Hi Karl (and everybody):

You're exactly right -- those and many other pertinent questions need to be
asked.  I would like to help her if it can be done.  My gut instinct based
on her account says something that was not completely above-board
transpired.  I may be wrong.  Experience tells me to investigate further.
I have offered to speak with her and try to point her in the right
direction.  My offer is purely free gratis, and may be worth just that.  I
have no monetary interest.   Just trying to give back to the community in
my field of expertise.  At last, I have something to give.  : )

HK aka Horace

At 09:05 AM 7/25/00 -0700, Karl Wolz wrote:
>Horace,
>
>You're a lawyer.  Do your lawyery thing and ask the necessary questions,
>like, Was the title actually transferred?, etc.
>
>Seems that there should be some kind of protection here, just as there is in
>the case of an antique or art dealer who takes advantage of the unknowing.
>
>Just my $.02 (or less).
>
>Karl Wolz
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Horace K. Sawyer" <firestream@mindspring.com>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 9:30 PM
>Subject: Re: Just some food for thought
>
>
>> MELISSA !!!!!!!
>> Girl, I am so sorry.  I just want to scream after hearing that.  So we
>will
>> all know what to avoid in the future, what in the HAIL possessed you to
>> _give_  those bastards your van?  Did you not think $200 was a little on
>> the low side?  I guess I shouldn't say any this.  I know you are upset.
>> What could have prevented this tragedy?
>>
>> Rollergirl -- she was good to go at one time.  Now's she's just gone.  No
>> more wheels spinnin', no more of the other stuff.  Sorry for the rant,
>it's
>> just upsetting me too.
>>
>> HK
>>
>>
>>
>> At 10:29 PM 7/24/00 -0400, Melissa Hohauser-Thatcher wrote:
>> >This was going to be a letter of farewell, but I found out today it is
>also a
>> >letter of warning?
>> >My '90 has been sitting in my driveway since February needing a head job
>and
>> >a couple of other inconsequential repairs that basically made it a lawn
>> >ornament.  I recently decided that I could not attempt the head job alone
>and
>> >couldn't afford it so I called PARTS PLACE, INC in Auburn Hills, MI to
>see
>> >what they might be able to do for me.  They hauled it and I followed 24
>hours
>> >later to find out what they could give me.  I know this place from a
>friend
>> >with a Vdub shop on the other side of the state.  $200 and some tears
>later I
>> >departed.
>> >Today I received a phone call from the man who I dealt with - JACK FINN -
>who
>> >owns the PARTS PLACE, INC and he gave me the third degree -
>> >When someone buys something and the condition of that thing is different
>than
>> >originally thought - it's still a deal right?  He goes on with this line
>of
>> >question for about three minutes and then tells me that my van was fine -
>the
>> >engine problems were "inconsequential" and they've fixed it up and had it
>for
>> >sale at PARTS PLACE, INC for $3500.  He asked If I wanted to buy it back
>from
>> >him for that price.
>> >Well, there's the story - take from it what you will.  I will continue to
>> >search for the van that is mine - in the meantime I'll keep the name
>> >vwvangrrl@aol.com if anyone wants to write.
>> >I hope this story makes you think before you sell - or to whom you sell -
>or
>> >to whom you trust your van for mechanical info.  And maybe you could find
>> >someone else to deal with if you're already dealing with PARTS PLACE, INC
>in
>> >Auburn Hills, MI.
>> >I sure feel screwed - although I always thought that rollergirl (the van)
>and
>> >screwing would come together in a much different way!
>> >Thanks for all of the help and interesting info.
>> >melissa
>