The best reason to use Partains!

[Tony Partain]

Are Partain's rates around the same as ABF? Or is it more expensive for the personalized service?

On Quickbuilds and finish kits we are less expensive than shipping crated. RV 7,8,9 I can save you about $250 over shipping crated and RV10 is a $500 savings.

One other thing is that fuel prices have come down significantly and the freight rates are following. The rates on quick builds are down several hundred dollars from this summer. So if you?re on the fence and want to beat Van's price increase now may be the time to buy.

[DaX]

Originally Posted by Tony Partain

On Quickbuilds and finish kits we are less expensive than shipping crated. RV 7,8,9 I can save you about $250 over shipping crated and RV10 is a $500 savings.

One other thing is that fuel prices have come down significantly and the freight rates are following. The rates on quick builds are down several hundred dollars from this summer. So if you?re on the fence and want to beat Van's price increase now may be the time to buy.

What about non-QB fuse kits? Is there any savings realized when using you for that?

[Lancair Super ES]

You hit the Partain problem on the head. I used them to ship my Lancair kit back in January. I did arrive in fine shape without any special crating, right to the hangar door and the driver willingly helped us unload it.

Tony, however, was virtually impossible to contact by phone or e-mail, did not have any handle on his schedule (I believe he uses all sub contract drivers), and could not give a date or date range for delivery. My kit arrived almost 6 weeks after the first "promised" date for all kinds of reasons. His lack of scheduling required me to scramble to change my business schedule to accomodate him once it finally rolled.

Caring, cost effective, lousy to non existent communication, not timely. May be the lesser of 2 evils, though.

I think he has a great niche business that could be run a lot better. Maybe an opportunity?????????????

Gordon

ES N144GP

[Mike S]

Gordon, I have found Partain's trucks to be on time, and I can usually get him on the phone, if not, he has always called back.

Sorry 'bout your experience, but mine have been good.

[Allen231ah]

Tony is a builder , his equipment is setup for transporting aircraft, his drivers are skilled in handling aircraft parts . My QB wings and fuse were delivered to my house and into the shop . The finish kit was delivered to me on a Sunday after church in the church parking lot. You won't get that service from any LTL carrier. Tony saved me money and I had 0 damage . To be honest I would use his service even if his cost were more.

[Tony Partain]

did not have any handle on his schedule

You can't keep everyone happy all of the time.

Gordon's kit was delivered in good condition and later than he wanted and the reasons were the weather, the holidays and we were swamped beyond belief. The last three years Vans price increase has caused us to be very busy during that time.

That time of year it's very hard to keep schedules. The Northwest had record snowfall and we paid the price for it. We deliver them as soon as we can safely do so, I will not risk a drivers life by sending him into a bad storm. It’s no different than flying a SEL plane into icing conditions. It's not going to happen here. I’ll take a customer complaint over wrecked truck any day.

Don't get me wrong Gordon I wish we could have delivered your plane sooner. The last thing I want to do is explain why customer is not happy.

On the flip side I get emails every week of builders that are very happy with our service. That is the reason that we keep doing this everyday. I've said it before and I'll say it again RV builders are a different breed, just take a look at what they did for Doug Reeves. And take a look at what Doug has done for us. Enough said.

[RyanM]

Originally Posted by Lancair Super ES

Tony, however, was virtually impossible to contact by phone or e-mail

I just emailed him today for a quote. He responded in a few hours. You can't beat that.

[DaX]

Originally Posted by DaX

What about non-QB fuse kits? Is there any savings realized when using you for that?

Has NOBODY had Partain ship a slow-build fuselage kit? I swear, NOBODY is answering my question!

[Brantel]

Tony is cheaper almost all the time from what I can see. Not sure he ships SB fuse only kits but give him a call and see for sure.

Originally Posted by DaX

Has NOBODY had Partain ship a slow-build fuselage kit? I swear, NOBODY is answering my question!

[Tony Partain]

Dax
We have shipped a few standard build kits. Our business model hasn't allowed for us to ship them efficiently. If you have a finish kit to go with the rest of a standard build kit we can help you out. Otherwise it's cheaper to use one of the freight companies.