Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[WP6980]

An article in the latest Practical Classics was discussing poor quality of new components and I have experienced this myself.

PC seemed to think that this was down to price, but not always the case, I have bought stuff that has been down-right rubbish but at a good price (often stuff is exactly the same).

I think the biggest problem is that before, if you bought a Lucas component you knew that it was going to do, what you wanted of it and that was that.

Now, you buy something, it all looks nice & shiny, but is it any good? Stuff comes over from China or India and is downright rubbish and it is hard to sort the chaff from the wheat.

I have bought new "Lucas" coils, no idea where they are made, but have had duff ones, ok, so, they can be returned and you can get your money back but that is not the point.

It is a bit of an unknown and nobody seems to have any knowledge of the components origins and there seems to be a lot of pot-luck with new stuff.

Other stuff, not car related, e.g electrical items, are so cheap but poorly made, I am thinking here of my Sony DVD player, absolute junk, bought from Tesco, so a reputable seller, but the number of stuff that is for sale that has been "seller reconditioned", is another phrase for the customer is performing the quality control for the manufacturer and the item is back out there for some other mug to try their luck.

And how many energy-saving light bulbs that fail after a short service? I have some that have gone on for years, but I was collecting duff ones before I got fed up, had over 10 that had failed in the space of about a year and when you take them apart and see all the electrical wizardry, all gone to waste, how is that energy efficient? Don't think so, we are all being conned.

There needs to be a mechanism that allows manufacturers to be held accountable for duff products, I am surprised that the Green Party has not taken on this mantle, and hopefully, Practical Classics will start to take an interest in car-related stuff and get the suppliers to take issue with manufacturers, after all, it is not rocket science.

Your thoughts!

[emmerson]

WP, welcome to the 21st century throw-away world!
New alternator which lasted 40 miles, light bulbs which blow first time switched on..........
If an item is low priced, I just can't be bothered to return it, so just swallow and buy another.
Dreadful indictment of the modern world, I'm afraid.

[peppiB]

My experience is they are

Cheap Reliable Affordable Parts

Coils, points and rotor arms seem to be the worst

[Ronniej]

Replacement ignition components made in the Far East are notoriously unreliable.
However, Martin Jay trading as "The Distributor Doctor" manufactures new rotor arms that are 100% reliable and not much dearer than the ones of doubtful provenance.
I would remark I have no connection other than a satisfied customer.




http://distributordoctor.com/red-rotor-arms.html

[Peter_L]

Perhaps if items were "if it fails within guarantee, then 100% refund and a replacement" may encourage more quality.
Downside being the prices will soar.

[colwyn500]

[Bitumen Boy]