TheSamba.com :: View topic - Mid-America Motorworks

Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:07 pm

Yesterday I got another catalog from Mid-America Motorworks; I used to do business with Rocky Mountain, who was bought out by them. Rocky used VW part numbers (which I liked a lot), and I sure noticed that Mid-America's prices, in one word, are VERY HIGH. Do you others feel this same way? Anyway, I haven't bought from them since that takeover.

Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:09 pm

I do also....

Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:43 pm

I didn't notice a difference in price between the last Rocky Mountain Motorworks catalog and the Mid-America Motorworks catalog that replaced it. RMMW was expensive then and it's still expensive now. At the very least, the diagrams and part lists for small parts was useful reference, but they don't sell anything you can't buy anywhere else...for less.

Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:12 pm

I don't mind paying top dollar for top quality parts. I do mind paying WAY too much for the same part everyone else sells for significantly lower prices.

Some of the pricing in their catelog is almost criminal. I am really surprised they do as well as they do. So, to answer your question, YES, I have noticed they have the HIGHEST prices vs. any other VW parts vendor I have seen.

Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:11 am

I agree that the Mid-America pricing is way too high.
Also, it seems they chose to drop many items that
were carried by RMMW that really couldn't be found
easily anywhere else. WTF?
The VW part number feature once used by RMMW
was very useful. I've kept some copies of their
now obsolete catalog just for that reference.

Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:01 am

if you are buying anything but sweatshirts and coffee mugs from mid america, you are an idiot.

a glossy high dollar catalog is no substitute for quality parts, fair prices, and good tech support.

Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:21 am

try buying anything specific to a Type 3 from MAM that you can't get anywhere else for considerably less money...

I get their catalogs almost monthly... and throw them away as quickly...

Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:47 pm

I agree with all of the above comments in regards to their prices, but will add that I believe Dave Cormack wrote an editorial about the complaints of high prices of Rocky Mountain when they were in business, which, as I recall, he noted that part of the reason for that was the huge volume of glossy, full-color (for the most part, I guess) catalogs that they gave away for free annually or through multiple parts of the year.

In my opinion, the catalog campaign doesn't necessarily make or break the business and if it's that costly a business probably ought to reconsider their marketing strategies. Of course, Mid America also deals with 'Vettes and Porsches too, so it's not like they're any sort of pure VW specialist, either.

I think a lot of the folks who buy through Mid America are newbies who are unaware that there are better and more affordable options elsewhere.

What pisses me off about their catalogs is all of the stupid VWOA-approved garbage...obviously they're hugging VWOA's nuts pretty tightly, while smaller, mom-and-pop businesses are getting busted right and left. Horseshit, in my opinion. :roll:

Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:58 am

Damn, Ryan, you have a good memory :)

Yes, I did write an editorial about Rocky Mountain Motor Works
(that I got into some trouble for, from someone@RMMW, BTW)
expaining part of the higher-than-normal prices being attributed to the catalog they put out
Imagine designing, setting up, printing (in color, no less) a catalog like that of RMMW, or MAM, and distributing it to thousands of enthusiasts, for free... do you have any idea how much that costs? I imagine Ryan does, being in the newspaper bizz, and believe me, it ain't cheap.
That's probably part of the reason why you can get Muffler Bearings from MAM for, let's say. $15.99 and from someome else that doesn't have that overhead, for $12.99, or even $10.99..
As far as them selling VWOA approved stuff, I believe, with no particular informarion to support this theory, that they do so (a) because there are people who want to buy it, and (2) it MIGHT help keep the "Copyright Infringement Monsters" at bay.. and I hear VWOA/Continental Enterprises is on the warpath again, from some sources...

Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:57 pm

Dave wrote: Damn, Ryan, you have a good memory :)

Yes, I did write an editorial about Rocky Mountain Motor Works
(that I got into some trouble for, from someone@RMMW, BTW)
expaining part of the higher-than-normal prices being attributed to the catalog they put out
Imagine designing, setting up, printing (in color, no less) a catalog like that of RMMW, or MAM, and distributing it to thousands of enthusiasts, for free... do you have any idea how much that costs? I imagine Ryan does, being in the newspaper bizz, and believe me, it ain't cheap.
That's probably part of the reason why you can get Muffler Bearings from MAM for, let's say. $15.99 and from someome else that doesn't have that overhead, for $12.99, or even $10.99..
As far as them selling VWOA approved stuff, I believe, with no particular informarion to support this theory, that they do so (a) because there are people who want to buy it, and (2) it MIGHT help keep the "Copyright Infringement Monsters" at bay.. and I hear VWOA/Continental Enterprises is on the warpath again, from some sources...

I happened across that issue the other day, Dave, as luck would have it. Some days my memory is better than others, think I inherited it from my Dad, lol.

Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:00 am

Dave wrote: .. and I hear VWOA/Continental Enterprises is on the warpath again, from some sources...

I've heard they've parted ways actually. Don't know firsthand, but it's a pretty good source. Sue me if I'm wrong :lol:

Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:12 pm

DSF, I hope you are right and I am wrong. I know some businesses that have been contacted with a Cease and Desist order, under the auspicies of VWoA, just recently... maybe it isn't Continental Enterprises/Karl Manders anymore, but I imagine the Mother Ship is probably still watching us air-cooled folks pretty carefully.

Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:49 pm

Dave wrote: DSF, I hope you are right and I am wrong. I know some businesses that have been contacted with a Cease and Desist order, under the auspicies of VWoA, just recently... maybe it isn't Continental Enterprises/Karl Manders anymore, but I imagine the Mother Ship is probably still watching us air-cooled folks pretty carefully.

And...........hopefully recognizing the impact this business practice of theirs is having on their "new" car sales from us once brand "loyal" VW folks. :fist: VW!
I for one would not buy a new VW for this reason (and the fact that the quality of most of their current models ranks at the bottom of the JD Powers results).

Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:02 am

Finally, some people who feel as I do about Mid-America. I am restoring my wife's 69 Beetle and they have been hellish to deal with. We have ordered nearly $900 worth of parts in the past week. What did fit was of the poorest quality and most of the rest does not fit or was damaged. Here are some of the items and the trouble:

*Beauty rings were dented and dull looking
*door handlle guards were dull and had small dings in them
*Windshield was cut incorrectly. We ended up cracking it trying to get it in and they would not cover it because of the improper fit.
*Dash pad did not fit correctly around the glove box door or the defrost vents
*Turn signal gaskets are a bit too big for the lens
*Tie rod ends had the wrong size sleeve where it fit onto the damper
*License light housing gasket did not fit properly
*Outter door scrapers, the aluminum surround was damaged on both the left and right. When I contacted customer service about these, she asked the ignorant question "Well, is it not something that you can just repair?"
*Horn ring has terrible plating on it and the casting was incorrect. When we got it installed, it would not push in to blow the horn because the outter edges were laying against the wheel.
*The inner scrapers did not want to go in due to the design of the clips

All in all I am extremely disappointed with the service, price, & quality from Mid-America Motor Works and will not buy from them again. My 70 Beetle & 68 Bus will get parts from elsewhere. I have been referred to CIP. Someone said they are pretty awesome to deal with. Any heads up?

Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:53 am

They are ALL repop parts. MAMW & CIP could be buying from the same manufacturers? Repops that don't fit right are common. Get the Pros to do your next windshield! :wink:

Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:35 pm

charlie1971 wrote: Finally, some people who feel as I do about Mid-America. I am restoring my wife's 69 Beetle and they have been hellish to deal with. We have ordered nearly $900 worth of parts in the past week. What did fit was of the poorest quality and most of the rest does not fit or was damaged. Here are some of the items and the trouble:

*Beauty rings were dented and dull looking
*door handlle guards were dull and had small dings in them
*Windshield was cut incorrectly. We ended up cracking it trying to get it in and they would not cover it because of the improper fit.
*Dash pad did not fit correctly around the glove box door or the defrost vents
*Turn signal gaskets are a bit too big for the lens
*Tie rod ends had the wrong size sleeve where it fit onto the damper
*License light housing gasket did not fit properly
*Outter door scrapers, the aluminum surround was damaged on both the left and right. When I contacted customer service about these, she asked the ignorant question "Well, is it not something that you can just repair?"
*Horn ring has terrible plating on it and the casting was incorrect. When we got it installed, it would not push in to blow the horn because the outter edges were laying against the wheel.
*The inner scrapers did not want to go in due to the design of the clips

All in all I am extremely disappointed with the service, price, & quality from Mid-America Motor Works and will not buy from them again. My 70 Beetle & 68 Bus will get parts from elsewhere. I have been referred to CIP. Someone said they are pretty awesome to deal with. Any heads up?

Use Wolfsburg West. They are very good good.

Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:54 pm

I was just comparing their prices on some things to CIP and BFY, and they are really high on a lot of things. Twice the cost on something as simple as sun-visors, which everyone sells.

On the flip side, the one thing that I've found really positive about them, is that if I need something really quickly, they ship faster than any other parts house I've found. I've literally waited for weeks for items from some of the west coast suppliers, but received items in two days from MAP, because they're in Illinois.

Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:25 pm

To me, the wait is worth the quality & good customer service. I have put several windshields in but never had this problem. I was checking Wolfsburg West and it looks like good stuff.

Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:40 am

discochris wrote:

On the flip side, the one thing that I've found really positive about them, is that if I need something really quickly, they ship faster than any other parts house I've found. I've literally waited for weeks for items from some of the west coast suppliers, but received items in two days from MAP, because they're in Illinois.

Shipping from the west coast vs. Illinois is a matter of 2 days. Maybe 3. Certainly not "weeks".

Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:57 am

My last 2 shipments from OR to AZ & OK took 3 weeks each USPS parcel post! :roll: