VOC Spares

philo

Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Is anyone else out there having trouble getting a response from the VOC spares scheme. Order placed 2 months ago not received, and after several emails nothing. Have tried 2 different emails. Another order from about that period had 3 items wrong out of 7. After numerous emails and an apology 2 out of the 3 wrong items were corrected. What is going on? As section organiser of the N.Z section of the club, It is hard to recommend the spares scheme as one of the benefits of joining the club when the service is poor.:( I hope this is an isolated case, but I would hazard a guess not. Phil Oswald :confused: P.S I am a member of the VOC although computer says non-member. This site must have the same computer problems as the spares scheme.
 
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jollymike

New Forum User
VOC Member
Yes, I've had problems with no replies to emails too.
I phoned Ian re no price on PD 15/1P for several months, ie out of stock.
Apparently the system does not sumarise out of stock situations. Dear me.
And again, look at VOC Spares News MPH730. New Items...C24/1. Is a 5 ear Lighting replacement really C24/1?
Now Dick Weldon in the "The Spare Chair" notes the new clutch plates in either standard narrow or Black Lightning wide. Haven't found the former or latter listed yet to be able to order.
Does anybody know what is going on or am I just misreadng something.
Jolly Mike.
 

piggywig

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Me Too

You are not alone. I have tried all available adresses since July. After such non existing service I only continue trying as I believe there is a credit owing to me!
Col.
 
G

Graham Smith

Guest
I am a member of the VOC although computer says non-member. This site must have the same computer problems as the spares scheme.

Hi Phil

Whilst I can't comment on what goes on at the VOC Spares Company Ltd on a day-to-day basis, I can confirm that server the Spares Company uses is completely separate to our forum (and also to that of the club).

If you take a look at the home page of this forum, you will see detailed instructions on how to upgrade your forum membership to the status of a full member. (If other members of the club are wondering why they don't see this information, it's because the forum already recognises you as a full forum member and you don't need to upgrade).

Regarding the problems you've been receiving with an order at the VOC Spares Company Limited, I would normally let Dick Wheeldon answer this, but as he's currently away, my reply is on his behalf...

Most of the problems the Spares Company are currently experiencing is tied in to e-mail, where accumulations of ‘spam’ resulted in a few being overlooked.

Action to fix these regrettable problems have included taking on extra help to sift the mails and also better technical solutions to resist spam attacks.

Please always use the e-mail address  orders@vincentspares.co.uk  – the ‘myparts’ one — which has been most prone to spam will be disconnected at the end of the year.

Finally, I know that the Spares Company are currently looking into a solution that will link their accounts system into the web ordering system. Hopefully, in the long-term, this will solve many of the problems that people are currently experiencing.
 
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Tom Gaynor

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
VOC and Vinparts spares experience

I've used VOC and Vinparts since I started needing bits in 2002. I have used Conways for services VOC and V-P don't provide. I make my own arrangements for major engine work.
I almost always use websites to order, knowing that if there is no price listed, on both VOC or VP sites, there is no stock. This, possibly by chance, has never held me up. Once or twice I have telephoned orders.
I've never had an order go AWOL. Occasionally deliveries are delayed which usually means that one item is temporarily out of stock. I have had 'phone calls to ask if they should hold all, or send what they had less the missing item, from both. The last delay was because VOC had taken the bits to where they thought I would be (thus saving me time and postage), where, unfortunately, I wasn't. I'm not complaining. Had it been urgent, I would have made that clear.
I find it difficult to believe that I alone have had a seven year run of luck. If I have, it hasn't stretched to lottery tickets. Alas.
I NEVER order by email: far too many of my emails are already floating about in hyperspace, unread, unreceived, to consider it. Email is like fax: it's only reliable for the first 3000 miles. The last leg, 25 yards, fax machine to desk, server to screen, is where it is most likely to go pear-shaped. I like organised websites. If the order is taken (and payment accepted), I get confirmation. It's called a closed loop system. I LIKE closed loop systems. I do NOT like open-loop systems, fax, email, so I avoid them.

Tom
 

Albervin

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Really I don't understand why there is a problem with spam. All I do is set my preferences & bingo! 2 spam a week. O.K. It is a bit time consuming to start with (setting preferences) but the payoff is huge. As far as VOCS is concerned, they have access to all members' e-mail addresses, so that is the start point. Check junk/spam daily & add bona fide addresses to addressbook/preferred etc. Am I missing something because I am a Mac Monk? I hasten to add I have NEVER had a problem with communicating with VOCS.:rolleyes:
 

Simon Dinsdale

VOC Machine Registrar
VOC Member
VOC Forum Moderator
I NEVER order by email: far too many of my emails are already floating about in hyperspace, unread, unreceived, to consider it. Email is like fax: it's only reliable for the first 3000 miles. The last leg, 25 yards, fax machine to desk, server to screen, is where it is most likely to go pear-shaped. I like organised websites. If the order is taken (and payment accepted), I get confirmation. It's called a closed loop system. I LIKE closed loop systems. I do NOT like open-loop systems, fax, email, so I avoid them.

Tom

I will second that Tom. I have always ordered via the web sites unless I wanted a particular conversation then I have used the phone. Never had a problem.
E-mails are too unreliable and suffer the problem of getting through a spam filter. I have numerous e-mails still circulating in cyberspace waiting to land and thats only the ones I know off.
What ever you do, don't order Viagra from the VOC spares. It definitely will be bounced.:D

Cheers,
Simon
 
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PaulB

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Really I don't understand why there is a problem with spam. All I do is set my preferences & bingo! 2 spam a week. O.K. It is a bit time consuming to start with (setting preferences) but the payoff is huge. As far as VOCS is concerned, they have access to all members' e-mail addresses, so that is the start point. Check junk/spam daily & add bona fide addresses to addressbook/preferred etc. Am I missing something because I am a Mac Monk? I hasten to add I have NEVER had a problem with communicating with VOCS.:rolleyes:

Oh that it were that simple. :(
The problem for the VOCSC is that their email address has been used on all manner of publications, emails, websites etc. which is where the spammers pick them up. They use applications that trawl the Internet looking for email addresses.
Using a Mac will make absolutely no difference to whether or not you get spam I'm afraid.
One of my customers has been getting over a million spam emails every day for at least the last 4 years. We filter those out in the "cloud" before they ever get near the intended recipient's network.
There are really no hard and fast rules for preventing spam, but the less times that your email address appears out on the Internet and that includes being written in forum messages, the better. If you do need to write an email on an open forum, try to use the following method... name "at" domain "dot" com. If you spell it out, the trawlling tools won't recognise it and pick it.

Paul
 
G

Graham Smith

Guest
You are safe publishing your e-mail address on our forum, as before you can view any of the threads or posts, you have to register first.

The robots that Paul refers to haven't yet found a way of registering on our type of forum. The reason they can't do it, is because we ask for some human intervention - ie - typing in a string of characters that are displayed as an image.

The database where all our members email addresses are stored are even more difficult to get into!
 
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