[DMCForum] Rob Grady: This is my story & I'm sticking with it

["pjgrady2000" <pjgrady2000@xxxxxxxxx>]

As most of you probably assume I don't usually bother with 
monitoring the DMC Forum because I've been told it's mostly useless 
chatter with relatively little good DeLorean related content. I see 
now that it's unmoderated formula allows people to say whatever they 
want without regard for the truth or even decency. Some of you need 
to tone your language down...way down!

Having your name attached to fifty some odd posts feels kind of like 
being in a room full of people cheering you but meanwhile knowing 
that there are two or three assassins that have you in the sights of 
their various implements of destruction. Discomforting to say the 
least!

These posts gradually denigrated from what I may have done right or 
wrong to some quasi pornographic "Backside to the Future", "Nipple 
marks on my car", borderline porno chat room, all the while using my 
name as the subject. Stop it! Walter you run this forum like Nero 
ran the Coliseum. Thumbs up or thumbs down...to hell with right and 
wrong.

I wish to thank all of the people who came to my company's defense 
without me even knowing or soliciting any of it. The loyalty of some 
of my customers (whom I consider friends as well) always astounds 
me. My attorney asked me if I put some of you up to it I think he 
was as amazed at your defense as I was. You people make running a 
business worthwhile despite all the B.S.. A particular thanks to 
Mark Levy, Shannon and James. James is not my wife though, she has 
more DeLorean experience than he does :)

Due to time and space limitations I can only address the negative 
comments since there were fortunately fewer of them. The posts I 
feel obligated to answer start with Louie's response (#9357) to 
Jeremiah's question about where to take his car "Houston or PJ 
Grady".

Quote # 1

"A friend of mine who already had one of the nicest DeLoreans around 
sent his to Grady about 2 years ago. He just wanted the car to be 
gone over, and have the loose ends tied up. Almost a year later the 
car came back with a $17k repair bill. Granted he's now got the 
nicest DeLorean in the world (and I'm totally not kidding... his car 
is amazing), but I still absolutely cannot fathom what could have 
been done to that car to warrant such a repair bill. I am in no way 
bashing Grady's... like I said, I feel they're the
best in the business. My friend's car is a testament to that. But if 
you want
your car repaired in a more timely budget conscious way... I'd 
consider Houston.
They seem to be more about taking care of what the owner WANTS 
instead of NEEDS.
Just give this some thought before you go sending your car off."

I will admit Louie, we try to take care of a customers needs before 
addressing their wants. Why install a suspension lowering kit the 
customer wants while ignoring his bent trailing arm bolts that he 
really needs! This car initially came in for a full inspection and 
seven additional items. What our inspection revealed were fifty-nine 
items on the checklist alone, both major and minor that he decided 
to have repaired. This owner just had another "DeLorean Specialist" 
perform thousands of dollars worth of work so he figured he had a 
good car. Most of our work corrected poor or incomplete repairs and 
many items overlooked by the previous mechanic. The owner (I assume 
he wishes to remain anonymous?) approved all of these repairs and 
the work was completed in 8 months (not almost a year). The work 
included 127.7 hours of labor time, $7138.93 in parts, and $465.00 
for powder coating miscellaneous parts(intake manifold, various 
brackets, air screen etc.). We even boxed and shipped his used front 
facia to the person he sold it to at no extra cost. We replaced his 
original because it had an eyebrow or something wrong that wasn't to 
his standards. We had to supply him with three new tail light lenses 
before he found one acceptable to him. I think you'll find his car 
at least the equal of a 65K DeLorean One car. But of course how 
could this be worth 17K! By the way Louie we also fixed an idle 
circuit problem. Maybe your car could use some time in our shop 
because know one seems to be able to help you. But you never asked 
our advice...leave it to the armchair experts I suppose. Your 
assertion that he paid 1K to properly replace the door seals is 
untrue and totally misleading. I'm not angry with you Louie as I 
know you meant well but some of your comments are incorrect. I don't 
owe this owner an apology for needing 8 months to complete the 
repairs, I owe apologies to some of the other people for 
occasionally allowing an impatient owner to force his way up our 
waiting list but in the real world "the squeaky wheel gets the 
grease". Restoration work is very hard to budget time for because 
most owners don't know how much work their car needs and until we 
physically inspect their car neither do we. We then try to fix 
everything we can while trying to stick to what ever budget we are 
allowed. Jeremiah's response shows the result of your good 
intentions (#9386) Quote #2 "I completely understand where you're 
coming from on this one, Louie. I thank you for your time and 
consideration as to warning me what I could potentially have gotten 
into. After careful consideration (some of which are still underway 
and being made), I will probably be opting to do the work elsewhere."

Thanks Louie I may have just lost a job because of your comments.

The person I'm angry with is Mark (#9358) Quote 3 "I would like to 
know what kind of repair shop would need almost a year to do a 
complete once over on any car and fix any loose ends? I would think 
it would take 1 month unless it needs a full restoration."

The answer to your question is a very busy shop that currently has 
28 DeLoreans in for various degrees of restoration. We would 
probably have 60 in for work if I could accommodate all requests but 
the ones in a hurry wind up some where else. Should I apologize 
because our services are in demand?

Mark again (#9406)
Quote # 4
"I guess I am a jackass, since I delt with PJ Grady and it was a bad 
experience.

If i am a jackass because my dealings with PJ Grady were not too 
pleasant does that make you a PRICK?

My unrealistic experience was ordering parts, waiting for them to 
come, having some hoses missing that i was not told were on 
backorder, and having my car sit for an extra week because i was 
told they were in stock.

Other wise i still deal with PJ Grady but i did have that one bad 
experience so i guess i am a jackass you PRICK!

I will still buy parts from Grady when i need them if i cant get 
them elsewhere.

Remember if you call people names without knowing the full detail, 
expect to be called a name back."

And again (#9411) Quote #5
 
"No issues with Grady except for that part order. The reason i had 
issues for that order is because i was moving out of my house and i 
was expecting to have my car finished a 2 weeks before i moved not 
one week before the move. So because of that fuck-up i had to move 
during the day and put my car back together at night.

Hey James LaLonde said i was a jackass because i had a bad 
experience with Grady, so if you have only one bad experience with 
Grady James LaLonde calls you a jackass. I was just telling about my 
one and only bad experience.

I was told all parts were in stock and on the way, i get the parts 
and the silicone water pump hoses were missing, i called Grady and 
they said they were on back order and they would be in the mail 
soon. They next day shipped the parts when they came in.

One problem and your a jackass even though you still order parts 
from Grady."

And again (#9414) Quote #6
"the only fault that was mine is that i ordered the parts from 
Grady, Grady said they were in stock and on the way.

What part of "in stock and on the way" dont you understand?

When you tell someone the parts are in stock and on the way that 
doesnt mean i will send you what i have and you call me when the 
parts arrive when you notice something missing, and when you find 
out you are missing something call me and i will say they are on 
back order and i will ship them out when i get them back in stock. 
But this wasnt Gradys fault it must of been mine since i am not a 
mind reader."

Your memory does not serve you well. Why do you find it necessary to 
lie Mark? Honestly I think some of you have hidden agendas. While 
you were opening your "lump of coal" (now why would someone give you 
a lump of coal Mark? Were they returning a gift?) on Christmas day I 
was at the shop pulling your parts invoices. All three of them. Your 
first and technically only order was for a clutch slave and rebuilt 
master cylinder. You returned the slave cylinder for credit along 
with the master cylinder core. Our policy is full store credit on 
returns or a twenty percent restock fee. Pretty standard business 
practice. You placed two more orders to use up your credit.
The next order was the one you alleged we "fucked up". Yes Debby 
told you the parts were in stock because the parts in question 
usually are. However, I immediately informed her that we were out of 
the special clamps we use for the silicone hose kit, and according 
to our phone records we called you back that same day to make you 
aware of this problem. We then had the clamps blue labeled to our 
shop and we then sent your entire order red label at the 3 day price 
to get you the parts as soon as possible (it was 2 days later than 
you had wanted it not a week).  We billed you ten dollars in freight 
and absorbed about forty dollars in UPS charges to provide you this 
level of service. We       can see you really appreciated it! All of 
this for a whopping $86.23 order. Boy we really cleaned up on that 
one! All of your three orders were shipped in three complete 
shipments.
In your next (and thankfully last) order again on store credit we 
provided you two used door vents (p/n 100761) that were unavailable 
from Houston at less than half of the current list price... Another 
small favor that was completely lost on you. I'm so glad I bent over 
backwards for such an appreciative customer. The only possible thing 
that you could be mad about that I can imagine is because you lost 
twenty dollars on your core return because the master cylinder 
actuator rod clevis was worn. So I imagine you are angry because we 
didn't give you the shaft :). With customers like you Mark Valuch 
who needs enemies. As far as buying parts from us only if you "can't 
find them elsewhere", it goes both ways. We'll only sell parts to 
you when all of our other more reasonable customers stop buying from 
us! So there. By the way I have full written documentation on all 
part orders and UPS logs to document everything I've said. It's 
available to any interested party.
Mark you should be receiving a letter from my lawyer soon to explain 
the error of your ways. Remember cyber space is like the written 
word. Once its out there you can't take it back. But you could 
apologize. If you can't muster that then you better close your pie 
hole lest you find yourself in Federal Court. Walter should ban you 
from this forum.

As for Robert's input (#9417) Quote # 7
"Hey
Not to beat a dead horse maybe if more people voiced their opinions 
and Rob Grady reads this he could hire more people and get better 
organized get jobs done faster get parts order right and call people 
who are paying him with updates on their cars rather then calling 
them back when he has time like he's doing you a favor.
Maybe then we all would give him all our Delorean business and he 
would be biggest Delorean repair shop in the US and Houston could be 
the biggest parts dealer....
But making excuses for him doesn't help anyone unless (James
Lolonde) is really Robs Gradys wife
Well would like see other opinions Rob Grady is still the best but 
jobs could be done faster and better communication wouldn't mind 
spending more money for good service."

I don't think I need to get better organized but I agree I do need 
more people. Since several of you offered to do the work "cheaper" 
than us why not apply for a position at a real restoration shop, PJ 
Grady's. Our door is always open to qualified help but be aware I 
can be a very demanding boss just ask my wife:). I have 23 years of 
DeLorean experience, Debby (wife and office manager) has 10 years  
and Pat (shop foreman/head mechanic) has 13 years. How many of you 
feel qualified to join our staff? Please call us. Robert since you 
suddenly stopped buying parts from us two years ago I have to ask 
you why? Did I treat you like I was "doing you a favor"? I don't 
think so.  We've never tried to be the biggest "DeLorean repair shop 
in the U.S." only the best. If you people knew half of what I've 
seen and heard over the years we may well have become the biggest. 
But that's just my opinion. If I told you why I'd have to kill 
you :). My family has been in the car business since 1914 and I plan 
to be around (God willing) to see our 100th anniversary. Obviously 
we'd never make it to that milestone if Louie, Mark V. & Robert were 
our best customers. I won't forget the ones that really supported us 
over the years.

And lastly...Walter (grand master of this Roman circus)(#9465) Quote 
# 8 "And it is really amazing watching Rob eat steak. He totally 
covered it with a layer of salt without even tasting it first. I 
just kind of smirked because it reminded me of the urban legend of 
some guy not getting hired because he salted his food before tasting 
it. The company wouldn't hire this guy because he makes decisions 
before having all the facts (i.e., salting his steak without knowing 
if it needed salt or not.) And for the rest of the story: To my 
amazement, Rob flipped his steak over and proceeded to cover the 
other side with salt. Yuck! But I won't say that Rob is the 
stereotype of the salt legend. He just likes a little steak with his 
salt. That's all. ;-)"

Do people really care about my eating habits? Get a life. I started 
my own DeLorean business because no one would hire me due to my 
excessive salt intake. I'm a regular obsessive compulsive insurance 
risk. Yeah that's it! Walter I don't use that much salt and the 
other two people at the table didn't see me flip my steak. Maybe you 
were seeing double at the time. It was a little early in the day to 
have knocked back a few cool ones. You couldn't have kept up with 
this Irishman anyway:) This may possibly be the longest post you'll 
ever see but how else could I explain it all? The good news is you 
won't hear from me again unless these attacks continue.
Once again I wish to thank the vast majority of you for your support 
and wish you all happy holidays (even the guy with the lump of 
coal:) ).And please....keep it clean.

Seasons Greetings
Robert Grady

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