Date:         Thu, 21 Feb 2002 17:58:31 -0500
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon springs - my only response
In-Reply-To:  <3C7567A2.9D80AF2A@syncro.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> Ron does not know a damn thing about my springs.  His attempt to
> characterize them is complete fiction, made up out of thin air.

Funny, I didn't characterize them at all.  In fact I didn't say ANYTHING
about Steve's springs whatsoever, other than noting that they were for
Syncro's (unlike mine), and that they raise the vehicle whereas mine lower
it.  (And even then I added that raising the vehicle was a desirable feature
for many Syncro owners, so if anything I _complimented_ his springs.)   In
fact, I have even sent a couple of customers to him who wanted Syncro
springs, since I don't carry them.  (Never again!)  It would have been
absurd for me to compare my springs to Steve's.  Steve's springs are for
Syncros and raise the vehicle. Mine don't fit Syncros, and they lower the
vehicle.  Apples and oranges.  They can't even be used on the same vehicle!

While I said nothing negative about Steve or his springs, Steve called me a
"slimy snake," a weasel, questioned my business ethics, and said that my
Boge springs "will not deliver anywhere near as fine a ride as mine" and
"are harsh and diminish travel."  How would he know that, considering that
he doesn't have a pair? (I'm sure he will quote the old stand-by, "unnamed
sources," or say he "tried" them on an unnamed van, right?)  The real truth
is that my springs have received good press on this List.  It's in the
archives; see for yourself.

> There was a time on this list where he almost got permanently booted
> because of his business ethics.  That was back when he was  threatening
> to sue people if they dared speak criticism about his business.  Note
> that he is no longer a recommended vendor on vanagon.com.

That's completely untrue.  It simply never happened.  In fact I'm one of the
oldest contributors to the list - since way back when the Vanagon, Type 2,
Vintage Bus, and Eurovan lists were a single list.  And as for not being
mentioned as a "recommended vendor" on the Vanagon.com site, I'm in good
company - along with such venerable list members such as Boston Bob, Darrell
Boehler, AA Transaxle, Frank Condelli, Dennis Haynes, The Skylight Guy, and
others.  We are all, however, listed on the site as aftermarket VW parts
vendors.  (Ironically, Steve Schwenk isn't listed there. :-)

So, indeed, one of us is less than honest.  One of us is fabricating lies
and slamming  someone else's product and character for his own personal
gain.

You decide who that is.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com

p.s.  This is not the first time Steve Schwenk's gotten into a fighting
match with another member of this list (or even the second or third, for
that matter). I've noticed that he always likes to have the last word, and
will certainly respond with a new spate of accusations, attacks, falsehoods,
and half-truths.  I'm going to stop this here on my end, and not respond
further to him. Hopefully that will help this ridiculous thread die a quick
and undignified death.  Please do not take my future lack of response to
lend credence to anything that he says. I'm just not going to let him drag
me any further into the mud with him.  I've cleared my name, as I felt I
must, and that's it.