Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:21:45 -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: <71d9cdf90610191109o223f0977y6e05f6aa18b5c3b1@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
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)
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