Date:         Wed, 23 Feb 2000 01:03:34 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      VW Parts CD Rom
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

While shopping today via phone with a VW Dealer Parts Dept, I learned
that the Vanagon Parts catalog, while still available on microfiche, are
now available on CD ROM. I suggested that in the interest of customer
service they should be downloaded and made available on the internet so
the consumer could do his own parts search, and then order from the
dealer, instead of haveing to go through some parts guy at the
dealership. My man said no way is that going to happen right away.
Perhaps later, but not soon. He said VW was to busy extracting every
nickel they could out to the dealers. Case in point, to read the CD the
dealer has to rent by the month from VW some sort of CD reader that
attaches to the dealers  PC.

Told him I thought that was pretty bogus. He said yeah, wasn't it
though. He said that one day maybe VW would get off of sitting on its
thumb and figure out that customer service is the Key to Success, and
post the parts catalog on the net. It would be a lot easier for the
customer, and the dealer.....but as long as VW can squeeze the
dealer........won't happen.

My $.02

John Rodgers
"88GL Driver