TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Sep 30, 2019 11:46 am

Is it worth ordering from jbugs I can order everything that I need from them and not have to order from anywhere else but have noticed they are not one of the top rated sellers. I can divide up my order to three different places ( wolfberg west, airheads, west coast metric) and pay aroumd $500 more and not deal with jbugs.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 11:50 am

I have shopped all of those vendors. Certain items they carry are superior to others. However, I’ve also shopped Jbugs with no issues.

Tim

Mon Sep 30, 2019 12:30 pm

Seems like every vendor sells some garbage; but WCM has better quality parts for sure. I'd order from them first, and also from Aircooled.net before JBugs.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:02 pm

Only you can determine your own definition of value. Value to me means: having the part fit as claimed; bearing the claimed quality and not having to return something after it is shipped to me broken.

J-Bugs- famous on all three of the above complaints

WW- very seldom do I have a problem. I've only had one part not fit right (new Hella ham slice TL lenses). Their door seals are cheaper, so now I go with:

WCM- very seldom is there a problem- they just have a limited product range.

JBugs is one shopping cart click above JC Whitney, MAM and CIP1. Airhead is rapidly becoming a great all-rounder.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:13 pm

Not sure what you are looking for, but I've very often found that I can get everything cheaper by splitting up the items I need (especially if a large order).

Be aware that WCM supplies many rubber/plastic parts to many of the online suppliers. Oftentimes, it is cheaper to purchase these items NOT from WCM directly (oddly enough).

Take into account the shipping costs as well. For instance, WCM shipping rates to me here on the east coast are exorbitant. (Approx $95 for 'economy' shipping on a medium sized order vs <$30 at Wolfsburg West or others).

Take your time, research each individual item you need and then find who has the best quality for the lower price.

By thoroughly searching, I have saved money while still getting high quality parts for my bug.

Don't forget that there are still some odds and ends that are available through online VW Dealership Parts sites, as well as places like the local parts stores or Rockauto.

Good luck!

Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:37 pm

Jbugs is fine for some items. They are the only ones I had to get a type 3 exhaust part. It was the crush rings for the muffler, hard to explain enless you have done it.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 3:20 pm

They are not worth it to me. I can not answer if they will be "worth it" to you. I can say a higher percentage of the stuff I got from them was useless or problematic compared to the others mentioned.

I won't buy from JBugs unless it is something I absolutely must have and noone else offers it.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 3:43 pm

Tim Donahoe wrote: I’ve also shopped Jbugs with no issues.
Tim
My experience is same as Tim's above.

Remember JBugs is simply a reseller: so something like a poorly engineered fuel pump or carb from them would be exactly the same as the same part purchased from a different vendor.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 4:28 pm

Jbugs typically resells items at a higher cost than the other vendors for the same item.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 4:30 pm

Someone pointed out there are a ton of JBugs threads, if you want to do some reading:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc...=titleonly

Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:59 pm

I bought a Bosch alternator and a late-model Kaferland seat pedestal from Cipi1. The alternator was the same Mexican Bosch as any other vendor. It worked fine. The Kaferland seat pedestal was perfect in every way. So, I wouldn’t say Cipi1 just carries crap.

Jbugs has the best prices for TIM upholstery and door cards. It’s the same TMI stuff you get from TMI, or other vendors.

I prefer to by from Wolfsburg West, WCM, or aircooled.net for certain items—rubber, electrical stuff like fuel senders, etc. I also shop Topline for Super Beetle front end stuff, and Wolfgang International here in town.

I’ve really had no issues with any of these guys.

Tim

Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:13 pm

My personal experience w/ JBugs has been that the “J” seems to stand mainly for “Junk” a lot if the time... :-(

I usually have best luck first-time-around with outfits like Wolfsburg West, Airhead Parts, West Coast Metric, BugCity, and similar — although even they send the occasional “stinker” out from time to time.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:56 pm

I've had good luck and excellent customer support from jbugs for alll my seat rebuilds - cushions, TMI seat covers and door cards, headliners. Wcm for window rubber and scrapers and rear end bushings. top line for Super Beetle front suspension parts. Cip1 for most other things, thesamba classifieds for original parts where possible, then most everyone else for the leftovers.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:40 pm

Q-Dog wrote: They are not worth it to me. I can not answer if they will be "worth it" to you. I can say a higher percentage of the stuff I got from them was useless or problematic compared to the others mentioned.

I won't buy from JBugs unless it is something I absolutely must have and noone else offers it.

I am with Brian. They are never my fist choice.

Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:40 pm

A rating doesn't mean much as everyone rates differently. There are restaurants that folks rate poorly that I've been too that I liked. Keep in mind most people that leave reviews are folks that are unhappy about something. Try each reseller and see what you like about them.

Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:40 am

I have ordered many parts from Jbugs and only had one problem which was kinda my fault.

Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:34 am

Living in Hawaii, literally in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I hit up Jbugs for items that are similar in quality to other sites. Mainly, because they will utilize USPS for shipping. A lot of other suppliers will not offer USPS as an option.

For us in Hawaii and other points far asunder, many times the shipping is just as much as the part, sometimes DOUBLE!! If it's a part that I must have the quality, I just gotta bite the bullet and order from the other sellers.

Tue Oct 01, 2019 7:28 am

JBugs is always the first place I go because their website is so much easier to use than any of the others. Then, when I find what I am looking for I can check the item out at the other popular sellers such as WW.

That being said, I most often order from JBugs and have not been disappointed except once. I ordered windshield wiper arms for my '63 that broke when I tried to put them on because they were poorly made from pot metal. They took them back with no issues.

Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:01 pm

I ordered a LOT of stuff from JBugs, but that was before I learned I could drive 10 miles and pick up directly from Airheads, and quiz Alan while I was there.

I may not have USED all I ordered, but everything seemed to fit.

Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:06 pm

Most air-cooled VW parts shops don’t name the manufacturer or brand for most of the parts that they sell. Jbugs is among the worst offenders. I still don’t understand why anybody would buy a part for their car under those circumstances. Would you buy a gallon of milk with no label?

If you want the best part, then you should ask which manufacturer makes the best part and buy it from a shop that sells that brand. It’s impossible to compare shops if they don’t say what they are selling.