Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Lately there have been a few parallel—shall I say 'spirited?'—discussions on the boards about my company, my company's products, my company's customer service, my employees and even my oldest son and Manager of Sales, Colin Banks. Gee, not that I take this stuff too personally, but I think there was even a reference to 'the old man' somewhere in there.
For the record, I'm 58 and feel like 28.
In composing a response to all the material that's out there, my first inclination was to pick out the challengers and answer each one, correct the misperceptions, rail against the stuff that's frankly way off-base, and defend the Banks name. But that seemed a mighty intricate task, and a couple days' reflection mellowed the idea. I think I went through something close to the five stages of grief, but it went more like:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Testosterone
4. Sleep
5. Acceptance
Now that that's out of the way, I will answer the themes that dominate these threads, and hope it provides clarity to those of you who take the time to read it:
Aftermarket product manufacturers are like sports teams. Guys and gals have their favorites, for a variety of reasons both logical and emotional. I'm not trying to shake anybody's allegiance to a 'team,' but I do believe in fair play. All I ask is that anyone who's already parked his loyalty with a competitor not try to uplift his own team by bashing mine.
If you have a genuine gripe about Banks, that's another story. A week ago, Colin sincerely asked that complaints be emailed to him directly at cbanks@bankspower.com. To date, no one who identified himself as a TDR Forum participant has done so. Does that tell you something?
If you have a concrete problem and all you want to do is discuss it on the boards here, spread it to other sites, and beam it to the moon and back, that's fine. At least it's real. But if you want it resolved, we gotta know about it, and you have to tell us!
I get to that third stage of grief—and believe me, it ain't a pretty state—when people post second-hand and unconfirmed stuff, vague gossip, or a private agenda veiled as fact.
In 2001, the United States is gripping the shreds of its freedoms. That means anybody still can complain about any company. Anybody still can sue any company. Anybody still can have a h***-on for any company. It does not mean the ill-will is justified. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
Let's talk a few specifics. Somebody said Banks has a history of complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Yes, that is correct. To be accurate, we have had one complaint a year filed with the BBB for each of the past three years. That's as far back as their records go. Each complaint was resolved between the parties, and not pursued by the BBB. If you ask me what was the nature of those complaints, I honestly don't know. All I can tell you is that there were three complaints in three years, out of 114,841 orders filled.
The five people from my company who are registered to participate in the TDR Forums didn't suddenly come to life because of the posts. We regularly look at the threads. It's a great way to take the pulse of the market in which we toil. We don't post too often, because we don't regard the Forums as a place to grab free advertising, under any guise. If we have something to say, it is attributed openly. Colin attempted to get his post in earlier than it appeared, but due to technical circumstances it was delayed by a couple of days. (And, to the person who referred to it as an 'imitation apology,' you are wrong, Sir. You know my name, but I don't know yours, so I must call you, respectfully, Sir. )
To clear any smoke that may be lingering about my status as an advertiser with Turbo Diesel Register, it's easy to see we are not granted favoritism, nor have we threatened to pull out of the magazine because we don't get any. I don't subscribe to arm-twisting as a tactic. There are such things as business ethics. A set of principles sometimes creates difficulties in business—hell, in life—but I actually find it makes decisions a whole lot easier. So, Banks remains both a TDR advertiser and uncensored subject for the discussion boards.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion about whether the quality, reliability, safety and performance of my company's products justify the price. All my products meet or exceed federal emissions standards, and further comply with California's more stringent code. We build products to last. Many outlast the vehicles they equip. The best I can offer is an open invitation to you all: view our product line on our web site; order a free test report; visit our facility in Azusa, California, any weekday; check out our stuff in the flesh, here or at a Banks dealer; and decide for yourself if the value is there.
Then, speak your piece about Banks, pro or con. A lot of people do. You can see for yourself at peoplesay.html. All these quotes are attributed—not with screen handles, but right out there, with first and last names and hometowns.
Well, I've said my piece. Maybe I can get to that fourth stage now, and wake up firmly planted in the final one, ready to attack another day.
Thanks for reading.
For the record, I'm 58 and feel like 28.
In composing a response to all the material that's out there, my first inclination was to pick out the challengers and answer each one, correct the misperceptions, rail against the stuff that's frankly way off-base, and defend the Banks name. But that seemed a mighty intricate task, and a couple days' reflection mellowed the idea. I think I went through something close to the five stages of grief, but it went more like:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Testosterone
4. Sleep
5. Acceptance
Now that that's out of the way, I will answer the themes that dominate these threads, and hope it provides clarity to those of you who take the time to read it:
Aftermarket product manufacturers are like sports teams. Guys and gals have their favorites, for a variety of reasons both logical and emotional. I'm not trying to shake anybody's allegiance to a 'team,' but I do believe in fair play. All I ask is that anyone who's already parked his loyalty with a competitor not try to uplift his own team by bashing mine.
If you have a genuine gripe about Banks, that's another story. A week ago, Colin sincerely asked that complaints be emailed to him directly at cbanks@bankspower.com. To date, no one who identified himself as a TDR Forum participant has done so. Does that tell you something?
If you have a concrete problem and all you want to do is discuss it on the boards here, spread it to other sites, and beam it to the moon and back, that's fine. At least it's real. But if you want it resolved, we gotta know about it, and you have to tell us!
I get to that third stage of grief—and believe me, it ain't a pretty state—when people post second-hand and unconfirmed stuff, vague gossip, or a private agenda veiled as fact.
In 2001, the United States is gripping the shreds of its freedoms. That means anybody still can complain about any company. Anybody still can sue any company. Anybody still can have a h***-on for any company. It does not mean the ill-will is justified. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
Let's talk a few specifics. Somebody said Banks has a history of complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Yes, that is correct. To be accurate, we have had one complaint a year filed with the BBB for each of the past three years. That's as far back as their records go. Each complaint was resolved between the parties, and not pursued by the BBB. If you ask me what was the nature of those complaints, I honestly don't know. All I can tell you is that there were three complaints in three years, out of 114,841 orders filled.
The five people from my company who are registered to participate in the TDR Forums didn't suddenly come to life because of the posts. We regularly look at the threads. It's a great way to take the pulse of the market in which we toil. We don't post too often, because we don't regard the Forums as a place to grab free advertising, under any guise. If we have something to say, it is attributed openly. Colin attempted to get his post in earlier than it appeared, but due to technical circumstances it was delayed by a couple of days. (And, to the person who referred to it as an 'imitation apology,' you are wrong, Sir. You know my name, but I don't know yours, so I must call you, respectfully, Sir. )
To clear any smoke that may be lingering about my status as an advertiser with Turbo Diesel Register, it's easy to see we are not granted favoritism, nor have we threatened to pull out of the magazine because we don't get any. I don't subscribe to arm-twisting as a tactic. There are such things as business ethics. A set of principles sometimes creates difficulties in business—hell, in life—but I actually find it makes decisions a whole lot easier. So, Banks remains both a TDR advertiser and uncensored subject for the discussion boards.
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion about whether the quality, reliability, safety and performance of my company's products justify the price. All my products meet or exceed federal emissions standards, and further comply with California's more stringent code. We build products to last. Many outlast the vehicles they equip. The best I can offer is an open invitation to you all: view our product line on our web site; order a free test report; visit our facility in Azusa, California, any weekday; check out our stuff in the flesh, here or at a Banks dealer; and decide for yourself if the value is there.
Then, speak your piece about Banks, pro or con. A lot of people do. You can see for yourself at peoplesay.html. All these quotes are attributed—not with screen handles, but right out there, with first and last names and hometowns.
Well, I've said my piece. Maybe I can get to that fourth stage now, and wake up firmly planted in the final one, ready to attack another day.
Thanks for reading.
and would My trans come to mind (Ask John he read the two page D/C Parts list 
) 
