Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 13:04:56 -0500
Reply-To: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Subject: Best Way To Get Factory Parts From The Dealer
In-Reply-To: <200111021625.LAA06412@fty-ultra.cisco.com>
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<font size=3>Frank, here is the scoop on where to order your factory
parts from when ordering from Volkswagen directly.<br>
<br>
So far as I know, both Rennie and Camelback are still in the business and
are excellent sources of factory parts. Their prices will be comparable
but I think Rennie may have a slight price advantage. <br>
<br>
If you would like to place European parts orders, then you can also ask
me for a price quote as I can usually beat USA prices by a European VAG
factory parts importing system I set up to help list members. As a result
of this system, I am probably the cheapest source of parts you need to
source through a VAG Dealer in Europe because it is out of stock or not
sold in North America. Before using this system, however, check with Bus
Depot
(<a href="http://www.busdepot.com/" eudora="autourl">www.busdepot.com</a>)
to see if they have a method to obtain OEM parts through aftermarket
sources because this will be cheaper still. For transmission related
components, you can check with either me or Weddle Engineering. <br>
<br>
To contract Camelback in Arizona (now known as Paul Walser VW???) call
800-876-5199 and order by phone/mail-order.<br>
To contact Rennie email volksdragon@earthlink.net (he is in Los
Angeles).<br>
To contact Weddle Engineering send an email to info@2weddle.com.<br>
To contact me, send an email to derekdrew@rcn.com.<br>
<br>
At the bottom of this email I reproduce two emails from the past I sent
on this topic which should be reviewed by list members who are new to
this topic. Ordering from your local dealer is a crude and prehistoric
method of obtaining parts and should be avoided whenever possible for
various reasons discussed below. As it says below, "I used to buy my
VW parts from the local dealer here but I cannot get over<br>
how silly this is. You pay sales tax. You often have to go to the dealer
twice--once to order and once to take delivery. You have to wait in line.
You pay full price or a high price. Who needs it? Go 800 and do something
more productive with your time and money."<br>
<br>
At 11:25 AM 11/2/2001 -0500, you wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite>Derek,<br>
<br>
Is Rennie still in the parts biz, or is Camelback the way to go?<br>
<br>
Other than email, it there a way to contact him?<br>
<br>
thanks - Frank<br>
<br>
\\\\////\\\\////\\\\\////\\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\////\\\\<br>
Frank Terhaar-Yonkers W4FTY TRA
8325/L2<br>
Cisco Systems, Inc.<br>
NSITE - Pineview Building - RTP<br>
7025 Kit Creek Road PO Box 14987<br>
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709<br>
fty@cisco.com voice(919)392-2101 fx(919)392-6927
</blockquote><br>
=================<br>
<br>
<br>
February 2001 MESSAGE ON RENNIE:<br>
<br>
It has come to my attention that Rennie, otherwise known as
volksdragon@earthlink.net, is able to get us parts at 20% over dealer
list and is happy and willing to supply us.<br>
<br>
He has been posting to the list all kinds of help and owns his own
Vanagon, and we have sort of ignored him as a place from which to order
parts, partly because he never mentioned anything about becoming a vendor
and doesn't want to "undercut" anybody. <br>
<br>
But his prices are likely a discount from the amount we have been paying
Camelback when sourcing factory-only parts, it appears that it might be
wise to start shifting our business to the extent Rennie wants us to. I
spoke to him this morning and he says he is fine to become the new
Camelback if that is what we want to do. I hope he has a cooperative
shipping department. <br>
<br>
Next time you need to source some parts available only through the dealer
network, consider trying Rennie out. Possibly this could work out. <br>
<br>
He is on email more than Camelback is, and seems genuinely interested in
the vehicle and in helping out so all else being equal, he could be the
best choice for this. <br>
<br>
Meanwhile, if the part is a Europe-only part or carries a significant
European price advantage, I have set up a pathway for efficient sourcing
from there email me if you want to pursue this avenue. <br>
<br>
===========================<br>
<br>
FEBRUARY 2001 MESSAGE THAT HELPED ESTABLISH CAMELBACK ON THE LIST<br>
<br>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995
14:26:01 -0400<br>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List
<vanagon@vanagon.com><br>
From: drew@interport.net
(Derek Drew)<br>
Subject: Best Dealer To Buy Parts From
(Don't Skip This Post)<br>
<br>
Recently I conducted a test to find out which was the VW dealer
offering<br>
factory VW parts at the lowest prices. I composed a bid form with about
25<br>
different factory parts I intended to buy new, and I sent this form to
a<br>
half dozen dealers around the country to see which really offered the
lowest<br>
prices.<br>
<br>
Included in my survey were <br>
<br>
Joel Walker's friend Jim Ellis at VW Atlanta<br>
Sonnen Motors in California<br>
Bob Hoy's VW in Texas<br>
Paul Walser Volkswagen in Phoenix, Az<br>
<br>
I mentioned in my bid to Paul Walser Volkswagen that I had heard on
the<br>
Vanagon List that they were willing to sell parts at 20% over their cost
to<br>
people like me (Internet Vanagonatics). The Walser people responded
promptly<br>
and their prices were lower than all the other dealers by a
significant<br>
margin on all parts but one obscure one. <br>
<br>
Accordingly, I placed my order with Walser, directing them to send the
parts<br>
UPS. I live in New York, but it is better to buy the parts from an out
of<br>
state dealer so as to avoid 8% sales tax. As for the UPS shipping
charges,<br>
in general they are not significant so it doesn't matter which state I
am<br>
ordering from.<br>
<br>
In the future, I plan to buy all factory parts from Walser without
going<br>
through the effort to get bids from different dealers. I am submitting
this<br>
post to recomend that other list members do the same. Be sure to mention
the<br>
Internet and the 20%-over-cost program to get your proper discount.<br>
<br>
I conducted the entire operation by fax and have never spoken to anyone
at<br>
Walser. Here is there phone numbers <br>
<br>
Paul Walser Volkswagen<br>
Phoenix, Az 85016<br>
800-876-5199<br>
fax: 602-265-8768<br>
<br>
List members may wish to copy the 800# and label it something like
"Cheap<br>
Factory Parts By Mail" and keep it handy.<br>
<br>
I used to buy my VW parts from the local dealer here but I cannot get
over<br>
how silly this is. You pay sales tax. You often have to go to the
dealer<br>
twice--once to order and once to take delivery. You have to wait in
line.<br>
You pay full price or a high price. Who needs it? Go 800 and do
something<br>
more productive with your time and money.<br>
<br>
The one caveat is that I supplied the part numbers and asked them to
double<br>
check some of them. If you lack a microfiche you might be forced to go
to<br>
your local dealer to look at the thing and make sure you have the
right<br>
parts before ordering. But now with the recent innovation appearing on
this<br>
list of how to get a cheap microfiche reader (Radio Shack 50X $7
microscope)<br>
there is no excuse: all list members should get their own fiches.<br>
<br>
By the way, before finalizing my order I called up the Parts Place and
found<br>
that when they could supply a part, it was about 60% of the cost of
buying<br>
that same part from the dealer. Accordinly, I gave the Parts Place
my<br>
business for these parts.<br>
<br>
<br>
___________________________________<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><br>
<div>________________________________________________________</div>
<div>Derek
Drew
New York, NY & Washington, DC</div>
<div>derekdrew@rcn.com<x-tab> </x-tab>
212-580-6486</div>
<div>Email me for viscous couplings</div>
<div>'90 Syncro Westfalia... </div>
<div>...seen off-road at </div>
<div><a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/Syncro_Madness_Area.htm" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/Syncro_Madness_Area.htm</a></div>
<div>Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners)
are:</div>
<div>
<a href="http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon</a></div>
<div>
<a href="ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/" EUDORA=AUTOURL>ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro</a>
</div>
<div> <a href="http://www.vanagon.com/" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.vanagon.com</a> </div>
<div> <a href="http://www.syncro.org/" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.syncro.org</a> </div>
<div>My refrigerator article: </div>
<div> <a href="http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm</a></div>
<div>My article that shows how to deal with insurance companies: </div>
<div> <a href="ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/auto-insurance-madness.html" EUDORA=AUTOURL>ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/auto-insurance-madness.html</a> </div>
<div>To view Wolfgang's incredibly informative wheel article</div>
<div> <a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/fitbigtiresonvanagon.htm" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/fitbigtiresonvanagon.htm</a> </div>
<div>To view Tim Smith's incredibly useful gearing calculator</div>
<div> <a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/syncrotireandgearratios.xls" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/syncrotireandgearratios.xls</a> </div>
<div>To view some 16" Trailing Arms that enable much larger tires see</div>
<div> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syncro-org/files/Wheels,%20Tires%20%26%20Gearing/Wheel%20%26%20Tire%20Photos/16_Inch_Trailing_Arm.jpg" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syncro-org/files/Wheels%2C%20Tires%20%26%20Gearing/Wheel%20%26%20Tire%20Photos/16_Inch_Trailing_Arm.jpg</a></div>
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