TYPE 4 PARTS - tired of BD

[Busdepot]

[USMCbug]

Ive ordered a few times from BD. I am also one state to the right in good ole NY. Ive had some problems with them as well on a few orders and others were problem free. I didnt get any resoloution to my problem on one order that I can be sure of. I didnt piss and moan about it though. Life goes on.

I have ordered from CIP and wont do it again.

I have ordered from germansupply and was very pleased. Ill deffinately order from Scott again.

Ill order from DB again too because there really isnt much of an alternative to most of the stuff they sell and at the same good price.
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==79 FI 2.0 "War Bus" (now belongs to my oldest daughter)==

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the
scabbard."
- General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

[mightyart]

It is very nice to see that Bus Depot cares enough about their customers to reply to their problems.
This is a simple business problem that could be used with anything being sold.
If a customer has a problem, a real problem or just kind of something silly, doesn’t matter, it's a problem to them, So you should address that problem and rectify it.
There have been a few threads about problems with parts vendors. There are also far more threads that recommend the same online vendors for parts. You may have to put up with a few whiners because of it, but there is far more business being generated because of it also.
If you want to think the customers are bashing or whining, fine but if I was in the business I'd look at it as an opportunity. I always had to deal with my customers on a one to one basis; here you can address a lot of them with just a few paragraphs.
I actually had someone tell me one time that thier job would be great if they didn't have to deal with all the customers, I had to point out that there would be no job then.
I’m getting tired of the attitude that I’m seeing more and more everywhere which is “quit complaining were doing the best we can, be glad someone is doing anything for you at all” When It used to be come to us We’re better, we’re more helpful, we have better prices and service.
I have a good Idea that might help all the bus parts vendors, they should all form one company then they could share in the limited profits there are, you could pool your small workforce and get orders out quicker and of course you could split any profits evenly.
It is a labor of love after all.
Even simpler when you find a new supplier for a hard to find part, do you call the other dealers and tell them about the new supplier? They (the new suppliers) could stop carrying that part if they don’t get enough orders for it? You know help you buddies out keep the bus community alive?
This doesn’t seem to be a popular opinion but I really don’t care. I’m sick of all the crap service everywhere and then getting told it’s somehow my fault and I should just shut up.

[dembus]

[quote="mightyart"]I have a good Idea that might help all the bus parts vendors, they should all form one company then they could share in the limited profits there are, you could pool your small workforce and get orders out quicker and of course you could split any profits evenly./quote]

Some good points mentioned except for this one. That would be a monopoly and service and quality would get real bad. Competition is what keeps prices down and quality up. It is about having a choice. No, this would be a bad idea.
_________________
"Want a little peace of mind, grab the lowest branch and start to climb"

69 Westy (R.I.P.)
68 Kombi (Sold)
70 Westy (Sold)
68 Beetle Sedan (Sold)
69 Beetle Sedan

[mightyart]

[quote="dembus"]

[Gary]

[mightyart]

[Gary]

[dembus]

[quote="Icy"][quote="mightyart"]

[EdW]

[DurocShark]

I just really wish BD could tie their inventory to the website. Items that get dropshipped just list them as such. But I understand the difficulty there, as well.

I still order primarily from BD with Aircooled.net as backup whenever possible. I had a problem with another vendor where I called to place the order and wasn't told there were backordered items. They held onto my order for an extra week to wait for the items. Never told me. I cancelled the order and won't be ordering from them again. That, IMHO, is unacceptable. If I had ordered online I would be upset, but since it was over the phone and the person taking the order could have told me something was back ordered, I was furious. It screwed up my whole weekend plans.
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.
-
The Guacamole Bus
Woodscrub's Blog
Buy My Crap

[Zeen]

[jereandjess]

I must say that I have never had a problem with Bus Depot, and I have been ordering from them since 97. Sometimes things don't ship together, but as Ron said, they absorb that cost. I do find that calling does let me ask questions about parts being backordered etc, and plan my working on the busses, but I have done lots of online ordering too.

I am just glad they are there and do all the hard work finding those parts we all need!

Keep up the good work Ron, and thank you!
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~Jeremy (and Jessica)
77 Sage Green Westfalia 2.0 FI
78 Blue Landmark camper 2.0 FI
69 Beetle

[flabay]

[slojason]

1. I think it's great that the owner of a company responds personally to complaints (and some with a nasty tone).
2. We all should remember there are always at LEAST two sides to every story.
3. When I managed public bus systems, a mandatory part of every driver's training and every dispatcher' training was to spend at least a full day doing the others' job. Sure made for better respect over the radio!
4. It's good for us to hear Ron's side of the business. I always make an effort to trade with the small business person and local if possible. Small businesses, where you stand a chance to be served by one of the principals, are a dying breed and we are being Walmart'd to death. There is more to life than a cheaper deal.
My two cents
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1974 Safare Camper
1965 Modified Panel
1952 Ford F1
1949 Beach Bungalow

[deschutestrout]

Flabay...I know you're frustrated...I was too regarding shipping probs. Email him direct at [email protected]..I have a hunch he'll address your issue pronto.
_________________
'71 bug, answers to "Clementine"
'75 7 passenger bus called "Kombi"
'78 7 passenger sunroof bus, goes by "Gus"
'78 Westy "'Ole Red...The Happy Camper"
'78 Westy "The Big Turd"

[MrBreeze]

Moved this to classifieds/vendors, it really belongs there.

I've placed many an order with Ron and have always been happy (and will be with the 2 orders I placed the past few days, right, Ron? <wink,wink>)
_________________
-=Rob

Fight Diabetes: http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/

WTB: Bay Shore or Queensboro VW Frames

HBB 1984-2009
RW 1943-2011

[revelstoked]

I tell ya what folks.
Lets A) boycot all the aftermarket suppliers, B) fill our gas tanks, C) get a tetanus shot and D) meet eachother at the wrecking yard and fight over a 2$ wiper arm blade. Sounds like a good time to me.
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'78 transporter (broken)

[airhead22]

I am not sure what parts you are looking for but I have at good success with Bus Boys and Wolfsburg West, anything they don't have Chirco will have it.

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/
http://www.busboys.com/home.htm
http://www.chirco.com/

When I bought my Albatross adjustable front end from bus boys, I had a few questions in the lowering process and I had a set screw split right in half on me and when I called and talked to Walter, all he did was ask me for my address and said he would ship one to me right away. Lone and behold it was here in approx 3-4 days. In the previous post some of you guys had mentioned buying used parts, and with me living here in Arizona I wouldn't mine at all helpig out trying to find some quality used parts to help with any restorations or repairs. There are a few good places that I am aware of for strictly VW parts, and no finder fee applies, I have seen where people will charge you for their help, I think that is personally a bunch of crap, I think they should just be happy helping out the VW community, If anyone needs some quality rust free repair panels,of parts fell free to ask.
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If your gonna do it, do it right
And if your gonna go broke, go broke in style!

-Gilbert Rose

[SteelersBus]

I live in Altoona, PA. About 5 hours away from BD. When I need one part, I order from BD. I did send an email once that was never responded to. I shouldn't have to email twice to get a response. Not too happy about being referred to the long distance number when I have a question. Save the reply to that Ron, I personally witnessed you defending that issue twice before. I know your answer already. Overall, not that I wouldn't use BD, but they're not my first choice.

When ordering I usually go to www.cip1.com I have had one problem with cip1 in 6 years. It was solved with no questions asked. Besides their free shipping and 5% off for internet orders, I save the 6% PA sales tax. It's actually cheaper for me to order from cip1.com The parts are here to PA within 5 business days. They keep stock updated right on the site. You know when ordering if they are out of that item. You can then add your email to be notified when that part returns to stock. They also have some one on hand at a toll free phone line that will answer your gearhead questions. I actually have a favorite person that I get to talk to about my troubleshooting issues. Ask for Gary. He knows the parts and is good help with Bay Buses.

Also mention in this thread in an earlier post. Some one wanted a used/new parts supplier. Well, I just found one a week ago. www.bustedbus.com A new and upcoming BAY WINDOW ONLY parts supplier. They supply Bay Bus parts and nothing else. A sample of his business: you order a used window from him, and you can get a new rubber for it at the same place. Check out their website. They have TONS of Bay parts. I haven't ordered there yet. I emailed them twice, and received replies within hours.

Ordered a VERY expensive carb from lowbugget.com and it came very loosely packed. The washers, nuts, bolts, and other small misc. parts were just all over the inside of the box. I couldn't find a bolt and washer. Replaced easily, but for what I paid, they could have tossed them in a sealed baggy. The bad part is, I saw they wrote, "check for rattle" on the box. That writing was crossed out and "rattle okay" was written. So, it was a problem they knew was there, but failed to address. The customer service was a lil sketchy too.

All in all, I have no terrible issues with any supplier. I just gave my opinion and stories of dealings I had with some.
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Volkswagen Locksmith
Keys by Code, Locks & Keys Supplied,
Key all your Locks to one Key.
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Granny Grose's Buses 9
May 16-19, 2013
Milton, PA
http://www.grannygrosesbuses.com