online parts ordering (was Re: [s-cars] urs4 Fan clutch bearing)

[Doug Landaeta]

Has anyone else tried Impex-fap? Now http://www.worldimpex.com/ ?
Probably the same back-office web engine as trademotion.

-----Original Message-----
From: Franco Barber [mailto:feb at febsun.cmhnet.org] 
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 7:42 PM
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: online parts ordering (was Re: [s-cars] urs4 Fan clutch bearing)

On Fri, May 20, 2005 at 01:46:37PM -0400, Mark Pollan wrote:
> This is a Audi/VW dealer (West Broad VW) in Richmond VA that has an 
> on-line parts pricing and ordering.  At this site the price comes in 
> at $79.84.  I have never dealt with them but have extensively used the 
> site to get a reality check on part prices.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Mark

I have ordered several times from West Broad VW.
The prices are good, but they are not without their problems.

For one, it's a little bit of a mystery what the shipping fees will be
because the ordering system does not specify them and they are only
determined when the order is filled.

For two, the whole system seems to be oriented towards a customer that does
not know what they are buying, because
(a) the descriptions of the parts is pretty poor,
(b) part numbers are not shown (even if you search for a part using
    the part number it will not show you the part numbers of the search
    results)
(c) for trim pieces there is no way to indicate what color code you
    want except by leaving it in the comments section.
    In my experience these comment are not read - I ordered
    a piece, asked for Ecru in the comments section, and got black.)

For three, lately there seem to be problems with filling orders at the
prices the system lists.  I recently ordered something and the web system
and emailed invoices had one price, and the shipped product was accompanied
by an invoice for another price.  It would appear that Euro-dollar exchange
has raised lots of parts costs, but the order system has not been properly
updated.  However, when the order gets to the dealer to be filled, you can
bet they don't fill the older at the incorrect lower price!

For four, the online system is a little difficult to deal with in case that
something does go wrong, e.g. I order an ecru piece and they send me black.
It takes some doing to figure out how to request an RMA.


I think that some of these problems (e.g. the price inconsistencies) are
because the online order system is not actually run by the Audi dealer.  It
is a service that is run on behalf of the dealer by another company, see
www.trademotion.com or parts.com.

These people forward the order to the dealer for filling, and if the
parts.com database has an out of date price, the actual invoice price will
be different from that confirmed on the order.


I know that this all sounds very negative, but the sad thing is that for an
Audi dealer this is nothing, and actually quite good since the prices are
usually 15% below list price.
The local stealer always wants 20% ABOVE list!

Franco

-- 
Franco Barber                   feb at febsun.cmhnet.org
95 A6Q w/Gamma CD mit RDS!      Columbus, Ohio  USA
95 A6Q 5spd w/HCB-30 bluetooth car kit!