The right to free speech isn't a stand alone entity. I don't have the right to express my opinion by coming into your house to do so without your invitation. That's a little like the way a private internet forum can be. It's really someone else's house. If you open your own site, you can speak away with almost total disregard...until you cross a legal line of unwarranted defamation or something like that. So you see, free speech like any other right has some limits and comes with some responsibilities. Still, I didn't see any comments that were over any line I'd consider worthy of removal as of the last time I saw the post. I didn't like the comment that someone else vaguely connected to Bill as "cr^p service", but even that wasn't worthy of removal IMO.

What you stated about Bill's operation is about what I stated in response in that original post. He's a great guy and a talented guy. You just have to realize that speed and unforeseen delays might be part of the deal for various reasons.

 

Was the issue that Bill took too long to do something? Welcome to any company at any given time. All businesses rely on other outside factors to be able to get what they do done in a timely manner. To the original poster, Bill is a member on here just like you, and we all strive to get along with each other. While it sounds like you might have been frustrated for whatever reason, coming on here and trying to paint another member in a bad light is simply put a bad idea. I am sorry I didn't get to read the original thread and posts, I might have been able to help. Other responses coming, please don't be offended by what you read here. The goal, everything being said, at the end of the day we just want this place to be somewhere that we can share ideas, and help each other.

 

I deleted the post. Obviously some don't agree with that decision. I read the entire thread, xxaarraa made it sound like he had all kinds of information in the thread, he didnt. He was just unhappy about Bill taking a little longer than he thought he should have, and saying how no one should go to him for big bores or other work. In my opinion he was making a mountain out of an ant hill. There was no need for what was said. Bill is a member here and does a lot of business with people from here. I didn't feel the thread was really justified to bash Bill as bad as he was. Bills reputation here is his business/life. Bill has put a lot of time, money, and part of his life into quality products for our bikes. Its not like the rest of us BS'ing and looking for jetting info. From the information in the original thread he never even confronted or brought up the issue to Bill to make it right, he just came on here to bash him. Bill Blue does quality work. I have his 351 kit and had him do a valve job on my bike with in the past few months. I have spoken with him on the phone many times. He has done machining from when he was 16 years old and now he is almost 70. I believe his "business" is only him. I have not heard about his customer service being poor up to this point. He was always honest with me and the work took reasonable time. Do I have personal involvement with Bill, yes, only from a business stand point. He has mentioned big bore kits taking longer because people not sending back stock jugs, no jugs means no big bores. Bill has done alot for the KLX. I did not appreciate that thread, i felt it was a thread solely to bash another member/business. Thats not what this forum is for.

 

I skimmed the original thread but didn't comment.
Personally I would not have brought a grievance like the one in the original thread into a public discussion while the issue was still in the process of being resolved with the vendor.
Having said that, as a prospective BB customer, I am glad to have read the the original thread. It helps me make an informed decision as a consumer, and helps set my expectations if I do go with BB.
As a reasonably well-travelled Canadian, it's my experience that US customer service is generally the best in the world! If you want to see REAL crap service, try buying an electrical plug travel adapter in Estonia!

 

EMS, I didn't agree entirely with the OP's post and said so in the thread. His post was not disrespectful though and most of the replies were complimentary to BB. Are we only allowed to report good things about BB here?

I'm also a prospective 351 customer and agree that it's helpful to know upfront if my parts are going to arrive when promised or at least be updated. If it's going to take four weeks just tell me that (and for all we know the OP was told). If the OP was full of bull plenty of people would have called him on it.


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Eric, I gotta agree with some here that the original post wasn't that damaging to Bill, especially in light of the support responses that were in Bill's favor. It's not a bad thing for people to know that they "might" run into unforeseen timeline issues with any smaller, one-man vendor operation like Bill's. I think the overwhelming responses from those who have dealt with him will paint the appropriate picture that Bill is a stand-up guy who will do his best to fulfill his responsibilities to his customers. To remove such a post...as long as it remains civil...might add more fuel to a fire that may not exist. And Eric, this isn't a slam to you. Moderating isn't an easy task, and we appreciate yours and deej's participation.

 

I think negative feed back is just as important as positive feedback. If someone went on a cussing flailing rampage, then hell most people would discredit that feedback as the OP is probably a psycho, but this was pretty well mannered. Heck, Bill might have been able to see that post and realize that he has been stiffing this guy on accident, not realizing that the same guy has been calling? We are only human

 

Vendor/product feedback, be it good or bad, is important to me. Many of my purchases are influenced by the experiences of others. So removing that post because of your own personal feelings towards Bill is doing others a disservice.

 

I read those now deleted posts and think that EMS did the right thing.

 

As a piece of feedback to a small businessman, I believe the original thread was valuable. As a caution to prospective customers, I also*believe the original thread was valuable.*
As a criticism of a 'family member' on this forum however, I agree with the moderators' decision to pull it.