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Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 12:36:37 -0500
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From: N301ES <lancair@ustek.com>
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Subject: A Sad Saga:  Trials and tribulations of buying major aircraft components
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I contacted an engine builder this past January January and got a quote 
and delivery for a Cont. TSIO550.  Their quote dated 31 January included 
a new exhaust system and a build/delivery time of 14 weeks.  When I 
placed the order they reneged on the quote, saying that the exhaust 
system would be used, not new.  We discussed a bit further: they finally 
came down a bit on the price and I accepted a used exhaust system.  I 
sent the 50% deposit check on 2 February, expecting delivery in 14 weeks 
- late May 2005 by the current Gregorian calendar. 


A short time after the engine order I ordered through the same engine 
salesman an MT prop.  This time I confirmed the price and delivery 
directly with the MT factory manager before sending my deposit.  
Delivery would have been the same 14 weeks except the plant in Germany 
was doing some engineering that could delay things.  I sent the 50% 
deposit on 23 Feb, expecting delivery after June.  MT kept me updated 
about the delivery and on July 19 I sent the balance through the 
salesman.  Unfortunately the salesman sat on the check for a month so 
the factory did not ship per schedule - not their fault.  When they and 
I realized the problem with the salesman we got the money forwarded from 
the salesman to the plant and the prop arrived in fine order - thanks MT. 


So the prop now sits in a corner of the hanger with no place to hang it 
- months late and we still have no engine.  Last week in October the 
salesman called to say that the engine was ready to ship - I just needed 
to wire the balance directly to the factory account to avoid their 
holding a check for clearance.  Unfortunately the balance included a 
charge for work (bolting on a bracket) that they had intimated would be 
gratis.  We said OK and wired the funds a week ago - into their account 
on Tuesday Nov 1.  Since then the engine company has not sent notice of 
shipment and they have refused to answer telephone calls and e-mails.  
Perhaps now that they have my money they are off on a bender in Hawaii 
-  I dunno . . .


 I checked with a fellow ES-P builder and he is having the same 
difficulty with the same engine builder  Anyone else have these 
problems, and what should our fellow builders do to avoid them? 


Robert M. Simon,  ES-P  N301ES