Date:         Tue, 21 Sep 1999 15:07:38 -0700
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: VW Australia v Busdepot
Comments: To: Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Steve and all,

Most mechanics/shops consider the profit on parts as part of their normal
income.  If you have a shop that's willing to use your parts, consider
yourself blessed.

We tend to think in terms of the consumer (logical, since that's what we
are), but it helps to put yourself in the other guys shoes occasionally.  If
you bring a widget for your mechanic to install and it doesn't work,
typically you're going to expect the mechanic to in some way warranty that
widget, at least to the extent of troubleshooting it.  Reasonable?  Probably
not, but most shops will do it and write off the loss.  I've seen some
pretty unreasonable customers at the shop that works on my van, and a good
number of the unreasonable ones are the ones that put the shop at a
disadvantage by bringing in their own parts.

This is not to knock you or your shop, just to remind us all that the shops
are in business to make a buck or two here and there.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: <Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: VW Australia v Busdepot


> Get a new mechanic.  My mechanic lets me have BD of
> Volks Cafe ship directly to his shop, with NO mark up.
>
> Alan Bosch wrote:
> >
> > One expects various pricing differences between dealer and independent
> > parts suppliers.  That's why parts distributors like BusDepot are able
to
> > flourish.  Where I have trouble is independent repair shops charging
> > dealer-like prices for their parts, when it's no secret that there are
much
> > more cost effective suppliers out there.
> >
> > Case in point:  A local repair shop recently charged $500 each for new
> > heads on a 2.1L Westy.  That price was the just for the parts.  When it
was
> > pointed out to the shop that heads could be bought for $400 from Bus
Depot,
> > a flat "We don't buy from them" was issued.  Well, why not?  "Because we
> > mark our parts up".  No problem.  Buy from BusDepot and charge me $450 a
> > head. It's worth it to me, and I understand you need to make a living
too.
> > "No.  We can't."  End of discussion.  End of story.
> >
> > Too, there's a huge cap between suppliers.  Comparing prices between Ron
> > and say Parts Place must be an eye opening experience for the
uninitiated.
> >
> > Alan Bosch
> > & Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
>