at least most people can understand him!

[michael.warshaw]

I buy from roberts and neil riddle in good old seattle. Neil is the best vendor out there, his prices are good and hes no b.s, and he has no attitude.

Email him from this point on seaplym@hotmail.com

why deal with a negative person, when you can have a pleasent transaction with somone who appreciated your business.

[38plymouth]

I bought wheel cylinders from him years ago and when I installed them one was leaking bad. I called him to see about getting it replaced. He told me in a not so nice way that there was no way it was leaking since it was brand new. I must have imagined all the brake fluid dripping out of it onto the floor. I went to napa and bought a hone and rebuild kit and fixed it. I will never buy another part from him even if it's half the price of the competition.

[Bingster]

Funny you mention wheel cylinders. I bought new cylinders from him a few years back when I first got my '47 Desoto. I haven't put them in yet, but are close to doing so. I've gone back and forth about maybe not using them. For the rear wheels I'm going resleeve. I wish I had known then what I know now.

[John-T-53]

I bought a complete set of wheel cylinders from Bernbaum a few months ago - they were for a '37 P-8 coupe I was working on for a friend. I'm glad I checked the bores, because they all had surface rust! Had to take some sandpaper and scotchbrite to them and reassemble before installing in the car. Also, the inlet on the fronts was on the wrong side of the cylinder. We're still looking for a longer brake hose. This was the only place we could find these cylinders new, other than resleeving.

[Andydodge]

Whilst I don't doubt what others have said regarding Andy Bernbaums bedside manner, I have been dealing with him for at least 20 yrs, getting various parts including a complete cast iron torqueflite rebuild kit, 1/4 vent rubbers, suspension parts, pistons, window and body rubber parts, seals, gaskets sets and other bits that I can't remember. I have always found him to be straightforward when I ask a question about the suitability or not of a part, he's advised me when something has not been what I thought it was and generally has tried to help me when I call........from Australia.........parts have been sent promptly, packed well and charged correctly.......I have never met the man, hold no brief for him nor his business other than as a satisfied customer and as I said whilst I don't doubt what others have found in dealing from him I think that the flaming of him and his business in this forum has been a little unfair.........yep, its my 2 cents worth and after all I do share the same first name as Mr Bernbaum but anyway I have found him to be good to deal with and will continue to if I need parts......BTW I have also dealt with Roberts Motors Parts & Steele Rubber & found them both to be good to deal with as well..........Andy Douglas

[kbuhagiar]

Ordered a trunk lock cylinder for my 47 Plymouth from Mr. Bernbaum. I tried to give him the part number (as listed on his website), but he grunted and said something to the effect of, "I don't need that crap'. OK, fine.

He sent me a door lock cylinder instead. I called him back and advised him of his error. More grumbling and mumbling, through which he admitted it was an oversight on his part. I sent the lock cylinder back, and six weeks later I received the correct part.

Never got so much as an apology, nor did I get credit for the shipping charges incurred due to his mistake.

Perhaps Mr. Bernbaum should make an effort to utilize those part numbers on his website? Might help to avoid these kinds of mistakes.

Edited January 17, 2011 by kbuhagiar

[JerseyHarold]

I met AB at a National Chrysler Products Club meet in Gettysburg, PA around 1978. He rubbed me the wrong way then (attitude problem), and he's still the same today. I guess a leopard can't change his spots.

[Rodney Bullock]

Andy and I go way back. I knew nothing about antique mopars then. I remember an episode when I needed tune up parts for my dist. I thought he was being so mean telling me to get the numbers off the dist. it turns out with those numbers I was sent the right parts and knew what kind of ignition system I had. I bought wheel cly. from andy as well as brake shoes. I was working on my car at a shop deep deep in the country. NAPA was 15 miles away. The only problem we had was getting the rear hub off the car, guess who told us how and where to get the tool AB. When you call to ask questions you have to use their public line not the toll free number that makes them upset. I needed something for my P-9 he looked around and found it. Funny I hear what everyone is saying however he has never let me down. If he did not have something he told me.