Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 23:07:50 -0500
Reply-To: Vanagon Man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon Man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Berg Shift Kit Group Buy [OFFICIAL UPDATE -Denied!]
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Sorry to hear it. Tracy at Berg told me a few years ago that it was not
worth the hassle to them. Go figure. I believe they figure that if anyone
TRULY has to have it, they will call them direct. When it was all said and
done, in reality less than half the folks that said they were in would
really step up to the plate.
I hate to say i told you guys so, but I did on the first day this all
started.............wish i was wrong for everyone's sake, though.
Adam P
Charleston,SC Coburn, WV
81 Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "James V" <tornadored@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 5:37 PM
Subject: [VANAGON] Berg Shift Kit Group Buy [OFFICIAL UPDATE -Denied!]
> Bad news...
>
> I finally got a call back from Berg and they said that they won't do ANY
> discount because the "cost to manufacture is too high and there isn't
> enough profit." Unfortunately, I couldn't even talk to the owner - she
was
> "out of the office" when I went there, and then had the employee call me
> back today.
>
> I had mentioned to them before that no shipping would be necessary on
their
> part and I explained today that we had potentially 60+ buyers, but she
> simply rebutted with the same reasoning. It was pretty much a brick wall.
>
> I could try more diligently to contact the owner directly, but she really
> sounds completely uninterested. I'm doubtful that the profit margin is as
> small as they say, considering the simplicity of the unit and the 300%
price
> increase in recent years. I think they simply don't want to do a group
buy.
> Even if we could coax them into offering a discount, it would likely be
very
> insignificant and most people would opt out.
>
> I apologize to everyone.
>
> But, I think there may be alternatives. A few have suggested the
> possibility of fabricating something themselves for the group, and BenT is
> currently in contact w/ a UK supplier. I'll maintain the list of people
> that are interested and would gladly help out in any other way I can.
>
> Sorry folks.
>
> James V
> 90 Carat
>
>
> PS: If you feel some urge to contact them yourself about this, contact me
> off list and I can give you the information. But I really don't think it
> will do much good and would probably reinforce their position.
>
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