Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 19:44:07 -0700
Reply-To: Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM
Subject: Re: VW Australia v Busdepot
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Karl, sorry for jumping the gun. I agree that i am
lucky my mechanic is so willing to help me save money.
But with VW stuff, it can get absurd being forced to
pay dealer prices for parts as the ticket for admission
to a shop when a much cheaper alternative is
available. I agree that a mechanic needs control over
parts quality (mine won't install any part he deems
inferior to what he would get) and is entitled to a
fair profit. It just seems ridiculous and arrogant to
refuse to order the part from a better source when the
shop can still make a profit on it...it "feels" like
gouging.
steve
Karl Wolz wrote:
>
> 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)
> >
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