Hi. Does anyone know of a good overseas online site where I can purchase VW parts?

I found a good site called Aircool parts which sells the smaller items like the gasket and seals for a very cheap price unfortunately they insist on sending it via Fedex which cost $70. That's so ridiculous to buy a $2 rubber seal and the cost of postage is $70!!! Insane.

On a bitter humorous note - a few years ago I got them to mail a $8 door bolt to an old aunt who lives in America. I complained about the cost of Fedex and told her to mail it to me via USPS. For some reason she didn't hear the "please send it via USPS" part and sent it via... guess what Fedex. And the post office charged her $140 to freight the $8 door bolt over.

Try north of the border in Sydney

Why dont you but from Aust???????? There are lots of them around. Sure you wont get $2 seal but its not gunna cost you $72!!!!
If more people buy from Aussie dealers, The cheaper they can make it for us!!!!

Egsbloodysactly

I have stopped buying here except for the smaller items as stated, all you have to do is cost it here and get a price from the over seas site including the freight, i use pierside parts http://www.piersideparts.net/ 
it gives you all the freight options as you shop so you know what to expect, always try to use USPS, just a example of the cost difference, i bought a lot of AN fittings hose from the earls shop in the states. i bought all the tools for the job and with the postage it still came to two thirds of the cost of buying it here without the tools, I tried to but a alternator internal regulator here and tried several seller and found one a second hand one that was priced at $50.00, i ended up getting two new one's delivered from Cip1 http://www2.cip1.com/  for $40.00, i am not interested in loyalty to a business only in the cost and local retailers need to relise that there oposition is over seas

CIP if you need to buy from overseas or Mick Motors and Just Kampers if you want to buy in Oz.

Unfortunately I agree with vwo60 .. with my thing parts are hard to get here and the parts I can get are more than double what it costs to bet them offshore .... loyalty is one thing ... cost effectiveness is another!

sometimes the postage does kill it though if your not getting a few items; but I've recently been using Das Resto Parts and have found them fantastic.

Free stubbie holder too!

http://dasrestoparts.com.au/ 

If you are after stuff though that no one else appears to have I always give Vintage in Sydney a call. Their stuff is always good quality or good second hand (which often is better than new)

Quote:

Originally posted by Dasdubber Quote: Originally posted by vwo60 I have stopped buying here except for the smaller items as stated, all you have to do is cost it here and get a price from the over seas site including the freight, i use pierside parts http://www.piersideparts.net/  it gives you all the freight options as you shop so you know what to expect, always try to use USPS, just a example of the cost difference, i bought a lot of AN fittings hose from the earls shop in the states. i bought all the tools for the job and with the postage it still came to two thirds of the cost of buying it here without the tools, I tried to but a alternator internal regulator here and tried several seller and found one a second hand one that was priced at $50.00, i ended up getting two new one's delivered from Cip1 http://www2.cip1.com/  for $40.00, i am not interested in loyalty to a business only in the cost and local retailers need to relise that there oposition is over seas I hate to be sucked into another O/S vs Australian supplier thread as it's an 'un-winable arguement'.....but vwo60, I sincerely hope you don't attend any of the local or interstate shows. Without AUSTRALIAN vw parts suppliers (ie sponsors), the number of shows would decline significantly, if not cease altogether. Obviously the clubs are responsible for promoting and running the shows for which they do a great job, but it would be interesting to see how the revenue could be generated without sponsors to help fund the shows. They could jack the entry fee up to $30-50 per person, but I'm sure who the first to complain would be. Can't remember the last Australian show Pierside Parts, CIP1, CB Performance etc etc was a major (or minor) sponsor of. I've got no qualms for anyone to buy overseas as I've mentioned in previous threads - if we can't compete on price and/or customer service, I can't complain. But it would hypocritical of people like yourself (who make extra effort to bypass Australian businesses) to derive the benefits of the VW scene those businesses help to keep alive. Sorry for the rant....I'll go back to enjoying the many other threads on this forum....that funnily enough we and other AUSTRALIAN businesses support and sponsor. Give Andrew (vanderaj) a PM and see how you can personally help fund AVD if all the local sponsors pull out. Likewise, the organisers of the VW Action day show coming up - I'm sure they'd be pleased for you to sponsor all trophy categories with the abundance of dollars you've saved buying from O/S. AL

Quote:

Originally posted by Dasdubber Quote: Originally posted by vwo60 I have stopped buying here except for the smaller items as stated, all you have to do is cost it here and get a price from the over seas site including the freight, i use pierside parts http://www.piersideparts.net/  it gives you all the freight options as you shop so you know what to expect, always try to use USPS, just a example of the cost difference, i bought a lot of AN fittings hose from the earls shop in the states. i bought all the tools for the job and with the postage it still came to two thirds of the cost of buying it here without the tools, I tried to but a alternator internal regulator here and tried several seller and found one a second hand one that was priced at $50.00, i ended up getting two new one's delivered from Cip1 http://www2.cip1.com/  for $40.00, i am not interested in loyalty to a business only in the cost and local retailers need to relise that there oposition is over seas I hate to be sucked into another O/S vs Australian supplier thread as it's an 'un-winable arguement'.....but vwo60, I sincerely hope you don't attend any of the local or interstate shows. Without AUSTRALIAN vw parts suppliers (ie sponsors), the number of shows would decline significantly, if not cease altogether. Obviously the clubs are responsible for promoting and running the shows for which they do a great job, but it would be interesting to see how the revenue could be generated without sponsors to help fund the shows. They could jack the entry fee up to $30-50 per person, but I'm sure who the first to complain would be. Can't remember the last Australian show Pierside Parts, CIP1, CB Performance etc etc was a major (or minor) sponsor of. I've got no qualms for anyone to buy overseas as I've mentioned in previous threads - if we can't compete on price and/or customer service, I can't complain. But it would hypocritical of people like yourself (who make extra effort to bypass Australian businesses) to derive the benefits of the VW scene those businesses help to keep alive. Sorry for the rant....I'll go back to enjoying the many other threads on this forum....that funnily enough we and other AUSTRALIAN businesses support and sponsor. Give Andrew (vanderaj) a PM and see how you can personally help fund AVD if all the local sponsors pull out. Likewise, the organisers of the VW Action day show coming up - I'm sure they'd be pleased for you to sponsor all trophy categories with the abundance of dollars you've saved buying from O/S. AL

Quote:

I hate to be sucked into another O/S vs Australian supplier thread as it's an 'un-winable arguement'.....but vwo60, I sincerely hope you don't attend any of the local or interstate shows. Without AUSTRALIAN vw parts suppliers (ie sponsors), the number of shows would decline significantly, if not cease altogether. Obviously the clubs are responsible for promoting and running the shows for which they do a great job, but it would be interesting to see how the revenue could be generated without sponsors to help fund the shows. They could jack the entry fee up to $30-50 per person, but I'm sure who the first to complain would be. Can't remember the last Australian show Pierside Parts, CIP1, CB Performance etc etc was a major (or minor) sponsor of. I've got no qualms for anyone to buy overseas as I've mentioned in previous threads - if we can't compete on price and/or customer service, I can't complain. But it would hypocritical of people like yourself (who make extra effort to bypass Australian businesses) to derive the benefits of the VW scene those businesses help to keep alive. Sorry for the rant....I'll go back to enjoying the many other threads on this forum....that funnily enough we and other AUSTRALIAN businesses support and sponsor. Give Andrew (vanderaj) a PM and see how you can personally help fund AVD if all the local sponsors pull out. Likewise, the organisers of the VW Action day show coming up - I'm sure they'd be pleased for you to sponsor all trophy categories with the abundance of dollars you've saved buying from O/S. AL

Quote:

Originally posted by tar76 Quote: Originally posted by Dasdubber Quote: Originally posted by vwo60 I have stopped buying here except for the smaller items as stated, all you have to do is cost it here and get a price from the over seas site including the freight, i use pierside parts http://www.piersideparts.net/  it gives you all the freight options as you shop so you know what to expect, always try to use USPS, just a example of the cost difference, i bought a lot of AN fittings hose from the earls shop in the states. i bought all the tools for the job and with the postage it still came to two thirds of the cost of buying it here without the tools, I tried to but a alternator internal regulator here and tried several seller and found one a second hand one that was priced at $50.00, i ended up getting two new one's delivered from Cip1 http://www2.cip1.com/  for $40.00, i am not interested in loyalty to a business only in the cost and local retailers need to relise that there oposition is over seas I hate to be sucked into another O/S vs Australian supplier thread as it's an 'un-winable arguement'.....but vwo60, I sincerely hope you don't attend any of the local or interstate shows. Without AUSTRALIAN vw parts suppliers (ie sponsors), the number of shows would decline significantly, if not cease altogether. Obviously the clubs are responsible for promoting and running the shows for which they do a great job, but it would be interesting to see how the revenue could be generated without sponsors to help fund the shows. They could jack the entry fee up to $30-50 per person, but I'm sure who the first to complain would be. Can't remember the last Australian show Pierside Parts, CIP1, CB Performance etc etc was a major (or minor) sponsor of. I've got no qualms for anyone to buy overseas as I've mentioned in previous threads - if we can't compete on price and/or customer service, I can't complain. But it would hypocritical of people like yourself (who make extra effort to bypass Australian businesses) to derive the benefits of the VW scene those businesses help to keep alive. Sorry for the rant....I'll go back to enjoying the many other threads on this forum....that funnily enough we and other AUSTRALIAN businesses support and sponsor. Give Andrew (vanderaj) a PM and see how you can personally help fund AVD if all the local sponsors pull out. Likewise, the organisers of the VW Action day show coming up - I'm sure they'd be pleased for you to sponsor all trophy categories with the abundance of dollars you've saved buying from O/S. AL

I bet every body wants to pay more that they have to, most sponsors at the shows have a stall to sell there wares, sponsorship is a business arrangement that the business hopes to make money out of, there are no free lunches for anybody, i will always buy my parts were they are the cheapest as most of the imported parts sold in Australia are to expensive. if i can find it cheaper here you will get my sale, so next time you go to buy a part compair before you buy. the club scene will always survive as it is driven by the people themselves not the businesses

I understand your reply and point of view - there are always going to be individuals who are solely price-driven, and hence I appreciate the fact that local businesses will find it hard to attract that facet of the market. As noted, I'll never cry into my beer when people buy O/S if we cannot compete on price (which is often the case given the small margins we contend with from many suppliers who we buy our products from, but high overheads we are subject to here). My point was never inferring that we 'donate' funds to show organisers/forums...I'm sure everyone reading this will understand the implicit mutually beneficial arrangement sponsorship brings to both parties.

My point was moreso that individuals who consistently and actively promote avoiding Australian parts suppliers will eventually lead to the demise of those businesses....and the subsequent loss of sponsorship, and the subsequent loss of many shows we all currently enjoy. I know this all sounds dooms-day and over the top, but the competitive nature of this industry means it doesn't take much to slip under the break even point and have to shut up shop. It's at that point I hope the O/S companies decide to provide the free lunches for all the punters.

Cheers for the discussion, it's always good to get the views from both sides of the fence, and get people thinking about the bigger picture of this hobby.
Al

go on purchase from overseas
then when u have the wrong item dont complain

As i said the moment sellers in Australia are compeditive i will buy here. I bought my black mamba shifter here because the seller had them priced reasonably other wise i would have bought it from the states. to date in my ten years from buying overseas i have not had one item supplied incorrect as i research my purchases and talk to the people concerned in the states to make sure it right, i have had resellers here supply me the wrong part then argue about taking it back even though it did not even fit my car.

Well, I'll be honest and say I haven't read ALL these threads
but just remember if you are buying from the USA that You are really buying parts with NO WARRANTY ..

Sure they all have warranty....

but when You check out how much to send the parts back...

its really not worth sending them back...

LEE

Fantastic posts everyone.

Gotta say being a VW business myself, I have to agree with Al, even a few extra dollars for parts that have been through a quality control process means you as a consumer wins. Yes there are shops that sell anything to make a buck, but the higher quality shops that stand by thier product and offer better parts that fit, or the advice that goes with making this fit with that, it might cost a little but in the end there is a real saving.

my 2c

Unless the cost of locally supplied VW parts gets REALLY over the top, I am happy to pay a little extra to support local businesses.

Apart from all the support to the local VW scene (shows, forums, clubs, magazines, clubs, etc.), and the fact that these local business will spent most of their profits locally (food, housing, etc.), I know a number of times over the years when I have had breakdowns or needed a certain part in a hurry (as in, I am broken down out the back of woop woop, or need my car fixed and ready for work ASAP), I have been able to ring any one of a number of local suppliers who will pretty much always do great things to get me out of trouble.

Money very well spent I reckon - sort of like an insurance policy - a little bit on each purchase maybe, but I know the businesses will still be around to help me in the future.

I guess I don't look at myself as the centre of the universe as much as some people.

Well Blue65, I hope that's all clear and answers your question

I'm with Dick Smith, buy local, I'm not wealthy but buy local and pay more, I feel better knowing I support Aussie shops. Most of these parts are the same so it is purely down to support Australian suppliers or overseas suppliers, shame we don't make our own Aussie VW parts!

I saw here (or was it the simillar American sites topic), that someone mentioned "vested interest" well coming from someone who HAS bought from overseas even when I could get it from Oz (not VW parts and not often) I submit that we all have a vested interest in buying from Australian shops / sites when we can, I doubt that anyone on this forum is employed overseas, we all live here, work here and hopefully our kids / grandkids will do the same, keep sending your $ overseas and the jobs will disapear faster than they are now. Sure there are times when you just can't get what you want here and maybe there is a realy huge price difference, sure most (probably all ) of the dub gear comes from overseas in the first place so the seller has already sent Oz $ overseas but at least give our Australian mates a chance of having a job.
My 2c worth

As far as I see it a fair price is a good price no matter who offers it .....!

Yup! some of the stuff my lady comes home with "look at the bargain I got today dear!" makes me think "you paid HOW MUCH for that!" one mans fair price is another mans steal or rip off.