Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:29:58 -0400
Reply-To: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: A RANT : Westy Tires in Canada
In-Reply-To: <71d9cdf90610191310l12b8d9b1o3a7495178758e12a@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
That is true Jake - it can make a big difference. I guess the only other
time I can think that I wouldn't go local is if I absolutely needed
something right now and it wasn't available locally - then again sometimes
if you ask in those situations sometimes something can be worked out as
well.
On 10/19/06, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Try bringing that astronomical price difference to the attention of the
> store owner/ manager. You'll be surprised at what they can do sometimes.
>
> On 10/19/06, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > My motto for personal, as well as business, purchases - be it services
> > or
> > merchandise - "Buy Local whenever possible"
> >
> > I know this has NVC but I feel *very* strongly about this. Only when
> > what I
> > want isn't available local or the price difference is astronomical would
> > I
> > consider anything else.
> >
> >
> > On 10/19/06, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Welcome to the 21st century David.
> > >
> > > The tire shop you remember as a kid just closed its doors here in my
> > area,
> > > victim of the same forces that are killing off all our community
> > > resources.
> > >
> > > Costco, Wal*Mart, Home Depot and Online shopping get the majority of
> > > people's spending, leaving the locals with nothing but 'investigative
> > > shoppers'.
> > >
> > > There is no easy answer to this onslaught but to be aware of how
> > important
> > > your consumer dollars are to your local economy.
> > > That's why I continue to promote and support The Bug Shop and Bow-Wow
> > here
> > > in Vancouver. Having a local resource is WAY more important to me than
> > a
> > > possible perceived discount and in actual fact, Bow-Wow is often
> > > considerably cheaper than Bus Depot or GoWesty. They are also willing
> > to
> > > order parts that they don't stock, help with tech issues and generally
> > > reciprocate with their customers.
> > >
> > > Seeya, Jake
> > >
> > > On 10/19/06, David Etter <detter@mail.auracom.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > WARNING:: THIS IS NOT A THREAD ABOUT BRANDS OR SIZES OF
> > TIRES......IT
> > > > IS A RANT ABOUT DEALER SERVICE OR THE LACK THEREOF.
> > > >
> > > > OK! You've all been there... a little nagging feeling every time you
> > > > go past your van... "Gee! I really should get a new set of tires,
> > > > those are starting to look a little scary", or perhaps you've just
> > > > bought an older vehicle and have determined that you are in the
> > > > market for a new set of 185 or 195/75-14 'D' rated tires.
> > > > Well I am there now, and have been for most of the summer
> > and
> > > > I am p_ _ _ed off with the reception I have been getting here.
> > > > As you go up to the order desk and approach a disinterested
> > > > face who couldn't care less; I have heard it all before........
> > > >
> > > > .."Oh! I don't think we sell enough of those to warrant getting them
> > > > in and the fella who knows about those things is out on break and
> > > > will be back after dinner". (so with 4 sales persons standing around
> > > > and a shop full of workers, nobody else knows anything- jeesh?)
> > > >
> > > > or
> > > >
> > > > .."Hey George.. what are we using now for a substitute tire for a
> > > > Van-a - what did you say and how old is it?"...
> > > >
> > > > or
> > > >
> > > > .."Yeh we can get 'um but it'll cost you an arm and a leg and take a
> > > > couple of weeks, so we recommend ya da - ya da - ya da and we can
> > > > have those by tomorrow."
> > > >
> > > > or
> > > >
> > > > .." OK! Let me see now.... Oh Yeh... we have one only in stock in a
> > > > bigger size but can order more if you want to pay a deposit. "
> > > >
> > > > or
> > > >
> > > > lying through his teeth with .." Nah! They aren't making those any
> > > > more (or that size) and everyone is switching to brand X or Y."
> > > >
> > > > Then there is the price. It is consistently much higher and
> > > > sometimes double the price normally found South of the border.
> > > >
> > > > The following is the result of my sporatic research here in Edmonton
> >
> > > > Alberta for 195/75-14 8 ply tires.
> > > >
> > > > Hankook RA08 = $600.00/4 that's if they can get in touch with the
> > > > distributor, maybe...and...
> > > > Continental Vanco = $717.00/ 4
> > > > Michelin Agillis =$800.00/ 4 (185 series)
> > > > Cooper Tires .. so much higher that I threw away the quote when I
> > left
> > > the
> > > > shop
> > > > Vredestein Tires.. just try and find a dealer
> > > > and finally...
> > > > Nexon = $525.00/4 sounds good but I have never even heard of them,
> > > > has anyone else.
> > > >
> > > > These prices may or may not include tax, installation and balancing;
> >
> > > > the dealers were so disinterested in helping me that I was not
> > always
> > > > able to determine whether or not those fees were included.
> > > > Now to be fair to Edmonton dealers, there is a booming oil
> > > > industry right now along with all the related business, so they are
> > > > very busy and they really don't have time to fart around with stupid
> > > > requests for a 25 year old VW camper.
> > > > Still in all... it's a task I haven't finished and one that
> > I
> > > > can only face after time has healed the wounds of derision and when
> > > > fortified with a rebuilt sense of self worth.
> > > > What ever happened to those dealers who knew their stuff,
> > > > genuinely cared and weren't in the business of extortion.
> > > > `I can remember my neighbourhood service station where I
> > > > lived as a kid. They had a soda fountain where you could buy a
> > banana
> > > > split for 25 cents and if you couldn't finish it there you could
> > take
> > > > the dish home and bring it back the next day. The owner and his wife
> > > > ran the station and soda fountain and had two swell guys with
> > > > families of their own tending the pumps who would fix your bicycle
> > > > tire for a quarter. When someone came in for gas they got full
> > > > service with a oil check and even a tire check if it looked like it
> > > > needed it.
> > > > They always seemed to have the tires you needed and always
> > > > had a smile and the time to talk. Not only that, the weather was
> > > > always sunny and warm too.. Sigh!!!!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Aghhhhhh! David (dsl82westy)
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Jake
> > > 1984 Vanagon GL
> > > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jeff
> > 90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
> > 86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
> > 85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>
--
Thanks,
Jeff
90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)
| 
