Originally Posted by Nobby248 (Post 9072974)

buy off and from enthusiasts whenever you can, those who use their own products, who go racing with them, who test them, develop them, rally them, sprint them, report on them and stand by what they say, buy off the bloke who spends time with you, buy from fellow enthusiasts and don’t be fooled by the Wolves who also attack these enthusiasts that have become sellers, who have proved the worth of what they sell and you wont go far wrong

Originally Posted by scoobyboy (Post 9073032)

got bored 3rd paragraph in

Originally Posted by scoobyboy (Post 9073032)

got bored 3rd paragraph in

Originally Posted by Anders_WR1 (Post 9073137)

Same here

Originally Posted by apac (Post 9073364)

this place really is a den of thieves. What a way to welcome a new member/poster to the site.

Originally Posted by belliott69 (Post 9073433)

hardly a new member look when he joined.

Originally Posted by scoobyboy (Post 9073032)

got bored 3rd paragraph in

Originally Posted by scoobyboy (Post 9073032)

got bored 3rd paragraph in

Originally Posted by what would scooby do (Post 9073774)

Can you say that again in like two or three words?:sleep:


:lol1:

Originally Posted by Nobby248 (Post 9072974)

‘Beware of Wolves in sheep’s clothing



If you’re reading this you are probably an enthusiast… you are probably a petrol head and proud of it?


To us driving a car is not just a mode of transport, to get from point A to point B? We are not your ‘average’ driver or car owner; to us a car is far more than that


Other dictionary terms that are used to explain the word ‘Enthusiasts’ are……… Fans, aficionados, devotees, buffs, fanatics etc, etc


The great thing about being one of the above is…. Like the X Files tell us… ‘WE ARE NOT ALONE’ do you wave to a passing Scooby? If you see another owner parked up, do you check out their car and chat with them and swap war stories? Do you read the dedicated Subaru and or Japanese car magazines and study the after market goodies on offer and check out the latest modifications that are the new ‘must haves’? Do you park your car miles away from the shop in the supermarkets so as not to get a dent in your door? Do you check the neighbourhood before parking your pride and joy? Do you look back at your car for a final ‘glance’ when walking away from her? Etc, etc, etc


If you can say yes to any of the above then you’re an enthusiast… and there is no getting out of that... the Anorak fits you well! Eek…


So why have I bothered making the above statements???


Well it’s to give you a warning and some old head experience… and they don’t come much older than mine… before some wag sticks the boot in J


I have been afflicted by the enthusiasts bug since my teenage years… my first love was for motorbikes, classics and British... then came the multi cylinder Japs Kawasaki Z 900’s etc... Then cars, Ford Escort RS 2000’s , Jags, Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Subaru’s etc, etc. And I bet I’m not the only one reading this that has walked down the same path, somewhat chequered in my case.


The thing all the above Marks and Makes have in common are… yes you guessed it… they attract enthusiasts like us! You only have to look in the newsagents to see the proof, the racks are stacked full of magazines for: Jaguar Enthusiast, Fast Ford, Land Rover Owner, Classic Car, Classic Bike, etc, etc…. but they also, alas, attract the Wolves; the Wolves are very often in the shadows… they prowl around waiting to pick off an enthusiast with their ‘dodgy’ advice, unrealistic promises, poor customer service, no back up when we need help, inferior products with outrageous claims etc, etc


These Wolves very often lurk on the fringes and trade in on our enthusiasm, they understand our weakness and exploit it… they bleed us dry and come back for more!



The problem is we don’t see them coming, they STALK us and use lots of tricks to bait us, fool, and mislead us… They trade upon their semi-knowledge and half wisdom, things the read here or there and they edit them to fit a product they need to move on - at our expense and to our dissatisfaction when the product does not do ‘exactly what is says on the poor quality tin with a loose lid’.


The trouble is, we are often easy prey when our enthusiasm takes over our head and our lack of previous knowledge, we believe the hype they sell us.



Help is out there to prevent us making mistakes, this Internet site is just one example, our petrol head friends give us their experiences of this and that… but sometimes we hide the fact we have been ripped off or are quietly dissatisfied with a product or service we have received… we don’t like to admit it, because we may not want to be embarrassed by being caught out by one of these Rogue (Wolves) Traders?


So how do we know a trader is ‘on the level’? How can we tell if the product they push on us is going to give us what they promise? It’s not easy… it is an age old problem.


One way that may work is to do your home work by asking the right questions E.g. What evidence do you have Mr Trader, what RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT work have you undertaken to prove the worth of your products, what is you after sales policy if I am not entirely satisfied??? Etc, etc


It pays never to be shy when asking questions to traders… if they dodge, avoid, muddy or waffle their answers then do not part with you hard earned cash!


Never be afraid to put up a post on any internet blog asking any amount of questions about a product or service, even if you think others readers may think it’s silly question… I can guarantee there will be a lot of readers who are also itching to ask the same ‘silly’ question as you.


I am sick of being taken advantage of by these Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, they think we are easy prey… well we can defend and fight back. Most of the above is about identifying and defence… but the best form of defence is attack…



So if anyone on this or any other ‘Enthusiasts’ site gets poor quality, shabby, low grade service or goods…. Tell the world and his dog about it, use the power of the NET publish correspondence from the Wolf that bit a chunk out of you, expose them before their prey uncover their dodgy deals and the power of numbers will subdue them. Unfortunately they will come back when they think we have forgotten… but if we keep up the warnings… they will have to hunt elsewhere and we will be wiser.


Magazines are not your friends… the trouble with Magazines are they have ‘vested’ hidden interests, they are funded by advertisers, they don’t give a toot who advertises as long as the ‘dollar’ is right, they give advice and then sell products to the reader, based upon gain and profit… this is not true of all publications I hasten to add… but beware of the ‘big’ sellers as they are edited by Wolves and think of enthusiasts as easy prey also… I once worked in the specialist Hi-Fi industry and have seen how the manufacturers and publishers work hand in hand: corrupt is the word.


I am a consumer of things that make my car go faster, stop quicker, handle better etc, etc… I have learned the hard way…My advice is free….and I have nothing, absolutely nothing to gain from this post or the advice I share with you…. buy off and from enthusiasts whenever you can, those who use their own products, who go racing with them, who test them, develop them, rally them, sprint them, report on them and stand by what they say, buy off the bloke who spends time with you, buy from fellow enthusiasts and don’t be fooled by the Wolves who also attack these enthusiasts that have become sellers, who have proved the worth of what they sell and you wont go far wrong


I hope this post has not been in vain and you avoid the Wolves


Nobby

Originally Posted by belliott69 (Post 9073433)

hardly a new member look when he joined.

Originally Posted by Nobby248 (Post 9074994)

I watched a lot of corespondence flying back and forth on another thread... and felt strongly enough to put my feelings into words... I dont post much, but do read lots on here... and I am surprised at the reception my post and I have received?


I am support of good honest traders... but feel this site has become a supermarket for the Wolves and is has become a feeding pit for dodgy dealers... Just my honest observations
Sorry to have taken up so much of your time guys, was just trying to help... will think twice about posting a long story in the future if at all


Nobby

Originally Posted by Nobby248 (Post 9074994)

I watched a lot of corespondence flying back and forth on another thread... and felt strongly enough to put my feelings into words... I dont post much, but do read lots on here... and I am surprised at the reception my post and I have received?


I am support of good honest traders... but feel this site has become a supermarket for the Wolves and is has become a feeding pit for dodgy dealers... Just my honest observations
Sorry to have taken up so much of your time guys, was just trying to help... will think twice about posting a long story in the future if at all


Nobby

Originally Posted by tkws5606 (Post 9075639)

Nobby i read your post on another forum and i find it interesting the different tone of the replies you received on this forum to the other.
Guess the truth hurts/shocks some people and the only way they can express their thoughts is with sarcasm:cuckoo:

Originally Posted by Nobby248 (Post 9074994)

I watched a lot of corespondence flying back and forth on another thread... and felt strongly enough to put my feelings into words... I dont post much, but do read lots on here... and I am surprised at the reception my post and I have received?


I am support of good honest traders... but feel this site has become a supermarket for the Wolves and is has become a feeding pit for dodgy dealers... Just my honest observations
Sorry to have taken up so much of your time guys, was just trying to help... will think twice about posting a long story in the future if at all


Nobby

Originally Posted by Nobby248 (Post 9072974)

‘Beware of Wolves in sheep’s clothing!

If you’re reading this you are probably an enthusiast… you are probably a petrol head and proud of it?


I'm long standing owner of Subaru's on my fith...as a consumer of things that make my car go faster, stop quicker, handle better etc, etc…

I have learned the hard way…My advice is free….and I have nothing, absolutely nothing to gain from this post or the advice I share with you…. buy off and from enthusiasts whenever you can, those who use their own products, who go racing with them, who test them, develop them, rally them, sprint them, report on them and stand by what they say, buy off the bloke who spends time with you, buy from fellow enthusiasts and don’t be fooled by the parasites who attack these enthusiasts/traders, who have proved the worth of what they sell

I watched a lot of corespondence flying back and forth on another thread... and felt strongly enough to put my feelings into words... I dont post much, but do read lots on here... and I am surprised at the reception my post and I have received?

I am support of good honest traders... but feel this site has become a supermarket for the Wolves and is has become a feeding pit for dodgy dealers... Just my honest observations

Sorry to have taken up so much of your time guys, was just trying to help... will think twice about posting a long story in the future if at all




Nobby