I'm sure I'm not the first person to say Dealerships are over priced.

[adventure bob]

So heres something to consider on the differences in pricing on the same parts through different sources: Most of what is in your price is the logistics cost for that organization and their cost models. Every part in the system has to carry its own weight in terms of shelf space, lights, handling, shipping... The list goes on and on. When you find the same alternator (I mean truly the same, same man PN) and the cost is different its because the two companies have different cost structures. usually the more expensive one has a higher cost or is less efficient than the other at the process. Our tractor dealers on the other hand have to carry a huge inventory of barely used parts to make us all happy. Those barely used parts cost them money and they pay for it by marking everything up. The more low turnover parts they have to carry, the higher their overall cost which has to be lumped onto every part they sell. I buy john deere parts from john deere, not because they're awesome but because they carry old parts for my 30 year old tractor. You have to pay for that somehow. I have never gone into deere and them not been able to get a really odd part for my tractor. Same thing for kubota. So when your thnking about parts cost at dealerships, dont just think about the high turnover parts think about that weird thing you needed and they were able to get it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's what I always try and tell people about the high price on that little thing. You are paying for the entire inventory, that you didn't buy. Somebody has to. It's not a charity.

 

[MossRoad]

That's what I always try and tell people about the high price on that little thing. You are paying for the entire inventory, that you didn't buy. Somebody has to. It's not a charity.

And in the same regard, many folks feel they aren't a charity, either, and shop some combination of price+convenience+urgency. We make money by not spending money if we don't have to, and by getting the most bang for our buck.

I have a sibling that owned a business for many years. She provided excellent customer service at a fair and reasonable price. However, the internet killed her business. People could get products that were 80% of the quality for 50% of the price by getting things shipped direct from inferior manufacturers. Apparently "just good enough" IS just good enough for most people. They don't have to have the best, and often settle for "just good enough".

As my old mentor used to tell me, it's that last 20% of quality in a product that'll break you once someone else figures out how to make your product 80% as good as you do. Then it's just a matter of time as your slice of the pie keeps getting smaller and smaller until it won't feed you. Then you either have to reinvent the product or move along.

 

[Industrial Toys]

True. Especially on seldom used stuff. My last starter motors for various stuff have all been bought from E-Bay, pretty darn cheap. They might even have been Denso.

My Dad always scoffed at the notion of Ads proclaiming how much you can SAVE. He saved, by not spending his money!

 

[JasperFrank]

No they don't sometimes. I can not have my power steering cylinder repaired by any local shop, they say that it is too small for them to deal with. The Local Dealership will not repair it, they would only replace it for $1200 - just the part, not the instillation. So, to **** with all the help, I'll rebuild it my self with a $50 kit bought on-line. I have nothing to lose. If my dealership had said, $300 bucks to rebuild, I would have been happy. But I know what the parts are costing them, and really 45 minutes with the right tools? $300? Which I will reinterate, they would not do on their own product. There is a disconnect here.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sorry. As far as I am concerned, nobody (especially using employees) can rebuild anything anymore. Never mind stuff like trannys, I have not even had luck with a shop repairing leaking cylinders. So, no business likes to stick their neck out anymore and do repeat work for free.

I think, Billy Bob in the shop should repair his screw ups on his own time and pay for the new parts, if you ask me. Only then, would things change.

 

[ultrarunner]

Oakland had a lot of rebuilders at one time... big companies that did nothing but remanufacture parts... but also had walk in service.

I fixed a $380 retractable antennae for a co-worker back in the day for $20 and my 20 minutes to R and R...

The shop did it while I waited and sure made me look good. The $380 was Dealer price for part only... said they cannot be repaired.

Same with a brake booster for an old Chrysler... new only but there was an old guy that only did brake boosters and charge $60 and not the $650 a new one cost.

I do miss all the little back alley specialty shops that were the norm... the guys were old then and when they quit the business closed...

Even business like small medical practices often have no value in that the small sole practitioner or with a partner are nearly extinct... all medical groups now where a 5 minute visit costs hundreds of dollars if you are lucky.

 

[plowhog]

I do miss all the little back alley specialty shops that were the norm...

I'm with you. In days past, I almost never bought a new part. Starter go bad? Have it rebuilt! Generator or alternator go bad? Have it rebuilt! Engine go bad? Have it rebuilt!

I can't even find anybody who does this kind of work anymore ... except maybe the engine rebuilds. We have become a throwaway society when it comes to machinery/autos.

 

[ultrarunner]

Throw Away is a good description and this comes at a time when we are suppose to be going Green...

Cars are really just a step up from a washing machine or range today... not like when people would save and budget for years to buy...

Looking around the employee parking lot there are almost all late model... many are now leasing.

We have a few older Docs that are driving 10 year old Acura type cars... but all of the receptionists to RN's are driving new...

As a teen I was into restoring old Mustangs... mostly 66-68... every Friday I was a regular at my little independent Ford Dealer's parts counter in East Oakland.

I would come up with obscure part numbers going through old parts books the dealership had tossed... still have them too.

Anyway... I bought new 68 GT Hub Caps for $4.85 each... even the parts guy had to double check... and the price was right... Ford often didn't update obsolete part prices... they just wanted them gone.

I bought several companion remote Mustang Mirrors and other parts doing North American part searches... sure enough... somewhere there was the part I needed and the Dealer got it for me... even bought NOS Model A Ford Parts 50 years after the last Model A rolled off the line.

Also bought a brand new Z-28 Carb from Chevrolet for dirt cheap... the Oakland Dealer had one on the shelf and made me a deal when I was restoring a 68 Z-28.

These were career parts guys... both at Ford and Chevrolet working at Dealerships that had been around since the 1920's... and they got a kick out of the kid coming in every Friday... still remember old Don... always had a cigar in his mouth and a great attitude... always called me Mister even though I was 17 and he was 60...

 

[Turbys_1700]

I'm in the process of rebuilding a hydraulic power steering cylinder now on my older Toro Groundsmaster. I bought the seal kit from an excellent dealer and the cost was expensive to say the least. But in this case I understand. I called the dealer up, gave them the seal kit number, they had it on the shelf, and mailed it out the same day. Ordered on Wednesday at 4 PM, arrived at my house on Thursday in the mail. I think that as frugal consumers we always look for the best prices but the dealer has overhand costs associated with the convenience of getting a part off the shelf. Most of the time if they have to order the part and it is exclusive to the unit I can order it just as cheap though an online dealer at the same cost. I prefer in those instances to support my local dealer.