Trade Parts Specialists - TPS

Went to the dealer in Shrewsbury today for mk2 odds and ends and true to form they had to order them. The bloke told me about a place, literally next door, that should carry the bits.

Turns out TPS is a trade supplier set up by VAG and carry alot of the older stuff in stock. They had all the parts I needed and prices were certainly cheaper than the stealers. Ideal for me as the closest GSF is Birmingham.

 

Have they got a website... or more branches? Just googled them without success

 

Had a look at the invoice and it's Trade Parts Specialists, sorry. Anyway the website is,

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/

From my experience with the auto industry it looks like VAG are moving towards satellite parts storage to improve part delivery time. But if they want to sell to me, less dealer premium then I ain't complaining.

 

Thanks ... my local outlet opens next month, hopefully they`ll open to the public.

 

Hi Jay... so you're in the trade then? Looks like they're not set up to deal with joe public, or they'd be in competition with the dealers.

I wonder if we can weasel a deal with them as Club GTI? There's one in Slough too, which is handy for me!!

 

Depends what you mean by in the trade, I work for an automotive manufacturer, non VAG though. The dealers wrote down the part numbers for me and I just walked in and the bloke sorted it. I thought I spied a computer running ETKA in the back so i'm sure they could find what was needed, I did ask if they were the new GSF and he said about the VAG link but if I ever needed anything to ring and they'd put it on one side. I paid on my card, looking greasy with the batttered Passat outside.

 

Would kind of defeat the object of a trade supplier don't you think.

 

Wicked, one in Cov opens up in a few weeks too

 

Hmmm interesting... might have to try the local one and see what happens

Any idea how much cheaper it was that a dealer? 25% of VAG prices is usually still pretty steep - 4 quid for an injector o-ring, for example!

 

To a degree, depends on their philosophy.

I`ve accessed many other `trade` suppliers in the past ... most being far more helpful than retail outlets.

 

club gti derby have set up a discount with the derby TPS

 

My philosophy, at least whilst in the trade, is that public access to trade suppliers is a nuisance and undermines the whole dual tier principle.
A minority, such as club members, is more acceptable.

 

Thats our one (Listers). As Seraph is saying though in terms of a tps centre supplying retail customers it is a bit of a grey aera, the idea is for the tps to compete with the likes of gsf and supply trade customers within an hour and we are here to supply retail customers. As to how it pans out time will tell.

 

Didn't someone mention something about getting older parts. Does that mean you could of got me them new carpets Ian

 

No they wont be able to magic up obsolete parts I'm afraid. In terms of older parts I would expect them to hold a bit more stock of older service parts and general parts like discs and pads etc. They wont have random things like you guys are always asking me for!

 

I never ask for random things!

And I was going to see if you could get hold of red seat belts from a colour concept haha

 

I'll check tuesday! Your grille is in...unless you collected it this morning!

 

I got a pair of G60 discs today, in VAG wrapping for 22 each. That's the cheapest i've found anywhere. The windows seals were only a 1 cheaper than the stealers though.

I found all the part numbers I needed on http://www.vagcat.com, rang them through and the bits were waiting when I arrived.

 

No offence intended Ian, but for older cars, the service from the dealers is bloody hopeless... they never have anything in stock, and it's so much hassle for them (and the customer) to find the right part and order it, it's not good business for anyone, especially with all those tatty old dubs parked outside the showroom, lowering the tone, and reminding the customers of when VAG used to build cars properly ;o)

I'd have thought it's better for VAG to take that business out of the dealer and into the TPS, on the back end of some industrial estate..

 

You sound like you've been to my local vag dealer Mike!