[SEL] Interesting exercise/ my B&S question.

[Elden DuRand]

Jerry:

Oh, goodie, goodie!  Look what we get to look forward to!

Can't wait.  :-(

You have my condolences.

Take care - Elden
http://www.oldengine.org/members/durand 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com]On
>  Behalf Of Jerry Evans
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 03:45 PM
> To: sel at lists.stationary-engine.com; 
> stationary-engine at oldengine.org
> Subject: [SEL] Interesting exercise/ my B&S question.
> 
> 
> Hi all,
>          This could maybe be marked as "Off 
> Topic" (remember your "delete" 
> key) but it stems from the recent post I made for 
> help on a modern Briggs & 
> Stratton engine and I think that some of you may 
> find it interesting.(This 
> post may or may not be quite long - I'm just 
> starting it! :-)
> 
>          I may sometimes come across as a 
> "skinflint" (which I probably am) 
> but, often posts are made to the effect of "Just 
> replace this or that part".
> 
>          "Just" being the operative word in the 
> above statement.This infers 
> taking a "Few Bucks" out of your pocket at the 
> local dealer and buying the 
> new part.
> 
>          This is NOT usually the case where I 
> come from. You guys in the 
> USA and other "civilised countries" do not 
> realise how lucky you are to 
> have a genuine "free market" economy where prices 
> are determined by the 
> amount of competition in the marketplace.
> 
>          That is not the case in a smaller 
> (shitty??) economy like ours 
> which has very little "competition" in certain 
> areas (I do understand the 
> concept of "supply and demand"). (All this since 
> the "New South Africa" 
> happened).
> 
>          The case in point is Mark's very good 
> suggestion that I install a 
> new "Carby kit". (Note to Mark - I'm not in any 
> way "knocking" your 
> suggestion it was good and I'm going to use your 
> advice - I'm only using it 
> as an example).
> 
>          I phoned the local dealers for a price 
> on the "kit". (the engine 
> is about 10 years old - not obsolete by any means 
> and I had the correct 
> Model number etc.).
> 
> First dealer "Sorry - nothing on my list - Can 
> you bring in a sample?" (I 
> want to do the job tomorrow - that's why I'm 
> looking for parts today!!!)
> 
> Second dealer "Sorry our "parts guy" is not in 
> today - please call back on 
> Wednesday (tomorrow is Tuesday, a public holiday, 
> and I want the parts to 
> do it tomorrow.)
> 
> Third dealer "Our parts guy is out - leave your 
> number and he will call you 
> back - I'm still waiting (8:45 pm).
> 
>          O.K. so I decide to call the "Main 
> Dealer" Briggs & Stratton 
> (South Africa). Spend half an hour finding their 
> telephone number (not 
> listed on B&S.com site). Eventually look in my 
> backups and find it from 2 
> years ago when I was looking for a Briggs coil 
> for my Maytag conversion.
> 
>          Call them - no problem there - they are 
> very helpful and "Vic" 
> (same guy I spoke to 2 years ago) sure knows his 
> job - gives me all the 
> info and part numbers I need. A pleasure to deal with.
> 
>          So back to the dealers. The only one 
> where I actually got to speak 
> to a human - dealer No. 1.
> 
>          Give him the Part # (which he could not 
> find previously - I had to 
> call Head Office for it). Oh yes, that's on the 
> system, but not in stock - 
> you can have it by Thursday. !!!!!!!!!!!
> 
>          Me: O.K. How much is it ?
> 
>          Him: "Hang on a minute, ill find the price"
> 
>          Him Again (5 minutes later): "It's ZAR 428.00"
> 
>          Me again (after picking myself up from 
> the floor). "O.K. Don't 
> order it, I will get back to you".
> 
>          Now comes the real reason for my post 
> (sorry I took so long to get 
> to the point but that's just me). The price!!
> 
>          Currency conversions are not a good way 
> of determining prices 
> (most of you do not know anything about our 
> currency) but, if you can 
> relate it to some other cost in your country that 
> you are familiar with 
> then it will begin to make some kind of sense.
> 
>          I'm going to compare this with the 
> average cost of a 340ml bottle 
> of good beer and maybe you guys will get an idea 
> of the problems facing 
> me/us when it comes to something as simple as 
> buying a "carb kit".
> 
>          I Googled the part # and came up with 
> the following prices all 
> converted to US$):
> 
> "Briggs & Stratton.com" = $ 22.95
> "Briggs & Stratton (South Africa) = $ 58.33
> "Sjmparts.com" = $16.54 (Obviously a "Pirate" 
> part - not B&S OEM).
> "lawnmowerstuff.com" = $16.75 (Obviously a 
> "Pirate" part - not B&S OEM).
> "Pressureparts.com" = $16.00 (Obviously a 
> "Pirate" part - not B&S OEM).
> 
>          Then I calculated how many South African 
> beers this "carby kit" 
> would cost me. Here are the results. (These 
> figures based on South African 
> beer and then converted with a currency converter.)
> 
> USA (B&S Original): = 15.61 beers.
> Sjmparts (non OEM) = 11.25 beers
> South Africa (B&S Original): 39.66 beers.
> 
> 
>          Another "Google" brought up these 
> figures. The average South 
> African has to work for an hour and five minutes 
> to earn enough to buy a 
> beer, whereas it takes a US worker only 10 minutes.
> se: 
> <http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article66313.ece>
> 
> 
>          O.K. all for now - just some figures 
> that I thought you guys may 
> find interesting - how big business screws us 
> small guys - maybe it should 
> have gone to "Slick" :-)
> 
> 
> Keep the revs up (or down)
> Jerry Evans
> Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
> Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
> <www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm>  
> 
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