Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 14:42:43 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: Rear Seatbelt - Solved, Thanks & Note
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Kirk,
Dealerships are like any other retail business, they are free to set their prices to suit the market. Yes, the manufacturer has an established, suggested retail price, but it is just that, suggested! Many dealers find that they can not be profitable at the margin set by the manufacturers suggested price and set their own prices. This is usually done with a pricing matrix that varies the percentage of mark-up according to the cost and sales volume of the item. Lower cost items often get a higher percentage mark-up then more expensive ones.
At most dealerships the parts dept. personnel have some leeway in what they charge and may be willing to work with you, especially if you point out that you have a lower price quote from the dealership down the street. Some dealerships are more strict and do not allow their personnel to adjust prices without permission from their superiors. A new to the dealership parts person may be less willing or able to adjust the price then one who is more experienced, either because they do not know that they can, or they have not been authorized to do so by their supervisor.
In my too many years in the business I have found that the cliche about dealership parts always costing more is not always true, I have had many customers find out after the fact that they could have saved money if they had only checked with the dealership first. With that said, I find that VW parts seem to be marketed differently then many other brands, and the aftermarket often offers OEM quality parts at competitive prices.
I hope this helps explain the business a little, feel free to respond if you have any questions or comments.
Mark in AK
Continental Auto LLC
Honda & Acura wholesale parts (for the last 10 years of the 20 that I have spent in the automobile industry)
----- Original Message -----
From: Kirk van Druten <kirk@LANSHARKS.NET>
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 9:23 pm
Subject: Rear Seatbelt - Solved, Thanks & Note
> Hi All,
>
> Thanks for the many kind replies to my question about installing 3-
> pointseat belts in the rear seat of our 88 Westy.
>
> I haven't been on this list for a long time but am still amazed at the
> prompt, kind, thorough answers to questions. I'm on several other
> (mostlytechnical) lists and the demeanor and tone of this list is
> notablywonderful.
>
> While calling the local VW dealers (SF East Bay Area) to locate
> the part, I
> noticed a not-so-surprising phenomenon. After asking for the
> 'Parts Dept.'
> I gave them the part number for the rear seat belt (thanks to
> several posts
> and websites links with the correct part number). The first
> dealer I called
> (Broadway Volkswagen in Oakland) quoted my $75 for the part.
> EVERY dealer I
> called afterwards (McNevin - Berkeley, Lithia - Concord, Something
> VW -
> Dublin and Dirrito Bros. VW - Walnut Creek) all quoted my $119 for
> the same
> part.
>
> So I started inquiring about why I had been quoted $75 for the
> same part
> from the first dealer...
>
> "Er... Uh... Oh yeah - how about $74.37" Every dealer then quoted
> me the
> exact same lower price.
>
> Apparently there are (at least) two prices for a particular part.
> One parts
> dept. guy actually told me "We can pretty much charge whatever we
> like".
> Is there a way to find out what a part at a dealer *should* cost?
> Do we all
> just need to learn to ask for the 'please don't rip me off' price?
> I guess
> I'll be doing more business with Broadway VW...
>
> Kirk out
>
>
> Kirk van Druten ------------> kirk@lansharks.net
> LANsharks Consulting -----> http://www.lansharks.net
> 510-601-5475 -------------> 510-601-5130 fax
>
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