Date:         Sat, 11 Mar 2000 21:54:52 -0500
Reply-To:     Bob O'Shaughnessy <vanagon@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob O'Shaughnessy <vanagon@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Subject:      Avoid Parts Place at all costs!! (was Re: TDI engines $1999.95)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Rene Berube (rberube@ALLTEL.NET) said on the date of 3/11/00 7:26 PM

>Parts Place in AUburn Hills has new TDI engines, Turbo and injection
>pump, motor mounts included for $1999.95 US. (248)373-2300.

     And if my, and numerous others' experience hold true, one of the
following will happen:

     1. You order one, after talking to rather knowledgable phone rep,
who sadly explains that the *real* price for a "new" engine is $2500, as
the $1999.95 price you calculated included the "coupon" printed in their
catalog, which isn't really a coupon, just a badly worded price
comparison.
     You receive an engine, it *is* a TDI engine, but it obviously isn't
new, by any stretch of the imagination, it has junkyard yellow paint
scribbles on it, and it might even be broken. You call the nice phone
rep, who patiently explains that when they say "new" they really mean
that it hasn't been actually melted down or sold for scrap.  (Something
to this effect is really in their catalog!!).
     You ask to return the engine, and they agree, as long as you ship it
back at your own cost.

     2. You order one, and actually get the price in the catalog.
     You recieve a 1.7L gas Rabbit engine, used.
     You call, they apologize, but refuse to pay for return shipping
despit their obvious mistake.
     You fall for this and pay the $100 or so to ship the engine back.
     Weeks later, after a few calls, they ship you a 1.6L Dasher diesel
engine, again used.
     Being a sucker, and having enjoyed their catalog and thinking that
because they are the only used VW parts vendor to have bought your name
from your state's DMV to send you a catalog, *someone* up there must have
a brain, you again ship the engine back at your cost.
     Weeks later, you recieve a 1.7L gas Rabbit engine.  It is on the
same skid and crate you used to ship it back to them.  It looks similar,
but you didn't write the serial numbers down.
     You call and ask for shipping reimbursement, a refund, and for them
to pick up their engine.
     They refuse.
     Thankfully, your bank forgives you, and given your mounds of
documentation, they refuse to pay "Parts Place"
     Miraculously, they pick up the engine.
     You decide that going to Michigan to get your $200 or so back isn't
worth the trouble, and take solace in the fact that when you complain
about them on the internet, you find that *many* people share your
experiences.

     You fall asleep, dreaming of a horde of ripped-off VW owners
converging on "Parts-Place's" VW show, demanding refunds.


     (the above is obviously fiction, but is derived from my personal
experiences being ripped off by parts place and similar experineces
detailed by others)

     Caveat Emptor!

_________________________________________________________

Bob O'Shaughnessy,         Columbus, OH
vanagon@columbus.rr.com
99 A3 Jetta TDI
85GL with basic Westy interior
74 Bus (Dad's)
72 Wife, 94 Rabbit, 95 Cat, 96 cat, 98 Kid
52 House