GBHRPS
Bronze Member
Gentlemen,
I recently broke the half inch belt that drives the 3 blade spindles of my Z Force 48. A trip to my local Cub Cadet dealer to get a replacement almost caused me to have a stroke. The price quoted for a genuine replacement was $122 CDN plus tax.
I refused to pay that and at a local bearing supply store purchased the same belt, but a generic one, for $30 CDN.
I have absolutely no issue paying for one of a kind parts that fit only a specific model of a product, because of their exclusivity, and expect that the manufacturer's costs would be higher. But when an ordinary part that is universally used on many products today, not just Cub Cadet, its just down right criminal to over price it and gouge the public.
Car companies do that with their Navigation system updates, and their key fob replacements, and it too is criminal. Charging $150 for a one year nav update on my car when my portable Garmin offers free updates for the life of the unit of its onboard storage. And where does the value of a $300 key fob replacement come from when it has all of $10 of electronics inside its plastic case?
When my Cub Cadet ages to where it really is no longer cost effective to fix ... I'll be shopping for a different brand of zero turn mower after researching the cost of their commonly replaced parts.
I recently broke the half inch belt that drives the 3 blade spindles of my Z Force 48. A trip to my local Cub Cadet dealer to get a replacement almost caused me to have a stroke. The price quoted for a genuine replacement was $122 CDN plus tax.
I refused to pay that and at a local bearing supply store purchased the same belt, but a generic one, for $30 CDN.
I have absolutely no issue paying for one of a kind parts that fit only a specific model of a product, because of their exclusivity, and expect that the manufacturer's costs would be higher. But when an ordinary part that is universally used on many products today, not just Cub Cadet, its just down right criminal to over price it and gouge the public.
Car companies do that with their Navigation system updates, and their key fob replacements, and it too is criminal. Charging $150 for a one year nav update on my car when my portable Garmin offers free updates for the life of the unit of its onboard storage. And where does the value of a $300 key fob replacement come from when it has all of $10 of electronics inside its plastic case?
When my Cub Cadet ages to where it really is no longer cost effective to fix ... I'll be shopping for a different brand of zero turn mower after researching the cost of their commonly replaced parts.