From: brooks@mcnc.org (Ted Brooks)
Subject: Re: Mexican leather Upholstery
Organization: MCNC Center for Microelectronics, RTP, NC
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 00:29:20 GMT

In article <184616@pyramid.pyramid.com> lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes:
>In article <1992Dec9.153647.28620@mcnc.org> brooks@mcnc.org (Ted Brooks) writes:
>>
>>I worked with a guy once who was stationed in Texas while in the army. A
>>friend of his took his car to Mexico to have it reupholstered. He ignored
>>the advice to watch them while they reupholstered it, choosing instead to
>>sit in a bar across the street and chase senoritas. Apparently, the 
>>upholstery was beautiful, but a few days later he noticed a funny smell.
>>Turned out the seats were padded with _used_ straw from a local stable.
>>
>>I can't say for sure that this story is true, but I pass it along for what
>>it's worth - probably about as much as you paid for the advice. True or
>>not, it points out an age-old truth - it's better to deal with people you
>>_know_ are honest.
>>
>    Hmmm, a friend-of-a-friend story, huh?   Why does that trigger
>    my BS detector?
>
>    Please, you crapheads left off the old one about not buying
>    boots made in Mexico because the leather is cured with
>    horse-piss.
>
>    And that crack about "people you know are honest?"   Grow up.  
                                                          ^^^^^^^^
Grow up yourself.

>    Magically honesty disappears and rip-offs appear only as you
>    cross the border?   Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.   

I resent your twisting my comments and making me out to be a racist.
That is NOT what I meant. I in no way meant to imply that Mexicans are
low life greaseball thieves, as you seem to want to make it out to be.
As far as honesty, I meant EXACTLY what I said - dealing with people of
solid reputation is one of the best ways I know of to avoid getting 
ripped off. That's true north _and_ south of the border, pal. I'll be 
glad to swap ripoff stories done by "gringos" _to_ "gringos".

The simple fact is, there are honest and dishonest people. If you go 
wandering into a business establishment you know little about, do lots
of handwaving, are only concerned about the price, and believe
everything you're told by someone you've never met before, you're a bit
naiive, to say the least. That goes double if you're obviously an
out-of-towner who'll never be back, and said businessperson is a bit less
than scrupulous.

On the other hand, if you know people who are happy customers
of a given business, maybe they're due a bit more trust.

I passed on this tidbit as a word to the wise in trusting anybody and 
everybody. Particularly people who make you promises that seem too good
to be true. The individual I worked with told me he helped discover the
unsavory stuffing in the seats. If it's true, then I feel there's 
nothing wrong with passing that on. If it's not true, well too bad - I
told the readers of this group that I couldn't verify it, and to take
it for what it was worth. I'm glad you & your friend got good upholstery 
jobs. A few others on this group personally experienced getting ripped 
off. 
>
>    Like, only "good ole Bubba" at the corner store is honest?

Maybe Bubba is honest... maybe he isn't. Which corner store are we talking 
about?
>
>    There are some excellent upholstery shops in Cuidad
>    Jaurez...they are a bit cheaper than in the US, but not THAT
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ahh, a key point to the entire problem. You _can't_ get superb work done
in Mexico for next to nothing. Maybe THAT'S the myth that needed to be
dispelled all along, rather that what Mexicans use to stuff upholstery.

>    much.  But their work is craftsman quality compared to anything
>    you'll get in just about any place in the US.  
>
>    There are also cheap shops on both sides of the border that'll
>    do a cheap job if you insist on a cheap price.  And if you go in
>    there with the attitude that you're gonna be ripped off because
>    you are a gringo and they are greasers, what the heck do you
>    expect?    

Maybe there's the real problem here. Maybe Americans look at Mexicans as
low life greasers. Maybe Mexicans know that and look at Americans as
well moneyed smartasses with an attitude problem. When a business deal
starts out with that attitude, it's doomed to fail. And if you can't
break out of that mode, THEN DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH THAT ESTABLISHMENT!!!

Or maybe the problem is that people go shopping solely on price and figure
they can get something dirt cheap by going south of the border. Well, it
may be a cliche', but "you get what you pay for" is true. And if you're
naiive enough to think you're going to get "something for nothing", you can
usually find someone who'll be glad to promise you anything just to take 
your money.

>
>    And, no it wasn't a friend of a friend, it was me and a friend
>    both had upholstery done.  His tuck and pleat with beading was
>    immaculate and still in excellent condition 20+ years later in a
>    MG-TC.   

Please note I didn't say it was impossible to get a good job done. You
got a quality job. Fine. One vote "for" upholstery shops in Mexico. 
Others have had problems. Also fine. Know who you're dealing with, know
what you're asking for, and have been promised, and be sure it's possible
to deliver it for that price. Hmm, seems to me that's a good practice on
_either_ side of the border.

BTW, if you care to discuss this issue further, please save the bandwidth
and email me.
 
Ted Brooks
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