Many, many, many "Name Brand" manufacturing companies make "private label"
products that get sold under a different name.  They do this to utilize
excess production capacity and earn more money.  This goes on in virtually
every segment of the worldwide economy: food products, car parts,
electronics, etc.

Sometimes the products sold as private label are indistinguishable from the
"Name Brand" product, sometimes there will be variations from the "Name
Brand" in order to achieve a lower (or higher) price point.  Naturally, the
companies who have poured their money into promoting and supporting their
"Name Brand" product don't want to suggest you can get the same product
cheaper, so distributors of their "private label" production are commonly
required not to disclose who the product is made by.  There's nothing wrong
with that.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "karen d" <yosemite333@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 8:35 AM
Subject: Bus Depot - What Kind of Policy is This?

> I sent Bus Depot a message asking who made their $39.95 spark plug wires
for
> my 84 westy.  Got message back that they had to research.  Then never
heard
> back from Bus Depot.  I sent 2 more msgs and still no reply.  That was a
few
> weeks back.   Out of curosity, I sent another msg and this is what I got
> back:
>
> I am sorry that it took this long for an answer. We needed to do a
> little
> research before we emailed you back. According to our contact agreement
> we
> can not disclose the manufacturer of the plug wires.  However, we can
> tell
> you that they are made by an original supplier to VW I hope this
> information
> can help you.
>
>
> Why would Bus Depot sign such a contract?  Does this mean they are made by
> Bosch but Bosch also sells them to Bus Depot at a higher price so that is
> why such a contract exists?  If it is Bosch...then do they use the same
wire
> on both but the cheaper version uses cheaper connectors on the ends?