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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 5943
Location: Sacramento
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 Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:55 am Post subject: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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"Nobody cared where the parts came from until they removed the label"
I bought some brake parts to get my panel back on the road. The original labels on the wheel cylinder boxes had been carefully "redacted" with a knife.
Why?
I probably wouldn't have cared if they hadn't done it, but seeing as they took the trouble to do, now I'm curious as to why. Are these shitty Chinese parts and they're trying to hide the fact? Are they actually wheel cylinders from a Reliant Robin and they don't want me to know?
This is basically a corrallary of the Streisand Effect
I remember buying parts in the 90's that had the part number dremmeled off. They were quality parts - not 3rd-world knockoffs - and I've heard several different theories as to why they did that.
I googled "q-parts brakes" and found http://www.q-partsusa.com/categoria-producto/brakes/ - but VW/Volkswagen isn't listed under "make" - which gives color to my Reliant Robin theory.
_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
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hazetguy
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2001
Posts: 10773
Location: iT StiNgeD iTseLf tO dEAd
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 8:02 am Post subject: Re: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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i looked on the WW website. the 55-63 cylinders are listed as "Generic" in terms of country of origin.
my speculation is that they removed their supplier's labeling before applying the WW sticker. looks like tiny remnants of a yellow Pacific Parts sticker still on the box.
or maybe the removed label didn't have that oh-so-important prop 65 warning 
how do the cylinders themselves look? are they decent?
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thebucket: I invested in hoodride, now DBD won't return my call?
hazetguy: invested?
thebucket: Yeah Haze, its where people put money into a company in hopes of a return on their money |
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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 5943
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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| hazetguy wrote: |
| how do the cylinders themselves look? are they decent? |
They look similar to the 3rd-world parts that have been available for the past 20 years or so - rough casting that looks a little oversize.
_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
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velvetgreen
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004
Posts: 2746
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:00 am Post subject: Re: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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on a similar vein why do those parts only possibly cause cancer in California?  Bonus points should be awarded for accidental alliteration |
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thom
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2000
Posts: 5943
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:05 am Post subject: Re: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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| velvetgreen wrote: |
| on a similar vein why do those parts only possibly cause cancer in California? Bonus points should be awarded for accidental alliteration |
Additional accolades are always awarded after an accidental alliteration.
_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type |
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Who.Me? 
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 2211
Location: UK (South)
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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| thom wrote: |
| Are they actually wheel cylinders from a Reliant Robin and they don't want me to know? |
It frightens me a little that you know what a Reliant Robin is. I thought we'd contained information about that breach of sanity.
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Andy
Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786 |
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Jensers
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Joined: January 20, 2005
Posts: 54
Location: Royal City, Wa
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mdege
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Joined: January 16, 2018
Posts: 940
Location: Niederkruechten, Germany
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big bus mike
Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004
Posts: 2230
Location: ABQ
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| Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Parts box obfuscation: why? |
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In this particular case, that part came from Pacific Parts International a parts importer / wholesaler and WW is re-selling it. The giveaway is the yellow tag. |
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