[firstgenaddict]

My father collects and restores Early Flat head Fords... Ecklers or parent company bought a Early Ford V8 parts company, he reports the same situation... the business has gone to hell, and he doubts anyone at the "call center" has ever worked on a vehicle.
Ricks was well run and easy to do business with PLUS the people handling the parts had actually restored cars, they were in business quite a while and must have been profitable given the vehicles and parts acquired over the years. Why mess with a winning formula?

I have seen it many many times with larger businesses.... BEAN COUNTERS or SALESMEN running a business carte blanch is a sure fire way to destroy it.
The salesman will give it away trying to satisfy customers the Beancounters will cut it so bare the customers will abandon the company for lack of service, inferior products, or product availability.