Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:12:17 -0400
Reply-To: Stuart Fedak <ve3smf@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart Fedak <ve3smf@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Ordering Parts Online
In-Reply-To: <DE668AA0-181F-4EB8-B17C-53D7774643C3@aol.com>
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Besides my 1986 Vanagon GL I have a 1985 Canadian Bombardier Iltis 1/4 ton military jeep. The jeep was originally designed by VW and uses a lot of VW parts in the drive train. 1.7 L engine and has a few Vanagon and The Thing parts in it.
This is just a hobby for me, but I did buy some New Old Stock (NOS) Iltis parts at government auction and sold some on Kijiji and eBay. There is no warranty on NOS parts, and no dealer to ship it back to. One fellow sent over 40 e-mails just to buy a starter. I sold the starter, and then he fried the solenoid. He demanded a return and I should pay for his shipping. Just to get rid of the fellow, I agreed. Then he posted a request on a user group, asking for a wiring diagram for the starter. All the wiring on a military vehicle has unique numerical aluminium tags that you match up. All the manuals are available on line with excellent diagrams. There were only about 2,200 of these vehicles built in Canada.
I actually gave up on selling parts, because of the demands of the Purchasers. Just to get a postage estimate is a lot of work for a home based business.
I am so grateful that there are people who will run a small home business and take the time to have a web page. Perhaps their web page is Olde Skoole and does not have the latest Flash images. Just think what it would cost you, as the purchaser of a few parts to support a fancy web page.
You have to remember the age of these vehicles, that the manufacture gave up supporting decades ago. There are a few passionate Volks who have turned their passion into a service for others. They have to make a living, and most likely do not have a company pension plan, no company benefits, and if they are like most self employed, do not really make that much in the year.
Last night, my wife and I had the Vanagon out for a cruise for a BBQ along the Rideau River where we stopped at one of the old lift Locks on the Rideau River system. Nothing better than following a river through small town Ontario and have a relaxing evening meal. My thanks to all the home business parts dealers and VW mechanics that help me keep my ride on the road.
Cheer!
Stuart
Sent from my electronic umbilicus
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