Wicks Service

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by ProCoach

"It's not that a mistake was made, but how it is fixed that counts."

You know, this is the bit of wisdom that SOMEBODY ...SOME DAY... has to start teaching in business school. It really is amazing how many businesses just don't grasp this concept. Or maybe it's just me. I've decided to stop ordering from Aircraft Spruce, for example, just because of how difficult it was to give them money at Oshkosh. Granted, their booth is the businest one at Oshkosh but I'd be standing there waving a credit card while folks who just walked up tot he counter got waited on. Finally I got to pay for my item and I didn't get a thank you and I thought, "you know, there are a better companies when it comes to customer service so what are you doing HERE?" (The short answer was Alumiprep and Wick's doesn't bring it to Oshkosh anymore).

It redoubled my resolve to give more business to the the Bob Averys, and the Cleaveland Tools, and the Mattitucks and the Flight Line Interiors of the world, who have a reputation for terrific sustomer service.

Mattituck, for example, is going to get $28,000 of my money someday almost exclusively based on the reports of how they treat people. And I'm sure other companies fit that category too.

But there's too many that don't.

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by Bob Collins

Or maybe it's just me. I've decided to stop ordering from Aircraft Spruce, for example, just because of how difficult it was to give them money at Oshkosh. Granted, their booth is the businest one at Oshkosh but I'd be standing there waving a credit card while folks who just walked up tot he counter got waited on. Finally I got to pay for my item and I didn't get a thank you and I thought, "you know, there are a better companies when it comes to customer service so what are you doing HERE?" (The short answer was Alumiprep and Wick's doesn't bring it to Oshkosh anymore).

Since, perhaps it's gang up on Aircraft Spruce time...

I'll put in my good word for the company. I've had excellent service from Aircraft Spruce, for at least 10 years now. Order on Sunday evening using their internet catalog, and it's usually here by Wed.

And BTW, Wicks has been great too!

L.Adamson RV6A

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by L.Adamson

Order on Sunday evening using their internet catalog, and it's usually here by Wed.

My error for not pointing that out. They probably are the best of all of the tool/supplier companies at processing orders.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by chaskuss

Wicks told me they could get them, for $4 each.

Wow, this is the first time I've heard of a nutplate that costs $4 each. What exactly is the characteristic that makes them so valuable? Do they make the coffee in the morning and rub your feet at night?

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by L.Adamson

Since, perhaps it's gang up on Aircraft Spruce time...
I'll put in my good word for the company. I've had excellent service from Aircraft Spruce, for at least 10 years now. Order on Sunday evening using their internet catalog, and it's usually here by Wed.
L.Adamson RV6A

Wow! That's slow. When I order from Spruce, if they have the parts in stock the Spruce East and I order before 3:00 I get it next day by shipping with Fedex ground. Shipping is usually 10 bucks or so. Of course, I'm only 70 miles away from there.

Let's see...that's 140 miles round trip at 20mpg in my Toyota x 2.69 US Gallon (what I paid today) = $18.83. Cheaper to ship than to drive there.

[vmirv8bldr]

Originally Posted by Bob Collins

Wow, this is the first time I've heard of a nutplate that costs $4 each. What exactly is the characteristic that makes them so valuable? Do they make the coffee in the morning and rub your feet at night?

Here's the link:
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog...381/index.html

They eliminate the necessity to use sealant on the threads of the screws holding the tank access plate on. They are obviously sealed on the back via the dome, but also have a self-sealing ring on the base that prevents leaks there as well. The actual 'nut' part is free floating inside and wobbles a bit until the screw is in. Nifty little things. A bit pricey at $2, but you only need 24 of them on the whole plane and they essentially guarantee no leaks through the screw holes.

Check out the other Nutplates on Wicks, they have a great selection, including pre-dimpled nutplates. (I just use a squeezer to dimple mine, but hey, that's just me.)

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by vmirv8bldr

They eliminate the necessity to use sealant on the threads of the screws holding the tank access plate on.

My 20 years of working on, building and flying RV's has taught me that if you install the tank access covers with just the cork gaskets it is not a question of if you will develope a leak... it is a question of when. Using a liberal application of fuel lube makes it go a little longer but it will still eventually leak.

All of the builders that I know of, that promote this practice have only been flying for a year or so and have not had theres leak yet...it is only a mtter of time.

The most sure way to prevent leaks is to pitch the gaskets and install the cover with tank sealant. As long as you leave a 1/32" gap between the tank rib and the cover when you tighten the screws, it is very easy to remove the cover if you ever have a reason too.

Put me down for saving the $50 and using it for something else.

[Roadster]

Originally Posted by Bob Collins

You know, this is the bit of wisdom that SOMEBODY ...SOME DAY... has to start teaching in business school.

This is not exactly an unknown concept in business schools. The subject of "service recovery" has been taught for almost two decades now. One of my B-school textbooks, "Service Breakthroughs: Changing the Rules of the Game", by James Heskett, Earl Sasser, and Christopher Hart, (c) 1990, has 13 references to this subject...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/phrase/ref=...ice%20recovery

Check it out if you're interested.