There is a good reason why PBR will NEVER use Paypal - because of fraud. They were ripped off inbetween 2002-2004. I can't remember exactly when, but I asked Steve years ago.
I guess if we are going to rip through PBR, we should look at the other suppliers.
Can you ring up Marco with advise on a particular part ? I don't think so. The "old fashioned way" of calling a person and asking about a part is well and truly gone. You now look at pretty pictures and click on boxes. Great idea. It "looks like" the part I need. But when it arrives and it is the wrong one - do you send it back for a refund ?
Steve Young is one of the fore fathers of the hobby. Most of the other suppliers like Marco, buy stock from PBR, take cute little pictures, add 25% mark up and add ridiculous "shipping and handling" fees. Ever picked up a box from Marco and checked the paperwork ? My last order from them (and I mean that literally) cost $68 to send. Thats what it cost Marco to send to me. But they add all these fees and charge me $100. Not only that, but they LOST the order and then told me it is my "responsibility" to track it down even when the package was "trackable" at their end - but they were too lazy. I called USPS, and the parcel was still in Miami - Marco had not filled out the registration correctly and it was waiting FOUR WEEKS for Marco to sign the paperwork. Yet Marco was telling me to check my post office, or wait 3 months for an insurance claim. When the box arrived, it was MASSIVE. It could have been cut down and cost me less, but they filled it with 5 kg of packing. The box had a hole in it that you could fit a golf ball. I sent them pictures, explained that it had taken 2 months for the package to arrive and their reply was "glad to see you have it"..
If PBR are still in the dark ages, I'll still order from them. The boxes are sized correctly, packed correctly and the shipping is always what they paid. I've had order of $700 regularly in Flat Rate boxes and the "handling fee" was under $10. Marco won't even look at an order without overcharging shipping and handling.
I guess I've got used to their system. I've bought just about every manufacturer's service and parts manuals from the 1950's, so I order with the original part numbers. PBR have it or they don't. I have an account with them, which is safer than using paypal. PBR have made one error in the 15 years I've ordered from them. I think Marco has supplied one correct order in the 4 years I've tried ordering from them.
It is very rare that PBR don't have the part you are looking for.
I guess it is like any industry. Modernization has not caught up with PBR, but I prefer their depth of knowledge and honesty. If you have a credit account with them, you order what you need and wait for the package. It is that simple.
I do appreciate that people that are new to the hobby will find it very difficult to deal with PBR. I prefer the personal approach rather than overpriced parts, pretty pictures and dishonest shipping prices. But people have a choice, which is important I guess.
