Chaput Chatter

In which our Sales Manager, Mike Chaput, ruminates in his inimitable manner.

What is the main reason we drive British sports cars? I think the answer is obvious. British sports cars provide us with a driving experience that is fun, exhilarating, and unique. The cars have a personality all their own and somehow find a place in our hearts. It is this mystique that keeps the British sports car hobby alive.

However, mystique alone doesn’t keep discontinued parts on the shelf. When was the last time you stopped to ponder, “Where do these obsolete parts come from? Who makes them? How do they do it? How much docs it cost?” Well, the simple answers are: all over; Moss Motors; decades of experience in the business; and lots of money!

Every year, Moss Motors invests a major portion of its profits into the retooling of discontinued parts for British sports cars. Currently, we have an active inventory of over 26,000 part numbers and Moss has literally retooled thousands of these items! Stop for a moment and think about this. If all the suppliers in this business adopted our aggressive approach to retooling, would there be any discontinued parts? It is also important to note that we not only make the popular items such as steering wheels, pistons, water pumps, etc., but also the very obscure items, such as bolts, overrider supports, vent window pivots—you get the idea?

Another salient fact for you to consider is that our major competitors buy a substantial amount of their inventory from Moss Motors. We feel that it is nor only our obligation to reproduce discontinued and obsolete parts, but it is a responsibility we take on gladly with open arms.

Wc are enthusiasts just like you. Enthusiasm is what started this company 47 years ago, and it is what most certainly makes us continue to be so successful today.

I have often wondered, how low could we make our prices if we didn’t invest our profits back into the business? I would venture to suggest that no one could come close to our pricing. However, it is also obvious that if we adopted this policy of non-reinvestment, we would be shooting ourselves in the foot and striking a massive blow to the long-term health of this industry. In a short period of time, hundreds of parts would be unavailable again, and your classic would die an untimely death at some point in the future. It would only be a matter of rime!

So, I pose a few questions you might ask of yourself. Does my supplier care about my car, or just about my money? Is my supplier an active and willing participant in the preservation of this great hobby? Does my supplier ever get out on the road and support the hundreds of clubs and meetings that also contribute greatly to this wonderful escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life? Are the parts I am buying of good quality and manufactured to OEM specifications? Does my supplier care about ME?!

If you buy from Moss, the answer to all these questions is a resounding “YES!” Cliches become cliches because often they happen to be true. Two cliches that come to mind: “You get what you pay for,” and “Price isn’t everything.” You know, we make this promise to you as a customer and fellow enthusiast every day—When you support Moss, Moss will support you! For a long time to come.

As always, your letters and comments are welcome. Have a wonderful summer!

– Mike