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Buying Parts from the USA

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hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 ·

#975704
Just wanted to post a good experience of buying parts from the US. Bought some HD valve springs and some other minor stuff from Gene Berg. Emailed them for a shipping quote, phoned them the next day and received the goodies today (about a week overall). Top service and they use US post so the shipping was way less than the cost of the parts (unlike most other US suppliers). Also bought some parts from Jack Sachette (Jay Cee) and he gave great service by email and uses US post as well.
Cheers.............Wayne

fish26 Fahrvergnugen

903 posts · joined Jul 2007 ·

#975709
We placed $1k order with CB Performance on the 15th Nov received parts 19th Nov and surprisingly got a Veterans Day 10% discount, great service and i'm already planning another order.
bitten by the bug..........several times

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#975719
I buy all my parts from the US and to date have not had any issues with wrong parts being supplied, i always phone them as well as email, this way they are dealing with a person, i always use USPS and get good rates for the postage, my new case just arrived from the states, i was quoted $2000 here and got it into auatralia for $1300. from the States. only deal with suppliers who offer you options for the freight.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#975726
yep, me too

I get many parts for all my car vw and non vw from the US. coz I can get genuine parts cheap that are NLA here. And the shipping is faster than Aus post most times. don't ask how that works but it does.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

karmann141 Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#975878
Yep, me three.

Never had a problem, excellent customer service and very rapid postage.
1961 K Ghia - Porsche 5 sp, EJ20T, Brembo's, Dble A arm susp
1974 L Bug - Porsche 944 brakes, Boxster 16's
1974 Bay Camper - EJ20, twin radiators, Boxster 16x7's
Half Beetle trailer with Boxster 16x7's
2011 Tiguan TDI 4Motion
2010 LR Discovery 4 TDV

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#975907
I just bought a made in Australia part for almost half price from from USA to what its costs here lol.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 ·

#975909
To be honest, i prefer to buy from the USA or UK.
Prompt return of emails, will answer all queries, and will get here quicker than parts posted in Australia.
As long as you know what you want, its not a part that is specifically for LHD, you shouldn't have a problem

OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#975913
And most of all from the USA , you get QUALITY parts , not some brazilian piece of crap that probabley won't work 5 minutes after you install it !!!
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#975936
Its good if u know what your buying or exactly what you need

If you don't know that that's when it gets off the rails
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#975938
........and we can all whinge when there are no local suppliers left.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

donn Wolfsburg Elder

3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#975939
AA003 wrote:........and we can all whinge when there are no local suppliers left.

X2
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 ·

#975940
AA003 wrote:........and we can all whinge when there are no local suppliers left.
I doubt it, why would we miss paying more for parts?
Why would we miss them promising to send the next day and having to wait three weeks.
Why would we miss them saying its in stock then a month later them saying it will be in next week!
I am afraid there will not be too many people who will miss Australian based parts suppliers if they closed tomorrow, as we can still get the same parts cheaper and quicker from overseas!!

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#975951
AS above, most resellers do not understand that there compeditors are world wide, the internet has changed how things are done, i see that pierside parts advertise in our local vw mag, sign of things to come.

modnrod Fahrvergnugen

978 posts · joined Mar 2011 ·

#975963
AA003 wrote:........and we can all whinge when there are no local suppliers left.
With respect, I think there are none left already.

What we have in Australia is RESELLERS, not suppliers.

I recently ordered $400 worth of books from an online Australian bookstore (the nearest book store shopfront to me is 273km away, so that's fair!). I made sure all the books I ticked were "in stock", and I have allowed 4 weeks for picking, packaging and Aust Post delivery to get here in time. I know if I have a problem I will definately have to get the book elsewhere to get it before Xmas, because they won't answer even the first 3 emails or phone calls with any degree of efficiency.

I could have bought those same books from one of 2 UK online stores, or 3 US stores, the books would have been 15-20% cheaper (I directly compared), they would also have been freight-free for all 5 stores, and I could almost guarantee they would be on my door at the edge of this particular desert within 10 days.........while probably including a catalogue, a happy Xmas message, and a discount voucher for further sales for free.

I still ordered from the local guys though, because the price was fairly close, the freight was sort of reasonable, and I had the extra time in case of difficulties. It gives me the warm fuzzies I guess.

I personally hope the VW stores I have seen advertised in VWMA for the last 20-odd years survive and prosper, but until they figure out how to buy their parts directly from the manufacturing source, rather than from the same resellers the rest of us do to allow better margins to help the bottom line (as I had to when I USED to be a Group Parts Manager), they will only exist due to the goodness of our hearts. The problem with that is that our next generation doesn't have the same history of friendship and good times together to engender that extra support we give.........and why should they?

Until all the oil runs out or a Solar Flare knocks our world to crap, we live in a very small world.

Uber Kafer Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#975973
yep.

needed a gearbox, shortlisted a Rancho gearbox, made the effort to contact 2 Australian stockists. But one wanted an exchange box.?? Problem is I didnt have one, and I'm in WA. He claimed Rancho insisted that he sends/returns the exchange gearboxes to the US. Otherwise he talked of a figure of approx $500 to cover it.
No such condition with the other stockist, but they confirmed they didnt have stock, otherwise their price was quite good I thought.

anyway, orderd one Rancho transaxle direct from Rancho, no problems, shipped to the door, now in car.

I was prepared to pay a reasonable premium to buy from an Oz business, but situations like this leave me puzzled.

VDU.88A Officially Full-On Dubber

306 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#975976
Governor wrote:
AA003 wrote:........and we can all whinge when there are no local suppliers left.
I doubt it, why would we miss paying more for parts?
Why would we miss them promising to send the next day and having to wait three weeks.
Why would we miss them saying its in stock then a month later them saying it will be in next week!
I am afraid there will not be too many people who will miss Australian based parts suppliers if they closed tomorrow, as we can still get the same parts cheaper and quicker from overseas!!
x2

Why is it i can ask for a price on a part from a local supplier and be told $750 and 2 weeks wait and then buy the exact same part from the US for $300 delivered to my door.

I'd love to support local suppliers but not until they support us with better pricing and service.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#975990
some things are still made here, but its odd when its costs more to buy an Australian made item direct than it is to buy the same Australian made item from the US and ship it here including shipping costs.


2 classic examples of this

crow cams
romac (roll-master)

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 ·

#975996
Hey guys, didn't want to start a discussion on whether it is best to buy from overseas suppliers or local. Just wanted to give credit where it is due.
I have had great service and prices from both overseas and local suppliers.I have also had lousy service and poor prices from both overseas and local suppliers. In my experience, you should do your homework when you need parts and don't assume anyone will be cheaper or give better service.

Cheers.......Wayne