… an answer phone with info might be good idea.

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 24/10/2016 14:54:35

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 24/10/2016 14:55:15

So everyone has to change their answerphone message every time they do something different?

Depends. Would you tell anyone phoning that you were on holiday? Especially if a sole trader, or trade from home!

An ansafone system and reliable return call should be sufficient.

Edited By not done it yet on 24/10/2016 15:32:46

Alan usually puts a note on his website if he is going to be closed for a few days eg Holidays, Great Dorset Steam Fair, attending shows. Could holidays though his kids are past half term holidays now. He was also going to have to change premises so may have to go back to opening on only a few days a week if he cannot do machining on site which is what he used to do.

As Kwil says probably off to a supplier.

One thing I would say if ordering from MJ Eng is to order well ahead of when your friend will need parts. Castings are usually done in batches as its a full days round trip to collect them so if something is out of stock it can be a while before the next batch of castings is collected

For 2.5k I am wondering if I should be making them.

Don't pass judgement before you know the full story. There has been no lack of service here because no transaction has been initiated.

I had a long chat with Alan at the Guildford weekend. Cut him some slack, he's a genuine kinda guy and will have genuine reasons for not being as available as you might wish.

So you can't complain about the service — because there isn't any??