Nice job on the the new searchable website!

Dane Tessler
87 Westfalia 138K
Treasure Island, FL
http://members.aol.com/Dane714/westfalia.html
-----Original Message-----
From: The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, September 28, 1998 6:00 PM
Subject: NEW BUSDEPOT WEBSITE!!!! (Big specials, too!)

>Okay I'm jumping the gun by about a day because the Vanagon list is about
to
>go down just when I'm ready to announce my big news.  But even right now
you
>can already access about 5000 items at the new site (still
>http://www.busdepot.com), by simply choosing the year of your Vanagon (or
>other VW) and part type on a dropdown menu.  Virtually every item that we
>have ever sold even one of of there now, with price, description, and part
>number, so no more calling or waiting on hold for pricing!
>
>By this time tomorrow, the database will be cleaned up a bit to fix some
>pricing discrepencies, duplicate entries, etc.  Also by then, an advanced
>search by Volkswagen, Rocky Mountain Motorworks, or WCM part number, or
>keyword, will also be up.  This will access the same database, and is
mainly
>for use if you couldn't find the part you wanted via the drop-down menus.
>Usually you won't even have to use this feature, but it will be another way
>of getting at the data just in case.
>
>By this time the following day, the shopping cart software should be
>operational as well.  (Right now there are links to it but it isn't
>working.)   In the meantime, to order, you can always copy the part numbers
>and prices into an e-mail or call/fax your order in (voice 215-234-VWVW,
fax
>215-234-0890).  Either way you won't have to call for pricing.  The
shopping
>cart, when ready later this week, will let you just enter a quantity as you
>go along and then send us your order via the form.  There will be a secure
>connection for people who have not already given me their checking debit
>info, but if I already have it you will simply be able to click to indicate
>that it's on file and won't have to enter it again.
>
>Also within a few days, an additional 7,000 items will be added via
>search-by-part-number.  This will include the entire Bosch parts catalog
>(where it applies to VW's), for example, plus about 2000 Vanagon parts that
>are readily available but not commonly requested.  You'll need to know the
>part number (from the old part, a RMMW catalog, your dealer, etc.) but then
>you'll be able to get quotes on a ton more items, and again order online.
>
>Yet another 7,000 items are being prepared for the database for inclusion
>several weeks later, although most of those items will be aircooled stuff.
>The site uses advanced technology such as SQL server and cold fusion for
>database search, so the sky's the limit as far as the number of items we
can
>add.  The next generation of the site, in November, will be a little nicer
>graphically and will also feature clickable links next to many items, to
>show you pictures and provide more detailed descriptions/specs.
>
>As promised, I have a bunch of new specials on the bargains page to promote
>the new site, such as brake pads & calipers, upper control arm bushings,
>heater cores, wheel covers, bumpers, and other goodies I stocked up on at
>extremely deep discounts. The link to the Bargains page is at the bottom of
>virtually every page on the new site.  These specials are not yet on the
>Members page.
>
>You guys are now officially my "beta testers."  :-)  I'd really appreciate
>it if you would try out the new site within the next couple of days, and
>email me with any errors you come up with, both in content and in format.
If
>you come across an error on content, please e-mail me at ron@busdepot.com.
>If it's an error regarding the way the site works, navigates, searches,
>etc., the web developer, bob@justcallinc.com, has requested that you copy
>him on the e-mail.  I'm leaving for Europe next week to do some serious
>parts hunting and *very* badly needed vacationing. (Evon and Haley have
been
>very patiently awaiting the completion of this site so we could spend some
>time together again.)  So I'd like to wrap up any loose ends with the site
>this week, which I don't think will be a problem with your help.
>
>The site will doubtless have some bugs at first, particularly during this
>first week while it's still coming together, but I'm pretty happy with the
>way it's shaping up so far.  While a parts database of this scale has been
d
>one on the web before, it has never been applied to Volkswagen parts.  I
>believe that a cutting-edge website database is The Bus Depot's future.  It
>will enable me to maintain rock-bottom overhead (and thus rock-bottom
>pricing) while freeing up personnel to focus on the things a computer can't
>do, like customer service and fast shipping.  The new site is a
long-overdue
>first step.  I owe you all heartfelt thanks for sticking with me as
>customers when getting through to the Depot to place an order was
>challanging, to say the least.  Hopefully your extreme patience will be
>rewarded.
>
>- Ron Salmon
> The Bus Depot
> http://www.busdepot.com
> (215) 234-VWVW
>
>P.S.  Any list member who orders $150 or more from the new site will get a
>free pair of VW van mudflaps, while supplies last. I have 40 pair. They are
>N.O.S. from Venezuala, and are black with a white VW emblem.  They were
>intended for Busses, but a quick check under my '89 Westy seems to indicate
>that they could be modified to work behind the front wheels of a Vanagon.
>(What the hell, they're free.  Use 'em if you like them, use 'em as
>doorstops and buy the "real" ones for $90 each if you don't like 'em!)  You
>must order via the website, and ask for the free mudflaps when ordering.
>Before the shopping cart is up, you can place the order by phone/email/fax,
>using the part numbers and prices found on the website, and still qualify
>for the free mudflaps, as long as you used the website for price
>researching, etc.