Lotusless in 2009

[Gareth]

Hi Everyone

Sorry for not responding to this thread earlier, but as you've most likely read, I've had a bit of a nightmare since Friday, and have been spending any spare time I've had trying to find a solution for Pete.

If anyone who is unhappy service they have recieved from me would like to chat about it though please give me an email (ali at slscars.co.uk) , as I would appreciate the feedback.

Jim you should have had a PM back from me on this?

I'm working hard to improve things, and have been getting help with my organisation, and most recently have also taken on an apprentice to help with the work load, and help reduce my turn around times.

At times i have been guilty of taking on too much work, and I'm not good at saying no, and i apologise for this.

I sincerely believe that going forward, my service to you all will improve.

Thanks for taking the time to post on this, and have a great summer with your cars

Ali

Can't say fairer than that.

[GregR]

Whilst I understand Jim's need to make a point I don't feel comfortable with comparisons being drawn between myself and Ali.

I also would like to take this opportunity to clarify that I have no wish to criticise Ali and would certainly not like to see him fail in this venture. He is a really nice guy who is genuine and helpful.

We are two different people who run completely different businesses and I don't feel that I am in competition will Ali at all. It is of no consequence to me whether or not SLS exists as we have completely differnet business models and as such, there are very few types of work that we both ,or wish to do.

The only times I have spoken out in situations regarding SLS it has been as an experienced member of this commmunity who doesn't want to see people being given bad service or overcharged for work done. I believe every member of this forum has the right to do this, regardless of what they do for a living. I have no vested interest in the success or failure of SLS as it will make no difference to me or my business and there is certainly no personal vendetta on my behalf. I am in the fortunate position to be able to add valuable input to this forum through my knowledge of these cars and I don't feel that I should have to refrain from sharing this knowledge and helping people just because some people may take it the wrong way.

Hope this clears things up a bit .

Cheers

Dan

Dan, you are always very quick, in my view, to jump on any thread that deals with SLS/Ali. Your contribution in this thread is very much an example of, "let me not stir you up to such sudden flood of mutiny," that you're now backing away from - the blue touch paper having been lit. Whether you think you've done this or not, you have used this thread as a bit of self promotion - even at the end of the previous page - your comment to Ro55 - "have they changed the fuel pump yet?" - a question of MMC's handling of things, and an attempt to seem uber helpful for all to see which could have been done by PM.

If you are happy contributing to the thread like this, do so in the knowledge that threads can sprout up about any garage and people in glass houses should be careful of how they deal with stones..

[roadboy]

Greg, as I stated earlier in this thread, I am happy for anyone who receives bad service from me to share their experiences with this or any other forum. Could you please point out where I have directly criticised Ali or SLS on ANY thread on SE?

I have stated over and over, my contributions on this forum are purely as a member of the community, to help others. I am not interested in self-promotion. If you knew me you would realise that. You say I am quick to jump on any thread dealing with Ali/SLS. This is simply not the case. I think if you do a search you will see that.

Where exactly in this thread did I "stir up such sudden flood of mutiny"? Where did I light the blue touch paper? The only person I have directed criticism at (if you can call it that) was Mark Mackenzie. And he has nothing to do with SLS!

I am happy to contribute to threads like this in the same way I am happy to contribute to all other types of thread on this and any other forum. If it is not deemed appropriate for me to express my opinion or give advice/impart knowledge on this type of thread then I would feel it is not appropriate for me to contribute at all.

Dan

[GregR]

Ok Dan, happy to clarify.

(i) This is a thread where comments from genuine customers have been encouraged. When have you had a good or bad, or any experience of SLS/Ali?
(ii) The 'conkers with that' comment at the outset, followed by, "hasn't Ali got a spare engine he could fit for you...?" Implying (a) he should have a spare engine to fit incase third parties are negligent with goods in transit; and (b) afterall .. it isn't that much work to fit is it.. ?
(iii) I'm not a fan of the way you called Mark's motivations(for posting an account of his experiences -see (i) above) into question nor your method of doing so

Your criticisms have been covert, perhaps unintentional - but when you make a contribution to a thread that portrays you as nothing but the good guy it hardly looks like an objective contribution, in my view.

Greg

[Gareth]

Ha...
Greg, you should be a solicitor..!

[Victor Meldrew]

Ok Dan, happy to clarify.

(i) This is a thread where comments from genuine customers have been encouraged. When have you had a good or bad, or any experience of SLS/Ali?
(ii) The 'conkers with that' comment at the outset, followed by, "hasn't Ali got a spare engine he could fit for you...?" Implying (a) he should have a spare engine to fit incase third parties are negligent with goods in transit; and (b) afterall .. it isn't that much work to fit is it.. ?
(iii) I'm not a fan of the way you called Mark's motivations(for posting an account of his experiences -see (i) above) into question nor your method of doing so

Your criticisms have been covert, perhaps unintentional - but when you make a contribution to a thread that portrays you as nothing but the good guy it hardly looks like an objective contribution, in my view.

Greg

In the spirit of balanced discussion, Greg has brought up a valid point... Dan has his faults. Some of the comments, at first glance toungue in cheek, can be somewhat skathing in the interpretation and had they come from a non-buisness based person would have readily been accepted just as personnal opinion. However as Greg has said, you are a buisnessman. And it is pretty much imposible for you to be seen to be removing your "Lotus Specialist" hat and put on a "normal punter" bonnet.

You may be a God, but you aint Zeus..

p.s. I'll give you a phone in a day or two to sort out when I need to get the car back down to you again for the steering rack.

[Michael]

Ali,

Great response.

And we know it will take time for these intentions, and changes, to really materialise into a complete service.

Ali, when you are sure you are able to offer the product and service which people want, and there is definitely work out there, you must focus a certain amount of your energy every week into the management/expansion/delegation/employment side of things- not the mechanical stuff.

I speak from experience, taking on a business, quite young and employing 7 people, all older than me. When previously I was used to doing EVERYTHING myself, I absolutely had to learn to delegate immediately. And since I wanted the general quality and efficiency of things to improve, I made immediate and continuous investments in helpful equipment/services/use of space.

Forget about profit for the first couple of years. If the cashflow can support it, make as many of these investments as you can.

If however, you really want to keep it small, just on your own, then yes, you are right, you must start saying no to people and keep a strict appointment diary. A suggestion may be to have 2 days per week for "emergency" work which always remains empty until a few days before, and to have 2.5 days of routine work. 0.5 days per week purely on management. People would rather delay work knowing you are being organised and on top of things

Your business is not that different from mine, in how it occupies our time as the leader, and how things can be delegated to the others, also, in how and when the work comes in.

I dont want to teach you how to suck eggs,
just my 2p.

I believe you have what it takes, as all my experiences of you have been positive.

Regards,
Mike

[roadboy]

Ok Dan, happy to clarify.

(i) This is a thread where comments from genuine customers have been encouraged. When have you had a good or bad, or any experience of SLS/Ali?

This is a thread about Pete's situation with his car, at least it was at the start.

(ii) The 'conkers with that' comment at the outset, followed by, "hasn't Ali got a spare engine he could fit for you...?" Implying (a) he should have a spare engine to fit incase third parties are negligent with goods in transit; and (b) afterall .. it isn't that much work to fit is it.. ?

The 'conkers with that' comment was aimed at the couriers/royal mail as it is not easy to damage a head in this way. Asking if Ali had a spare engine was simply a suggestion to get the car back on the road for Pete. It was not implying anything and I fail to see how that could be construed as anything other than helpful. You have also misquoted me. If you read the original quote I really cannot understand how you could read it the way you are implying.

Has Ali not got an engine he can put in your car in the mean time till yours is sorted? Not exactly a huge amount of labour involved and at least it would get your car back on the road while your engine was being fixed.

Dan

Is that not a helpful suggestion to try and get Pete's car back on the road as quickly as possible?

(iii) I'm not a fan of the way you called Mark's motivations(for posting an account of his experiences -see (i) above) into question nor your method of doing so

That is fair comment and your opinion but perhaps if you knew the background behind it you would see it in a different way

Your criticisms have been covert, perhaps unintentional - but when you make a contribution to a thread that portrays you as nothing but the good guy it hardly looks like an objective contribution, in my view.

So are you saying I need to be stop being helpful to fellow members to be able to make an objective contribution to this forum? You say my criticisms have been covert, perhaps unintentional. Perhaps they were not criticisms at all and you are just reading too much into it simply because of who I am?

[pete]

Ok Dan, happy to clarify.

(i) This is a thread where comments from genuine customers have been encouraged. When have you had a good or bad, or any experience of SLS/Ali?
(ii) The 'conkers with that' comment at the outset, followed by, "hasn't Ali got a spare engine he could fit for you...?" Implying (a) he should have a spare engine to fit incase third parties are negligent with goods in transit; and (b) afterall .. it isn't that much work to fit is it.. ?
(iii) I'm not a fan of the way you called Mark's motivations(for posting an account of his experiences -see (i) above) into question nor your method of doing so

Your criticisms have been covert, perhaps unintentional - but when you make a contribution to a thread that portrays you as nothing but the good guy it hardly looks like an objective contribution, in my view.

Greg

I'm not sure we are reading the same thread.

[r055]

Ok Dan, happy to clarify.

(i) This is a thread where comments from genuine customers have been encouraged. When have you had a good or bad, or any experience of SLS/Ali?
(ii) The 'conkers with that' comment at the outset, followed by, "hasn't Ali got a spare engine he could fit for you...?" Implying (a) he should have a spare engine to fit incase third parties are negligent with goods in transit; and (b) afterall .. it isn't that much work to fit is it.. ?
(iii) I'm not a fan of the way you called Mark's motivations(for posting an account of his experiences -see (i) above) into question nor your method of doing so

Your criticisms have been covert, perhaps unintentional - but when you make a contribution to a thread that portrays you as nothing but the good guy it hardly looks like an objective contribution, in my view.

Greg

I'm not sure we are reading the same thread.

Pete,
whats the latest on the car?

R

[pete]

Pete,
whats the latest on the car?

R

Ali thinks he has sourced a replacement head with the help of a certain mod (thanks).

To be updated...

[Mikie711]

Pete,
just read through all this post, chill people chill. Anyway, if you still need a VVC head I have a spare without/with cams. Give me a shout if you need it.

Mike

[pete]

An update.

Apparently a serviceable head is now back with Ali although I had to chase to get that information rather than it being offered to me.

I don't know why that hasn't translated into my car being back on the road.

I see from another thread that Ali has been helping someone else with car problems, I very much hope that hasn't been to the detriment of the promises that have been made to me.

Pete

[PhilA]

sorry to hear of everyone's car problems.
these cars take some of our heart with them and it does hurt when they are not purring.

ive been away from scottishelises for ages (since my car died!).
surprised to find dan and ali being in the situation that they are.
2 very capable people.

if time was never ending and people could do everything they wanted and promised on time - the world would be alot less complicated and stress free.

i know myself its easy to say tongue in cheek, idealistc views; its easy to say "no worries" and take more work on than you can possibly do.

hoping that respect, goodwill and satisfactory outcomes prove to be true soon.

=)
(man, that reads goody goody dont it! lol, bleh. u know what i mean tho!)

[roadboy]

surprised to find dan and ali being in the situation that they are.

What situation am I in Phil? Don't quite understand why I've been included in that.

Cheers

Dan