I live near a big VW dealership. They have what would be considered an
excellent parts department in most places, I think. They know what a
vanagon is. But when I went to order some obscure pulley for a diesel
jetta, I took their advice and got the wrong part. I sent it back, taking
their advice for a second time, and again got the wrong part. They asked me
not to come back.

Jim

On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 2:26 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> You guys ...n' galls,
> you have to go to your dealer parts department .
> and 'train them' ....get them used to looking up vanagon parts ..
> help them  ( if they'll let you ! ) find the parts in their pictures, etc.
>
> And defenitely, develope a relationship with one parts person. That
> helps a lot.
> heck ..it would be worth it to just buy a light bulb or whatever from
> them a few times a year so they get to know you.
>
> and really ..without 'some relationship' ...many are not likely to care
> or try very hard. Seriously.
>
> Of courseit always seems they don't want to show you the pictures on
> their screen that they are looking at ..
> ( maybe they don't want to let it be known that they barely know what
> they are looking at in the parts pictures ) ..
> so ya gotta help 'em...a lot sometimes.
> And they resist that too ..
> all of why it helps, or is mandatory almost actually - to develope a
> relationship with one smart person there.
>
> they often will do this ..
> they'll print out the picture they are looking at on the screen ..
> then you look at your copy ( and keep it and take it home ) while they
> look at their screen picture.
>
> And patience is required asthe grouping of vairous parts is not always
> logical ..
> say crankshaft bolts might be with either the clutch picture or the
> crankshaft picture, or some other picture yet.
>
> Also ..I have dealt with one VW dealer in Canada ..Guidlford Motors in
> Surry BC ..
> every time I have ever called them for the last 22+ years...they've been
> eager,
> smart, accurate, pleasant etc. etc. etc.
>  Never one mistake , or any complaints by me ( that's saying something
> too ) ...
> just totally knowledgeable and pleasant.
>
> And I deal with the same two guys there every time too , and that always
> helps.
>
> the parts pictures are sort of a limiting factor.
> IF you have a part number ...then you are in good shape ..
> as long as it's in their price sheet. Then next is how many there might
> be of that part in the system ..
> and where that part might be.
> so ...whenever possibly have your part #.
>
> otherwise ...regardless of bone stock US model your dirty part on the
> counter is ..
> if they can not find it in the pictures ....ya got bubkis there.
>
> and save all the printed out parts pictures they'll give ya.
> For most vw parts dealers these days, in the US anyway, for vanagons ..
> they need our help.  lol. Just be nice and pleasant and patience.
> And if they know you some..
> that makes all the difference in theworld.  Heck ....bring them a box of
> chocolates sometime.
>
> Scott
> www.turobvans.com
>
>
>
> On 11/5/2012 8:06 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>
>> The VW dealer nearest to me, and the only one in Oklahoma City, is Cable
>> Volkswagen.  Every time I have tried to get a part from Cable Volkswagen
>> the response has been that it is an "obsolete vehicle," and that parts are
>> not available.  Even parts that I have determined are available from the
>> distributor, Cable refuses to even try to look up.  A new dealer has opened
>> in Norman, and I have been told that it is a much better place to do
>> business.  But, I haven't tried them yet.  mcneely
>>
>> ---- David Bjorkman <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
>>
>> --
>> David McNeely
>>
>>