TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:20 pm

I was rumored for about 6 months and finally happened. Visit the site to read the PR: http://www.motorworks.com/

Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:44 pm

that blows!!! but at least it will still be around... kinda. :(

Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:10 pm

First the trademark stuff then the S&H charges. Oh well.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 1:45 am

Mid America has been around a long time and is continually adding to their stable. They started in the 70's with just Vette parts, but really nice Vette parts when everybody else had junk. Now they cover Porsche and VW too. The Real Source didn't carry much of anything for busses so I never ordered anything there. Merger mania! Anybody had experience with The Real Source?

The loss of RMMW doesn't bother me much - they had a decent web site and good forums, but their customer service sucked. Parts were usually only so-so but Busdepot had been drop-shipping from them so maybe their wholesale business was good. But obviously not good enough.

I'd give CIP1 a try but I wish they had a search by part number.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:57 am

Actually i had great customer service from RMMW. They never gave me a problem with returns.

RMMW's parts were middle of the road. Better than the crap most places sold, but not as good as the better restoration quality stuff.

I hope the "upscale" TRS's catalog. Most of thier stuff is middle to low quality and alot of chrome.

I also recently had a problem with TRS's customer service and was only resolved by sending a letter (snail mail) to the CEO.

I'll be looking for another company to send my club members to.

Too bad.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:26 am

Sounds like another JC Whitney.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:31 am

jeremyrockjock wrote: Sounds like another JC Whitney.

There's only one JCW (thank G-D).

The TRS is far from a JCW and it's come a long way since they started out.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:14 am

my last order to them was completely lost and they didn't seem to care. Maybe they knew what was coming or it's just that their customer service was pitiful. We're too tight of a community for such a reputation not to hurt and to do so quickly. I hope the new owners are more responsive as I will try again. Happy trails, Mark

Thu Feb 19, 2004 9:29 am

VWBusMan1 wrote:
We're too tight of a community for such a reputation not to hurt

My last conversation with Chris Nowak was to that effect. VW's reputation was earned because of remarkable quality. Many of us rebuilding our VWs remember and seek that quality. Try a sly end run around that fact to score a lousy buck and you'll lose. His canned reply pretty much told me he had been listening to the Money Men too hard.
There is something faintly ominous about the canary chirp:
Classic Volkswagen owners are " the big winners."
Colin

Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:36 am

dstefun wrote: The Real Source didn't carry much of anything for busses so I never ordered anything there.
That's the real issue wrt the acquisition.

Quote: The loss of RMMW doesn't bother me much - they had a decent web site and good forums, but their customer service sucked.
I liked their old site. The new one has sucked hard for the last year. I will say that theiir print catalog was awesome.

Quote: I'd give CIP1 a try but I wish they had a search by part number.
Where they don't change the number, you can search by number with pretty good success if you understand their format using dashes.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 10:40 am

VWBusMan1 wrote: my last order to them was completely lost and they didn't seem to care. Maybe they knew what was coming or it's just that their customer service was pitiful.
Acccording to Bus Depot, they've simply been selling off their inventory over the last year and filling the gaps with stock from other vendors, like Bus Depot.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:54 am

ratwell wrote: VWBusMan1 wrote: my last order to them was completely lost and they didn't seem to care. Maybe they knew what was coming or it's just that their customer service was pitiful.
Acccording to Bus Depot, they've simply been selling off their inventory over the last year and filling the gaps with stock from other vendors, like Bus Depot.

I never ordered anything from them, they seemed a little pricey to me.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:38 pm

ratwell wrote: Acccording to Bus Depot, they've simply been selling off their inventory over the last year and filling the gaps with stock from other vendors, like Bus Depot.

Geez, how many mailing lists does Ron write on?! :lol: I just read the same if not similar message from him on the Vanagon list.

It's too bad to see another parts resource bite the dust, as the large ones are getting more scarce. Just goes to show, the aircooleds are definitely playing to a .. er, more selective audience.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:29 pm

Quote: Acccording to Bus Depot, they've simply been selling off their inventory over the last year and filling the gaps with stock from other vendors, like Bus Depot.

Au contraire, mes amis. My last order to BusDepot was drop shipped entirely from RMMW, who proceeded to screw it up twice. I finally gave up and ordered from Bus-Boys who got it right the first time. It was BusDepot ordering from RMMW, not the other way around. :cry: I have a packing sheet that says Bill to: Bus Depot Ship to: Dstefun I haven't ordered from BusDepot since then and probably won't.

Quote: Quote:
I'd give CIP1 a try but I wish they had a search by part number.

Where they don't change the number, you can search by number with pretty good success if you understand their format using dashes.
Yeah, I've tried this but it's hit and miss and a PIA. A cross reference database built into their search function would fix it quick.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 9:24 pm

dstefun wrote: Au contraire, mes amis. My last order to BusDepot was drop shipped entirely from RMMW, who proceeded to screw it up twice. I finally gave up and ordered from Bus-Boys who got it right the first time. It was BusDepot ordering from RMMW, not the other way around. :cry: I have a packing sheet that says Bill to: Bus Depot Ship to: Dstefun I haven't ordered from BusDepot since then and probably won't.
I didn't say it didn't happen the other way. RMMW supplied many vendors.

I've ordered a ton of parts of the last two years from all of the vendors. I can't think of any other hobby or activity of mine that I've had to deal with so many online orders (except for eBay). Some vendors I've never had a problem with but that's reflected in the number of times I've ordered. Statistically I've had the most problems with my preferred vendor.

The lesson I've learned is that you have to call them by phone. Ordering "blindly" through the website gets you mixed results. Bus boys has no online order system and it's one of the reasons satisfaction is so high. Even so mistakes will be made. I used to get mad when the orders were screwed up but I just take it in stride now because life's too short and I'm thankful high quality parts are available still. Of course, by all means drop a vendor who can't get any order right but I think that's rare.

I have mixed feelings on drop shipping. On one hand I feel burned that the part I spent time researching vendors over came from a less desirable vendor. On the other hand when BD is a week away via ground shipping because it's on the other coast and they drop ship Bosch items from IMC which has a local warehouse, I can't complain.

I've had a few goofed orders from BD but they have taken my feedback and noticeably improved their service while keeping prices the same. Even with the rising Euro their prices have been steady. Finally, Ron Salmon is a great resource in the bus community. I hope his business remains strong for years to come.

Quote: Yeah, I've tried this but it's hit and miss and a PIA. A cross reference database built into their search function would fix it quick.
Get their catalog on your next order for 1 cent more. It's pretty good.

Bus Boys is a top notch company. Both Charles and Walter know their busses and their part numbers by heart. My only complaint is that if you want to return an item you'll be waiting 6 weeks for your refund because the owner goes over every single return receipt because he got burned by the employees back in 96. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you need your $200 back.

See, every vendor has it's faults.

Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:25 pm

:( such a shame a great company like rmmw getting bought out one of the highest priced rip off companies out there the customer service is least to be desired also i guess cip1 will be my main buyer now.