Finished up at FOT and pulled into old Town . I agreed to buy batteries , 6 , 8D,s . They are replacing 4 D,s that came with the coach new . Seven years and they were running out of smoke . Now , the fun part ---they are larger and some modifying was required . Was ask , what do you want done ---? I said to Wayne ---do your thing , since I know Wayne and know he does things properly the first time . He completed that job and it turned out way better than anything that I might have come up with . Looks very substantial and real neat . The cost was way under what I expected for the batteries and for the work to do the job . I pulled out of ( Coach Buck City ) feeling good , pointed this coach North . This was the best ever experience I've had in NAC .My coach felt peppy since my wallet is lighter ;D ;D ;D Brad Metzger
Glad they took care of you. I did not know Wayne was over at OT. You will have a lot more amp hours with 6 8Ds
I agree that Wayne is a true professional. He did my front end alignment along with 6 tires and front bulkhead repair, excellent job.
When did he join Old Town?
Don't know the exact date, but he was fired at Foretravel . So was the parts MGR. Mike Grimes about the same time . Was told don't be surprised if there is more to come . It was several weeks ago . Sure glad he ended up at " Old Town Motorcoach "as he was needed and is appreciated . Brad Metzger
I hope they have someone with Mike Grimes parts knowledge. He has really helped me put our coach in top condition.
Wayne gave our oil a change last week. Nice guy and knowledgeable. Good sudden service when I needed it. I tried to do it at MOT but they are busy. Good visit.
Also, we had a chance to meet both owners and felt good about their business plan. NAC remains a great place to take a coach. (Harry said to mention the Dog Park near Auntie Pasta's place, but I explained that would be off-topic. Dogs...)
I talked to Joey last week, then Isaac did a small job on our coach. I was impressed with both men. I'm thinking that the next time we go to Nac for work I'll start with Old Town.
Mike Grimes? my buddy from 1986? Straight honest Foretravel guy. Things are about over
:o ....what on earth is going on??? ......somethin' ain't right.....
I don't think we need to make funeral plans for FT yet but I do think we may see a much
different company in the future. Grant it there has been a drain of some well known and
respected people but many more remain, as well.
The winners in all of this is MOT and the new kids on the block, Old Town Motorcoach. Those are
some sharp, hungry young men that are out to make a business, and it seems to be quickly
growing. I am worried that they are going to run out of room in the near future. I have yet to read
of an unhappy customer of theirs. You do not drive out their gate without knowing that your business
is appreciated. There are other repair places here in Nac and I read about people going to them, but I
have yet to meet them. The City of Nacogdoches, for the most part is oblivious to how many 'Coach Bucks'
drive into Nac every week and stay here. I would call it a major industry that is not well known.
Carter-
Versus 26,000 students at the college
Not quite, Bob.
In 2015, 10,899 undergraduate students, 1,707 graduate students.
http://www.sfasu.edu/8249.asp
Sorry for not being current. I was told my figures in oct. 1987 at the unihome introduction. Never went back to Nac.
My salesmen went instead of me. Too busy.
I feel corrected.
Are there other schools in the area?
Maybe included staff?
Then?
In NAC and need batteries , check out Old Town Motorcoach . Bought 6 new 8ds while there at the best price by far in this town . Actually surprised me on how much I saved there . Brad Metzger
Good people at Old Town and they are trying hard to make a good name for themselves
and gain our business.
Carter-
Also bought batteries there, [best price on gels, I have seen] but they sometimes get behind on paperwork, but all in all, good work and a good place to do business with.
As everyone knows full well there are service options in this city that will get you on the road to happiness . Now then , service at FOT will get it done , you get your bill , and that is that . At MOT , pretty much the same . You don't get much room for input at either place at this point . At OTM. you get a detailed statement showing each item addressed in cost as well as time to get it done . This is a different approach . Has a feel; of honesty and straight upness about it that fits with how I think business should be . Just because the book says it should take 2 hours to do the job . to me doesn't mean you should charge that amount even if you got it done in half of that. I have come away from other service places not feeling good about my experience there , not that it wasn't done properly just that I felt burned at the over charging factor . I see a bright future for OTM , wish them good luck and hope they don't change their mind set . Brad Metzger
I agree whole heatedly with your assessment as OTM did annual service, an upgrade and other maintenance in January for us. I really liked their statement detailing service. Part costs were more than reasonable. But they do have some growing pains as a service item or 2 needed followup. But you are right - the future seems bright for their business.
Having been a mechanic by trade, I understand the book pricing. That was what let a good mechanic make a living by beating the Chilton or Motors flat rate manual. I was paid 50% of flat rate as a mechanic. As different as the coaches are I don't know how a book could list the price for repairs of them. Servicing I could understand as it would be the same as the big rigs. I would think that repairs are done by an hourly rate on everything else. If a mechanic was paid by the hour for the time he worked on cars, he would take longer, just human nature. An owner of a shop doing his own work wouldn't do that.
Craneman I agree with you. And there are shops in Mecca that encourage their tech to take their time, really taking their time. More time it takes the tech the more money the shop can make. I wish there was a industry standard that would incorporate a set price and that amount would be the final bill. This standard of 1 coach bucks for each day spent at a shop is a poor excuse for -service.
Hi Brad,
Just curious... at what price.
Jim
2002 U 320 42'
Was @ MOT last week, @ FOT for Monday, then back to MOT wends. and finally to OTM for the important stuff.
Just pulled out from two weeks in NAC where we used three vendors. Had hopped to use four but Beau Reece disappeared on us and I sure hope he is well and things are ok. Luckily the genset work we scheduled a couple of months ago was able to be done by Wayne at OTM.
MOT for upholstery work, seat reform and sofa and loveseat recovered. Bulkhead inspection and preventative work. Dodged a bullet on that one and put budget back into the upholstery. Enjoyed my time with Keith and his eye for detail coupled with years of experience. Happy with work and priced right for what was done. He noted the little things that could add up to trouble and fixed them on the spot. I also found the environment very inviting. We were always treated courteously with virtually all of the staff we encountered making us feel welcomed and appreciated. We will use them again.
8.3 fluids serviced at OTM since we would have been over miles shortly and well before getting home. I have come to dread any services from unknown shops. Also had the gen set pulled, (another thread) camera and radio replaced, fuel gauge replaced. What sets them apart for me is the level of personal engagement. Isaac is very good in explaining what should be done and why. I never felt stupid for asking questions or out of place for asserting why I wanted something done a particular way. They were very patient with my own reconditioning in the genset bay. The billing was done in a well documented and straight forward item by item manner. Much different than another small shop that had three pages of parts listed and labor in a single line item. Not much good in documenting your services. This company is becoming a real gem.
I had a dash cover made at FOT by the upholstery shop and was very happy with the result.
We will be crisscrossing the country every year for awhile. And with the pool of expertise they have, I hope these company's continue to prosper.