ZSpares site is down

[JP240z]

All I know is that I took my car there a few times, and I've found out in the long run that everything he touched on my car turned to shit, and the only decent work was the stuff he subcontracted out. Also he was slow and expensive. It's great when you have to pay $900 for a roadworthy, then have to replace all those parts for another one a year later because the guy was a better bricklayer than mechanic.

 

And yeah I didnt get what that guy above was on about either..

[sco_aus]

He was defending him basically.  Maybe he could start proving people wrong?  I dont know who he is or anything about him, so I would just like to say,  "testicals! That is all"

[gav240z]

wow!! havnt some people got to express some opinions on what is going on with lindsay from the Z shop,  isnt it amazing that the forum vic Z car club is only stating negative aspects to the situation, so i wou;d like to take this time to shed some bright lights on the positive aspects that lindsay from the Z shop has contributed to the zed car school, fortunately i met lindsay in 1983, he had zeds then and a ho falcon, detamaso panterra, SLR5000, and other numerouse vehicles, oh porsheres too . lindsays common attitude to life is in order to be succesfull you need to first make someone else succesfull and he did and does, theres also another common factor that goes with doing this and that is you end up giving a hell of a lot more than you get..... full stop there....    now there was only 2000 240z datsun sports cars delivered through the australian datsun dealers fom 1969 to late 1973 which makes this vehicle very rare so im sure at one stage most readers would have had some dealings with lindsay at the either z, spares or the zed shop, i know i have and he has always helped me with my zed even when he has been under a lot of pressure. lindsay knows how to build a top motor and you all know that, now that demand has become so strong for his services he personally cant meet the demand, and relys on the people that he educates to do so, and if there not prepared to learn then a breed of 240z specialised personall become a very rare service uncommon in the average automotive repair field, so think once think twice, lindsay where are you? i need some parts , when are you going to open the shop? 

 

I went to Lindsay a couple of times to get work done on my Z, generally he was ok to speak to and he did help with a couple of small items. My experience though was that he charged me alot more for parts than say Zworks (Zfactory). I was quoted $400 for a 260z 2+2 1/4 rear panel. Zworks at the time was offering me one for $120. Sure supply and demand and I accept that.

 

My gripe was with the little things, like the alternator he personally sold to me which as my auto electrician put it, was just polished on the outside and not reconditioned. Yet he sold it to me for $130 + as a reco unit.

 

Being the broke student I was at the time, trying to fix up an old Z and not making much more than $200 per week, you can see why I might be a little ticked off. It didn't stop my passion for Zeds and if you ask me this forum has done far more for Z owners in Australia than any Zshop has, plus I don't charge anyone for anything. I ask for donations but that's besides the point.

 

As a final gripe about Lindsay and his so called wonderfulness. I happened to have met one of his apprentices Costa Kiskiras, you may or may not know him. All I can say is he's a slippery snake and can't be trusted. Obviously I can't blame Lindsay for his actions, but it doesn't say much for Zshop.

 

So if you can show me how great Lindsay is, I'll apologise and retract my comments, but until then I've not had any reason to promote his business.

 

I would also like to say that this is just my experience and I encourage others to share their opinions and experiences. After all if I'm wrong surely others will speak up.

 

 

[reverendzed]

I'm with Gav! This forum has been more helpful to me than many mechanics and this forum 'almost' has a responsibility to inform others of businesses/individuals who's integrity and practices are less than good.  I'm certainly not into defamation however I am into speaking the truth and when as a new Z owner I went to  Lindsay, he took the opportunity to empty my wallet whilst supplying and fitting wrong/ or cheaper than quoted parts.  $900 supply and fit (flat top hitachi carbs) which were supposed to be round top 240z, that was just the beginning.  I have nothing against Lindsay as an individual but as a business owner he's about as good as his flat top carbs, and they run like crap!

Rev.

[Zedman240®]

Reading this thread, I feel like giving my little bit of both good and bad experiences. First off Lindsay didn't get off with a good start with me. While I was new to Z ownership in the mid 90's he apparently told a couple of people he had taken me to court, for as he put it "working on customer cars" and ruining them. Problems they would take to him, he couldn't fix or stuffed up, then I would repair and then blame me for the original breakdown. I didn't really care because those people new me and trusted my work. Strange thing was, every time I went there to source parts etc, his attitude was completely different. With me, I find it very hard to hold a grudge with anybody (unless its real serious) and I forget it. But after that, Lindsay would help with anything I had a problem with. Not finding parts anywhere else he would let me rummage through his parts or chat giving me advice. He does know how to build a serious Z..I know one thing does get to him, and I'm sure lots of business owners agree, people just chatting on the phone for large periods of time or showing up in person asking for free advice and information without spending a cent. I know its good for building customer relations but if everyone did it, no money would be made! And I think everyone who works isn't doing it just for the hell of it...I think with Costa, we shouldn't blame Zshop for that one...blame Costa

[JP240z]

Yeah well I just wish that back when I was starting on my zed, people had expressed their troubles with Zshops rubbish work, so then at least I wouldn't have taken my car their. I think if you pay somebody to do work on your car and the work is rubbish, you should definately pay out on them on the forum. As we can see there are still many of us continuing to go to Zshop (like me and the Rev in recent times) and we have all been greatly disappointed in the work done their and the money charged. If this thread had been around 2 years ago I wouldnt have wasted a lot of money on that douche.

[gav240z]

I think with Costa, we shouldn't blame Zshop for that one...blame Costa

 

No I shouldn't blame Zshop you are right. I guess when you get a bad batch of something its easy to point out that the whole lot are rubbish, when that isn't necessarily the case.

[gav240z]

Yeah well I just wish that back when I was starting on my zed, people had expressed their troubles with Zshops rubbish work, so then at least I wouldn't have taken my car their. I think if you pay somebody to do work on your car and the work is rubbish, you should definately pay out on them on the forum. As we can see there are still many of us continuing to go to Zshop (like me and the Rev in recent times) and we have all been greatly disappointed in the work done their and the money charged. If this thread had been around 2 years ago I wouldnt have wasted a lot of money on that douche.

 

I'm sorry that you didn't have great experiences. At the same time though I didn't want to bad mouth anyone without reason. I also knew that they have helped many customers, its almost always impossible to please everyone when running a business. You also have bills to pay including employees, electricity, rent and god knows what else.

 

I also don't want to tell people where and where not to go. That would be dictating and that's not something I want to do. I'd rather hear the voice of the community as a whole. I can certainly share my thoughts but that's it.

 

Long story short its easier not to recommend, than it is to bad mouth and slander. We live and learn and I certainly have learnt a bit since I got into cars. I'll definitely be very selective of who I do and do not trust when it comes to working on my Z in future. I just wish I could have known all this when I was 18 .

[JP240z]

I just wish I could have known all this when I was 18 .

 

Yeah me too.. Luckily enough I've learnt that by the time I turned 19.

[sco_aus]

At least you guys have choice, Canberra is just shit, though thats more in the sense of the RB, I get my parts from the joint in Hornsby, Sydney and they seem fine.

[dazzed]

Dazzed, I'm sorry mate, but I have nfi what you just said or meant...

Care to clarify?

 

The fact is, Lindsey has been out of action for a while. He may be back soon or he may be not.

 

 

no need to be sorry lurch everyone has an opinion ill never make a good story writer, im fired

[dazzed]

wow!! havnt some people got to express some opinions on what is going on with lindsay from the Z shop,  isnt it amazing that the forum vic Z car club is only stating negative aspects to the situation, so i wou;d like to take this time to shed some bright lights on the positive aspects that lindsay from the Z shop has contributed to the zed car school, fortunately i met lindsay in 1983, he had zeds then and a ho falcon, detamaso panterra, SLR5000, and other numerouse vehicles, oh porsheres too . lindsays common attitude to life is in order to be succesfull you need to first make someone else succesfull and he did and does, theres also another common factor that goes with doing this and that is you end up giving a hell of a lot more than you get..... full stop there....     now there was only 2000 240z datsun sports cars delivered through the australian datsun dealers fom 1969 to late 1973 which makes this vehicle very rare so im sure at one stage most readers would have had some dealings with lindsay at the either z, spares or the zed shop, i know i have and he has always helped me with my zed even when he has been under a lot of pressure. lindsay knows how to build a top motor and you all know that, now that demand has become so strong for his services he personally cant meet the demand, and relys on the people that he educates to do so, and if there not prepared to learn then a breed of 240z specialised personall become a very rare service uncommon in the average automotive repair field, so think once think twice, lindsay where are you? i need some parts , when are you going to open the shop?   

 

I went to Lindsay a couple of times to get work done on my Z, generally he was ok to speak to and he did help with a couple of small items. My experience though was that he charged me alot more for parts than say Zworks (Zfactory). I was quoted $400 for a 260z 2+2 1/4 rear panel. Zworks at the time was offering me one for $120. Sure supply and demand and I accept that.

 

My gripe was with the little things, like the alternator he personally sold to me which as my auto electrician put it, was just polished on the outside and not reconditioned. Yet he sold it to me for $130 + as a reco unit.

 

Being the broke student I was at the time, trying to fix up an old Z and not making much more than $200 per week, you can see why I might be a little ticked off. It didn't stop my passion for Zeds and if you ask me this forum has done far more for Z owners in Australia than any Zshop has, plus I don't charge anyone for anything. I ask for donations but that's besides the point.

 

As a final gripe about Lindsay and his so called wonderfulness. I happened to have met one of his apprentices Costa Kiskiras, you may or may not know him. All I can say is he's a slippery snake and can't be trusted. Obviously I can't blame Lindsay for his actions, but it doesn't say much for Zshop.

 

So if you can show me how great Lindsay is, I'll apologise and retract my comments, but until then I've not had any reason to promote his business.

 

I would also like to say that this is just my experience and I encourage others to share their opinions and experiences. After all if I'm wrong surely others will speak up.

 

 

thats no good maybe i should retract my comment gav, it started something i think im gonna regret, ,

[gav240z]

Hi Dazzed,

I don't think you need to retract any comments. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I personally however didn't have the best experience with Zshop. I have also spoken to others who have felt the same way. As a result I never saw fit to promote the business or help them out in anyway.

 

If you have had a positive experience that's great, not every business can win every customer. As I said if others have had a good experience I'd love to hear about it.

 

Unfortunately as you say we are stuck for choice being that the Z has limited numbers and limited specialists so we have to rely on what we have as you say.

 

Hopefully someone will be able to clarify exactly what's going on with Zshop.

 

thats no good maybe i should retract my comment gav, it started something i think im gonna regret,

 

 

[620Z]

I wouldn't worry about it too much guy's. I think Lindsay has been good to many people and managed to rub a few the wrong way along the track. It's a personal thing and benefits those who have formed an relationship with the guy or remained loyal. They would get the "better" service than the wankers who turn up on his door once or twice trying to milk his brain and head off into the sunset without forking out any cash. Time is money as he says. Ha. I have certainly had more positive experiences with Lindsay then negative. But I am probably talking from many many years ago. I source most of my stuff elsewhere these days for what ever reason. But I can see why he has upset some people along the way. But like we say we can't get along with everyone one. It is business and people need to make money, supply and demand etc etc. I think we have all met the shonky operators in this game and that wouldn't be just at ZSpares.

I reckon we leave it at that. Sure recommend to go there or not but it's probably not worth elaberating. Just leave it up to the individual to read between the lines or PM them if you feel it necessary to warn them off.

[JP240z]

Well, I wasnt able to read between the lines as this thread wasnt active when I first got my zed, and yes, I would have been much happier if someone had warned me off. Absolute waste of money to have shonkey work done on my car.

[Zedman240®]

Apparently the real story of whats happened to him is on his website somewhere for all to see from what I was told. I have yet to search myself but will get around to it as I have a car to put back together...

[gav240z]

I wouldn't worry about it too much guy's. I think Lindsay has been good to many people and managed to rub a few the wrong way along the track. It's a personal thing and benefits those who have formed an relationship with the guy or remained loyal. They would get the "better" service than the wankers who turn up on his door once or twice trying to milk his brain and head off into the sunset without forking out any cash. Time is money as he says. Ha. I have certainly had more positive experiences with Lindsay then negative. But I am probably talking from many many years ago. I source most of my stuff elsewhere these days for what ever reason. But I can see why he has upset some people along the way. But like we say we can't get along with everyone one. It is business and people need to make money, supply and demand etc etc. I think we have all met the shonky operators in this game and that wouldn't be just at ZSpares.

I reckon we leave it at that. Sure recommend to go there or not but it's probably not worth elaberating. Just leave it up to the individual to read between the lines or PM them if you feel it necessary to warn them off.

 

I think you are absolutely right, I think that's what I have been trying to say but haven't been able to quite put it that way .

[VertexZ]

JP240Z: I am surprised that you weren't warned!  I think one of the first things I heard when I got my Z was about Lindsay's mixed reputation.

 

Having said that, as per previous posts, Rob at ZWorx/Z Restoration Factory is a great bloke and really knows his stuff.

I havent had any work done by Daniel Moore, but I met him a couple of years ago and had a great long chat with him, and he is a very knowledgeable bloke when it cames to Datuns

[G]

I have dealt with both of these characters and found my experience with both to be disappointing. I will not say any more.

 

I am not proporting that this is the same co, however one with a very similar name appears to be in receivership.

 

Go here: http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/ASIC_B48_07.pdf/$file/ASIC_B48_07.pdf

 

..and type "shop" in the search panel.

 

May or may not be the same business- dunno.

 

Based on everyone's reports I look forward to dealing with both Rob and Daniel. Forums such as this reward the honest and punish those who seek to take advantage, because the news spreads quickly. Whilst 99% of board posts are reasonably frivalent, reports about quality tradesmen are worth their weight in gold (as are those professionals themselves). I am sick to the back teeth with dealing with half-wits and incompetents in regard to the z and seek quality, reasonably priced service. I wish both Rob and Daniel all the best of luck in their businesses.

 

I will be at PI this weekend. If anyone wants a "beer and a bitch" about any of the above, pm me on gdemaid@yahoo.com.au with your details and maybe we can catch-up.

[gav240z]

I have dealt with both of these characters and found my experience with both to be disappointing. I will not say any more.

 

I am not proporting that this is the same co, however one with a very similar name appears to be in receivership.

 

Go here: http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/ASIC_B48_07.pdf/$file/ASIC_B48_07.pdf

 

..and type "shop" in the search panel.

 

May or may not be the same business- dunno.

 

Based on everyone's reports I look forward to dealing with both Rob and Daniel. Forums such as this reward the honest and punish those who seek to take advantage, because the news spreads quickly. Whilst 99% of board posts are reasonably frivalent, reports about quality tradesmen are worth their weight in gold (as are those professionals themselves). I am sick to the back teeth with dealing with half-wits and incompetents in regard to the z and seek quality, reasonably priced service. I wish both Rob and Daniel all the best of luck in their businesses.

 

I will be at PI this weekend. If anyone wants a "beer and a bitch" about any of the above, pm me on gdemaid@yahoo.com.au with your details and maybe we can catch-up.

 

I couldn't agree with you more. Nice find on the receivership issue.

[Bruce]

If they are in the hands of receivers/liquidators, I wonder what happened to all the stock.

Does anybody know? 

I hate to think that it was all trashed as often happens in these circumstances

 

[Z Shop Performance]

The Z Spares site is not "down", it is active with a message advising that we are not trading online at the moment. We're in the process of replacing our e-commerce provider, and of course need the personnel available to handle orders. Rather than accept orders and disappoint buyers with slow processing, we elected to suspend sales until we resolved staffing issues.

 

Z Shop Performance is alive and well, operating at 4 Paran Place Glen Iris, with some familiar faces, including Ted Palmer, formerly of Z Worx.

 

We're short of staff - there's a general skill shortage in the area of mechanics, and more so in specialist Z mechanics, but we're doing our best to support our valued clientele. And we are looking for specialist Z mechanics.

 

If we're busy with a customer, our phone will divert to an answerphone advising callers to email. Emails are checked regularly and we respond as soon as its possible.

 

Our parts holding and parts resources similarly are intact, and a walk through of our Glen Iris facility is sure to impress.

 

 

Bob Rogers

Manager

Z Shop Performance

 

[gav240z]

Guys I've had to remove a couple of comments due to our terms and conditions set out here:

 

Moderated comment as a result of our website terms and conditions

http://www.viczcar.com/Terms-of-Usage.html

Number 6.

 

Please let me know if you have any concerns.

[lightmaster240z]

Good to hear that you are still trading.

[dazzed]

geez guys ya gotta be carefull about what you edit dimetri , if a editorial writer asked you to submit a written article on a specific topic would you re write it , cmon give me something juicy to gos about ok or get a life