Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:44:06 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Todays Experience at the Local VW Dealer Parts Department
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=rfHqZnD1qj5HjfrYZLT+a=87se79unWtZ_t1N@mail.gmail.com>
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There are two VW dealerships in the Greater Birmingham Metro area so
far as I know. I used both only once, and on basis of the experience
decided I wouldn't do that again. At one place, they were courteous
enough, but had no one experienced on Vanagons, and it was clear that
tech doing the work was having to learn on my van. So the fact was
evident - the older the vehicle, the less likely you can get good quick
service, simply because of attrition on the part of the mechanics. The
old guys who know retire, and the young guys have no knowledge so they
have to learn - on your van. Gets expensive. Not their fault - just how
it works.
The second dealership I went to just specifically for the purpose of
having the AC tunnel fix installed. Because the mandatory part of the
fix was at it's life limit, they didn't want to do it and did everything
to avoid it including telling me it didn't exist. I finally had to take
a copy of the document to the dealership to force the issue. Once that
was done, they went ahead and did the job. But event he mechanic
grumbled about having to do it. apparently it's one of those "not
complicated but a PITA job" that no one wants to do. While it was
accomplished, I still was not totally happy because I felt - still do -
that not only should the fix have been put in - the parts of the tunnel
that broke when the whole thing fell from the ceiling should have been
replaced at VW's expense. Didn't happen however, and to this day I have
some crummy looking patching where pieces broke out of the tunnel. Never
was able to get a good looking fix done. Plastic is hard to work with
sometimes.
The Dealership folks I have found really good to work with is Camelback
VW and Subaru out of Phoenix, AZ (800-876-5199). My experience with
this is through the parts department there. They have supplied many
Vanagon specific parts that I could not get from our regular list
vendors - like new speedometers. They have also come up at times with
obscure and sometimes the odd NLA parts. I can't address the service
department 'cause I have never been there for that. Anyone have
experience with them? If you call them and place an order, be sure you
tell them you are a member of the Vanagon List. On occasion that will
net you a price break.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 2/10/2011 2:56 PM, Loren Busch wrote:
> We have all, in the past, seen horror stories about dealing with the local
> VW dealership, their service department or their parts department. Well,
> once again I have to say that a recent (would you believe under $10?)
> dealing with my local VW parts department at Campbell - Nelson VW in North
> Seattle was an absolute and total pleasure, actually fun. I called them
> Monday morning looking for a small trim item for Vanagons. I'd screwed up
> the part number but they figured it out instantly. Said they didn't have
> any but another VW dealer in Seattle had seven in stock (I needed 10). I
> asked him to order them for me. "No problem" he said, "They'd be here
> Wednesday". All he wanted was my name, nothing else. And the call came mid
> day yesterday, they were there and ready to pick up. I pulled in this
> morning and walked into the parts area. I was immediately greeted with a
> big smile and hello and a "I haven't seen you for a while". That was the
> receptionist/cashier June, affectionately known as 'June Bug'. And she was
> correct, I hadn't been in there for a couple of years. There was a customer
> at the parts counter at the time and June asked if I'd like a good cup of
> hot chocolate?. Sure I said as she walked to the machine "What flavor?" she
> asked. I chose French Vanilla (it was very good). With the parts counter
> now vacant I walked up, told him my name and before I could describe what
> had been ordered he said "Oh yeah", turned and pulled the parts from a box
> right near the counter. I commented that they were for someone that had a
> couple of Vanagons and with a smile on his face he quipped "Deliberately?"
> and we got into a conversation about Buses and Vanagons and keeping them on
> the road. So then I took my little little bag of parts (again I'll mention
> this was a sale well under $10, local tax included), stepped over to June
> Bugs station and paid for them. Walked out with the remainder of my French
> Vanilla hot chocolate and left with that 'warm fuzzy' feeling.
> BTW, I've used the service department there for wheel alignment and was
> always impressed with the service. And one time I asked them at the service
> desk about having work done on the air conditioning and the service manager
> instantly jumped in and really discouraged me from spending any money on the
> AC and warned that it would get expensive in a hurry. Good shop.
> So, again I can say there is at least one VW dealership parts department
> that is ggod to deal with.
>
>
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