What is amazing is that I assume the fellow or someone from that shop surely
lurks on this list, and no one has come forward with even a meager
explanation or marketing ploy.  I guess if I lived in that area, and I found
some open doors on an otherwise usual business "day," I'd just bop on in and
ask some questions.
SamC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Old Volks Home" <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: eBay Professor for Vanagon parts ...

> Definitely a front (see my Sunday evening postings).  I drove by their
> address across the street from VWG/Airhead Parts again today to see what
> lurks behind the (now open) 2 roll-up doors.  4 cars inside, 2 on lifts,
> definitely looks like a repair shop.  Has a Mezzanaine in the back, but I
> see no parts shelves, parts boxes or for that matter parts themselves.
> Curiouser and curiouser.........
> --
> Jim Thompson
> 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
> 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
> 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> ***********************************
> On 6/25/07, VW Doka <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Of course, I had to look too...
>>
>> He is obviously reselling via one of the larger parts importers.  He's
>> even
>> using the copyrighted photos from that companies website.
>>
>> And Ron is right... his prices actually suck.  The few I looked up (
>> - 171419812MY, Tie Rod End
>> - 211611047FEC, Wheel Cylinder
>> - 025121403B, Expansion Tank
>> - 251407361MY, Ball Joint
>>
>> Are of these parts all marked up well over 100%.
>>
>> And shipping....  He is charging $14.60 to ship a ball joint!!  A 1 lb.
>> part!  And $2.60 for insurance on a $27 item?  This guy is making a lot
>> money on every aspect of his auctions.
>>
>> Good feedback though, so he must give good service.  He should for that
>> kind
>> of $$$
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
>> Of The Bus Depot
>> Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 12:57 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: eBay Professor for Vanagon parts ...
>>
>>
>> > I came accross this guy on eBay.  He says, he
>> > has over a million $ worth of inventory and he is
>> > selling the stuff at the lowest prices I have seen
>> > so far anywhere.  This guys's eBay seller ID is
>> > "time_n_money".  Check his store, well organized.
>>
>>
>> Of course I had to go look. :-)  It is a front for a company called GT
>> International in Ventura, California (never heard of 'em myself).  He
>> appears to merely be relisting a large wholesaler's catalog, which he
>> probably orders in as needed or else dropships.  He misspells
>> "Volkswagon."
>>
>>
>> No bargains here at all. On every Vanagon part in his Ebay store, even
>> his
>> "10% off 1-Day Sale" prices are higher than my everyday prices.
>>
>> For example, his "10% off" sale price is $18 plus an inflated $13
>> shipping
>> for a Mahle ball joint.  But my everyday price for the identical product
>> is
>> $12.80 with list discount ($13.47 without) plus about half the shipping
>> cost.  Similarly, he sells Indian made wheel cylinders cost (which he
>> questionably claims to "meet or exceed OEM specs") for about the same as
>> my
>> European made ones.  And you could buy a PAIR of rear hatch struts from
>> me
>> for about what he charges for just one on his website. Out of curiosity,
>> I
>> also randomly checked a couple of Jetta parts (since BusDepot.com also
>> covers all VW models), and found similar results.
>>
>> - Ron Salmon
>> The Bus Depot, Inc.
>> www.busdepot.com
>> (215)  234-VWVW
>>
>> _____________________________________________
>> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT