[Vwdiesel] PROTHE on ebay??

[Tony and Lillie]

I'd like to make a couple of comments here. I've been in the industry for 
over 20 years, and curerntly opperate my own Audi/VW shop. I am also a huge 
enthusiast, to say the least. I don't know anything of this sellers 
reputation, nor his business ethics. Nor do I have experience with the 
quality of his parts.

What I wish to comment on is Chinese parts in general. First of all, I have 
enough experience with them to know that I avoid them like the plague! As 
in, each year I have less and less experience with them, but each time I do 
I'm not dissappointed. I know I'm going to get a subpar part, one which may 
not even fit, and that's what I get about 90% of the time.

There are exceptions to this rule, as some things are not available anywhere 
else, and some parts are so simple they can't possibly screw them up. Well, 
Ok, so it's really hard to screw them up. I've been amazed at a couple. 
Wheel cylinders for a 1979 Fox that had the screw holes in teh wrong place, 
for instance (about two months ago). How do you mess that up?

On the subject of Made in XXXX other than China. Chinese workers generally 
have a different motivation than most other countries workers. With that 
said, I'll gladly buy anything made in Europe. OEM rims for Audi were mostly 
made in Italy, some in Germany. Your OEM wheel bearings are Swedish. This 
part of the world has a well earned reputation for quality work. Not that 
everything they make is flaw free, as that would be an incorrect statement. 
But, for the most part (and in my experience, as well as the older gentlemen 
I've learned from) you get quality parts for your money.

Before I give my opinion, I want to say this: Keep in mind this is not a 
cheaply, poorly thought out automobile we drive. This is a very well 
engineered, very strong vehicle. Which is why it cost more than comparably 
sized cars when it was new, and also why people are willing to pay more for 
them.
Anyhow, here's what I tell my customers: "This is not a Wal-Mart car, and I 
won't put Wal-Mart parts on it. If you wish to put the cheapest parts on it 
you can find, I would respectfully ask you to find another mechanic to take 
care of your car".

BTW, there is a Swiss gentleman that runs a European shop in town. He will 
not even buy aftermarket. If your car is a BMW, he buys the parts from teh 
BMW dealer. If you have a M-B, the parts come from the M-B dealer. And, yes, 
he and I both stay booked up. That is because the old saying I was tought 
years ago still holds true, "People will remember how well you did a job 
long after they remember how quickly or inexpensively you did the job".

But, at the end of the day, it's your car, and you have the choice of buying 
what you wish for it.

Anyhow, just my .02, and hope it helps someone to avoid doing a job twice, 
or damage which could be worse yet.
Tony

----- Original Message ----- 
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] PROTHE on ebay??


> Scammer?  that's a bit much, I've bought a lot of stuff from him, never 
> got
> 'scammed'
> With so much stuff made in china, what is a Chinese 'knockoff' really 
> mean?
>
> I bought a new head for my BEW (PD) engine (not from Prothe) and it was 
> made
> in Spain, is that a Spain knockoff?
>
> None of the stuff I bought from him were major engine parts, other than a
> water pump for a 1.6NA
>
> BrianG