fair price on auto parts

[jmc]

Hello,

Whenever I buy filters and specialized tools at NAPA, they seem high, but not so high as to go price them somewhere else. I was wondering if NAPA's business model is set up for supplying commercial accounts at a discount and making the retail customer pay full list price, which may be inflated. Would I do better at Autozone or similiar chain? I don't want parts made by 3rd world low bidders either.

Thanks,

John

 

[KENSFM]

All the NAPA stores in this area (Southern MA) will give anyone that walks in off the street a discount (usually about 20%, but varies by the part). I am sure commercial accounts receive a much higher discount depending on how good a customer that they are. In general I am well satisfied with NAPA part quality and their speedy delivery of parts that they have to order.
Ken

 

[WantedWolf]

All the NAPA stores in this area (Southern MA) will give anyone that walks in off the street a discount (usually about 20%, but varies by the part).

Not just for walking in, Always ask for your "Good Guy" discount

 

[kenmac]

I have a friend that is a manager at NAPA ...they have 4 or 5 different prices that they can charge

 

[Phils]

When I worked at a parts house we had three different price levels:

#1 was "list", and what the shops that bought from us should've charged their customer

#2 was "dealer" and what those shops paid, or what anyone walking in would pay

#3 was "jobber" and what we employees paid, also a good shop client could have certain product lines (Wix filters, for instance, or maybe Gates belts & hoses) priced at jobber as an incentive to do business with us

I haven't worked there for almost 15 years but I doubt anything has changed (I'm still listed as 'employee' and get price 3 when I buy something)

Phil

 

[Taylortractornut]

I used to like business with Napa here in town but the owner is now single and she has several folks standing around flirting. Her ex has a garage and parts store across town that has a line of parts thats about the same price. I often bought things there that were better and cheaper than Autozone. My oldsmobile convertible AC compressor went out. Auto zone wanted 548.00 and the one at Corinth wanted 475. I called the Napa at Tish and it was about 400. Belmont Napa wanted 477.00 and I called The Iuka napa and told the counter man I needed a bargain, He said your in Votech arent ya, I told him about 9 years ago and all I heard was thats good enough for me. He gave it to me for cost plus 10 percent. I got it at 279.99 I dislike Belmont Napa everything there is super expensive. We were buying all our supplies there for work and noticed the prices were alot higher and they wouldnt come down with the other stores so I usually pick up stuff In tish or Iuka on my way home. I know my starter went out on my old 6.9 Ford 1 ton dump at work. I called Belmont it was 250.00 I called Iuka and it was 175.00. I know Some will compete with another store and match a price.

 

[Wis Bang]

A local repair shop might spend $10,000.00 a month and gets the highest discount. Of course they charge their cusomer 'list' for the parts they just got at 45% [or more] off list...

 

[mjarrels]

Guess I'm lucky... BIL has been a commerical account sales rep for NAPA for many years now, I let him buy my stuff and get about a 60% discount.

mark