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Date:         Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:21:31 EST
Reply-To:     FrankGRUN@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Surprising Vendor Comment
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Duly noting that the only thing that seems to stimulate the listee masses are vendor bashing messages, I thought I'd join the fray with a typically obscure set of comments.

The local temperature dropped below 70 F here yesterday, signifying the probable onset of the long-awaited next ice age, and SWMBO demanded that I exercise the heater control lever. Egad, first there was a 3 psi drop in coolant pressure then the onset of that sweet ethylene glycol aroma. This stimulated a search of the Bus Depot website for a heater core for a 1982 Diesel Vanagon. Imagine my chagrin (bordering on panic) after calling to confirm that they had no such article. Their friendly suggestion that this is now a dealer only par, triggered a search for alternative sources.

Over the years, I have used two sources for non BD purchases of automotive parts: Camelback and "site X". Indeed as I have been preparing the Audi 2.0 Turbo swap with SAAB turbo and engine management, and tinkered with our 944 Turbo, I have come to rely on "site X". Always prompt shipping, never a mistaken part whether it be described with a SAAB, VW, Audi, Porsche or Mercedes genesis.

Well, "site X" is www.thepartsbin.com. I just checked their site and found the '82 Vanagon Diesel Heater Core for $62.10. The heater blower was $97.48 (BD lists 99.95), the WBX heater core was $175 (BD is 199.95 I think). Plus, they had a number of transmission and clutch related parts not listed on the BD site. Well, I then ordered the core and a variety of other pieces and then discovered that there is free shipping (via UPS) on orders over $50. All in all a good experience I thought worthwhile to pass on.

Now I'm not suggesting that Ron's prices are high. On the contrary, I buy from BD whenever I can. ThePartsBin.com clearly is a member of a larger internet searchable data base with centralized warehousing and shipping (you'll find the same parts search engine on other parts sites) and this larger size probably a cost advantage over the smaller BD operation. I suspect that Ron's margin is also less than theirs as well. That said, the range of parts they offer (for I-4's, Subaru's, etc.) is rather impressive and helpful. Further they do not neglect the Vanagon.

Frank Grunthaner

PS. To assuage my guilt for penning this blatently possible general interest missive, I only ordered those parts not offered by BD! (er, ... at this time).


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