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Date:         Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:40:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: power steering rack core
Comments: To: Zeitgeist <gruengeist@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAN5Ep7SeW61QUW6boGTe8by9PrY6kU1rrL63zwQo5ranE0oiag@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Casey -

Not likely to happen. After being in the auto parts biz for over 3 decades, I've never run across an outfit that provides that kinda service, although I'm sure there's someone out there that might.

OTOH, office product suppliers like HP and Xerox provide a pre-paid return label for laser toner cartridges to be returned for recycling. Rotating electrical, axle assemblies and steering racks probably wouldn't qualify in this respect as they are generally returned to a Vendor who is already making a razor-thin profit, who in turn have to pay to have the core returned to the re-manufacturer. Remember, it's the re-manufacturer that's making the lion's share of the profit, not the end-vendor.

Businesses that are dedicated core buyers and resellers generally pay and sell cores at a fraction of what Vendors charge, but they make that up in volume. There are some that are specialized in dealing with highly critical cores and tend make a little more, but not much more. And as a rule, it's a FILTHY business to work in.

A great example is bumper pieces cores for 56-71 Karmann Ghias. During my almost 11 year tenure here at KGPR/Airhead/VWG, over 80% of the core pieces received are rejected because they're too rusted out or bent up, hence the high core charge(s). This helps fund the purchase of usually used whole bumper assemblies primarily @ VW Shows & Swaps and sometimes a customer coming into the shop to sell extra used Ghia parts. We usually pay 1/4 to 1/2 core value to offset the $$$ spent in straightening, re-chroming and to keep the selling price as low as possible. As it is, a complete re-chromed bumper assembly retails for around $600 to $900 depending on the year period PLUS a core charge averaging about $170 and the profit margin isn't that great.

In these recessionary times, the problem is even more acute. -- Jim Thompson 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria" 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt" 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug" 75 914 1.8 "Nancy" Full Timing Since March 1999 oldvolkshome@gmail.com http://www.oldvolkshome.com *********************************** On Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 6:53 AM, Zeitgeist <gruengeist@gmail.com> wrote: > Perhaps if free shipping were factored into the core charge, more of them > would make it back to the rebuilder. > > Hey, if these things are so rare, maybe I can think of the core as an > investment opportunity...yeah, that's the ticket > > > > -- > Casey


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