Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 19:20:25 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@QUICKLINK.NET>
Subject: Vendor Spam - My $.02
-- [ From: John Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
If it were not for the fact of Kyle, Ken, Ron, etc, getting on here
perieodically I would have never known who I could get parts from at a
reasonable price, consulted with about particular matters re: my van, etc.
They serve me well, and others I will bet.
Just today, I needed a power steering rack boot. Part not available from
Flaps. VW Dealership quoted $24.95 --- their price to the independent shop
-- then the independent shop owner was going to add his percentage. But
because of the list, and some of the above mentioned souls being on the list
, I got the part for $8.95. Now that is a whopping difference!!! Saved
almost 2/3's because of the vendors participation on the List. I would never
have known of them had they not being doing their thing here.
So, granted they profit from the list, but they also provide a service, and
to me that carries the day. So for my part, they stay.
There has been much said about the 800 or so that make up the list. That is
a drop in the bucket and no parts operation can make a living on that small
population, especially when the pie is cut 5 plus ways. List member vehicles
make only a small portion of any one parts operations total business. They
couldn't survive on it.
This list is so small, and the central interest -- our vans -- so defined,
that it is no trouble to deal with a little promotion from guys who have the
same interest the rest of us do. They provide essential services, ie,
information and parts at good prices. Not only that, from what I have seen,
they are willing to stretch to accomodate us. Yes, conceded that profit
motive is sometimes what drives it, but it also satisfies us, by providing
those unusual and sometimes off the wall things that groups like us want and
couldn't get any other way conveniently or at all.
So, for my $.02 worth, make no changes. If you don't like the advertising,
hit the delete key. It works real well.
John Rodgers
'88 GL Driver..
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