Reference on AVS in WA

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@microsoft.com>]

I can't say I have good experiences with them at all...

With regards to their technical knowledge, I don't know, but their business
practices are not the best, IMO.

I totalled my 91 200qw back in February of last year and they purchased the
whole thing for some amount of $ that wasn't too unreasonable given the
verbal agreement that I'd come down and pick up the Euro lights and the (OE
BBS) wheels. I dragged my feet and didn't get around to making the
2-hours-each-way trip for a couple of months. I then get a registered letter
from AVS saying that "they have so much throughput of parts that they can no
longer guarantee that the wheels and lights would be around" (not verbatim)
- I call them and find that they have, in fact, already sold them or at
least "couldn't find them" on the lot.

I find this to be unethical and just kick myself for not having the whole
thing in writing. I guess my mistake was that I, at the time, spoke fairly
regularly with Stan Sokol (the owner of AVS and former President of the NW
Region Audi Quattro Club) on the phone, so I know he had both work and home
numbers for me and could have simply picked up the phone and either bugged
me to come get them or let me know that they had a customer and set a
deadline. Even if this was an "honest" mistake, i.e., they simply don't keep
records well enough to keep track of things like this, I still don't want to
do any more business with them. God only knows where there parts have been
(pun only mostly unintended).

Anyway, that's my story, but I know there are others here in the NW that
feel at least the same if not worse, so make sure you know what you're doing
before going into anything. BTW, Max has a reputation for being a little
overoptimistic on delivery schedules, on whether or not something is
possible and on the expected results. Just hearsay, that.

Good luck with your conversion.
- peter, peterhe@microsoft.com, http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/1001
  98 volvo v70 t5 - 5-sp manual
  94 acura legend gs - 6-sp manual


Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 17:19:27 -0800
From: "Brandon Hull" <brandon@cardinalventures.com>
Subject: Reference on AVS in WA

Has anyone used AVS (Audi-VW Specialists?) somewhere south of Seattle?  =
I got referred to them circuitously.  I spoke just now with "Max" who =
claimed to have significant experience with 20valve turbo transplants.  =
Based on my current rate of non-progress on my CQ/3B conversion, I'm =
tempted by the prospect of outsourcing a chunk of the work if I felt I =
could trust the shop...  I'd appreciate any insights; reply privately if =
need be.

Brandon Hull
'91 CQ