I didn't see anyone mention that vertex has a preferred membership card. I paid $35 for it last year when I rebuilt my engine. It get's you 10% off new and 15% off reconditioned parts (like my rear driveshafts with the CV joints installed)

Like most places they heve different sales people. Some better than others. If you order off their site there is less likey to be a problem with mistakes if you know the part number you want.
That's were the PET software will come into play. If you then know the right part # then you should get the right part. If vertex doesn't have it in stock they will get it an a day or so then to you. Real OEM parts.

I don't use them for everything and get meny things from PP. (IF not in a hurry or if they stock something that vertex doesn't have.

I had a discussion with Wayne about shipping. It stsrted when I told him I'd by more if shipping was better.He said he was goint to work some with the shipping companies to get 3day to east coast at the same price. (He would absorbe some.) That was a year ago and I guess we on the east coast are not a priority. Of he just can't overcome the issue.

Parts are a commodity but Wayne acts like he is adding value. His site and BBS is a great idea, but don't think he is doing you a huge service. It's just great marketing to attract new buyers and continue to sell the same buyers's more stuff.

PP prices are reasonable, but no one vendor seems to be consistantly cheaper across the board. With the internet there are a lot of choices Maybe too many. Good to have this board where questions like this can be discussed freely without the connection to a vendor.

So Scott, it seems you have a huge advantage for us because of your location. What is your mission? Is there possibly a DORKI discount somewhere in the future?
Also maybe if we had a dedicated salesman, we could create a better relationship. It would need to be your best.

This would be a great way to improve a reputation and create long term relationships with a group of DIY's that are constantly buying stuff.
What do you think?

OEM, :lol: that's a good one. I never knew OEM Porsche parts had silver spray paint :roll: .
Whether you call them or use the web, Vertex is a bunch of crooks :evil: :x !!

OK, I did a comparison of all the stuff you would need to do a clutch job. I didn't apply the scientific rigor to this that I would "real work" but I tried to be as through as possible. Using Wayne's list in the 915 Complete Package as a guide, I looked at all of the vendors (including Pelican) and developed this chart. I couple of items to note:

Wayne's kit includes every lit bit and piece (I don't know if you need to replace all the part...I think I'm only going to do what I can't get to w/o another drop).

Assuming you need all the parts if you can't get it from one particular vendor, you need it from somewhere, so you can't do the same work from Vertex, let's say and Pelican with just the parts Vertex sells. The total cost shown is not the job cost...add in from one of the other vendors, plus shipping.

EuroWebParts was having a 20-60% sale when I prepared this on Dec 17, 2004.

If you add up all the parts in Wayne's super kit it totals $797.40 saving $88.65. My analysis assumes that nobody would buy all these parts w/o just buying the Pressure Plate, Clutch Disk, TO Bearing kit, so that brings the total down to $726.60, saving only $17.85.

To calculate shipping, I put the clutch kit in my basket because it costs more than $100 and computed shipping to my zip code using UPS Ground or whatever Standard Shipping was. Remember, you have to factor in a separate shipping cost when not all parts can be sourced at the same place.

This is not an endorsement of any one vendor; I wanted to do the research for my own purposes. I hope this is useful or interesting to you.



http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/mod.../clutchjob.jpg

Check out DC Automotive, I think I paid $325 for a 915 clutch kit this summer.

Nice job, Steve! While we try to be as competitive as possible, it's just about impossible lately thanks to the wild mood swings of the Euro. We will certainly beat anyone's legitimate price on in-stock items and will also help out on shipping where we can. Also, some of the parts missing in your list may be in stock, just not on our website yet. That's why it's better to call us sometimes.

If you mention this thread, we'll also throw in a 10% on your next order with us!

Thanks,
Scott

Follow-up
 

Here is a follow up for anyone still around reading this weekend. After I posted my XL spreadsheet, Scott from PAP and I talked. We worked out a nice deal on the clutch parts. Ordered Friday last week (after shippinf run) and reecived this Wed.

I ordered $156 worth of miscellaneous stuff from Eurowebparts: gaskets, bolts, bushings, etc. during their holiday sale (thanks Chris!). Saved a bunch over Pelican. Half the stuff arrived on Wed, half from a different warehouse (I called them to find out) on Thursday in 4 seperate boxes!!. There was no rhyme or reason to what came from where - 1 oil line one day and one the next :?: Apparently they come from 2 different wwarehouses.

I also placed an order with Pelican. I ordered about 4 things - 2 of which were tools (12 pt star and clutch tools). They had neither tool and I still don't expect to received this stuff until after the new year. :?

This was my most complex order of stuff and trying to save a couple bucks here and there worked. I wasn't as concerned about time since I have until the weather turns to complete this :) My biggest gripe with the other vendors is not having their whole catalog on-line. While it's a PITA to HTML-code all every washer and nut and bolt like Pelican does, it makes it so much easier to get everything you need. That is one of the chief value-adds that Wayne provides. My errant assumption (before talking to Scott at PAP ) was that if it's not listed, they don't have it. I don't particularly car to pick up the phone and order unless I have to, so that would have been my loss.

Happy Holidays all!
Steve

Scott, sell any roll bars for an 83 SC CAB? Where are you located? I have a sister in N Canton. She makes the trip home regularly. Is that anywere near you? Or on her way east to Maryland?

What's the best place locally to find some copper plugs? Any particular store that always has them in stock? I'm looking for some cheap NGKs, maybe even Bosch.

Olympic Auto Parts sells the Bosch Copper plugs. Advanced Auto, might.

Another data point --

I just ordered a bunch of misc parts. I priced them out on Pelican, then called PAP to see what they could get and compare prices.

Total price at Pelican, $129.65 + shipping. It won't ship for at least a week.

Total price at PAP, $109.57 including shipping. And they say they'll ship it all out today.

Granted, I only ordered what they had in stock...and then placed a separate order at Pelican for the other goodies.