Customer Service & Help Page

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THE BUS DEPOT STORY...

The Bus Depot got its roots more than a decade ago, in my driveway among the farms and winding roads of rural Pennsylvania. It was there that I brought my first VW home - a ‘71 camper, which was a little “rough” to put it kindly. As I fixed it up, I discovered how hard it was to find certain parts locally, especially at prices I could afford. So in no time, two campers were in my driveway - my daily driver, and a “parts” bus salvaged from a local farm. 

The two busses in my driveway attracted other local bus owners, who would stop in to chat when I was working on them. It seemed that everyone shared my frustration with many parts being either elusive or expensive. The VW was meant to be affordable - the "people's car." So why were some parts prices so high? 

It just didn’t make sense to me. I was a buyer for a retail chain, in a field where the average profit margins are a fraction of what they are on auto parts. Yet they still made money. How? They learned to live lean. They saved every dollar they possibly could and passed it on to the customer, because in their business, they had to. Meanwhile, VW parts suppliers were raking in 50 or 60 percent markups as if they had no choice. 

I thought I could do it a lot cheaper.  Especially since a relatively new phenomenon, the Internet, made it possible to do it without spending a fortune on advertising - the one expense that can drive any retailer's prices up. (Just one color ad in a VW magazine costs thousands of bucks. If you think you're not paying for that in the price of the parts you buy, you're kidding yourself.)  At the time, VW parts hadn't found their way on the internet yet to speak of, so this was a novel way to "get the word out" without running up a high advertising budget. So, I started the Bus Depot in my basement with a home grown website, a coat closet full of parts, and a few hundred bucks.  

Well, it just took off!  With the loyal support of local VW clubs and the growing Internet community, plus a handful of dedicated VW enthusiasts who climbed on board, we became the world’s first VW parts "dot-com." Today we import literally hundreds of thousands of parts from all over the world, and are the leading online VW van parts specialist. And the reason is still the same: No-nonsense, rock-bottom prices on quality parts - sold by VW enthusiasts to VW enthusiasts. 

So, that's the Bus Depot story. Thanks to the much-appreciated support of VW owners like you, our Volkswagen hobby has turned into a real business - saving you money on quality parts and supporting your Volkswagen hobby!

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 WHAT'S NEW AT THE DEPOT?...

Of course the economy is on everybody's mind these days. With everyone trying to stretch their paycheck, some higher priced VW parts retailers have fallen on hard times. Since our focus has always been on low markup - Better Parts, Better Prices" - we have meanwhile enjoyed an increase in sales due to our low prices.. Not only have we purchased the inventory from some of these distressed retailers at pennies on the dollar (and passed the savings on), but we have actually expanded our facilities in the beautiful metropolis of Perkiomenville!  With double the warehouse space, we can keep more product in stock for immediate shipment, and are better equipped to take advantage of large-quantity buy-outs that save you money.  It also has allowed us to increase our selection of parts for VW cars, which is now the largest on the internet. If you own a Bug, Jetta, etc., don't forget to try us for those parts as well. They're all right here on our website - almost 200,000 parts in all, all at huge savings.  Most importantly, you have the confidence in knowing that we will be here tomorrow to stand behind the product we sell you today.

That said, there have been some downsides to the weak economy. Several major VW parts manufacturers, including Bosch and Volkswagen themselves, have been discontinuing slow sellers, including parts for Buses and Vanagons. We have been doing our best to find alternate sourcing for those parts, and in most cases have been successful. As for the exceptions, we'll keep trying.  Please click here for our philosophy regarding this important issue.  Another recent trend has been retailers (and wholesalers) cutting corners on product quality in order to bolster the "bottom line." Buyer Beware - read this and this.

On the website front, we've recently added thousands of additional images to our site. Be sure to look for these pages as you browse the site - click on the  icons - as they have lots of additional info such as parts diagrams, installation details, etc. I think some of our customers overlook these very useful pages. Also, don't forget to make full use of our unique Smart Search, which is the most advanced VW parts search engine on the internet (and searches more part numbers than any otherl). It is a real time-saver once you understand how to use it to its fullest. If you haven't already, you may want to take a minute or two to read the hints on navigation here, and right below it here.  

In closing, I want to take the opportunity to thank you, our loyal customers, for your ongoing support.  We really appreciate your business!  We remain committed as always to searching worldwide for the parts you need to keep your VW on the road - reliably and inexpensively, as it was intended to be.  Please don't hesitate to call us or e-mail sales@busdepot.com with your comments, questions, or suggestions, or if there's anything at all that we can do to enhance your Bus driving pleasure!

- Ron Salmon
  President/CEO
  '78 Double Cab, '87 Camper
 

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ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS AND PRICES...

We sell quality parts cheap, not cheap parts. Most are made by the same companies that supply the parts found on new Volkswagens -  original equipment manufacturers (often abbreviated as "OEM"). When original parts are too expensive or unavailable, we search worldwide for the best quality alternatives we can find, or have them custom made to our specs. Our “golden rule” is that we will never sell anything that we wouldn’t put on our own Volkswagens.  (See "About Warranties & Quality," below.)

You’ll find that overall, comparing “apples to apples”, our prices are hard to beat. If someone does seem to have a lower delivered price, odds are they’re not shipping comparable quality parts. But please feel free to let us know and we'll check it out for you. Perhaps we are obtaining the part from Volkswagen, while they are shipping a lower priced aftermarket part. We may be able to provide the same aftermarket part if you prefer (at a better price), or at least explain why there is a difference in price.  

Finally, a note that while this website is updated regularly, the updates are not instantaneous. Therefore it is possible for there to be a short lag between when a price or availability changes and when the website (or the automatically generated order-confirmation email) updates to reflect that change.  In the unlikely event that a price has changed on something that you have ordered, a Bus Depot sales rep will contact you directly to get your approval. This doesn't happen often, and we do all we can to avoid it, but with the recent volatility of the dollar we've had one or two manufacturers spring a price increase on us without warning. 
 

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ABOUT WARRANTIES & QUALITY...

Every part we sell has to meet strict standards for quality and value. We’re picky; if we wouldn’t put it on our own VW’s, we won’t sell it to you. Our defect rate has been less than 1/20th of 1%, so overall we think we’re doing pretty well.

Manufacturers’ warranties may range from 90 days to lifetime, depending on the product. It is the manufacturer's their warranty, not ours, but we’ll be happy to assist you in handling the details, to get your VW back on the road as quickly as possible. Usually you'll have a warranty replacement pronto, for just the cost of shipping. Feel free to e-mail for warranty into on specific items. Also, our lawyers have asked us to mention that the warranties do not cover labor, towing, lodging, shipping, consequential damages, etc.

As odd as this may sound, warranty length has absolutely nothing to do with product quality. Most of the best German brands, for example, carry a one-year warranty.  Yet there are a few suppliers that advertise a "lifetime warranty” even on products that cannot compare to those top name brands. Why?  It's a marketing ploy. In essence you're buying an "extended warranty" whether you want it or not; they're simply building it into the price of the part. For what this extended warranty cost them, they could have sold you a better quality part to begin with and maybe you wouldn't have needed the warranty! What's more, the the "lifetime warranty”  is of limited value. It doesn't cover normal wear-and-tear (just factory defects), so if the cheapo part simply wears out sooner than the good German brand would have, this is not covered. More importantly, it doesn't cover your time, cost, and hassle of having to remove the broken part and mail it back. Or the risk of the part failing at an inopportune time, leaving you stranded on the side of the road or worse. Better than a part with a "lifetime" warranty is a part that doesn't fail. There is no substitute for quality.

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"IS THIS PART GERMAN MADE?"

In this age of globalization, most major manufacturers have factories all over the world. It's no longer possible to assume that, say, a Bosch product is German made; it could just as easily be made in Mexico, Brazil, India, or one of a number of other countries where Bosch produces. In fact, there have been instances where we have opened a pallet load of the identical parts in the identical boxes, and among them were three different countries of origin.

With country of origin varying even box to box, it's unrealistic to promise "German made" even if the part is from a German company, or even if the last one we saw from that company was German made. BusDepot.com has long recognized this reality, by noting on our product listings that the country listed is where the company is based, but may not always be where the part is made. This reflects the reality of the current market, and we would be less than honest if we didn't disclose it to you. If you have a particular question on the origin of a particular part, feel free to email us and we'll go look at a box. (Even then this doesn't guarantee that the next box might be different, but it will give you a good idea.)

Other retailers take more of a "head-in-the-sand" approach.  Some online retailers continue to list parts as "Made in Germany," "Made in UK," "Made in Europe," etc. just because they bought the part from a distributor located in that country. Long gone are the days that buying a product in a particular country necessarily means it was made there. How many products in your local U.S. Walmart are U.S. made, for example? Take such claims with a grain of salt. If a huge number of parts are listed as German made compared to other retailers, either that retailer has found a magical fountain of German parts that nobody else knows about, or they are making unrealistic assumptions about the country of origin.

Still other retailers, in our opinion, actively try to mislead you. One in particular regularly puts a "German Quality" icon next to listings for Chinese made parts made by off-brand Chinese companies. Sometimes they even give the part a German sounding brand name. Funny, when you google that brand name there is no such manufacturer. Technically they have not actually said the part was German made, but they certainly have tried very hard to make you assume it was.  In our opinion this shows a blatant distain for you as their customer. Buyer beware.

One question we are often asked is, if the German branded part is no longer German made, is the quality worse? Or, why should I pay extra for the German brand name on the box, if the part may not be German anyway? Well, first of all, not all German made parts are automatically superior to non-German ones. There are good and bad parts from most countries. The cold war era designed Trabant, one of the worst quality cars ever made, would carry a "Made In Germany" label if it were still made today (and in fact did, for years after the wall came down). We evaluate the parts on a case by case basis, and reject the ones we wouldn't put on our VW's ... regardless of where they're made.  

That said, as a general rule, it is still safer to buy a quality brand name than an off brand, regardless of country of origin. Yes, that major-label branded wheel bearing may be Chinese made, and so is the Brand X one for less money. But that doesn't mean the two are identical. The name brands have spent decades and millions of dollars building their reputation in the marketplace. They're not going to throw that all away just to save a few cents on a part. So they tend to be rather picky about what parts they put their name on, regardless of where they're made. By comparison, Brand X has no reputation to protect, and often little or no investment in the U.S, market. If they don't make enough money selling wheel bearings for VW's in America this year, they'll just pull up stakes and sell wheel bearings for tractors to the Phillipines next year. They are much more likely to build to a price.

Of course, as with any general rule, there are sometimes exceptions. We have found some excellent products from lesser known brands, and here and there a piece of utter garbage from a name brand ... which is why we keep an eye on every part's track record regardless of brand.

So the bottom line is, be an educated consumer, stick with retailers whom you trust, and don't be afraid to ask questions if in doubt. We're always happy to answer your questions and let you know whatever we know.

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US...
Actual unsolicited comments, as seen on VW newsgroups, mailing lists, etc.

"I've done business with The Bus Depot on several occasions. Good stuff at very reasonable prices. Also, you don't hafta worry about Ron being 'overly optimistic'. I've never received the wrong part."  - from Rec.Autos.VW.Watercooled newsgroup

"We had a thread on the Ghia list a while back comparing vendors and their prices for the Bentley manuals, and the winner was:  well, let's just say that I called Ron and ordered two."   - from the Air Cooled Volkswagen mailing list

"I think you'll be interested in this---before I went to the smog retest, when he told me I'd be needing the cat. conv., I asked how much he'd charge for the part. In a German accent: "Oh, I maybe can get you an *aftermarket* one for maybe $250, 270!"  So I went home and checked your website, and went back and told him, no thanks, I can have one here in a week or less for $99.95 plus shipping. "Oh, ja, but it has to *fit* -- if it is a little too big or too small..." Well, does the muffler fit? "Oh, ja, but that's original, it's perfect." I got it for $75 -- original, like everything on this parts list, first quality. "Let me see that -- <looks it over, heads for xerox> -- maybe I chust take his number..."   - Gail

"I will add to the stories about the EXCELLENT service provided by Ron. He has always bent over backwards to give great service, even surpassing what is normally expected. Whenever I need odd stuff, I mail Ron and it's here!"  - from the Type 2 mailing list

"I, too, must praise Ron's support. My mechanic was quoted $100 for a drag link by his supplier. I ordered it from Ron. Total cost, including shipping: $42.60." - from the Type 2 mailing list

"Just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for the excellent deal on the poptop canvas and seal- it's all installed and beautiful!
 - Grady

"Their prices are good and there are few if any errors. I have actually found that they will go that extra distance to accommodate the customer."  - from the Type 2 mailing list

Ron at Bus Depot is one of the aftermarket dealers that supports "the list" and has good prices and service." - from the Vanagon mailing list

"Since I began my project I have I have ordered 98% of my parts from BUS DEPOT.  Ron has provided me with excellent service and fast shipping!  He has given me the type customer service that one likes to expect from a business....Ron has provided almost every part I needed and at the lowest price I could find!"  - from the Type 2 mailing list

"Ordered a rebuilt steering rack for my wifes Vanagon from the Bus Depot (for $249.95) ~ Cheapest place ANYWHERE, Dealer was $2,270 ~ Ron has excellent prices, excellent service, timely replies. What more could you ask for?"  - from the Type 2 mailing list

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BUS DEPOT CONTACT INFORMATION...

Customer Service:  For all inquiries other than new orders by part number  1-215-234-VWVW (8989)
Toll-Free for Orders by Part Number (see below):  1-866-BUS-DEPOT (287-3376) within the U.S.  
Fax:  1-215-234-0890
Email:  sales@busdepot.com  (same or next working day response to most inquiries)
Address:  4801 Gravel Pike  Perkiomenville, PA. 18074  USA   (State Rt. 29, just south of Rt. 63)
Hours:  Weekdays, 11 am to 7 pm, Eastern time, except major holidays

Note:  No calls other than orders by part number can be handled on the toll-free order line. 
This line is staffed by operators who are only trained to input data. They cannot handle customer service issues, provide part information or numbers, check stock, check on orders, or transfer your call to any other departments. The easiest way to reach us is via Email. It's free, it never closes, you'll never be put on hold, and we generally respond to inquiries within one working day.

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CUSTOMER PARTS PICK-UPS ARE WELCOME...

If you are near the Philadelphia/Allentown/Reading, Pennsylvania area, you can pick up your order at our parts counter. We're open 11 to 7 Eastern time, weekdays except for major holidays. However, we recommend that you call ahead, as some items may take a day or so to get and if we know you're coming we can have your order ready for you.
 

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 BUS DEPOT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...

As a concerned member of the global community, each year The Bus Depot donates a portion of our profits to humanitarian and social charities.  The amount is small, but it is growing as we grow.  Among the charities we have donated to are Doctors Without Borders, AmeriCares, MercyCorps, and the Teaching Tolerance project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Doctors Without Borders, MercyCorps, and AmeriCares are nonsectarian, nonpolitical organizations that provide volunteer humanitarian and disaster relief to civilian victims of armed conflict, epidemics, and disasters worldwide. (The first is a Nobel prize winner, the second a past Nobel prize nominee.) Teaching Tolerance is a program aimed at reducing prejudice in the next generation by helping us teach our children today.  Based on the theory that bigotry is easier to prevent in a child than to reverse in an adult, they provide free teaching aids and programs to school teachers interested in making those lessons part of their curriculums.  Mention of these organizations is not intended to imply their endorsement of The Bus Depot, but rather is intended to get the word out on the good work that they and others are doing, since organizations such as these rely almost entirely on private donations. Of course these are just a few of many who are working to make our world a better place. Even the smallest effort on the part of each individual matters. It's cumulative, and when added to the whole, can make a world of difference.

We also use earth-friendly packing methods to ship your order whenever possible, in direct cooperation with a local nonprofit recycling center and other environmentally conscious local businesses. In fact, new non-recyclable materials make up less than 2 percent of our packing contents. Instead we use discarded newspaper and once-used packing peanuts donated by the community to the local recycling center, augmented by our own shredded wastepaper. We also use reclaimed boxes from local businesses and factory overruns from a local box company, rather than new boxes, on many orders where a specially sized box is not needed. Because of this, you may notice that your Bus Depot shipment does not arrive looking as "slick" as those from retailers that put every order in a brand new box stuffed with environmentally unfriendly styrofoam or plastic. Rest assured that, looks aside, our shipping damage rate is extremely low despite the unorthodox packing. Of course, in the rare case that a Bus Depot part does arrive damaged, we'll always stand behind it.

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NEW FEATURES ON BUSDEPOT.COM

With nearly 200,000 parts, BusDepot.com is now the largest online catalog of parts for VW's anywhere. This includes virtually every part currently made for virtually every Volkswagen. In addition, there are plenty of new features. Among these are:

- A "Want List" feature that allows you to create "shopping lists" of the parts you will need for upcoming projects. You can save them with names like "brake job," body repair," etc. When you're ready for that project, just log back in and move the parts from your "shopping list" to your shopping cart to purchase. Details here.

- Your Personalized Account Page that lets you store information like your name, address, and want lists, so you don't have to enter them every time you order. (Don't worry, our privacy policy hasn't changed. We don't sell this information to anybody.)  Details on this feature here.

- A much more advanced search engine, allowing you to search by keyword or part number not within each category, not just on the site as a whole.  Details here.

- A Direct Order page that lets you type in orders by part number for immediate transfer to your shopping cart.

- Easier navigation, more pictures, more links, and other things to make your parts shopping easier.

Still, there is a long way to go. Out of the 175,000+ parts, only 50,000 of them are categorized by vehicle application and part type so far. It will take a long time to get them all sorted out. This means that in some cases, you may not find what you need unless you know the part number you're looking for. If you need help finding a part, just email us.  Also, we plan to add a lot more pictures and parts diagrams over time. Stay tuned. It will keep getting better.

This is your site and we want it to be as good as it can be. Please send us any and all comments, suggestions, ideas, and criticism. Click here to email your comments; all are read personally by the owner.. We really appreciate your patronage and your feedback, as we strive to make BusDepot.com the best one-stop desitination for your Volkswagen part needs!

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SITE NAVIGATION TIPS

Note: Using Internet Explorer on a Mac?  Please click here.

Because there are so many parts listed in our web store, a quick tutorial on how to navigate the site might help you get right to what you're looking for ...

First, choose your vehicle type. You will see a list of part types (Brakes & Wheels, etc.), with  icons next to many of them. Clicking on  will show you details like parts diagrams, etc. Below the list of part types will be a list of Sale items ( ) that fit your VW.

At this point you can choose a parts category by clicking on it, or go directly to a Smart Search keyword search. (Searching for bearing here will bring up every bearing that fits your year - wheel bearing, engine bearing, etc.). See below.

If you click on a part type (such as Brakes), you will now have the option to:
1) View all brake parts for your year (click on View All Parts)
2) View only certain types of brake parts, by clicking on Brake Mechanical, etc.
3) Search within the entire Brake parts category by using the Smart Search box on that page. (Please see this section on how to make the most of these context-sensitive searches.)
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view our best sellers in that category, including Sale items () and Hot Buys ().

To go back up one level, click on any line of the part category listing at the top of the page. For example, if the top of the page says:

Bus, Type 2 (1972-1979)
Brake Components
  Front Wheel

then clicking on Brake Components will move you back up to a listing of all brake components (not just front wheel brake components), or clicking on Bus, Type 2 will bring you back to the master listing of all parts for that vehicle.

Be sure to click on the part to view its Details before purchasing. The Details page shows more info on the part, exactly what models the part fits (i.e. "auto trans only"), availability, and a picture if available. Note that at the bottom of the Details page is a detailed listing of what years, models, and part categories this part fits. Each is a link, so you can jump right to that vehicle or part category by clicking on any of them.

So that's the basic rundown. There are also plenty of new features, like want lists, direct order by part number, and more, which are explained elsewhere. We want this site to be easy to use. Your feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated. We have already made many changes based on the your suggestions, and will certainly make many more.

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USING "SMART SEARCH" AND "SEARCH BY PART #"

[Note: To view the most choices, we recommend that you first browse our catalog by clicking through the part categories.  Then move on to a search if you do not find what you need.]

There are two types of searches on our site, a global search (best used for part number searches) and our unique context-sensitive "Smart Search" (best for keyword searches).  The "Smart Search" will take you right to your part ... if you know how to use it properly.

 

1.  Using the Bus Depot "Smart Search" box found on most main (white) pages...
The Smart Search boxes appear on virtually every catalog (white) page. These search boxes are "context sensitive." They  search only within the vehicle and/or part category that you have already chosen (as displayed just above the search box on that same page). So the scope of the search depends on where in the catalog you are when you search.

For example, if the top of the catalog page you are on says:

Bus, Type 2 (1972-1979)

then the Smart Search box below it will search among all parts that fit that vehicle.

However, if the page says:

Bus, Type 2 (1972-1979)
Brake Components

then the same search box will now only search among Brake parts for your year.

And if it says:

Bus, Type 2 (1972-1979)
Brake Components
  Front Wheel

then the search box will only search among brake parts for the front wheel. And so on.

This means you can browse as deep into the catalog as you want, and then search from there. The search will always cover only the vehicle and part category that you are currently browsing (or, if you have not chosen a part category, the entire vehicle).

Once you have found your item, click on it to view more details, a picture if available, and application specifics (such as auto trans only, 1985-88 only, etc.). If unsure about fit, please email us.

If you do not find the the part, broaden your search by going up one level (clicking on Brake Components in the above example) or two levels (clicking on Bus, Type 2 in the example) and then trying your search again. Perhaps the part you are looking for is categorized as Brake Components > Brake Mechanical, and you are searching in  Brake Components > Front Wheel.

Other tips:  Avoid plurals. Searching "brake" will bring up both "brake" and "brakes," but searching "brakes" (plural) will not bring up "brake." Also try alternate wording, such as "oil pressure switch" instead of "oil pressure sender," or just try "oil pressure" and browse from there. You can also search by part number in the Smart Search box, but we recommend using our Part Number search box (see below) instead for part number searches, as it searches the full database.
 

2. Using the "Search By Part #" box on the Yellow menu bar (to the left of every page)...
If you have the part number (from your old part, from your local dealer, from a competitor, etc.) this is another way to find the part.  This search box searches the entire Bus Depot website, regardless of vehicle application, or even if no vehicle application is listed for the part.  For this reason, it will find parts that we carry but have not yet been assigned application data on our site (and therefore would not come up in a Smart Search). On the other hand, it may also find parts that don't fit your model at all, so click on the part to confirm compatibility (if listed).  Do not enter dashes when searching by part number.  You may enter spaces if you wish but they are not necessary.

We don't recommend a part number search unless you could not find the part by browsing the catalog or using the Smart Search. Often a part number is superseded to a new number, which may be better or cheaper. By searching for one part number only, you may not find that better part. You can reduce this risk by eliminating any letters on the end of the part number. For example, instead of searching for 211 611 047D, search for 211 611 047 (without the D), and then click on each result to view its application (if listed). This way, if 047D has been superseded to 047F, you will still find it. However, if the part number has been superseded to a different number entirely, it may not come up, which is why we browsing our catalog or using the Smart Search first.

You can also search by keyword in the "Search By Part #" box. However the results may be difficult to weed through, as it will display results for every VW model (whereas keyword searching via the Smart Search shows only results for your VW model range).

3. Still can't find it? Or not sure if you found the right one?  Just e-mail us at sales@busdepot.com and we'll see if we can help.

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CREATING AND USING "MY WANT LIST"...

Planning a future project on your VW (or two, or three!)?  You can create shopping lists for upcoming projects as you browse our site, then save them for future reference. When you're ready for the project, just move your shipping list to the shopping cart, edit it if desired, and check out. So if you find an item you really like, but aren't ready to buy it now, put it in a want list for the future!

To create a want list:
1) You must be logged in to your account to create a want list. (See below.)  
2) Add items to your shopping cart, just as if you were making a purchase now.
3) When you're done, click on the "My Shopping Cart" link.  This will display the contents of your shopping cart.
4) If (and only if) you are logged in, an option of "Save to want list" will appear below the shopping cart listings. By choosing that option instead of checking out, you can save the contents of your cart to the want list for future retrieval.
5) You can name the want list anything you'd like, and save multiple want lists, just by repeating the process.

To retrieve or modify your want list:
1) You must be logged in to your account to access your want lists. (See below.)
2) Click on the "My Want List" link on the left of any page..
3) Your saved want lists will appear. Click on the one you want to modify or add back to your shopping cart.
4) To add items to your want list, click on it and then move it to your shopping cart. Then add the additional items to your shopping cart. If you want to save it again, rather than purchasing the items, simply save the shopping cart as a want list again under a new name. Your new want list will include both the previous items plus the items that you added. Note: the previous version (without the items you added) will still exist as well, but if you no longer need it you can simply delete it.

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CREATING AND USING "MY ACCOUNT"...

You can now create a personal account, and save such information as your bill-to and ship-to information, your want lists, etc. for future use. This means you won't have to enter the info every time you make a purchase. Just enter your password and the information automatically populates on your checkout form. Save as much or as little info as you'd like. Whatever you don't save, you can enter manually each time you make a purchase.

There is also a "personal notes" field on your account screen. This is for any information that you want to save for your own reference, like notes, comments, or numbers. Whenever you go back to your "My Account" screen you'll be able to read or retrieve them.

Incidentally, any information you give us is only used to process your orders. We don't sell it.

To create or log on to your account, click here.

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WHAT ARE "HOT BUYS?"

Hot Buys are specially featured because of one of the following reasons:
- They are offered at a particularly good discount
- They are a new addition to our selection
- They are among our most popular items.
As a rule, you will get a better value choosing a Hot Buy than another similar item on our website.

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WHAT ARE "SALE" ITEMS?

While Hot Buys may stay that price for a while, Sale prices are temporary, and are often worth grabbing quickly before they're gone. We may have taken advantage of an overstock offer from a distributor, obtained liquidation inventory or New Old Stock (N.O.S.), or negotiated a special deal for a limited time. These items are new and first quality unless otherwise noted. However, in some cases there may be some aging on the packaging or other similarly insigniificant imperfections simply because they have been sitting around a while (even though never used). Further discounts or additional special offers cannot be applied to Sale items. 

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TECH SUPPORT & ADVICE...

We are a discount mail-order distributor, not a full-service dealership. While we are Volkswagen enthusiasts ourselves, and many of us are backyard mechanics, we're not professional auto mechanics. If you're looking for someone to teach you how to install your new parts, we can sell you a repair manual (which is a "must" if you're planning on doing your own repairs), but we can't walk you through the repair. However, we're more than happy to answer any technical questions about the parts themselves, to the best of our ability, if you call or email us. If we can't answer your question, we'll Also, we have provided a number of technical references and links on this page. These will give you access to literally thousands of other members of the Volkswagen enthusiast community, complete with archived posts, advice, step-by-steps and more. If you do a bit of research via the links from this page, It's likely that you'll find your answers there if we cannot supply them.

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PAYMENT OPTIONS...

Online, via Discover, Master Card, or Visa:
Pay online via our secure server. We welcome all MasterCard, Visa, or Discover cards. However, Discover cards, as well as MasterCard or Visa Debit Cards (which debit directly from your bank account when your make a purchase) costs us less to process than the other cards. Using these cards will help us keep our prices as low as possible.

Note: If you are a first time customer paying by credit card, we must ship to the address that is on file with your credit card company.  This is done for your protection, to prevent credit card fraud.  To have your order shipped to a different address, such as your work or your mechanic, you can call your credit card company (at the number on the back of your card) and have them add your desired ship-to address as a "shipping address" or "alternate billing address" on your credit card file. This does not change where your bill goes. It simply means that your credit card company will confirm that you have authorized us to ship to this address when we process your order. The change takes effect within minutes of when you call, and you can remove the alternate address at any time by calling again.  If you are using Master Card or Visa Debit Card (where the amount actually comes  directly out of your checking/savings account), this may not be possible.  In that case, please email us and we can verify the address differently.  Again, this policy applies to your first order only.  All subsequent orders can go to any address that you specify.

Online via Cyber Check: 
Cybercheck is like writing us a check over the internet. You simply give us the numbers on the bottom of one of your checks and we debit your checking account when we ship your order.  There is no cost to you for this service, and it works with any U.S. bank or credit union checking account. (Sorry, not available outside of the U.S.)  Both personal check and Cybercheck payments may delay your order slightly due to time allotted for the check to clear.

Via Phone or Fax: 
You can use the website to look up parts, create a shopping list, and then print it out and call or fax us to order.  We're open weekdays, 11 am to 7 pm Eastern time.
    - If you have part numbers ready, call toll free 1-866-BUS-DEPOT (1-866-287-3376) within the U.S.
    - If you need part numbers looked up, want to check order status, or have questions, call 1-215-234-VWVW (8989).
    - You may also fax your order to 1-215-234-0890.
Note: Operators at the toll-free number cannot answer product or order questions, or look up part numbers.

By Mail: 
You can place your order via the website, but choose to mail us a check or money order for payment. To mail payment, simply choose the "I will mail payment" option when checking out online, and then send a check or money order to The Bus Depot, 4801 Gravel Pike Perkiomenville, PA. 18074. (Please make sure to include the shipping charge.)  Please print out a copy of the website order page and include it with the check or money order. Personal or business checks may delay order processing while the check clears. Money orders are treated as cash.

Paypal: 
Paypal is accepted on Domestic orders over $100 and Canadian orders over $200. (Please email us regarding any other international Paypal orders.). However, we must ship to your Paypal Confirmed address. Please note that due to Paypal regulations, we cannot accept Paypal for special-order items, and we will not backorder items if paid via Paypal. Rather any out-of-stock items will be deleted from your order and that part of the payment refunded. Our online checkout does not accept Paypal. To order using Paypal, when checking out click on the "I will mail payment" option, and then email sales@busdepot.com.  (Do not send Paypal to that address.) We will reply by email and provide you with the correct Paypal address to use.

C.O.D.
Unlike most mail order distributors, we will gladly ship C.O.D.  Simply fill out the order form and choose the C.O.D. option. The UPS driver or mail carrier will collect your payment when he or she delivers your order.  Please note that C.O.D. shipping costs $8.00 extra, and may take an extra day. Most C.O.D. orders are shipped via UPS, who will accept a money order, certified check, or bank check, etc., payable to The Bus Depot, but not cash.  C.O.D. orders sent via US Mail (to Alaska, Hawaii, APO/FPO, and territories) are cash or postal money order only.  Personal checks are not accepted as payment for any C.O.D.  In the event that any part of your C.O.D. order is backordered, if you choose the "ship later" option on the order form, the C.O.D. will still be for the full amount of the order, and the backordered items will be sent at no charge when they come in. 

The following items/orders cannot be shipped COD: Orders shipping outside of the U.S.;  Expedited (next-day, second-day, three-day) orders; Orders containing items that are dropshipped directly from our suppliers (including most made-to-order items such as engines, transmissions, rebuilt heads, carpet, seat upholstery, headliners, etc.).

It is illegal to order products C.O.D. and then refuse delivery when the order arrives.  This leaves us stuck for the shipping charges, which we will turn over to a collections agency along with a restocking fee. Please be sure you want what you order.

Other Payment Methods: 
Wire transfer, Western Union, online payment services, other credit cards, and additional payment methods may be arranged under special circumstances. However, please note that the website pricing reflects a check/credit-card discount, so some payment methods not offered on this site may impact your pricing slightly.

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DELIVERY TIMES...

Most orders are shipped within 1-3 working days of when they are placed, as noted on the individual product listings.  But we still ask you to allow 7-10 working days for delivery (within the U.S.) if you order via Economy shipping (our standard method). We don't always take that long, but ask that you allow that long in case we happen to be particularly busy at the time of your order. Made-to-order items (upholstery, interior panels, carpet, engines, transmissions, rebuilt cylinder heads, and a few other items) can take an additional 5-10 working days to manufacture (in addition to the delivery time). Also, international orders may take longer, depending on the shipping method chosen.

In a hurry? Express service is available (including overnight air) on most items.
Expedited service (Red Label or Blue Label) can be chosen on the order form, allowing you to receive your order in as quickly as one day. Expedited service is also available to destinations outside of the U.S.  While we do process web orders every day, if time is critical you will get the fastest service by placing your order by phone, so we can process it instantly.

You can also pick up your order at our parts counter in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania (about an hour from Philadelphia, Allentown, and Reading). We recommend ordering a day ahead of time (or more), as there may be items that are not in stock but can be on hand in about a day if we know you're coming for them.

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SHIPPING RATES...

Economy Shipping:
Economy shipping (UPS, Fedex Ground, or U.S. Mail) is calculated by the website automatically. This includes shipments to Canada, APO/FPO, U.S. territories, Alaska, and Hawaii. In some cases (particularly with destinations outside of the continental U.S., or unusually heavy/bulky items) actual shipping costs may exceed the amount calculated by the website. If the difference is relatively small, we'll absorb it and stick to the website's quoted shipping rate. If the difference is big, or if you have requested Expedited Delivery, we may have to contact you and let you know what the shipping cost will be.

Expedited Shipping:
The website will not calculate shipping costs if you choose Expedited methods (Red Label or Blue Label). Instead, we will contact you via phone or email with a quote, which you must approve before we ship.  Therefore it is important that you give us the best numbers and email address(es) to reach you at when you enter your order, so that we can get your approval and get the order on its way. Alternatively you can call us to approve the shipping cost, at 1-215-234-8989.

International Orders: 
International shipping is not as expensive as you might think. Standard service is generally quite reasonable, and Worldwide Express service (1-2 days) is available if you're in a bind. As with Expedited shipping, International shipping rates are not calculated by the website, with the exception of Canada. Once you place your order, we will email you with a shipping quote before we ship your order.

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BACKORDERS & STOCK-OUTS... 

We try to fill your order as completely as possible, and usually we do pretty well. But unfortunately, backorders do happen, particularly when dealing with parts for older vehicles where there may not be a multitude of sources to choose from. If we are forced to backorder a part on you, it's not for lack of trying. Our take on hard-to-get items is a bit different from most VW parts retailers. Many of our competitors "cherry pick" the most lucrative or easiest to get items. If obtaining a part becomes a challenge, they'd rather remove it from their catalog than waste time and effort sourcing a part that will never make them much money. We believe this does a disservice to the VW community. There are thousands of parts on your VW that, by themselves, could take it off the road. If every retailer simply gave up on the tough ones, where would you go when you needed one for your VW? We think differently. Our online catalog is several times the size of the next largest on the internet, and that's no accident. We will search woldwide to keep a part available, even if the effort exceeds the profit we'll make on it. We believe that in the long run this philosophy benefits both of us. You keep your VW on the road, and as a result you'll buy profitable parts from us in the future.

If we’re out of an item but we expect it in within a few days, we may wait until then to ship your order, if we think we can still get it to you within our 7-10 working day timeframe. But if an out of stock item will not be in soon, we can either backorder it and ship it separately when it comes in, or simply delete it from your order. You can choose which you want us to do by checking off your preference on the website order form. Otherwise we’ll just do what we think makes sense. If the total of all out-of-stock items is under $3.00, we simply delete them, since the cost of shipping them separately would exceed their value. Similarly, on international orders we usually delete backordered items to keep shipping costs down. 

Please note that except for COD shipments, you will not be charged for any backordered items until they ship, nor do we charge additional shipping fees to send you the backordered item separately. You may call and cancel your backorder at any time prior to shipping. The only exception is made-to-order items, in which case you'll be charged when we give your order to the manufacturer, and cannot cancel the order once manufacturing has begun.  

When we ship your order, we'll email you an invoice indicating what shipped, and what was backordered if anything. When a backordered item ships, we'll email you an updated invoice showing everything that has shipped at that point. If you would like to know of any backorders before your order ships, please call Customer Service at 215-234-VWVW.

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SHIPPING DAMAGE OR MISSING ITEMS...

All damaged or missing parts claims must be reported to us (preferably via email) within 3 days of when you receive the order. Please keep the box and all packing material until we provide further instructions.  Of course we will gladly replace any missing or damaged parts as quickly as possible.

If something appears to be missing from your order, please first check the enclosed receipt to see if the item is listed as having been shipped. It may have been deleted from your order due to unavailability, backordered, or shipped separately.  If the receipt indicates that the part should be there, then please check the packaging carefully, as the part may be "hidden" among the packaging, under a flap in the box, packed with another part inside the box, etc.  

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RETURN POLICY...

New, uninstalled items in original packaging can be returned within 30 days for a refund, exchange, or store credit, minus shipping charges.  A 10% restocking fee is charged on returns, but not on exchanges or store credit. No returns on electrical items, installed parts, special orders, opened books or software, opened multi-piece seal or gasket kits, or made-to-order items (including but not limited to upholstery, interior panels, carpet, engines, transmissions, and rebuilt cylinder heads). If a part is defective upon receipt, notify us within ten days and we’ll replace it (or refund at our option). If the part is confirmed to be defective we will issue a fixed credit toward your next order (based on standard published UPS or mail rates) to help cover your cost of returning the defective part. Always call or e-mail for a return authorization number before sending a return, and remember to enclose a note saying who you are and why you’re returning the item.  Please make sure to return the item(s) via an insured method, such as insured mail or UPS, and keep your insurance and shipping receipts. Please allow 4-6 weeks for us to process returns. If you are returning an item, click here for suggestions on return shipping methods.

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CORE DEPOSITS...

On some parts (where indicated) we charge a core deposit. It’s refunded upon return of your old, rebuildable part, in the box that the new one came in. The core must be returned within 90 days of the original purchase. All cores except for engines, transmissions, and cylinder heads can be returned to the Bus Depot at the above address. For your protection we recommend that you insure your returned package against loss or damage. Please allow 4-6 weeks for us to process core returns.

Get extra money toward your next purchase!  If you request that we apply your core refund as a store credit toward your next order, rather than refund it, we will credit you 110% of your original core deposit.

No core return is accepted without an RA number.  With the exception of engines, cylinder heads, and transmissions (see below), your core's RA number is the letter "C" followed by the invoice number at the top of the receipt that was included in your box or emailed to you as an attachment (not the website confirmation number). Please write that RA number on or near the shipping label of your core return. If you did not receive a receipt, please email us and we'll give you both the receipt and its number.

Engine, cylinder head, and transmission cores must be sent directly to the rebuilder, not to us, so please call or email for instructions.  On these items, in certain cases where a core is not found to be fully rebuildable, yet does have some salvagable components, the rebuilder may offer you a partial core refund rather than deny the refund entirely.

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AND FINALLY...

Please be sure that you have correctly identified your vehicle in the space on the order form (including any major motor modifications, etc.).  While we try to make sure our database is accurate, we cannot guarantee it.  If you are not sure if a part will fit your vehicle, please put a note in the "comments" section of the order form and we will be happy to double-check the application before shipping, and substitute the correct part if your selection was incorrect.  (If the correct part is not within 10% of the price of the incorrect one you ordered, we'll check with you before substituting it.).

If you order via CyberCheck, you hereby authorize The Bus Depot, Inc. to debit the checking account that you have specified,  for the total amount of the order, on a one-time basis. You agree to make immediate payment via credit card or money order if your bank fails to honor your personal check or CyberCheck for any reason.  A $15 "bounced check" fee will apply if your draft is returned for insufficient funds, or if you place a C.O.D. order and then refuse delivery when it arrives.  In addition, if unpaid debt extends beyond 60 days from order date, you will be responsible for all costs incurred in order to collect the debt, including but not limited to a $50 collection agency processing fee plus court costs in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  We actively pursue all unpaid debts and report them to both collection agencies and credit bureaus.

Privacy Statement:  We do not sell our mailing lists or email address lists to any outside companies. Period.
 

Entire Contents of this Site © 2009 The Bus Depot, Inc.  The Bus Depot and BusDepot.com are registered service marks of The Bus Depot, Inc. and may not be used in any form without written permission. "Better Parts Better Prices" is a registered trademark of O'Reilly Auto Parts, and used by permission. VeeDub Warehouse is a service of The Bus Depot, Inc., and all references to The Bus Depot also apply to BusDepot.com, VeeDub Warehouse, and VeeDubWarehouse.com. All rights reserved.  No part of this website may be reproduced in any form, including via the internet, without the express written permission of The Bus Depot, Inc.  Links, application information, reference information, and technical specifications are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed. We are not affiliated with and do not endorse any entities that are linked from our website. VW Line art by Rob Bareiss, courtesy of Shoreline Vee-Dubs.

The Bus Depot, Inc.  is an independent parts distributor, and is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Volkswagen of America, Inc., Volkswagen AG, or their authorized dealers and distributors.  Not all parts sold by The Bus Depot, Inc. are Volkswagen products. Volkswagen of America is a wholly-owned subsidiary and exclusive U.S. importer of cars manufactured by Volkswagen AG "Volkswagen" and Audi AG. The "VW" logo is a registered trade mark of Volkswagen AG. All references on this website to the words Volkswagen, VW, or any models of Volkswagen vehicles are not claimed as belonging to this site or to its owners.  These terms are used for descriptive purposes only.   Any references to part numbers on this website are are intended solely as informational part cross-reference data, to communicate a claim by the manufacturer of a part that it can potentially be fitted to a specific motor vehicle and/or replace a specific original part. The reference to an original part number is in no way intended to imply that the part is necessarily manufactured, distributed, or endorsed by Volkswagen or its affiliates.

Disclaimer:  The Bus Depot, Inc. makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the accuracy of the contents of the Site or any Third Party Sites. The Bus Depot, Inc. shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages resulting from access to or use of any content of the Site or Third Party Sites. This site, its entire contents, and all products sold by The Bus Depot, Inc. are provided "as is" and without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Any warranty on products, should one exist, is offered solely by the manufacturer of the product and is not the responsibility of The Bus Depot, Inc. The Bus Depot, Inc. disclaims all warranties to the fullest extent permissable under applicable laws, including without limitation implied warranties of merchantability and warranties arising from the course of dealing or performance.  The Bus Depot, Inc. is under no circumstances responsible for consequential damages (including but not limited to labor costs, towing, shipping, legal expenses, or lodging) arising from the use, installation, delivery, application, or failure of any parts provided by The Bus Depot, Inc. All products are installed and used at the customer's own risk. Not all listed parts are available at all times. All information and pricing is subject to change without notice, and may not immediately be reflected on the website as it does not update "real time.". The Bus Depot reserves the right to cancel orders in the event of a typographical or other error. Some items sold by The Bus Depot,Inc. may be legal for off-road use only, on vehicles which may never be driven on the highway. It is the responsibility of the user to check and comply with local laws.  Discounts noted are off of dealer pricing or M.S.R.P., which may or may not reflect the actual retail prices of said products.

Indemnification: By using the Site, you agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless The Bus Depot, Inc., its successors and assigns, from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, resulting from any violation of these Terms of Use, or from any activity (including negligent, wrongful, or criminal conduct) related to your Internet account whether performed by you or by any person accessing the Site using your Internet account.

Governing Law: Use of the Site, including all transactions arising there from, shall be governed by the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to its choice of law provisions. By using the Site you agree that jurisdiction over and venue in any legal proceedings involving The Bus Depot, Inc. shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The Bus Depot, Inc.'s failure to enforce strict compliance with any provisions of the Terms of Use shall not be construed as a waiver of any provision or rights. The Terms of Use shall not be modified by either course of conduct between the parties or trade practice. The Bus Depot, Inc. reserves the right to change the Terms of Use without notice, may assign its rights relative to the Terms of Use to any party at any time without notice to you. 

By ordering, you acknowledge that you
agree to all terms of sale listed on this page.

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