Hmmmmm, now according to Dizzy Izzy I'm no longer a sales shark, I'm merely a "sales weasel", and "disrespecting the thread." (?)
I offer my expertise on buses, and my parts (such as this post about door hardware) after I see someone is looking for a particular item. Many folks don't know where to get the parts they want, especially for older stuff, and I have a lot of them, but for a limited number of models. And to boot, my prices are the best. And if someone wants to buy a part they don't need (say for example a 220 water pump, radically expensive) I instead tell them to rebuild theirs, where to get it done (Fresno Friction) instead of selling them something when I know there is a cheaper alternative. It's called honesty, integrity, and putting myself in another bus owner's shoes.
If someone besides Frank or Izzy has a
genuine gripe with me, please air it out, and be SPECIFIC. I promise to listen to it. But you don't, and you know it. I also don't believe it's Izzy's job is to moderate topics on the board, I believe someone else has that responsibility, and I will respect their wishes.
And as far as calling Frank a head case, well that is my best attempt at politeness, and actually less than I could say. He called me a "fraud", did 3 nasty posts during a sale on Ebay claiming I was selling defective tires, several more on Crown Coach Junkies, and now a very nasty comment on this site. All because of....... well, I'm not quite sure......I think frankly he wants to be a "star" on bus web sites, and was jealous because I post a lot, and I post a lot of funny stuff that people enjoy, that's my best guess. And I used to listen to him when he would call up, out of the blue, and talk for an hour an a half or so in a very aggressive know it all tone about buses. I coulda hung up, but I figured he was probably lonely and so I put up with him. Yes, I am a nice guy.
I want no ill will with anybody. I have a small business, buying and selling bus stuff. I surrender 100% of the profit to my non-profit, and make maybe 20,000 dollars a year working at this full time. And if you want a hard nasty job, try bus dismantling in the dirt, in Fresno, in the summertime. It's quite honestly awful a lot of the time, filthy, and dangerous,-I bleed daily.
On EBay, Frank even made a point to cast suspicion because I guarantee everything I sell, from a door switch to the entire bus. If it doesn't fit, doesn't work properly, just bring it or send it back for a refund. Now tell me what is wrong with that? (Actually it doesn't matter that much anyway, I can always just restock the part, and sell it to someone else later,- buses and bus parts only appreciate due to scarcity as the years go on.) So calling Frank a head case is not kind, I don't enjoy doing it, but it is accurate.
I NEVER cheat anyone, in today's world of the internet, word gets around fast. For Frank or Izzy, would you like to put your money where you mouth is and call some of the 150 or so people who've purchased something from me in the past year? If not, why not? Wouldn't you like to know what my customers think about how I treat them? Or would you be more comfortable just making unsupported accusations and nasty comments off the top of your head for (???) what reason?
I just sold a bus today to a nice young fellow named Eric. Great running Gillig, good shape, $3900 dollars. I spent ten days or so first trying to get him an engine for his broken bus.
For free, I helped him remove all of the seats, dispose of the frames, did an oil and filters change, this morning I was up at 7:30 sweeping out the bus, and doing the final touches to get him on the road. I charged him 18 bucks for three filters (my cost) disposed of the oil and filters for free, and his bus left flawless except for 1 dash light bulb and a lens cover we forgot, which I'm gonna drop off to him when we meet up in Sacramento this weekend.
When somebody gets a bus from me, I give an entire day of my time, free of charge, to help them do whatever they want to do on the bus. Sometimes it goes into several days if the folks are fun to be with and like buses and learning about them. They pay nothing for my help and expertise, pay only for the parts used, and I charge the real price I paid, not a mark up.
My last (previous) bus sale was to Karl Frost, a very nice GMC to a very nice guy for $2900. He spent all day with me, as we pulled all the seats (I ended up with them, and I do NOT need more bus seats in my backyard) and every other little thing he wanted done, such as hooking up an air line to the tank for one the road air. He ran it out of fuel about 60 days later, and I spent probably 3 hours on the phone guiding him thru the reprime process, telling him what needed to be done before he wore his batteries to a nub.
If someone wants, I will remove all 60 lug nuts, clean 'em up and clean the threads, put a little lubricant on them, and re-apply them at proper torque so they can change them in an emergency without an air gun. Yes, this necessitates pulling the rear outside dual, jacking up the bus, and I do it all for free. Why? Because I don't want them to have any problems. I always give folks a tire tool for free, and two sections of pipe for breaker bars. And wood blocks, and plywood in case they're on wet dirt, and on and on and on. We spend as much time as is necessary, and I'm fairly fanatical if you give me free rein.
About half the time I sell a bus, I go to the DMV with the customer to make sure the title change goes smoothly. Frankly there is no one that works harder than I do to assure that the bus I sell is 100% straight when it leaves my hands, and that the customer will tell others in the future how well they were treated. I also guarantee my buses unconditionally for the first month, or 1,000 miles, and transmissions/differentials for whatever the customer thinks is reasonable, 90 days, 6 months, I don't care as long as they know how to drive it, they won't hurt it; and I have Bayshore Truck Parts in Fresno check out all trannies and differentials before I sell them as I've been burned once or twice.
There were some nice young folks from northern California that bought a Spicer 5 speed from me, their's had broken. It was a good tranny, I sold it for $500. A rebuilt is 2400 dollars. They broke it within 10 months or so. (two broken ones now) Because I did not pop the cover and have it inspected, like I ALWAYS do now, I gave them another one for free, and paid half the installation cost ($400 dollars)
Then they broke THAT one! (three broke in 3 years or less) Turns out they had about 5 drivers, all young'ns, who did not know about double clutching, etc. The next one (#4) I sold them (after inspection) for 650, but I delivered it from Fresno to almost Eureka, it was about a 13 hour drive.
NOBODY but me would do this. I take calls 7 days a week up til about 9:30-10:00 to answer bus questions, and even if the person didn't buy anything from me, I still do it. OK I'm also a bit bored and lonely in the evenings, but that's not the point!!
So c'mon Frank and Izzy, if ya want to call names and make negative comments, back it up with facts. I'm ready when you are. And remember,
facts, not opinions.
I don't care what people think about me, everyone has a right to their own thoughts. But if you are going to criticize me on a public forum, especially one like the internet, then don't be surprised if I defend myself. Vigorously. This is how I earn money for some desperately poor people, and it ain't no joke to me.
Patrick Young
Fresno, CALIF
(559) 251-3814
Best darned supplier of buses and bus parts on the west coast, and probably further than that.
Saying your a sales shark does not demean you. The day I said that I was doing my morning catching up on all post. When I saw around 5-6 post on different topics and you didn't add to the subject. you just tried to sell stuff. I in now way think you are a bad person just lacking some tact. This board is a place for us to throw in input on school buses and how to rebuild them. Even though we do from time to time sell parts and or buses. Most everyone is here for the knowledge. When you come on here and in one day see we have someone new and all they are posting is "hey I got stuff to sell." then it looks like spam or someone just using the board as their personal billboard to benefit themselves. Now if you had thrown in some content then tell us you have buses and part for sale. Then I would have not called you a sales shark. So if you want to change your reputation with me you need to add your knowledge and not only your ads. So when you want to let people know you have a part that can help them then start your post with some insight and tact, then tell them you can help with the parts they need. 
So it doesn't help your standing with me demeaning and insulting a fellow Skoolie member. Again have some Tact! If you don't like him keep it to your self. If I want to see people insult each other I will go read websites supporting our Presidential Candidates. 
