Viande - [email protected]

[capeoddboy]

Not to beat a tired horse, but on 24 July 2010 I ordered an a type 1 front trans mount (good German quality) for a 63. Paid via paypal to Randall Smith, email [email protected] for $33.65 Today is 13 Dec and no joy. I wonder what happened to the extra money?

In the past I bought some really great parts from this out fit. The best quality. Any idea who is vending these parts now (1st quality german made parts)?

Thanks,
Tim

[engineerscott]

Anybody know what is up with Bobby/Viande? Anyone been in recent contact with him. I've bought several items from him a year or so back and in fact came on tonight thinking about buying a few more things. I looked for his adds only to find that they were gone. This eventually lead me to these post in the buyer/seller feedback forum. It looks like he's been having some trouble. This does *not* sound like the Bobby/Viande I dealt with a while back. He was nothing but professional, offered superior product to those wishing to do a quality restoration, and was a pleasure to deal with. From the sound of things he either just got swamped with orders beyond what he could handle or has had some personal issue in his life. I only knew him as an honest man devoted to the hobby.

I'd hate to see the VW community loose a valuable member and supplier like Bobby. Bobby, if you're reading this please come on this forum and let us know what is going on. Don't despair, people who have gotten into far worse predicaments that this have been able to come back, make thing right, and repair their reputation and go forward. I don't see anything here that is the end of the world - if you make any outstanding issue right. If you do, I'll be cheering you on. Sometimes things happen and people get overwhelmed or they have some personal tragedy that makes their VW business take a back seat. If either of these situations are the case people will understand if you come out and give them the straight scoop on what is going on. I've talked with Bobby a time or two in the past and I've never gotten the impression that he is at heart a dishonest man (unlike some of the rascals we've seen in recent years).

Just a word of advice for you Bobby - the worst thing you can do in a situation like this is go silent and let everyone speculate on what the situation is. Giving people the straight story is the first step to getting yourself back on track.

I wish you the best of luck.

-Scott

[Antonio Trejo]

I have nothing but good things to say about with Bobby/Viande. On Septembre 2009 I got from him a pair of german window scrapers, one emergency brake boot and some small items. On January 2010 I got 4 german fender beadings and a genuine shift rod coupler kit. In those 2 orders I spent $260 USD and I was happy about the quality of parts and service I received.
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[crowe66]

I too have been burned. I placed an order in March. Package arrived late April with a missing item. I was told, after I inquired, that it was back ordered.

Well now it's September and no part and no communication since 24 May.

[lightravels]

I ordered from Bobby in April. I was under the impression that I was supporting an honest man trying to run an honest little business on his spare time. I could have ordered from someone else but decided to give him my business instead. Well, it´s the end of August and Bobby hasn´t returned any of my emails or phone calls. He let me on for a while with a customs story and now the 45 day period in which I would have been able to file a PayPal dispute is long over. $300 is a lot to lose...and my bus still needs seals. Thank you Bobby, but you are not an honest man.

[BWD]

[danny gabbard]

Well after 9 weeks I got my stuff and yes the seals are bitchen ! Bobby might need some catching up in his business, But my stuff is here and I am happy. And will I buy from him again, Yes !

[60ragtop]

[Tram]

[SGKent]

Bobby was really honest with me and we got all the parts we ordered from him. He was overwhelmed by the demands from people here. What amazes me is that he spent close to 2 hours calling people in Europe to find me some items everyone said were NLA - they ended up coming from Albania or some place like that. He had to pay for them, clear customs issues due to some of the places they come from and then the price he charged me was cheaper than some Samba members try to sell me a used one for. A little thank you and a job well done would have gone a long way with this person. If he is guilty of anything it is trying too hard to please too many people. Shame on all of us for not counting our blessings. The guy says he is overwhelmed and what do we do, pile more requests on him. We proberbially killed the Golden Goose. Americans have become so impatient, everything has to be right now, right now. He was fair and honest with me, in fact I may still owe Bobby for some parts that he never collected for because he is so overwhelmed.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[suebug]

One day after escalating to a Paypal claim, my refund has been issued from the supplier (Randall).
I really wish I had just received the quality German taillight seals but it didn't look like it would ever happen, especially now that others have posted their stories.
And, yes, I agree it is a shame.

[69 Jim]

[Tram]

This is really just a damned shame. Seriously.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[Joe Foy]

Bobby/Randel / walmack Did the same thing to me ,and it's over the 45 day limit for pay pal ( I think he knows that ,so he string's you along) I don't realy care about his longtime sickley brother inlaw Stop takeing people's hard earned money and paying your cell phone bill bay bus front door seal 90 bucks

[suebug]

Well, no parts sent, all emails are being ignored, and no refund issued, so my Paypal grievance has been escalated to a Paypal claim. Let's see what happens now. The truth would've been so much easier. Why say the parts were shipped and give the date they would be here if they never would? If my correspondence had been answered honestly this would be a whole different story.

[EverettB]

Due to the recent string of complaints and the fact that he hasn't used the site since the end of July, I have deactivated all of his ads pending a resolution to the outstanding issues.

One note:
My understanding is that the lead times have always been long. This may or may not be reflected in the feedback here.
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[sunroof]

I got my windshield seal today. May 6 to August 18, that seems a long time to me. $7.50 customs charge to boot. The shipper forgot to declare it antique auto parts. What saddens me is that the quality is good and I want to buy the rest of my seals from this guy but the lead time is unacceptable. I just bought the one seal to get an idea of the quality which is great but what do I do now?

Don

[danny gabbard]

I waited two months and did not get my parts, Lost 200.00

[abgwin]

Having done business with Bobby/Viande myself, I have nothing but good things to say about the quality of parts and service I received.

To those waiting on parts: it's tough to be in the place where you've put out money and not received goods but based on my experience, it will be resolved fairly and as quickly as possible given the circumstances.

And should you elect to wait for the parts in question, you will be pleased with the quality.

Aside to Bobby: Genuinely sorry to hear about the situation. Here's hoping things get as better as they can as quickly as they can. Good on you for being there.
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Siglines don't hurt people: people hurt people.

[slowtwitch]

Sadly, i've been waiting on an Oval body to gas tank seal since March 1, sent a few emails, was told delay is in customs
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pete