If the shims/pins are in good condition, then reuse them. Otherwise, invest a few dollars and get some new.

Mailing costs are one thing from iPd.

How about the donations, both in products directly and monetary value to VCOA events? And monetary donations from the raffle sales and auctions (besides the cost of the stuff they're giving away) every year to a local charity?

Then there's R&D costs, something other retailers do not have at all. No other retailer develops their own products for our "old Volvo's" to sell. Who else offers beefier sway bars? Who else offers affordable (relative to OEM) chassis braces? A replacement backup lenses that Volvo doesn't even offer? Door pocket covers? Performance cams? No, this kind of stuff won't float everyone's boat, but the fact of the matter is that they are doing this while others are not. Add to that, iPd takes a risk on every new product development or offering. We're not talking consignment (shops won't for custom stuff!) - they lose if it doesn't sell. This risk needs to be accounted for.

Also unlike other retailers, they test out the products they sell before offering it to the public.

With the knowledge, service, backing up what they sell, and when others start to dwindle on parts, they will still find some way, shape, or form to keep these bricks on the road (ie. all the vintage parts). That I value.

-- Kane ... the SoCal nut who is going to the garage sale.
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Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40