P.S. to Stephen Birtles--Re: Re: Help!--replacing speedometer/odometer

[Jo-Ski]

P.S. to Stephen Birtles:

Again, we never mentioned you or your dealership in our previous e-mail about the speedometer/odometer problems. Also, of course, if we can get the gauge to work via one of the strategies outlined in our e-mail, of course we will send our payment or return the unit. Also, we appreciate the fact that you sent us the gauge in good faith, without requiring advance payment. And, finally, again, we wish you only the best in your business, and hope that it is the double-blessing of providing you with a way of living as well as beinga service to the Blue Bird community.

Peace.

Respectfully,

Jo-ski and Stew

"The Bird Abides"

'83 FC 35' RB

Blaine, WA

---

From: "josl@nas.com"

Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:35 PM

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Help!--replacing speedometer/odometer

Stephen Birtles wrote:

>I am the offending dealer and I did not say that it was trail by error
>I stated that there was NO documentation I stated this when I was asked if I had any wanderldoge nos Gauges for sale and I stated this whne the customer >phoned I also Stated how I received the Gauges
>About 299 Gauges in a rather Large Garbage bag. They were the contained in a file cabinet which I purchased at the Bluebird Auction. The file cabinet also did >not have any documentation in it. If you are not happy with the sale simply return the speedometer Money Cheerfully refunded
>But Wait I have not Received payment for the speedometer yet
>So just return the speedometer

Jo-ski writes:

First, our main concern: PLEASE, PLEASE, DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE THE 9-DIP-SWITCH SETTINGS FOR CALIBRATING A TELEFLEX SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER FOR AN '83 FC 35' RB BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE?

Now to respond to Stephen: Please, we are not trying to set off a firestorm or tarnish any reputations here, but we feel we need to set the record straight and perhaps bring something positive out of this situation.

With all due respect, Stephen, while we thank you for coming forward, we did not mention youor your dealership by name to this forum about this matter.

And, yes,when we ordered the gauge, you explained that there was no documentation,but both of us distinctly remember you saying that setting it up was by "trial-and-error." Stew thought, by that, you meant connecting the 4 wires up. You said nothing about there being 9 dip switches to set for the calibration. So, no, at that point, we did not know about those 9 dip switches, and of course, you yourself must understand that setting those switches to the "magic combination" for a given coachcould beone out of thousands of possible combinations and permutations with that many switches (for heaven's sake, "trial-and-error" could conceivably take up the rest of our lifetimes).

And, no, you actually did not explain about how you purchased the gauges until Stew called you a second time--right in the middle of a +6-hour session with the mechanic, trying to get the gauge to work properly (as I mentioned, for example, it would read 70 mph when the coach was actually doing 20 mph, as monitored by GPS). You were at the dentist, and suggested they go out to the Teleflex Website, where they would "find all the information," which they did not find. They finally called Teleflex tech support, and the tech support guy explained that they no longer make this gauge, but he remembered it, and could fax out a 4-or-5-page handout that at least explained something about it--e.g., the existence of the 9 switches. That entailedhunting foranearby Kinko's or mailbox-type place where they could receive the fax--again, right in the middle of this+6-hour session with the mechanic around and around the block in "trial-and-error" mode. . .

OK, Stephen, here'sone positive outcome of this situation: to do right by any future customers, you could, at the very least, call Teleflex yourself, secure a master copy/fax of that 4-or-5 page handout from Teleflex, and include a photocopy of it with any of thoseother 298gauges you sell in the future. That would bea service to your customers, along with explaining this 9-dip-switch situation up front to them, don't you think?

Unfortunately, the handout still does not give the magic combination of the 9 dip switches for a given coach. Hence, we are hoping, please, that someone out there will respond to our initial plea above. Barring that, Stew is still willing to go the extra mile by going through what sounds like anelaborate kabuki of crawling under the coach, counting the number of notches on something for odometer-related purposes, getting tire sizes, and supplying a whole host of other measurements and specifications to Teleflex,--and maybe, maybe--Teleflexwill be able toprovide the settings.

If that doesn't work, we will return the gauge. If it does work, we will gladly share thishard-won information with other Blue Birders, including Stephen (something that might boost the sale of the other 298 gauges?) because wesincerely wish Stephen all the bestwith his business.

There. . .another possible positive outcometo the situation. . .don't you think?

Respectfully,

Jo-ski and Stew

"The Bird Abides"

'83 FC 35' RB

Blaine, WA