All good advice.  Incidentally, the flue vent covers came back in stock
within days, and yours will probably be at your door either today or
tomorrow.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com

> Having worked a number of years in mailorder autoparts I should have known
> better.  It was a small and simple order; a pump for my Westy
> water tank, 3
> gaskets for the outside water and electrical covers, and a flue
> vent cover.
> The order taker was friendly, I got my list discount, I was told all items
> were in stock, shipping was reasonable, and I  received my order priority
> mail. But when I opened the box yesterday 1) the vent cover was
> b/o, and 2)
> the rubber grommet pictured with the pump
> (http://199.217.241.240/partsimages/255070805.JPG) was missing. I
> was told by
> BD that the grommet wasn't pictured in their catalog and not available.
> In my case, fine. A dab of silicone on my old grommet and I don't need the
> cover right now anyway. No big deal.My van is parked in the
> driveway. Here's
> the point: IF YOU REALLY NEED THE STUFF or you're broke down 200
> miles from
> home 1)realize that part# order takers and receving/inventory people are
> often new and inexperienced. Its usually where you start in a
> company 2) what
> is pictured in a catalog may not be what you get (suppliers
> change,etc). Ask
> when ordering and/or have somebody actually look at the part. 3)
> Don't trust
> computer inventory. If you really need it have somebody actually pull the
> part and verify that there is enough stock so the order ahead of yours
> doesn't get the last one. 4)If something is b/o and you really
> need it ask to
> speak to the owner. The boss may have parts set aside and not
> inventoried or
> some other resources available to expedite things.
> I have no problem with BD. My problem was not remembering my own advice.