Parts prices drives me NUTS!

[Deleted member 214]

Last year, needed a new hub bearing for my 4wd Pontiac Vibe. The local garage quoted around $325 for the part! I checked local parts houses, best I could find was $275. Got a Timken brand new off the internet for $123 and my garage installed it for me. Yes, I bought two figuring if one went the other was soon to go.

Last week needed a new turn signal socket for my 99 Sonoma trucklet. First parts store - generic $7 replacement fit the socket but was too tall to fit the bracket holding the head light. AC/Delco part was $55 had to order it and wait a few days. Dealer had the same part in stock - $75! WTF! NAPA - $30 for a NAPA/Echlin. Federated - $15, in stock. Nabbed that one.

The generic $7 socket was crap. Otherwise, the sockets all looked the same. The bearings were all the same - same part number, all Timken. Can anybody give me a reasonable explanation why the exact same socket or bearing can vary so much in price besides just greed and/or stupidity on part of the parts vendors???? :angryfire:

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Except for your missing parts,,,,,,,you've answered yer own question.If someone will pay $325 because they don't know how to shop,it's a home run for the shop.I have managed a few shops over the years and had to watch the parts venders.When I would catch an overcharge,they just made up an excuse.I always called multiple sources when pricing out the job.

 

[Revhendo]

It can be a bit aggravating at times, for sure. I believe that with dealers, they have a specific list price they have to go by (?). As for parts houses, it can depend on how big the chain is and their buying power. I.E. Larger chains can buy in larger quantities and get a bigger purchase discount which they can (I said can) pass on to the customer. It's one of the reasons that Jeg's and Summit are doing so well and Super Shops, well, isn't.

Some of the bigger food chains, er parts houses, will offer different qualities of specific products to show that they have low, low prices. They start with the offshore crap at $1.99 and then will advise you up to the $10.99 part. (Which is probably made in a better town offshore).

An interesting side note, next time you buy something at a place like O'Reilly, Pep Bone, Autozoneout, check out how the reciept says a "list" price and then the price you actually paid. I know a few shops who still think they are getting a pretty good WD price when in fact they are just paying what off the street Joe is paying. When they bill their customer, of course they are adding in their percentage, also. You can see in that case how you can end up paying more for a part when the local wrench is doing the job. It's not really his fault either, he's got bills to pay and has to make a profit on parts, too.

 

[chrisd]

Keep in mind that parts houses have more overhead than most internet(especially eBay) sites. Employees, building, etc. Alot of internet(again especially eBay) vendors buy it wholesale, or find lots, and stash it in their garage and sit on it until it sells. Granted, some of the huge price differences you see are because people won't shop around.

 

[65-440]

I believe that with dealers, they have a specific list price they have to go by (?). .

Nothing legit about dealer mark-ups ! .... its a no brainer than OEM parts from the dealer cost way more than they need too. But what always got my was the prices they give to the customer when they have to get it from another source ( autozone,pepboys, etc .... ) . I questioned my parts department almost everyday after i gave them an estimate, and the same answer of " 10% over cost " .... BULLSHIT !! ... These ******** were charging 100+% over what they were paying for it. I have personally called the same source that they used and got a huge price difference ! $5 radiator cap, sold for $30.... $80 radiator fan module, sold for $350 !! I have even told the customer to go to said parts store and get the part themselves, bring it to me and i will do the job .... I swear, if people only had common sence to shop around..... but its even more rediculous that they get away with gouging parts priced like that. You would think they would realize the amount of customers they drive away with crazy parts prices. i lost one customer because he got the same cummins parts from down the street for $1500 cheaper than we tried to sell him... FOR THE SAME EXACT PARTS !!! ...

 

[Revhendo]

There's a 2000 percent mark up on bananas........