time to de-list bad vendors
Mike Vitrano
mv1058 at msn.com
Sun Sep 15 11:44:21 EDT 2002
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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Scott,
As an independent VW mechanic (with a few Audi customers), I agree with
you concerning customers bring in wrong/cheap parts.
But a lot of the listers I have read about install many if not most of their
own parts, therefore they want the lowest price, best customer service, and
fastest shipping and as a mechanic, I want the same for my Audi.
Yes, we know we (the list) won't put them out of business (bad vendors), but
it is helpful to identify the bad vendors from the good vendors. It was this type
of input that steered me away from TAP's chip to IA's chip (even though I paid
an extra shipping charge to get what I originally paid for) and Ned's chip was
higher.
If a vendor can't respond back to a prospective (or current) customer by e-mail
or phone, can't update his web page with current pricing, can't answer his phone
or has a b.s. answering system, or sells us chinese or taiwan parts for our Audis,
then I and (I think the list) want to know and hear about it.
These vendors read these threads and should take steps to resolve the complaints
and the good vendors like Rod @ TPC should feel good for the praise he gets -
Rod is doing something right as compared to the others.
Maybe de-list the bad vendors, maybe put a comments column under their
company listing, but one thing is for sure, they will not change if we listers don't
speak up!
Regards,
Mike Vitrano
Mike's VW Service
Columbia, TN
1991 200 20V
----- Original Message -----
From: QSHIPQ at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 3:08 PM
To: 200q20v at audifans.com
Subject: Re: time to de-list bad vendors
I gotta laugh at this thread all together, frankly. And it make me most
happy that I *never* had any interest in being on any "vendor" list, a-f
badged or debadged. Jeez you guys, is the quattro list really where these
parts guys get the majority of their business? Anyone can type in <audi
quattro parts> on a routine google and get the 4 mentioned so far.
Right now the oxymoron really is in the cutthroat world of bag and tag. The
REASON you get s**t service is because there is no money to pay for GOOD
service. You, as the B&T buyer have already aced your dealer, aced your
mechanic out of his overhead, get insulted about "high" wholesale prices,
*and* you expect great service? I'm chuckling at the business 101 thought of
it. Not to mention the immediate expectation that your mechanic will install
this for you at his normal shop rate.
As an independent audi mechanic, I'm continually struggling to understand how
some of these B&T places get their prices so low. Then I read the "de-list"
thread, and completely understand. I'm also one of many shops that is very
close to not accepting B&T parts for install. Why? Well, because when the
part is wrong, my bay is tied up with your car, I'm expected to get the right
part immediately, or get blamed for not knowing it was the wrong part. Since
I didn't take any responsibility for the order, I punt that right back, and
make it completely clear that the wrong/defective part comes out, I get paid
to do it twice. Right now, I look at this thread and think what I always
have: There is no value in price. There are many places that have listened
to the "demand" for better price. As you did that, something has to give.
Don't shoot yourself in the foot here. IMO/E, you got/get exactly what you
pay for. From what I read in all this: Be careful what you ask for, you
just may get it.
My advice: Get a good mechanic that treats you fairly, in parts and labor.
In the end, the VALUE is in that relationship, not the "outrageous" markup on
any specific part.
My .02 from a differing perspective.
Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ Performance Tuning
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