Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001 18:35:23 -0500
Reply-To: The Bus Depot <busdepot@EMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Bus Depot <busdepot@EMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: FW: True cost of AMC heads for 1.9L and 2.1L: bare for $240
to $216!
In-Reply-To: <f9.66b2921.278ce8f9@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> Ron,
> I did not want to step on toes...I was mainly trying to find a cheaper way
to get heads to
> those rebuilding there engines and not waste money on parts or labor that
would not be
> used. I know that the valves shipped with the heads tend to pull out of
the keeper so
> buyers are paying for valves that would not be used. If buying the head
bare the buyers
> simply would not be paying for parts or labor that would be wasted rather
add the cost
> to making the head better.
>
> I rember the shipping costs of my heads was not all that much ,
> around $20 for a pair CA to NC.
You're not stepping on toes at all. I agree with you about the advantage of
ordering bare heads. In fact the only reason that I haven't offered them
bare before is that in the past Marnal has typically not had them. (In fact
a while back I tried to get them bare in quantity and couldn't make it
work.)
My point about shipping was simply that you hadn't considered it in your
calculation. If you're right that it is $20/pair one way (a bit low, I
think, considering 2 UPS price increases in the last 6 months plus a new
"fuel surcharge"), plus then add about the same or a bit less to get them to
me from Marnal, then maybe it's an extra $20 or $25 per head. I may be
overestimating when I said up to $40 per head, but I'd rather estimate high
than low. Bottom line is it will cost what it costs, but one thing for sure
is it ain't free. :-(
And as I said I would be more than happy to help with a list deal. (It
wouldn't be my first; I've helped facilitate at least half a dozen list
deals over the years.) The only question is whether there is sufficient
demand for it. I'm guessing that we're probably talking a real savings of
maybe $25-30 per head, to order them as a bulk deal versus one or two at a
time as needed. If you need heads now (or expect to in the near future),
it's definately worth participating in a group deal and saving the bucks, no
question about it. On the other hand, if you don't need heads now, the
savings may not be enough to justify buying them just to put them on a shelf
for a rainy day (versus getting them when you need them).
So those are the choices. Group deal now. Or I can add bare heads to my
next stock order (I have complete ones already) and you can order when
needed, but for a bit more money. Or both. (One doesn't preclude the
other; even if there is a group deal I can always throw a few extras in for
stock. Murphy's law assures us that someone's head will fail ten minutes
after the group deal is closed :-)
So it all comes down to a question of listmember participation. How many
people want them right now at a lower price? (And what do you want: bare or
complete, 1.9 or 2.1, and how many? I should note that 2.1L heads also work
on a 1.9 block if replaced in pairs, so ordering one pair of 2.1's will
maximize your future options.). Obviously someone should make a count.
(Robert, it's your baby; do you want to do it, or should I?) If there is
enough interest we can come up with a final price based on the quantity
requested, and then post the pricing so that others can join in if
interested. If not, worst case is I'll just order a handful to keep in
stock for listmembers' future needs.
- Ron Salmon
The Bus DepotŪ, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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