Date:         Wed, 10 Mar 2004 17:57:36 -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: Anybody up for the UK quick shift kit at about $55 plus
              shipping?
In-Reply-To:  <a05210606bc752be99c60@[172.20.22.138]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

> So now people aren't happy with the price so they
>  want to go over seas to find something cheaper.
>
> Well personally that sucks . .and I would ask anyone doing
> this to stop and think. Are you really saving money?


Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point. It is to "buy American" even at a
higher cost?  If so, how does this position jibe with the fact that this
would just become one more foreign made part on a vehicle that already
consists of virtually 100% foreign made parts?  After all, this is a
German van!  Not to put down anyone who takes a protectionist economic
view (who am I to pass judgement), but I must admit that most people I
know who subscribe to that philosophy do drive American made cars. Such
a position would seem to be largely incompatible with Volkswagen
ownership  (Ooh boy, I see a heck of an off-topic thread rearing its
ugly head.. :-)

On the other hand, if you're suggesting that $55 plus
shipping/duty/brokerage might begin to approach the $100 cost of the
Berg part, which has known quality and can be bought one at a time by
individual listmembers as desired.... well, then that is an entirely
different issue. I suppose it would depend on the total delivered cost,
the inconvenience involved (for both group buy organizer and members),
and the reputation of the British made alternative.

As I said, I'll check and see if I can provide a third alternative.
Actually I already sent out one inquiry. Frankly I wouldn't rate the
odds as being particularly high, but there's certainly no harm in
asking, and nothing to lose by giving it a week or so just in case...

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

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