Flowery reviews of major shops/gurus...

[Garry H]

Ok, as my first reply on this forum I see a problem. You as members of Volksters get discounts from local shops yet continue to shop on the samba. That makes zero sence to me. I can't wait to get back there so I don't have to wait for mail order stuff to show up at my door. Be happy there are still VW parts houses in your area and support them as much as you can (even if you have to pay just a little bit more for something). You'll be hate'n life when they have to close their doors 'cause the locals don't support them.

I have to mail order even if I buy from the nearest shop. That or drive 4 hours to get there and 4 hours back. Either way he knows I'm buying from him cause he is the closest thing to local as it gets. In return he gets my stuff to me next day.

[CatBox]

Garry your point is totally valid.

The author of this thread actually lives in the middle of the sticks in Lakeview. He had to send his parts to a well known carb specialist for evaluation/ repair.  He has to mail order all of his parts as well, except when he rolls into a town on vacation and picks up goodies on the way through.

The other two of us that have related stories are buying specialty items that are not available locally or through the local parts house.  TotallyVW with his turbo prepped Holley carb and myself with some custom ported heads.  I would love for there to be a local resource for these items, I would gladly spend there.

When I bought my transmission I shopped and looked around only to find that what I wanted in a setup would have cost me several hundred more with my discount, so I ended up purchasing from Rancho.  After I posted my review on theDramba a guy in oregon sent me a message that he builds them as well.  By then it was to late.

I have spent thousands of dollars at my local DIP and know the parts guys by name as well as they are on my facebook.  Some days when I don't have anywhere else to go I stop by and just talk to them to see what is going on.  They serve all of the import vehicles so it is not a VW specific store, this helps them to keep afloat without going under.


 

[Kev]

Yes, I agree with Catbox.  I also have dropped several thousand dollars at Discount Import Parts. However, they do not offer custom ported heads like Steve Timms. Nor do they offer the CB performance crank and rods I ordered for my motor.  I go there for most of my stuff. 20 miles 1 way but worth it.

[Garry H]

As far as ported heads go I believe that Steve Potts heads for Scat and I know you can buy them from the shops in you area.... I can remember many years ago when you could get anything you needed right there in Portland.... I know that Halsey had many capable guys, autosport also had some very capable guys and so did unlimited.... As the Samba and heavy male ordering came around the shops has slowly disapeated... I think it's a shame... I also understand that you can't get everything where you are at.... I know Ryan live out in the middle of nowhere and sometimes you have to do what you have to do.... Most of these guys on the samba are drop shipping you products and never even put their hands on them... It makes it hard for the guy that is actualy making it a legitimate business... We live in a Wallmart world now so instead of spending money in our community to help our neighbors (who are spending there $$ with us) we outsource elsewhere because its cheaper... I know I'd much rather do business face to face....

I know there are always cases where you have to buy specialty parts but that's about 1% of the time in most cases.... I have DRD Comp Eliminator heads myself... I had to wait 9 months for them too... You think I would have got them quicker if he saw me face to face everytime I confronted him about them???

I am dealing with a guy down here in Lousiana that has mail ordered everything he has and has blown his motor up 4 times because he has no guidance.... I know he's waisted 8-10,000 in engine pars and machine work on his race motor.... He depends on forums instead of professionals to help
him.... Poor guy...

By the way this is not a rant so pleas don't take it that way... It's more of a plea...

[ryan68bug]

When I lived in Eugene, I remember I loved making day trips to Portland because DIP was a total candy store for me, back in the early to mid 1990s... they used to sell a lot more of the "good" stuff there, and the last time I visisted I was shocked to see how they largely carried EMPI parts.  Some EMPI is OK, but I'm a much bigger fan of Scat and Bugpack as both companies have answered questions I had about their products readily.  I still buy there when I happen to be in Portland, usually when I'm on vacation, like Catbox said.  I totally am all about shopping at local businesses (which for me could be anywhere in Oregon, lol).