[Ashlandchris]

I'm going to add my two-penneth, although I speak as a driver that has never had Durango or had to buy parts so have no axe to grind.

The comment about human nature wanting to buy the car that recently won something - yes, that is why it is called human nature. People do like to be able to justify their decisions and pre-validation by following a success is a key aspect of this.
I have read TD statement (linked in an earlier post) and I think that their objectives are great - I certainly made my car decision based on the cars run at my local club as it meant I could get help and advice from people standing next to me in a field - that is essential for a driver such as I. TD was a brand I considered, but during an early visit to a club, I tried to speak to a few different drivers and it just happened that the AE and Yokomo drivers were only too eager to help (thank you to them).

With regard to spares - I am certain that if TDs goal this year is to focus on club level, I would hope that someone inside TD is reading the current wave of negative feedback on trying to get parts and will be doing something about it. It would be normal business suicide to see a clear market need from your customers and then decide not to respond to it. Lets hope it is only a blip, but I do believe it is real as it isn't just the drivers saying it, it is the hobby shops themselves.

We all know how quick a driver is to blame a shop if they don't have parts, so trying to work with a brand that doesn't support the LHS will actually damage the LHS reputation - I can therefore understand why a LHS would try to distance themselves from this situation.

It has been said - it makes no difference how good a product is if you don't feel that you are being supported and at the moment this is the problem. Nobody is saying the stuff isn't good, but it simply isn't available. TD posted a message on their website, making the promise of availability within 48hrs, so I'd hope that someone is now monitoring this to make sure they can deliver upon it.

I will watch how it proceeds with interest as I have a morbid fascination with companies that don't learn from customer feedback AND when you look at the ones that do stand up and say "OK chaps, we messed up here, but understand what the issue is, here is how we are fixing it, let us know how it goes" you typically see the companies that are successful.

New Coke anyone?