Chris Treagust – Traction Spares

Hi Richard, I’ve pretty much given up with trying to get spares from the Traction Owners Club.

I’m mostly using Franssen. They have a good website, and for most parts, their prices are ok. CTA are also good. It pays to check their prices. Delivery times from both are very good.

I don’t know what the problem is with the Traction Owners Club spares set up. I guess Chris does it as an unpaid volunteer? So just does it as and when he has time?

Turning point for me was asking for a gearbox to engine gasket. I was sent a gearbox gasket set, which wasn’t what I asked for and doesn’t include a gearbox to engine gasket. Only to be told no such thing exists! I sent the set back. After months and countless unanswered emails, I’ve still been unable to locate the refund. I know it’s a minor issue, but it would have been so easy to tell me that the gasket I was after doesn’t exist, and to make a timely refund or answer the emails!

Hi Bernie,

thanks for the update.

I hate to speak ill of a service that’s run by a volunteer. But it simply isn’t working. And here’s why. If I look back at email threads, they take around a week (often longer, or not at all) for a response. Sometimes the answer is vague i.e. ‘Top hose K 1A £10.98 but out of stock there could be a rise as need to order.’ OK can we get it in and how long will it take? A week later, a chaser email is sent as I have no answer. In this time, the parts could have been ordered from France and would be here.

If you are working on a car during your days off, you need a reasonable turnaround time on queries and on orders.

Is it not time to put this on a reasonable business footing or simply to sub the business out to an organisation that will be accountable to the club and it’s membership?

Perhaps I should have said ‘But it simply isn’t working for me’.

Really don’t understand what’s going on. Perhaps my expectation is simply unreasonable. But I think to wait a week for a reply to a courteous, simple request (with a polite chaser) is frustrating (never mind actually getting the spares).

It’s a pity, as I’m sure the club has lots of spares that I can use. I would much rather source them here in the UK, via the club. But I can’t operate like this.

Hi Patrick, it’s not intended in any way to be an attack on Chris. I commend anyone who gives up their time for free, for the benefit of others. And that wholeheartedly includes Chris (and anyone else involved with the club spares facilty).

All I’m saying is the spares setup simply isn’t working for me (although it has worked in the past). If it works for others, then that’s great.

I’ll leave it there and will endeavour to source spares from Mark, John, CTA, Franssen and ebay. C’est la vie.