In memoriam - Phil Reinhardt 1951-2012 - Page 8 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 12-05-2012, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b272/whunter/Phil.jpg

I love the shirt!

daw_two · #2 11-30-2012, 12:18 PM

Jennifer, family, and all of us on the forum.

We have lost a great man who was (is) truly a great example of GREAT customer service. Phil took care of me on numerous occasions when my online ordering process went awry. I wonder how he was organize the various tidbits of information about us and our cars. He seemed to know what car I needed parts.

In my early days on this forum, Phil would prepare price item list/breakdowns showing all the items I initially requested. I would then reduce quanities and often deleted items to get back within my budget. It amazed me how he quickly turned my changes into an order.

Like Charlie, my most recent online order had an issue and Phil took care of it. Here's the link about that experience:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/fastlane-feedback/311987-phil-great-customer-service.html

I went and looked at the first page of the Fastlane Feedback Fastlane Feedback - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum and saw numerous threads started by others thanking Phil for taking care of them. He was able to sense when email wasn't working for me and a phone call was necessary. Sometimes, my phone would ring within 30 seconds of my email response back to him. His patience was first rate in dealing with me. I remember once I was trying to get parts ordered on a late Thursday afternoon and receive the next day without having to pay for Saturday delivery. He managed to order the parts out of different location and get them shipped that day, so I could receive them in time for the weekend.

Rest in Peace, Phil. You are already missed.

ridgerunner · #3 11-30-2012, 12:32 PM

Just talked to Phil a couple days ago. My condolences to his family and fiance.
I just hope and pray he had a relationship with Jesus. The family will be in our prayers.

SirNik84 · #4 11-30-2012, 01:00 PM

About 6 years ago now, my mom had moved away to go back to college and get her masters. I went from talking to her ever day in person to making phone calls. Christmas came around and I was having trouble with my Mercedes. My mom wanting to help any way she could, so she offered to get me the parts I needed for Christmas. I sent her a link to, mercedes-shop at the time, and told her to order. She called me back just before Christmas to tell me that she had ordered the parts, and that she had a great conversation with Phil on the phone. My mom hasn't moved back to CA, so we still mostly talk on the phone. She'll call me and I'll be at the junk yard looking for something, or angry because the parts house promised to have the part only to not have it when I arrived. She would always say "Don't worry, want me to call Phil?" He was the safety net MB repair. If you needed it and were banging your head against the problem there was always Phil. He will be missed. I'd like to thank him not only for his service, but for being one of the building blocks that build this great place here on the internet. I've seriously met some of my best friends through this site. Prayers and best wishes with his family!

97 SL320 · #5 11-30-2012, 01:39 PM

Drat, no fun to loose good people..

The top of this thread needs a blurb about Phills connection to this site for those that don't know what he did.

ImBroke · #6 11-30-2012, 01:42 PM

So sad to hear.. Only had to deal with him twice, but he made everything right, and genuinely cared. My condolences to all of those that knew him personally.

mgburg · #7 11-30-2012, 02:21 PM

Phil...

A CSR like no other.

May St. Peter have him as his associate at the Pearly Gates...

For some, Phil might be able to locate their way to, and maybe through, the gates when no one else could...

May he be resting in Peace and may his family continue on knowing their fiancé, father, brother/uncle will be sorely missed by all that had personal contact with him and those that knew him only through this (or other) forums.

Today is truly a sober day...

TnBob · #8 11-30-2012, 02:05 PM

I cant imagine the feelings now of Phil's family. Know that if anything can be done of any help just ask here and you will be overwhelmed with whatever support we might be able to offer.

Phil was a virtual patriarch to this group of crazies who want nothing more that to make any MB under their control the best possible. He was so very good at offering much more than just parts. I spoke with him earlier in the week and as many have said, he recognized my voice even though I was an infrequent customer.

I dont think that any of us were customers, we who called were each special to him and his avocation of providing the best source of information he could to rapidly solve any issue we had.

There are an extreme few like him. He had the rare ability of making any issue his and to him joy was resolution.

He will be fondly remembered for decades.

Hogweed · #9 11-30-2012, 03:03 PM

my condolences to his family.....we just never know

Wayne 962 · #10 11-30-2012, 03:54 PM

I sent this note to one of my friends who worked with Phil. Here was his response:

Quote:

Truly a sad time, Phil was one of the best and most knowledgeable Mercedes parts guys I knew. He was much of the reason I recommended Peach to you.

We were talking about the loss of parts professionals just yesterday, I don’t know if you remember Ernie from the old days here at SSF, he passed last week from a heart attack as well. Here are plenty of parts sellers but It takes decades to learn how be an outstanding parts man, it's not just looking up parts and pressing the right buttons. I speak to hundreds of mechanics and parts sellers every month and Phil was one of the 4 or 5 people I know that would be nearly irreplaceable due to his experience and genuine outstanding knowledge.

All the best to his family and friends.

-Wayne

MBeige · #11 11-30-2012, 03:57 PM

I'm so sorry to hear this, sad news indeed.

Wayne 962 · #12 11-30-2012, 04:15 PM

Addition: Phil's kids asked me to add this info to the first post:

Quote:

We are collecting donations
Hello friends and family of Phil. I should probably just call everyone family because that is how our dad saw everyone.He was that amazing guy who would do anything for anybody who asked, gave selflessly of his time and money and hardly ever thought about himself. He loved Jesus, his family, loved to cook and would make huge meals to feed people, he would host karaoke which was a passion of his, he loved cars and car parts and made it a life's work and dedication.

Our dad was the most amazing man we have ever known and the loss of him has hit us hard.As you all know, my dad passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Wednesday, November 28th which was also his 61st birthday. He loved life and lived it fiercely. One of my dad's favorite quotes was this:"The purpose of life's journey is not to arrive at the grave with a well-preserved body, but rather to Slide in Sideways, completely used up, yelling and screaming, what a ride! "This quote represents our dad well. Phil would give everything he owned, which wasn't much, to anyone who would ask.

Due to our dad's focus on others and not his self he did not prepare for his passing. My brother Jason and I have been trying to get money together to care for him and to hold a memorial service. If you would like to make a donation of any amount to his memorial fund we would be very grateful. We would also love to have anyone who loved him join us in any way they can for his honoring on Friday, December 7th. Details will be given to Pelican Parts soon. My dad loved to rock his Hawaiian shirts and favorite cowboy hat. He spoke with much joy and affection about all of the people he got to talk with everyday through his job with Pelican Parts. He loved people!

My husband James has an introverted personality and he would marvel at my dad...how he made friends everywhere he went. We were in California at a dinner and western show event with him one year. He wandered off and we were trying to find him in the crowd of people. We finally found him off talking to a group of people. We stood there in awe as he easily joked and bantered with these strangers who, from an outside perspective, looked like long lost family. This couple on their honeymoon gave him their contact information so they could keep in touch. That was after a 20 minute conversation! What a gift he had, what a lover of people! He was the most non-judgmental, kind and loving man that has graced my life. Thank you everyone for caring for him and letting him touch your lives!

Details to be posted soon...

HammArch · #13 11-30-2012, 04:33 PM

I add my thanks for Phil's kindness, help, for taking the time, and for finding the impossible.

He will be sorely missed. What a great loss. We never met except on the phone and his gracious good humor always a balm to a frustrated MB restorer. He made the world a better place.

My sympathies, prayers and good will to his family and his friends.

The Hammer

mkrazy1 · #14 11-30-2012, 05:10 PM

I too am shocked. I, like others, was always amazed at how Phil was willing to work with you to figure out exactly what you needed for a job to be done right, and wouldn't hesitate to call if he had a question or two about the order. Being on the east coast, it would amaze me to get a call early in the moring, not expecting him to be in the office! My condolences to the family as well! That is just way to young to go.

cullennewsom · #15 11-30-2012, 05:29 PM

What a great guy. I only ever spoke to him on the phone and by email; but he was always great to talk to. As busy as he must have been; he always took the time to answer any question. Many thanks & condolences to the family.