Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 04:36:37 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@aol.com
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey R <Oxroad@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Parts Place - Dear Vanagon List Subscribers
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 7/27/2000 7:25:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
kjhale@earthlink.net writes:
<< Melissa stated that she was a college professor at ( I believe ) Eastern
Michigan University. She did not appear illiterate or mentally handicapped
in any way that would lead us to believe she required "extra" special
consideration. She appeared to be about 30 years old.>>
To me this above statement sums up why I will not do business with Parts
Place. Forget for a moment the fact that Kevin or Jack are by inference
poking fun at people who are or "appear" to be illiterate or mentally
handicapped. And forget for the moment how sad it is that they don't realize
how abhorrent that type of thing is so much so that they would use it in a
sarcastic argument to win support. This statement illustrates a philosophy of
business that I find to be detrimental to all customers. The idea that
because a customer is reasonably intelligent they should be smart enough to
know when they are being screwed can never be good for the customer. It's a
technique those who do the screwing use to exonerate themselves from
responsibility of taking advantage of people. These type of business people
base their policies on the "buyer beware" ideal. And that's never a good
vantage point for a customer. Parts Place has missed the point. It's not that
any of us believe Melissa is not educated. What we believe is she is not an
automotive expert. We also believe the folks at Parts Place are automotive
experts. Being an expert brings with it a responsibility. Shakespeare said
something like: it is glorious to have the power of a Giant-- it is tyrannous
to use it. (sorry, it's just too late to look up the quote)
<<We did not ask her to sell it to us, we did not set the selling price, we
did not charge her anything, and we did not force her to buy it from us.
Why all this mis-information?
Most colleges and some high schools offer a course called Economics 101. I
hear it is worthwhile. I would think it would be required by anyone in the
teaching profession. >>
I would add that most institutions of learning offer courses in Ethics. I
would suggest those who run Parts Place take such a course. And I don't mean
that to poke fun, I mean it sincerely.
I would also suggest that if those at the Parts Place felt they were truly in
the right they might not resort to mocking Melissa's intelligence--the
implication being that if she paid attention in school she would understand
that her feelings of being screwed were silly in terms of simple economics.
Supply and demand and market values and profit margins no matter how well
taught do not excuse any of us from our responsibility to do business in good
faith and act as ethical human beings.
On a personal note I got back into VWs after a 10 year fling with antique GM
cars. I loved the GM cars but I often found myself in a circle full of macho
competitive jerks. And naturally I wanted a hobby that was fun. I had owned
several VWs in the past and always remembered the good nature of the VW
crowd. So I switched back. I mean you'll always have the jerks here and there
but for the most part I stand by my observation of the VW crowd. And that
means I do business with those I find to be good natured and honest. Those
who groove on getting rich don't interest me--especially if it's at my
expense. And on a laughable note about the Parts Place who the heck want to
do business with an outfit that from the get go AIMS to please only 99% of
their customers. I'll give you that in the end you're not going to please
100% of your customers. But to set up a business with the goal of pleasing
less 100%. You've gotta be joking, right? And I'll bet there is some formula
they teach you in Economics 101 where you can squeeze about 30% or more into
the 1% slot using a lot of sarcasm.
Jack said in his letter to the list "some people expect more than what is
reasonable." "Reasonable" is a vague term. But knowing Parts Place thinks
it's reasonable to take advantage of a customer because that customer has not
educated themselves to be experts makes me reason I can find another vendor.
And if I had to guess I would guess they called Melissa to afford a quick
sale. They already knew she loved the Vanagon. How is offering it back at
market value a noble gesture? How?
And also, if one believes a vehicle is good only for scrap why does he repair
it instead of tearing it down for parts. This is another place where the
Parts Place story does not hold water (a pun is always more desirable than
sarcasm. We're to believe the engine accidentally got fixed while it was
being pulled apart for scrap. It seems more likely a mechanic went at it in
order to fix what he knew was a minor problem. The question remains when did
the guys at the Parts Place know it was a minor problem? From their customer
beware attitude I'm guessing they knew pretty early on and before the
transaction. Remember these guys are VW experts.
In truth Melissa's loss is our gain. I'm sorry she has been burdened with
most of the cost.
Having said that, and standing by it, what was wrong with her Vanagon? And
what lead her to believe it had a blown engine?
Jeff
83.5 Westy
NYC
