Sphere availability

[Ciaran]

Hi guys,

Was looking for some front and rear spheres for the TCT.
Contacted the usually very reliable GSF branch in Belfast.

The guy told me he could get the rears (which aren't in stock locally and have to be brought over from a branch in Leeds).
He later came back and said 'Sorry, the fronts, I can't get them, we have none in stock anywhere here or across the water and I've been told they're now discontinued'.

Maybe it was just an error, but 'discontinued' sounds a bit ominous...

I know they can still be obtained from Euro car parts and co, but GSF were always much cheaper, and friendly to deal with.

Hopefully this isn't the start of a worrying trend but I suspect it will be.

Ciarán

[xmexclusive]

Hi Ciaran

A few years ago I had dealings with a spares manager over Citroen hydraulic pipe fittings.
He was kind enough to search all the stock records and get all the items in the UK sent to his branch.
They were duly sold to me at a price agreed with the HQ.
Shortly after the manager received a written reprimand from the firm's owner.
It appears that standing orders were that such non stock items should have been skipped not collected and sold to customers.

John

[Ciaran]

I recall you mentioning that particular case John.

What sort of attitude is that for a firm to have where they would reprimand someone for helping out a paying customer with stock they couldn't otherwise shift?!
The mind boggles...

Ciarán

[Dieselman]

Ciaran. Order your shperes from AEP in Glasgow, they still supply all types and IMo, IFHS ones are superior to Amtex, as supplied by GSF.

[raynoon]

^^what Dieselman said...

[Ciaran]

Thanks Will, I've never used AEP before, I usually always went to GSF because they had the spheres in stock, or at least had them in the warehouse over here, so I would usually have them in my hand the same day.

But I've heard good things about AEP, and with your endorsement, its time to give them a try!

Cheers

Ciarán

[Ciaran]

Unfortunately the delivery charge to over here is about £22 rather than the standard £7.50, but if I'm getting two or more spheres at a time its still cheaper than getting them locally from Euro Car Parts!

Ciarán

[Dieselman]

How much is delivery from "Sphere Shop", they also sell IFHS spheres.

Why not ask IFHS who is their dealer in Ireland.

Mr Auto are keenly priced and Carparts4less is part of ECP, but generally cheaper.

[Ciaran]

Thanks Will.

I'm happy enough to pay AEP's delivery charge if its good quality stuff, but I didn't even know about the existence of Sphere Shop or Carparts4Less, will give them a try now out of curiosity!

Cheers.

Ciarán

[Ciaran]

Incredibly Will, AEP and Sphere shop are the same price, to the penny!

What surprised me though is Mr Auto, £42 for 2 spheres, and free delivery to Belfast, where I can pick them up via work. By far the cheapest of the lot. I'll have to double check on the free delivery, but it seems to be valid according to their website.
I'm not sure what brand their spheres are, if the IFHS are superior I don't mind paying the extra for them.

Cheers for putting me on to those sites, I had no idea they even existed beyond GSF and ECP.

Ciarán