Indie's and expensive parts

[rossyl]

I've found a decent indie, my parents have used him for 5years on their Saab. He's well experienced with Merc's.

Issue is parts needed have been ordered straight from a dealer, i've had a look online and from Euromerc or similar I can get the same part for hlaf the price!!

Annoying but a lesson for the future...get my own parts before giving it to him! issue is, you don't always know what parts you need.

 

[Shude]

Issue is parts needed have been ordered straight from a dealer, i've had a look online and from Euromerc or similar I can get the same part for hlaf the price!!

Just as long as you're getting the same deal. Parts from an MB counter often come with 2 years warranty for example, not sure whether this is true for parts from other sources even if they are new.

 

[lynall]

He will probably tell you use genuine at least it fits first time and if you supply the parts and they dont fit and hes got the car stripped hes going to be pretty peed off blocking ramp or shop up.

Plus of course his good name.

I only ever use genuine for special stuff ie crank seals, fittings clips etc, everything else from the local motor factors.

Lets be honest most of it is simple stuff filters plugs general servicing parts.





Lynall

 

[horsesuitedfool]

I've found a decent indie, my parents have used him for 5years on their Saab. He's well experienced with Merc's.

Issue is parts needed have been ordered straight from a dealer, i've had a look online and from Euromerc or similar I can get the same part for hlaf the price!!

Annoying but a lesson for the future...get my own parts before giving it to him! issue is, you don't always know what parts you need.

Here is a lesson for you all - My mate runs his own VAG Specialist having left Audi Stealer, he had a Passat in that needed a new Cat so he got a price from Euro Car Parts online consumer price was £575, he ordered it with his trade normal account and got invoiced £98!!! So you can see how much some of these garages can make on the parts if you are not careful....!! He charged her £120 BTW so he is not a rip off merchant but we were both shocked at the price difference!!

 

[lynall]

Now me i would have charged her £200 for the cat and told her we fitted it for free gauranteed repeat business




Lynall

 

[horsesuitedfool]

Now me i would have charged her £200 for the cat and told her we fitted it for free gauranteed repeat business




Lynall

Hahaha yes that would have been better!! :bannana:

 

[BlackC55]

I've found a decent indie, my parents have used him for 5years on their Saab. He's well experienced with Merc's.

Issue is parts needed have been ordered straight from a dealer, i've had a look online and from Euromerc or similar I can get the same part for hlaf the price!!

Annoying but a lesson for the future...get my own parts before giving it to him! issue is, you don't always know what parts you need.

Ahh but would you go to a resturant with your own steak for the chef to cook?

 

[rossyl]

Euro Car Parts online consumer price was £575, he ordered it with his trade normal account and got invoiced £98!!!

That's a crazy price difference!

My part was £190, from euromerc it's £70 !

All done for cash, but I seriously doubt he wouldn't pass over any part guarantee to me.

He said he ordered all his Merc parts from the dealer, as they are based a 5min drive away, no doubt he does get some discount. But he's already told me the price now.

 

[Howard]

Euromerc is all genuine MB parts as well.

 

[rossyl]

Ahh but would you go to a resturant with your own steak for the chef to cook?

Slightly different scenario?

Just like a good plumber or electrician, I'd expect them to know where to get good parts cheap, and buy it from them. Rather than go direct to the manufacturer if they charge much higher prices.

Thing is i can'tr fault him to going to Merc to get the parts. It's just a tad annoying to my wallet.

Anyway, lesson learnt. Where possible i'll avoid this.

 

[horsesuitedfool]

Ahh but would you go to a resturant with your own steak for the chef to cook?

Personally no, i prefer the garage to get the parts but i do check out the price first so i know whats what.... Having said that i was going to bring my car to you for springs to be replaced and i was going to arrive with the steak in my hand in the form of some Eibach springs!! hahaha

 

[BlackC55]

A Steak will do! A T Bone please

 

[d w124]

Now me i would have charged her £200 for the cat and told her we fitted it for free gauranteed repeat business




Lynall

That does not work some times mate.In my job i`ve done that before and in the end i got called thief

 

[kth286]

Here is a lesson for you all - My mate runs his own VAG Specialist having left Audi Stealer, he had a Passat in that needed a new Cat so he got a price from Euro Car Parts online consumer price was £575, he ordered it with his trade normal account and got invoiced £98!!! So you can see how much some of these garages can make on the parts if you are not careful....!! He charged her £120 BTW so he is not a rip off merchant but we were both shocked at the price difference!!

I think you need to get proper facts on this case.

Do you know what the contents of a cat is ?

The contents alone in the cat would cost more than £98.

Think for a minute about the chain of supply.


It is with your dealer friend for £98.

So, how much margin is the wholesaler making ?

What would be the cost to the wholesaler - £60 ?????


Now how much margin would the manufacturer be making.

So, what is the cost to manufacturer the product - £25 ???

Clearly it does not add up.

Either it was not a cat OR there has been an invoice mistake.

 

[kth286]

That's a crazy price difference!

My part was £190, from euromerc it's £70 !

All done for cash, but I seriously doubt he wouldn't pass over any part guarantee to me.

He said he ordered all his Merc parts from the dealer, as they are based a 5min drive away, no doubt he does get some discount. But he's already told me the price now.

What is the part involved and for which car is it for ??????????

 

[rossyl]

What is the part involved and for which car is it for ??????????

rather not say in case he is a member.

 

[BlackC55]

I think you need to get proper facts on this case.

Do you know what the contents of a cat is ?

The contents alone in the cat would cost more than £98.

Think for a minute about the chain of supply.


It is with your dealer friend for £98.

So, how much margin is the wholesaler making ?

What would be the cost to the wholesaler - £60 ?????


Now how much margin would the manufacturer be making.

So, what is the cost to manufacturer the product - £25 ???

Clearly it does not add up.

Either it was not a cat OR there has been an invoice mistake.

I bought a CAT today for £85.

 

[kth286]

I bought a CAT today for £85.

If that is the case I cannot believe, that you believe that it is going to go any distance.

 

[BlackC55]

It won't.

But if he wants a cheap CAT to last a couple of years (the cars remaining life) that I can understand.

 

[MPG]

I needed a new A/C compressor for my Jaguar. The official Jaguar part is manufactured by Sanden. Including VAT Jaguar wanted an eye watering £801 for it - a quick search of the web finds the exact same part (not a similar item - the exact same item) for a far more reasonable £285.