Telephone Legendary Auto Interiors today... "Thanks for calling Legendary Auto Interiors, this is Chris speaking". Hello, Chris, I have several questions for you regarding seat foams, is that ok? He replies, "sure". And away we go...... 1) Q. Do you know what a Strato seat is? A. "Yes" 2) Q. Do you know what a Strato Bench seat is? A. "Yes" 3) Q. Do you carry seat foam for a Strato Bench seat? A. "No. You would need to use high density foam, and construct a base". 4) Q. Well, I need seat foam for a 1967 Strato Bench seat for a Riviera, could I use the foam backs of the Strato Bucket seat foams you sell? A. Yes, but they are only sold in sets, one back and one Strato Bucket base foam per kit, we don't break sets" 5) Q. Okay, so I could purchase TWO sets for Strato Bucket, and use just the backs, and construct a seat base foam from High Density foam? A. "Yes". 6) Q. I see several different auto restoration places sell seat foam, at different prices, is there a difference between them? A. "Yes, we sell ACI foams, the best in the industry, cheaper foams are just that". Okay, well that sounds great, I will call back shortly, with my credit card info. 10 minutes later...I call back... Is Chris there? "Yes, he's coming in now, wish to wait a minute? I answer, Yes. "Hello, this is Chris".. Hey Chris we just spoke regarding Strato Bench seat foam, and I wish to place an order... "Ok, fine, what year, make model of vehicle? I say, umm, we just spoke I need 2 sets of Strato Bucket seat foams. I'm already getting worried now.....but, continue... It's for 1967 Buick Riviera, with Strato Bench, remember? "Chris" states, "closest I have is Skylark, 1967". I say, well, Im not sure what a Skylark uses, but I DO KNOW a 1967 GTO came with Strato Buckets, so how about 2 sets of seat foams for THOSE SEATS? Strato Buckets? "Chris" questions, why would you say GTO, when you have a Buick? I say it really does not matter what vehicle we're talking about, how about 2 sets of seat foams for a 1967 Strato Bucket seat? "Chris" replies, "Riviera has a center arm rest, and seat backs are different than Strato Buckets. Strato bucket seat foams won't work". I tell "Chris" the backs I have now on my Strato Bench CAME from a 1967 GTO, and are installed, with armrest in place, and it all fits fine. Just need new foams. And, I've disassembled enough Strato seats to become quite familiar with them. "Chris" says, seat backs are different, then painful dead air on the line. I then question, so you don't have foam for my seats? He replies "nope". I say, well, allright, thank you, goodbye. "Chris" replies "bye". wow..o No: ....Did I miss something? Man, the mere mention of Buick while ordering seems to be the kiss of death! At least my Corvettes are easy to shop for!
To be honest I can see why the salesman didn't know how to help with this one. The 67 Riviera bench seats are one of the few GM bench seats that use bucket seat style tops with an armrest in the center. Almost every other GM front bench uses completely different foam for the seat backs. Legendary does not sell interiors for rivs so they would be unfamiliar with this. Duane
Duane, thanks for the reply. What I don't understand is how the salesperson seemed to know just what todo to make this work, then, like totally dumps me, that's what I don't get..
And salesmen don't all always know as much as they are supposed to lead you to believe. They've been known to BS their way thru a sale. Not referring to Legendary in particular, just personal experience at work. Not every salesperson knows it all.
Seems people are missing my point...AT FIRST the guy was dead-on, knew what we were talking about, THEN, totally drops the ball, and says, "nope", and "bye". WOULDN'T sell me what I REQUESTED. Oh, and it was the same salesperson(as if I didn't know that???) I didn't need him to do my THINKING for me, just not ARGUE when I requested 1967 STRATO BUCKET SEAT FOAMS, 2 SETS OF BOTTOMS AND BACKS. Thats how you make the sale?
Hmmm.... Chris is the Sales Manager, I was supposed to call him today, guess it's good I didn't. But maybe there are other Chris' there, they have alot of folks, I hope to get a tour one day, if i can plan that far ahead of time!!!!!!! By the way they have '73-'74 Riv seat covers in their newest catalog!!
That's good news for 73-74 Riviera owners! Wonder if seat FOAMS are in there, too! Guess 66-67 Rivieras are S.O.L.
I wonder how many times Legendary has tried to help someone "adapt" a part, only to wind up with lots of grief...maybe Chris reconsidered his initial advice... For your part, if you're confident Goat foams will do what you want, call and tell them you have a '67 Goat...can't tell you number of times I've "lied" to vendors to get what I want rather than what they think I need...
"Duane, thanks for the reply. What I don't understand is how the salesperson seemed to know just what todo to make this work, then, like totally dumps me, that's what I don't get.." I don't know what to tell ya but I can certainly relate to "winding up with lots of grief" for trying to help someone. That is a wierd type of bench seat. The look kind of reminds me of the 65-67 Mustang front bench seats. My company used to make all the oddball interiors, like Mustang front benches, Cougar eliminators, Mercury Cyclone interiors, Talladega benches, 64 T-Bolt interiors, all the 65-72 GS interiors, 66 Wildcat Buckets/rear benches, and even some GTO/Lemans front benches..............oh well its good to think of the old days. Duane
How come when I copy and paste your link www.classiccarinteriors.com I get nowhere? Is that no longer in business?
The server crashed and they lost everything. Someday I will rebuild it. At this point I only make a few plastic/rubber parts. If you want to get in touch with me give me a call after 7:30 PM eastern at 610-544-6776. Duane
I agree with Duane.....the guy was trying to get the sale made and then he had time to reconsider what he had said is my bet. Same reason....when you are a vendor and you start getting non-standard requests, the more time you have to think about it the more you realize the sale may turn into a problem. Not saying YOU are a problem...I am looking at it from the vendor's side. It happens to these places a lot and he probably consulted with someone after your first conversation and the conclusion was made to change their position. Can't blame them for that. Don't get upset...if you know what will work then order whatever will work. If you are confident what you order won't be a problem and they balk at selling it to you then tell them they can make notes on the invoice to the effect that "customer assumes risk of parts not being correct for application" and a notation that you are using "parts made for an XYZ car on an ABC car" or somesuch language. Legendary is by far the best in terms of reproduction interior parts quality vs. the other vendors out there. Of course they don't make the seat foams or carpet sets but their vinyl products seem to be much better than the competition. What you experienced was simply a "change of heart" on their part after they mulled it over. That's a vendor's perogative as well as a customer's.
I think if this was the case, (and I think it was) the sales rep should have been upfront about it instead of playing dumb and pretending he had never spoke to him before. " After we first spoke, I thought about it, and since the information we have shows they won't work in a Riviera, I would need you to assume responsibility for them if they don't fit. We will only take them back as a return if there is a manufacturing defect with them, but not fit. I am more than happy to sell you a set though!" :grin:
I feel the same. The guy sounded like he knew what was going on and could help and then did a 180 when you called back. If he changed his mind he should have said so and made it clear. To me Chris comes off seeming like he really knows nothing. I've been selling for 40 years and there's only one way--be straight with your customer. Art Roll tide:TU:
Agreed......they have the right to change their mind but yes, in the name of trying to keep good customer relations an explanation would have been in order. While they seem to have good products I (and other friends here in town) have also felt less than satisfied with their customer relations efforts at times. Recent example is a buddy that they sent the wrong door panels to...he was VERY late in discovering the problem and they did offer a decent deal on the correct ones. It took them over a couple months to ship his replacements and when he called them periodically to ask what the status was in they ALWAYS told him "we'll check and call you back". He never received one call back in that process (he was paying for the new panels...not a freebie). I experienced similar treatment from them when working at a resto shop and dealing with the interiors on a couple Olds's. Maybe they are short handed and run a fairly tight ship...who knows...but yes, a call back on occasion (or in the present case an explanation) would probably do wonders for them.
