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Price hikes

  • 29-01-2011 12:19pm
    #1
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭


    I was looking for a part for my car and I came upon a supplier in both England and Germany. Here are my results

    Price from Volkswagen Ireland - €630
    Price from England 2nd hand) - €230
    Price from Germany (2nd hand) - €30

    I can post the ebay listings if it's allowed. I laughed in the face of the guy in the VW garage when he told me the price. He also wanted €100 for fitting it. Fitting it involves nothing more than unpugging one part and plugging in the new part. A 1 minute job. I just find this kind of markup disgraceful. God help anyone who goes to a garage with no knowledge of cars. Is there any kind of regulator in the repair industry?


Comments

  • #2
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    k_mac wrote: »
    I was looking for a part for my car and I came upon a supplier in both England and Germany. Here are my results

    Price from Volkswagen Ireland - €630
    Price from England 2nd hand) - €230
    Price from Germany (2nd hand) - €30

    I can post the ebay listings if it's allowed. I laughed in the face of the guy in the VW garage when he told me the price. He also wanted €100 for fitting it. Fitting it involves nothing more than unpugging one part and plugging in the new part. A 1 minute job. I just find this kind of markup disgraceful. God help anyone who goes to a garage with no knowledge of cars. Is there any kind of regulator in the repair industry?
    ?? You're comparing new with used prices.


  • #3
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    Anan1 wrote: »
    ?? You're comparing new with used prices.

    Actually my point was the difference between the 2nd hand price in Germany and England. My point about the new part was the price they wanted to charge to fit it.


  • #4
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    k_mac wrote: »
    Actually my point was the difference between the 2nd hand price in Germany and England. My point about the new part was the price they wanted to charge to fit it.
    Shouldn't people be allowed to ask whatever price they see fit for secondhand parts? Or are you suggesting that a regulator set acceptable prices for s/h parts?

    Re the VW garage - it does sound bad, although, again, you've given us precious little to go on. What part is it? Does it need coding, or just fitting?


  • #5
    galwaytt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,822 ✭✭✭✭galwaytt


    k_mac wrote: »
    My point about the new part was the price they wanted to charge to fit it.

    ...sorry, price to fit a part, new or used, by the same mechanic, is the same.

    Did you expect it fitted for free, or something ??:confused:

    Ode To The Motorist

    “And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road” 



  • #6
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    Anan1 wrote: »
    Shouldn't people be allowed to ask whatever price they see fit for secondhand parts? Or are you suggesting that a regulator set acceptable prices for s/h parts?

    Re the VW garage - it does sound bad, although, again, you've given us precious little to go on. What part is it? Does it need coding, or just fitting?

    It's an esp sensor which is located under the passenger seat. It is the size of a matchbox and simply needs to be plugged out and plugged in. He told me it didn't need to be coded but I suppose I will find out soon enough.

    I wasn't suggesting a regulator for the parts business. The european competition authority should be responsability for that. The regulator question was in relation to standards and practices in repair businesses. Is there anyone who monitors these?


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  • #7
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    galwaytt wrote: »
    ...sorry, price to fit a part, new or used, by the same mechanic, is the same.

    Did you expect it fitted for free, or something ??:confused:

    Not free. Maybe a price which is proportional to the effort and time taken to fit the part.


  • #8
    high horse
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,014 ✭✭✭high horse


    k_mac wrote: »
    It's an esp sensor which is located under the passenger seat. It is the size of a matchbox and simply needs to be plugged out and plugged in. He told me it didn't need to be coded but I suppose I will find out soon enough.

    I wasn't suggesting a regulator for the parts business. The european competition authority should be responsability for that. The regulator question was in relation to standards and practices in repair businesses. Is there anyone who monitors these?

    The open market is who monitors these. If people are willing to pay their prices then there's no problem, if not then they reduce their prices to a level that people are willing to pay. Why would we need yet another government body to do this unnecessary job? :confused:


  • #9
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    high horse wrote: »
    The open market is who monitors these. If people are willing to pay their prices then there's no problem, if not then they reduce their prices to a level that people are willing to pay. Why would we need yet another government body to do this unnecessary job? :confused:

    It's not all about price. What about the quality of services provided and the setting of standard industry practices?


  • #10
    Compton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,157 ✭✭✭Compton


    It's his business, he can charge what he wants, it's your choice to accept or not.. if you don't like it go elsewhere, simple.


  • #11
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    The only way to make this comparison would be to post the price of the part new in Ireland, England and Germany plus the cost of fitting in all the above countries.
    Then maybe the cost of the item 2nd hand plus fitting from scrappy/ internet plus fitting yourself/indie garage in the three countries.
    As you have it you have compared the price of apples in Ireland to the price of lightbulbs in Germany, the comparison makes no sense.


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  • #12
    mickob16
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 319 ✭✭mickob16


    shblob wrote: »
    It's his business, he can charge what he wants, it's your choice to accept or not.. if you don't like it go elsewhere, simple.

    Thats a load of bull****.Its just plain robbery and another example of the motorist being screwed.€100 to do a 1 min job-Unreal!!!Your attitude of if you dont like it go elsewhere??Why not question the garage and ask them to justify thier thievery.:mad:


  • #13
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,102 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    mickob16 wrote: »
    Thats a load of bull****.Its just plain robbery and another example of the motorist being screwed.€100 to do a 1 min job-Unreal!!!Your attitude of if you dont like it go elsewhere??Why not question the garage and ask them to justify thier thievery.:mad:


    People can charge as much or as little as they want for any service provided and it's up to the customer to know if it's a good or bad price, Caveat emptor.

    All we have for is the OP's word that it's a 1 min job. Maybe the mechanic knows more or there's a standard hourly rate that they have to charge, the OP was at a main dealer don't forget.


  • #14
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    mickob16 wrote: »
    Thats a load of bull****.Its just plain robbery and another example of the motorist being screwed.€100 to do a 1 min job-Unreal!!!Your attitude of if you dont like it go elsewhere??Why not question the garage and ask them to justify thier thievery.:mad:
    Why not go elsewhere and put them out of business? They're perfectly entitled to ask €100 for a 1 minute job, more fool you if you pay them.


  • #15
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    Anan1 wrote: »
    Why not go elsewhere and put them out of business? They're perfectly entitled to ask €100 for a 1 minute job, more fool you if you pay them.

    But what if you don't know it's a one minute job? I knew because i had found the part. But a person who knew nothing about cars could easily believe it was a hard job and worth the price. They are depending on the mechanic to be honest.


  • #16
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84,761 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    Were the UK and German prices both from ebay? In which case as you can buy from both why not just go with the German one? Also were the ebay prices buy now or bid prices?


  • #17
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    k_mac wrote: »
    But what if you don't know it's a one minute job? I knew because i had found the part. But a person who knew nothing about cars could easily believe it was a hard job and worth the price. They are depending on the mechanic to be honest.
    No, they are depending on the customer not shopping around. This may sound like a small difference, but it's not - you don't need any mechanical ability to shop around for prices to buy or fit a part.


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