Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 18:10:04 -0600
Reply-To: Ken Korn <kkorn@JUMP.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Ken Korn <kkorn@JUMP.NET>
Subject: Bad Experience With Bus Depot (long)
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
On September 15th I wrote the list that I was taking a vacation trip and
would be off the list for about 3 weeks. The first leg was from home in
Austin, TX to my son's home in Racine, WI. My 82 Westy was running poorly and
had used almost 4 quarts of oil in 1300 miles - definitely problematic.
I took it to a reputable mechanic (Motor Technology Inc., Racine, WI) and we
found 50% leakdown in one cylinder and not much better in the others. Rebuild
time. After waiting over a week before he could start work, we determined
that we needed another crankshaft as well as Ps&Cs.
A remanufactured crankshaft (as well as some other parts) were ordered from
the Bus Depot during the week of October 5th. We made it clear that we were
stranded far from home and needed the parts ASAP. We were told that the crank
was available but needed to be shipped from another supplier which would add
a day or two. All except the crank arrived several days later. After waiting
over a week, we were able to talk with someone at the Bus Depot. They said
that the crank had not shipped yet and the supplier wouldn't be able to
provide it for another two weeks.
We waited and tried to reach Bus Depot by phone and email for status of the
shipment but never heard anything.
After searching for another crank, on October 22 we ordered another crank
from CCR (Custom Crankshaft Repair who advertises in Excellence, the Porsche
magazine). It arrived on Monday the 26th, magnafluxed, stress relieved,
nitrided, and balanced.
On Wednesday October 28th, after trying to reach them for days to cancel the
order, I sent another email which I am attaching to this posting. No answer,
either by phone or email.
On October 30, we picked up our Westy with its new engine, and a day later
were on our way home to Texas. We arrived home Wednesday, November 4, 7 weeks
after leaving for Wisconsin.
On Monday, Nov 7, I talked to the mechanic in Wisconsin. The Bus Depot
crankshaft arrived, OVER A MONTH LATE! The mechanic hasn't been able to reach
a Bus Depot person to return it for a refund yet.
This is terrible customer service on the part of the Bus Depot. They
misrepresented availability, didn't advise us of the lengthy wait, were
unreachable by phone, didn't reply to email, didn't respond to two
cancellation requests, ALL OF THIS AFTER BEING TOLD OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
STRANDED FAR FROM HOME. I suggest to the list, that you NOT order from Bus
Depot unless it is minor, non-critical items. I will not be a customer of
their's in the future unless I receive a full explanation and apology from
them.
Ken Korn
82 Westy 2.0 Aircooled
Austin, TX
kkorn@jump.net
Attached is the email sent to Bus Depot on October 28:
[message/rfc822]
