Date:         Mon, 28 Jul 2003 16:12:15 -0700
Reply-To:     "Loren A. Busch" <lbusch@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Loren A. Busch" <lbusch@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Parts Pricing was  Alternator Deal
In-Reply-To:  <200307281223.19HdAB6RA3NZFl40@penguin>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I recently had a full brake job done on my '90 Westy, new everything
including all hoses, new drums, new calipers (Girling), hardware sets,
new wheel cylinders on the rear, etc.  I ordered the cross drilled
rotors from Fast forward, and they included the front pads.  For the
rest, I priced out to the penny with the online vendors.  I took the
parts list to my local mechanic, a good friend of mine.  I asked him to
price out the parts other than the rotors and front pads.  My theory:
someone will make a profit on these parts, unless the difference is
really great, I'll give the profit to my friend.  He didn't see the
online prices.  He first called NAPA and got everything but the rear
drums, called a second source for those.  The total, my cost, not his,
was within $12 of what I would have paid the online vendors.  Plus local
sales tax it came out about the same as shipping.  I had my friend order
locally.  Advantage: not only does the profit on the parts go to the
local mechanic, but he guarantees all the parts that he provides, not so
if I provide the parts.  One note on this.  I live in a major
metropolitan area and parts houses are all over the place.  If you live
away from the 'big city' the online vendors are indispensable,
especially for some of the more obscure items, but, at least for brake
parts, local prices may be very competitive.