The first rule of electronic commerce is *Don't send money to strangers*.
If you are intent on purchasing from vendors that don't support or
contribute to the list then you should ask specific questions.
#1. What is the brand name ?.
#2. How long for delivery ?.
#3. What is your return policy ?.
#4. Do they offer discounts off the published price ?.
#5. How much do I have to purchase on a single order to get a discount ?
#6. Do they pay freight on back orders?
#7. Do they use better boxes than bus depot?
#8. Where is their beep beep ?
I've seen a fair amount of vendor bashing on the list and if you get
burned, disappointed or otherwise compromised by a new vendor we'd like
to know.

Stan Wilder
Satisfied with Bus Depot, Bus Boys, IMPEX and Gordon Johnson Machine.

On Wed, 13 Feb 2002 10:57:49 -0500 The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
writes:
> > I have checked out Aplusparts web sight and it looks good, prices
> > are not bad. I have a few items to order from them like rear
> > brake drums for my 90 vanagon.
>
>
> They're using the same wholesaler's database as the other "new
> vendor"
> mentioned last week, the Parts Bin.  Different web interface but
> same parts
> database.  Not surprisingly, just like the other vendor their
> pricing is all
> over the board, from very good to horrible.  Brake drums a little
> cheaper
> than mine, tailpipe twice my price, clutch kit about the same (but
> only one
> version offered whereas I sell 3), and so on.
>
> Remember that we offer the listmember discount, and often ship
> higher
> quality for about the same price (i.e. OEM German brake pads and
> shoes
> rather than generic, stainless-bodied 2.1L muffler rather than mild
> steel,
> etc.). So make sure you're comparing apples to apples. I think that
> averaged
> out, while another vendor may be cheaper on an isolated part or two,
> you'll
> still end up paying less overall at the Depot, and for better
> quality parts.
>
> Not to mention that by supporting dedicated specialists such as me,
> Ken, and
> the others on this list, who are committed to Vanagons, you are
> supporting
> vendors who in return support the Vanagon community - by
> contributing
> regularly to this list, and by going to great lengths to keep
> finding new
> parts supplies that keep our Vanagons on the road.  A jack of all
> trades
> might have a better price on a part or two.  But he won't have the
> commitment.  He won't care if a certain part that Vanagon owners
> need
> becomes unavailable, because that part represents a miniscule
> portion of his
> sales compared to all the parts he sells for Nissans, BMW's, and
> everything
> else.  A Vanagon specialist will go out of their way to find new or
> better
> quality sourcing, come up with alternatives, etc., because we have a
> real
> desire to keep Vanagons on the road affordably - not only are they a
> major
> part of our business, but we drive them everyday ourselves!
>
> Long after the jack-of-all-trades parts places have let their
> selection of
> Vanagon parts dwindle in favor of parts for newer, more lucrative
> vehicles
> (and they always do; they already have with Bus parts!), it will be
> the
> dedicated specialists/enthusiasts on this list whom you will need to
> be able
> to turn to in order to keep your van on the road.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   (215) 234-VWVW
>   www.busdepot.com
>
> _____________________________________________
> Toll-Free for Orders by Part #    1-866-BUS-DEPOT
>
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