Date:         Mon, 5 Apr 2010 22:36:52 -0700
Reply-To:     David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Radiators ... Re: Radiator flush
In-Reply-To:  <20100405150346.GC9CJ.1019828.imail@eastrmwml49>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

> I have generally found that the price I pay a mechanic for a part is
about the same as I 
> would pay if I bought it myself online.  Sometimes
I can get it considerably cheaper. 

My experience strongly diverges from yours. My last experience was to be charged $500 for a generic catalytic converter, I later found I could have gotten on eBay for $75. I usually find parts like spark plugs, filters, headlamps, fluids etc. are double or triple what I could get them for at Autozone. Most places will get the VW specific parts at a VW dealer and then mark them up.

-David

--- On Mon, 4/5/10, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:

From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Radiators ... Re: Radiator flush
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Monday, April 5, 2010, 1:03 PM

---- Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I was surprised to find out that my local Subaru conversion shop, Utah
> Imports
> could get the same radiator that I got from Bus Depot for the same $150.

I have generally found that the price I pay a mechanic for a part is about the same as I would pay if I bought it myself online.  Sometimes I can get it considerably cheaper.  My van mechanic (Daryl of Daryl's Hobby Shop in Norman, Oklahoma) allows me to source my own parts and he installs them for what seems like a reasonable price, but of course, if he can get them for the same price, I buy from him.  That way his work is covered if the part fails.  Most mechanics refuse to install customer supplied parts, or they charge extra for labor if they do.  Really can't blame them, since parts markup is a part of their business, too.

David McNeely