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Tom Green

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rvjoe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:16 am Post subject: Tom Green

Thank you Tom Green!



I wanted to post this note of gratitude for the way Tom Green at Vans

handled a situation that I encountered recently.  It has to do with a

mismatch of parts that I ended up with from Vans for mounting the Alternator

on my engine. This posting is long in the details that follow, so skip the

details if you wish, but just know that Vans has regained the respect of one

RV6 builder for the way Tom Green handled a very frustrating situation.



I purchased a Firewall Forward kit from Vans a couple of years ago which

included an Alternator kit with a Boss mount; but I ended up with an engine

that requires a Case mount.  At first it seemed like no big deal because

Vans also sells a case mount bracket.  I ordered that bracket from Vans,

mounted it to my engine and hung the alternator.  After mounting the bracket

and alternator I discovered that the alternator was too far forward by 5/16

of an inch.  I called Vans builder support to explain the problem I was

having.  I thought that maybe I was missing something.  I just couldn’t

believe that if I bought the alternator and the bracket(s) from Vans that I

would have a mismatch like this.  I didn’t see any way to get the alternator

into alignment without milling down the backside of the front ear on the

alternator by 5/16 on an inch.  I didn’t want to do this (even though there

would have been enough “meat” to work with) because I didn’t want to end up

with a morphodite.  When I spoke with an employee of Vans builder support (I

won’t mention his name) to see if he had any suggestions.  He basically

insulted me by saying that Vans doesn’t know what engine, alternator,

brackets, etc… that the builder will end up with, and “you have to remember

that you are the manufacturer”.  I told him that I am aware of this, but I

thought that since I bought the alternator and the brackets from Vans, I

didn’t think I would end up with a hodgepodge / mismatch. The conversation

was going down hill and instead of getting any constructive suggestions, I

got much more frustrated and I ended the conversation.  I don’t want this to

sound like a slam on Vans Aircraft but after I hung up the phone and

reflected on the conversation, my whole opinion of Vans Aircraft changed.



I continued thinking (stewing) about the conversation for a few days.  I

decided to call back and talk to Tom Green just to let him know that Vans is

selling parts (specifically the case mount bracket and alternator) that don’

t work together.  After discussing any and all of the possible reasons that

I may be encountering this problem, Tom suggested that I call Plane Power at

(877)934-5700 and tell them what my application and engine are and get a

part number from them for their kit.  Tom said that Vans is now selling the

Plane Power alternator kit as a “Deluxe Alternator Kit” and it even has over

voltage protection built in, but they don’t carry the one with the case

mount.  He said that he wants me to send back the Vans alternator kit and

the bracket along with the part number for the Plane Power kit.  He will

then order that kit, have it drop shipped to me and just charge me the

difference between the two kits.  I was amazed at the way he dealt with this

situation and the solution he came up with.  I only called because I wanted

to hear what his response would be to what had happened.  I was hopping for

a positive response because I didn’t want and I didn’t think it would be

fair to let my opinion of Vans change because of one bad experience with the

employee in the builder support. After speaking to Tom I called Plane Power

and spoke to a nice lady named Linda.  She said that they have exactly what

I need and gave me the part number for their kit for my application.  I sent

my original parts back to Vans including a letter to Tom with the part

number (that I got from Linda) and thanked him for his generous offer and

solution to my problem.  A week later I received the kit from Plane Power

and I hadn’t even arranged to pay the difference yet.   I now have the Plane

Power Alternator with their bracket mounted to my engine and it lines up

perfectly.



Kudos Tom! Thanks again.

Joe Radford

Peoria, Arizona

Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2872

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: Tom Green

The players in the game haven't changed, and neither has the

game.   Steve and Linda Klodd at Plane-Power are fantastic

people to work with, and so is Tom at Vans.  Sorry to hear

you had to run into the same degrading experience as well, but

you've now been initiated....   There are many great people

at Van's, in all areas.  Your best bet is to get to know a number

of them and then start to ask for them by name.  As with

any company, there are some who would best stick to kits and

parts.



Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying

do not archive

Joe Radford wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Thank you Tom Green!

 <snip>

 employee in the builder support. After speaking to Tom I called Plane Power

 and spoke to a nice lady named Linda. 


	


<snip>

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 Kudos Tom! Thanks again.

 

 

 Joe Radford

 Peoria, Arizona

prtrotter

Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 14

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:36 am Post subject: Tom Green

I have noticed the same thing when deailng with Van 7s support E 6nbsp; Most of the guys act like you are imposing on them when you call for help C but if you get Tom he will go out of his way to help you and sort out any issues you might have E

  6nbsp;

 Paul



---

fstringham

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 87

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: Tom Green

I have also had great help from Gus, Scott, and Bruce.



Frank (at) SGU   RV7A   "NDY"

[quote]From: ptrotter(at)optonline.net

Reply-To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Tom Green

Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:35:43 +0000 (GMT)



I have noticed the same thing when deailng with Van's support.  Most of the 

guys act like you are imposing on them when you call for help, but if you 

get Tom he will go out of his way to help you and sort out any issues you 

might have.



Paul



---

dwight(at)openweave.org
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:05 am Post subject: Tom Green

On Fri Mar 30 20:37:45 2007, Frank Stringham wrote :

 	  Quote: 	
		  I have also had great help from Gus, Scott, and Bruce.


	


That is my list of favorites too. In particular Bruce has -always- gone

out of his way to listen, to give me a straight story, to treat me and

my problem with respect, and to even offer up alternatives I had not 

thought about.



But all three have never been anything less that totally helpful and

respectful. I am sure that there are other members of the Van's staff who

also fall into the category of 'helpful and respectful' but it may be that

the luck of the draw has not given me the opportunity to work with them.



That being said ... there are others who, while I am sure are quite likely

well-intentioned, don't fall into that category. I would stress that if 

you -do- have an unsatisfactory encounter don't just let it go ... call

and ask for one of the three guys mentioned above, or talk to Tom Green.



  -- Dwight

Hopperdhh(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:08 am Post subject: Tom Green

I know that the guys at Van's read this list, and I'll bet that they wish they were allowed to reply!

  

 Don't let all this go to your head Tom!

  

 Bruce, you are great to talk to.  Van (or Tom?) should give you a raise!  Service like this is what sells those airplane kits.

  

 I have also received very good advice from all of the guys at Van's.  I can imagine that they get kind of tired of answering the same questions over and over, so it must take a lot of patience.  After a long day of answering questions its easy to see why they may sometimes seem a little irritated.

  

 Hang in there you Van's guys.  You have fantastic airplanes, and a wonderful group of builders and flyers.

  

 Thanks to all of you.

  

 do not archive

  

 Dan Hopper

 RV-7A -- flying since July 2004

  



See what's free at AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

pbesing(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: Tom Green

Besides the kit itself, this is one of the main reasons why Van's is one of the few to stay in business!  Look at all the other companies...just about all of the big ones have gone through some sort of bankruptcy, reorganizations, at some point.

   

  I'll build another one someday..perhaps the twin engine RV?

   

  Paul Besing

  do not archive

   

  



Dwight Frye <dwight(at)openweave.org> wrote:

  [quote]--> RV-List message posted by: Dwight Frye 



On Fri Mar 30 20:37:45 2007, Frank Stringham wrote :

 	  Quote: 	
		  I have also had great help from Gus, Scott, and Bruce.


	


That is my list of favorites too. In particular Bruce has -always- gone

out of his way to listen, to give me a straight story, to treat me and

my problem with   Don't get soaked.  Take a[url= http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/?fr=oni_on_mail&#news] quick peek at the forecast [/url]

 with the[url= http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/?fr=oni_on_mail&#news]Yahoo! Search weather shortcut.[/url] [quote][b]

pbesing(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: Tom Green

Besides the kit itself, this is one of the main reasons why Van's is one of the few to stay in business!  Look at all the other companies...just about all of the big ones have gone through some sort of bankruptcy, reorganizations, at some point.

   

  I'll build another one someday..perhaps the twin engine RV?

   

  Paul Besing

  do not archive

   

  



Dwight Frye <dwight(at)openweave.org> wrote:

  [quote]--> RV-List message posted by: Dwight Frye 



On Fri Mar 30 20:37:45 2007, Frank Stringham wrote :

 	  Quote: 	
		  I have also had great help from Gus, Scott, and Bruce.


	


That is my list of favorites too. In particular Bruce has -always- gone

out of his way to listen, to give me a straight story, to treat me and

my problem with  TV dinner still cooling?

[url=http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49979/*http://tv.yahoo.com/]Check out "Tonight's Picks"[/url] on Yahoo! TV. [quote][b]

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: Tom Green

// I know that the guys at  Van's read this list, and I'll bet that they wish they were allowed to  reply!

  

 Really? Given the comments I've heard 'em  make at the dinners and occasionally in the RV, it always seemed to me that no  opportunity to disparage the Internet boards was often missed. (g)

  

 If it's true, by the way, they're not  allowed to reply, isn't it time to take the chains off the poor guys? I see that  Bruce occasionally posts on VAF, but it's 2007 and a Van's blog would really be  a great idea.

  

 Do not archive

  

    [quote][b]

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: Tom Green

Bill Benedict used to post here, as did Scott McDaniels.  I think both  of them left because they got tired of being sniped at by people on the  board.

  

 KB

  

 Do not archive

 [quote]   ---

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: Tom Green

All the better to host  their own blog. Moderate the comments, share the information .

  

 No sniping  allowed.

  

 I think it would  work

  

 do not  archive

  



   From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Kyle  Boatright

Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 5:25 PM

To:  rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Tom  Green

 

 Bill Benedict used to post here, as did Scott McDaniels.  I think both  of them left because they got tired of being sniped at by people on the  board.

  

 KB

  

 Do not archive

 [quote]   ---

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

jmsears(at)adelphia.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:35 am Post subject: Tom Green

 	  Quote: 	
		  > Bill Benedict used to post here, as did Scott McDaniels.  I think both of 

> them left because they got tired of being sniped at by people on the 

> board.<<


	


Yep.  Those were sad days for the list.  We've lost a lot of good 

contributors, that way.  We don't stop to think that those of us who've 

completed projects are here because we want to help, not because we need the 

help.  When those folks get flamed one time too many times, they're gone. 

I've only stayed on the list because I'm too stubborn to leave, even though 

I'm building a third RV and have a pretty good idea how it's done.  That 

doesn't mean I haven't thought about leaving after a good flaming, though. 

I do most of my answers offline to lower my flaming chances.  That works for 

me, even if it means I don't give my thoughts to other listers who may need 

that information.  Of course, my contributions are not from an expert; so, 

they do have to be taken for what they're worth.  



Jim Sears in KY

do not archive

lm4(at)juno.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:24 am Post subject: Tom Green

Kyle,

         I believe Scott was the only one  of the two men mentioned to leave the list for that reason.

Larry Mac  Donald

lm4(at)juno.com (lm4(at)juno.com)

Rochester N.Y.

Do  not archive



  

 On Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:24:54 -0400 "Kyle Boatright" <kboatright1(at)comcast.net (kboatright1(at)comcast.net)>  writes:

 [quote]   Bill Benedict used to post here, as did Scott McDaniels.  I think    both of them left because they got tired of being sniped at by people on    the board.

    

[b]

kboatright1(at)comcast.ne
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: Tom Green

Larry,

  

 You may be right, but I thought Bill stopped posting well before his  accident.

  

 Could be wrong....

  

 Kyle

 [quote]   ---

khorton01(at)rogers.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: Tom Green

A search of the RV-List archives appears to show the last post from  

Bill Benedict in May 1998.  His accident was in April 2000.



Kevin Horton



On 2 Apr 2007, at 20:54, Kyle Boatright wrote:



[quote] Larry,



 You may be right, but I thought Bill stopped posting well before  

 his accident.



 Could be wrong....



 Kyle

 ---

Bret Smith

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 178
Location: Mineral Bluff, GA

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject: Tom Green

Actually, the accident happened 7 years ago today... 

Bret Smith

RV-9A (91314)

Mineral Bluff, GA

www.FlightInnovations.com



--

_________________
Bret Smith
RV-9A (Emp)

jsflyrv(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject: Tom Green

You were right Kyle I had several conversation with him about the RV-List.

 

 do not archive

 

 

 

 Kyle Boatright wrote: [quote]            Larry,

    

   You may be right, but I thought Bill stopped posting well before his accident.

    

   Could be wrong....

    

   Kyle

    	  Quote: 	
		       ----- Original Message ----- 

     From:     Larry Mac Donald (lm4(at)juno.com)     

     To:     rv-list(at)matronics.com (rv-list(at)matronics.com)     

     Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 10:08 AM

     Subject: Re: Tom Green

     

     

     Kyle,

             I believe Scott was the only one of the two men mentioned to leave the list for that reason.

 Larry Mac Donald

     lm4(at)juno.com (lm4(at)juno.com)

 Rochester N.Y.

 Do not archive

     

      

     On Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:24:54 -0400 "Kyle Boatright" <kboatright1(at)comcast.net (kboatright1(at)comcast.net)> writes:

      	  Quote: 	
		         Bill Benedict used to post here, as did Scott McDaniels.  I think both of them left because they got tired of being sniped at by people on the board.

        

     



href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List

href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com



	
   

	
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