Date:         Tue, 6 Apr 2010 10:02:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Radiators/Parts Sources
In-Reply-To:  <l2o586a66171004060519q41bfc25cjf71b534f24564aed@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The warranty is the greatest benefit when buying your parts from the shop
doing the work.  The warranty is also the main reason the shop usually will
mark-up the price 50%+++.

Take a water pump, for example.  You can buy one online for $60 - $70.  A
decent sized shop can buy it wholesale for ~$45, but they are likely going
to charge the customer $80 - $90.  Consider the extra cost as an insurance
premium against the water pump going bad in the next 12 months/12,000 miles
(standard warranty).  If that pump goes bad, the shop will have to pay a
mechanic the flat rate labor cost to replace it.  If you supplied the pump,
you're paying the shop to do the job a second time.

My Father was in the repair business for 50+ years, and the general rule of
thumb was always: "Labor pays the overhead, parts pays the profit."

Cheers,

Jeff