My two cents...

I think splitting the shipping is more that fair.  As I see it, two mistakes
happened.  1) the BD omitted something you ordered 2) you did not check the
package contents upon arrival.  So, for me, I think it fair to split the
shipping cost.

Jim
Wilmington, NC

On 10/16/07, Aaron Pearson <aarondpearson@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> the fundamental issue here is that there is no easy way to confirm that
> the front windshield gasket is not the same as the rear.  you can hold it up
> to the window or meaure it, but it is floppy, stretchy rubber and it looks
> pretty close.  there was no way to confirm that i had the right part until
> the window was out and i tried to use it.  the invoice does not contain part
> numbers for individual parts.  also note that i fully accepted
> responsibility for not noticing the two missing pieces.
>
> i was not verbally abusive.  i specifically stated that i did not hold
> matt personally responsible (something like "why do you think i should be
> responsible for this error, and by 'you' i mean busdepot, not you
> personally.")  i did use the f-bomb at the end of the conversation, but it
> was out of exasperation, and certainly not directed at any person.  it was
> at the end of an otherwise polite conversation (ask him!), when i realized i
> had no alternative but to accept what i considered an unfair deal.  in any
> case, please pass on my apology to matt.  i meant him no harm.
>
> i did not intend to get into an argument on this forum.  i just wanted to
> know if my expectations were right or wrong, and i have received some good
> feedback on that.  turns out, it's a mixed bag. regardless, i will continue
> to do business with bus depot, considering that the service over the years
> has been fine->good.
>
> aaron
> '87 syncro westy ej22
>
> ----------------------------------------> From: vanagon@busdepot.com> To:
> aarondpearson@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Subject: RE: bus
> depot window gaskets> Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:29:44 -0400>>>> I called bus
> depot, and they'll ship a rear gasket overnight,>> but they expect me to pay
> half of the shipping.>>>> i accept that a simple inspection would have
> revealed the two>> missing gaskets, but how am i responsible for the front
> vs.>> rear error? am i wrong to expect free overnight shipping?>>> Aaron,>>
> The sheet included with your order (with "PLEASE READ THIS" in huge
> letters)> asks you to check the contents of your shipment promptly, and
> notify us> within a few days in the event of shipping damage or shortages.
> This is> necessary because sometimes parts can be lost or damaged AFTER they
> are> received - for example, the mechanic has the box lying around at the
> shop> for a few weeks and some of the contents go missing, or you step on
> the box> a week after you got it and bend a part, etc. I'm not saying that
> is what> happened in your case, but it is why we (as well as our
> competitors) ask for> reasonably prompt reports of any damaged or missing
> items.>> You received this order a few weeks ago, and only now notified us.
> Despite> this - and despite the fact that you were verbally abusive to my
> employee> over the phone, using expletives that cannot be repeated on this
> list - we> gave you no hassle at all over replacing the parts reported
> missing or> wrong, and also offered to send them immediately via standard
> ground> shipping (the same method as your original order) at no shipping
> cost. When> you asked Matt to Overnight them instead, he called me, and I
> told him we> would cover half of that cost (which is significantly higher
> than ground> shipping).>> I think this was very fair. After all, had you not
> waited several weeks to> check the contents, overnight shipping would not
> have been necessary. On the> other hand, had there not been a packing error
> you wouldn't have had the> problem at all, so it seemed fair for me to cover
> half of the Overnight> shipping cost (or all of the Ground cost). I think
> that was a reasonable> offer, and I stand by my decision.>> I see that here
> you have also noted that you your mechanic cut one seal> apart to see if it
> could be made to fit the rear window. I should note that> since the seal has
> been intentionally cut and thereby rendered worthless, we> will not be able
> to take it back for exchange or credit. Had it not been> cut, and was sent
> in error, we'd not only have taken it back but also paid> for your return
> shipping.>> - Ron Salmon> The Bus Depot, Inc.> www.busdepot.com> (215)
> 234-VWVW>> _____________________________________________> Toll-Free for
> Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT>
>
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