Author Topic: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?  (Read 5323 times)

vande17941

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Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« on: September 29, 2016, 15:10:13 »
Do we still have a deal with Caliber Motors in Anaheim CA for wholesale parts? I have had no problem buying from them for years and now today, none of them seem to know who we are and they are giving me the run around.
'66 USA (1967 model Year) 230sl, 4-speed Manual, Driven Like a Real Car! Set up with KYB Stiffer Shocks, and Motor Mounts w Urethane Inserts Underneath, 3-point Belts, Headrests Installed 🚗

1986 560sl Cabernet & Palomino (not recommended)

2001 SLK320 Sport AMG Silver & Black

mdsalemi

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2016, 15:44:59 »
Caliber Motors became Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim quite some time ago. I think whatever they knew about us left us when Tom Hanson left them and went to the Classic Center.
The Classic Center offers a discount to MBCA members, I don't know if Tom extends that to SL113. There are also many other dealerships that have pretty substantial parts discounts to various club members. I'd offer some names here but they would be redacted or the post would be deleted.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

hauser

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2016, 19:00:41 »
Tom has always given me a club discount.

scoot

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2016, 20:08:37 »
google "trademotion mercedes" and you will find links to on-line MB dealerships that attempt to hide their dealership status as best as possible.  They don't want their discount internet pricing to affect their dealership retail pricing I suppose.    The discount can be substantially higher than you get from the Classic Center, plus if you live in California you pay sales tax from the Classic Center and not from the on-line places (which happen to not be in California).  Prices are all over the map.

The really nice thing about the trademotion sites is that they will fairly accurately tell you the MSRP of any part.  Do not put in the leading "A" when you put in the part number.  They will show the MSRP and the Internet price. 

My rule of thumb is that if I actually need help figuring out what parts I need, I send email to Tom and order them through him.  If I do all the work myself and have it all figured out, I'll order from an on-line dealer and save the money.

FWIW I have found that it can be quite difficult to get help from the Classic Center unless you go directly to Tom.  Their system doesn't work well.

Also, the on-line dealers will show prices for lots of parts that are NLA.  So just because a price comes up doesn't mean that it actually exists.  That information requires human interaction.
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

bogeyman

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2016, 20:58:12 »
"I'd offer some names here but they would be redacted or the post would be deleted."

Why??

Can we not offer information regarding pricing that is available on the internet?
Rick Bogart
1970 280SL Black(040)/Parchment
1969 280SL Silver(180)/Green
1993 500E
1972 350SL
1995 E320 Cabrio

scoot

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2016, 21:11:29 »
"I'd offer some names here but they would be redacted or the post would be deleted."

Why??

Can we not offer information regarding pricing that is available on the internet?
I noticed that also and thought "WTF??"  I think we are free to provide suggestions as to where to get parts.  UNLIKE on peachparts forums, where the forum is administered by a company that sells auto parts.  So whoever said that, what was it based on?
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

mdsalemi

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2016, 23:08:59 »
I noticed that also and thought "WTF??"  I think we are free to provide suggestions as to where to get parts.  UNLIKE on peachparts forums, where the forum is administered by a company that sells auto parts.  So whoever said that, what was it based on?

 Because I have a business affiliation with the Mercedes-Benz clubs Star magazine and some of these firms I would mention are advertisers, it has been suggested that anything I post like this would be self-serving and against this forums rules so rather than get anybody mad I just won't do it. If you want the information just send me a PM
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

scoot

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2016, 00:06:03 »
Because I have a business affiliation with the Mercedes-Benz clubs Star magazine and some of these firms I would mention are advertisers, it has been suggested that anything I post like this would be self-serving and against this forums rules so rather than get anybody mad I just won't do it. If you want the information just send me a PM
OK, now it makes sense.  It's not a forum policy to not suggest service providers or vendors, it's that you have business connections with some of the vendors you might recommend, and because of that you aren't in a position to do that on sl113.  OK, sounds better than there being sl113 police.
Scott Allen
'67 250 SL (early)
Altadena, California

mdsalemi

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2016, 15:00:25 »
...might recommend, and because of that you aren't in a position to do that on sl113...

It is unlikely I would recommend anyone I haven't done business with myself on a personal level with my own car, or to perhaps recommend someone that I knew did a good job for someone else. What I would do is mention firms I know that probably give discounts to SL113 members because they give discounts to other MB-centric car clubs that you may have heard of, or are members of yourself in some cases. But there is a peculiarity here...you see, for example, Alex Djuric can mention a certain wood-finisher in California by name; he sent his wood there upon my recommendation. I've seen the results of this finishing in person many times, and have recommended them repeatedly because of the fine job they do, and have a reputation of doing on older Mercedes-Benz cars. However, because they are an advertiser in a certain publication, and I administer and manage that advertising, there is the thought that I somehow personally profit from the recommendation. I can tell you that the profit is limited to a "thank you" I get now and then from the owner. It is a very sincere thank you, and often times he'll go out of his way to call me and thank me--so it is truly honest thanks. That's my profit, and how I benefit for what its worth.

If you want a list of these advertisers that perhaps will offer a parts discount to club members, just send me a PM and we'll keep it off the forum. None of this is rocket science--the list is short and it's not full of secrets I maintain or anything.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

tom.hanson

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2016, 22:03:42 »
The Classic Center does give a discount to the SL113 Group. All day long, any day of the week. In fact, if you find a Genuine part cheaper elsewhere, let me know. I'll try to match it.

Tom Hanson
MB Classic Center
thomas.hanson@mbusa.com
949 598-4842 direct

jorge espinoza

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Re: Caliber Motors STILL OUR FRIEND?
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2016, 01:04:22 »
The Classic Center does give a discount to the SL113 Group. All day long, any day of the week. In fact, if you find a Genuine part cheaper elsewhere, let me know. I'll try to match it.

Tom Hanson
MB Classic Center
thomas.hanson@mbusa.com
949 598-4842 direct
Tom thanks for taking great care of my 280SL needs . You'll be hearing from me soon as I just bought 230SL for the wife .