Date:         Sat, 19 Feb 2005 10:30:49 -0700
Reply-To:     jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: Just Curious
In-Reply-To:  <590c121c89bfeee5207b6e9b03182d5c@mac.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

On 2/18/05 10:05 PM, "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:

> My local VW dealer (Stohlman VW/Subaru in Tyson's Corner Virginia) used
> a Vanagon as their customer shuttle up until about 5 years ago. Then
> they switched to a Eurovan. I believe they still use that Eurovan.
> 
> I think the switch to the Eurovan occurred around the same time their
> good Vanagon mechanic (Ricky?) switched to being a shop manager. Some
> russian became the vanagon mechanic. A year or two after that, I
> stopped using them for service on my Vanagon.
> 
> Of course their labor rates also went from $45 an hour to $85-90 an
> hour, and getting service used to consist of dropping it off the night
> before, now I'd have to schedule it 2-3 weeks ahead of time. (note this
> is also >AFTER< they expanded their service bay.) Service now would
> ALWAYS take a minimum of 3 days (1 day to diagnose problem and order
> parts, and 2 days to wait for the parts to get there and get
> installed.) Complete uneconomical to use them for service under those
> circumstances.
> 
> 
I think it was some kind of corporate initiative on the expansions.  Both of
the major VW dealerships here expanded at the same time about 3 years ago.
Added bays and a second shift.  Several of the independents in the area lost
their mechanics to that second shift. You still could only pick up or drop
off a vehicle during certain hours but the techs were actually working into
the evening.  DonΉt know if they are still doing the shifts now though.

  Any parts with less than a certain demand level or over about 5 years old
are only maintained at the main center (new jersey?).   I talked with some
of the people from their corporate service about it a while back when they
were on one of their tours through the area.  It seems that the glass house
feels that it is sufficient. VWOA has been micromanaged by the 4 thousand
mile screwdriver for several years now. And they noted that the glass house
thinks that Canada and US are one country so together we get one parts
central. The local dealerships usually only stock parts for vehicles less
than 5 years old or above certain demand levels.  No room for any more than
that. It takes 2 or 3 days to get parts here from there depending on whether
normal or expedited.  Toyota, subaru, honda, ford, chevy, daimler/chrysler
all have regional parts warehouses to service their dealerships.  Here in
the denver metro area parts usually same day or next morning depending when
ordered.  The goal I was told by some of their reps is to keep their shops
serviced better than NAPA.  I think they may have been serious on that
comment.


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jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
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