Car part prices

OldmanMondeo

I sell car parts and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time I hear "Sure it is a 5, 10, 15 year old car, how can the clutch/brake disc/shocks etc cost that much, how do you sleep at night".

Since I am a professional and would never insult a customer, I am saying it here where people don't know me or the company I work for.

The parts cost you what you are willing to pay for them, I sell OE parts and not some cheap crap that you will be back with in a few months cause they fell apart. The car may now be worth peanuts, but the part is brand new, like what was in your car when it was built and lasted this long, the tooling, manufacturing costs have not decreased on your required part.

I also make sure that you get the right part from the little information you gave me, eg "I need a part for my red car" (I kid you not). I would usually be given a reg for the car and a vague description of what is wrong. I am not a mechanic, you tell me the part you need and not the problem with he car and I can help you.

Oh, and how do I sleep at night, very well thank you for asking...

Kenny Logins

How much for a CV joint for an '81 Porsche 924?

JohnBoy26

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

I sell car parts and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time I hear "Sure it is a 5, 10, 15 year old car, how can the clutch/brake disc/shocks etc cost that much, how do you sleep at night".

Since I am a professional and would never insult a customer, I am saying it here where people don't know me or the company I work for.

The parts cost you what you are willing to pay for them, I sell OE parts and not some cheap crap that you will be back with in a few months cause they fell apart. The car may now be worth peanuts, but the part is brand new, like what was in your car when it was built and lasted this long, the tooling, manufacturing costs have not decreased on your required part.

I also make sure that you get the right part from the little information you gave me, eg "I need a part for my red car" (I kid you not). I would usually be given a reg for the car and a vague description of what is wrong. I am not a mechanic, you tell me the part you need and not the problem with he car and I can help you.

Oh, and how do I sleep at night, very well thank you for asking...

Out of interest what brands do you supply for brake discs shocks etc.

Chuck Stone

Old man yells at cloud customers.

visual

I drive a jeep and I looked up a few Irish auto parts stores for a replacement radiator
I kid you not that prices of 1700 where been quoted. So eBay search found UK company who shipped one over for 650 euro. So I can understand some customers frustration as you say it's what the customer is prepared to pay.
I also need front brake discs eBay with postage was much more expensive than local motor factor.

Pays to shop around keeps the local guy honest too.

Long gone is the day where you only sold to the trade and there is a big DIY market especially in current climate. some know a lot, some a little and some just drive a red car that can get confused at the pumps and put petrol in a diesel car. Welcome to the world of dealing with the public.

TGi666

where are you based OP?

gibbon75

visual wrote: »

Long gone is the day where you only sold to the trade and there is a big DIY market especially in current climate. some know a lot, some a little and some just drive a red car that can get confused at the pumps and put petrol in a diesel car. Welcome to the world of dealing with the public.

90% of the time the "public" (which includes mechanics too) is just too lazy to scribble down a reg number or VIN number before making a phone call....

visual

visual wrote: »

...

Long gone is the day where you only sold to the trade and there is a big DIY market especially in current climate. some know a lot, some a little and some just drive a red car that can get confused at the pumps and put petrol in a diesel car. Welcome to the world of dealing with the public.

I worked counter sales in a motor factors 15 years ago, plenty of the business was retail to the public, most of whom expected trade prices for some reason.

bazzachazza

I wonder how many of those "cheap" parts have come from a parted out stolen car, someone's pride and joy stolen from their house possibly after a break in to get the keys.

Remember that the next time you find a cheap part online from a non reputable source.

It could be your car and house next time just so someone can save a few quid.

Kenny Logins

bazzachazza wrote: »

I wonder how many of those "cheap" parts have come from a parted out stolen car, someone's pride and joy stolen from their house possibly after a break in to get the keys.

Remember that the next time you find a cheap part online from a non reputable source.

It could be your car and house next time just so someone can save a few quid.

New parts?

OldmanMondeo

Ok, never mind where I am based. I am not selling to anyone apart from my current customers. Not worth the hassle, no disrespect to anyone. Yes I had a rant this morning and feel a hell of a lot better for it.

Just to pick up on some points from the thread,

Buying online, Yes you can get cheaper, however, the risk you have are, Not getting what was advertised, If you order the wrong part, it will cost you a lot in postage to get the parts back and then the down time while you wait for the correct parts. You buy local, you get someone who can advise the right part and in the even it is wrong, it's only a quick spin back, correct part might not be on the shelf, however it might only be a day away. Also if there is a warranty issue with an online part, the timeframe in getting it back to wherever and chasing down could prove fruitless, you local motor factor isn't putting the building on wheels and legging it.

Bazzachazza raise an important point, there was a gang caught in the Navan area a few years ago, stealing cars stripping and selling the parts as new. However, they where sold both online and through some Motor Factors as well.

JohnBoy26

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

Ok, never mind where I am based. I am not selling to anyone apart from my current customers. Not worth the hassle, no disrespect to anyone. Yes I had a rant this morning and feel a hell of a lot better for it.

Just to pick up on some points from the thread,

Buying online, Yes you can get cheaper, however, the risk you have are, Not getting what was advertised, If you order the wrong part, it will cost you a lot in postage to get the parts back and then the down time while you wait for the correct parts. You buy local, you get someone who can advise the right part and in the even it is wrong, it's only a quick spin back, correct part might not be on the shelf, however it might only be a day away. Also if there is a warranty issue with an online part, the timeframe in getting it back to wherever and chasing down could prove fruitless, you local motor factor isn't putting the building on wheels and legging it.

Bazzachazza raise an important point, there was a gang caught in the Navan area a few years ago, stealing cars stripping and selling the parts as new. However, they where sold both online and through some Motor Factors as well.

Why wouldn't you sell to anyone but your current customers? Doesn't sound like good buisness pratice to me, or have you something to hide?

Also after all your ranting about cheap parts, you have failed to answer my questions I previously posted.

dgt

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

Bazzachazza raise an important point, there was a gang caught in the Navan area a few years ago, stealing cars stripping and selling the parts as new. However, they where sold both online and through some Motor Factors as well.

If its what I think you're on about, that gang were setup on a rented farm down the road from me. Specialised in high performance jap cars. The dawn raid unveiled at least 12 in the shed, stripped and ready to ship. Many high performance jap cars went missing round these parts circa 2007 onwards

I couldn't believe something like that was happening so close to home, un-noticed

OldmanMondeo

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Why wouldn't you sell to anyone but your current customers? Doesn't sound like good buisness pratice to me, or have you something to hide?

Also after all your ranting about cheap parts, you have failed to answer my questions I previously posted.

Not my business, I only work there. I am not going to start my own on the side business, not something that interests me. TBH there are people that would take advantage expecting cheap parts all the time, I would only be doing myself out of a job.

And Yeah, I have something to hide, you don't think my real name is OldmanMondeo

OldmanMondeo

dgt wrote: »

If its what I think you're on about, that gang were setup on a rented farm down the road from me. Specialised in high performance jap cars. The dawn raid unveiled at least 12 in the shed, stripped and ready to ship. Many high performance jap cars went missing round these parts circa 2007 onwards

I couldn't believe something like that was happening so close to home, un-noticed

From what I remember there where all type of cars, BMW, Toyota, Renault, Ford. All stolen to order for parts.

bazzachazza

Kenny Logins wrote: »

New parts?

No obviously not buy when people see the price of new parts and then go looking else where they probably don't realise where some of those parts come from. It's quite common now for Audi BMW Mercs etc to be stolen either to be parted out or exported.

ljpg

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Why wouldn't you sell to anyone but your current customers? Doesn't sound like good buisness pratice to me, or have you something to hide?

Also after all your ranting about cheap parts, you have failed to answer my questions I previously posted.

well if you take the time to read whats already posted your questions have already been answered,he supplies "OE parts"......and he does'nt sell to anyone only current customers because its "not worth the hassle"...

dgt

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

From what I remember there where all type of cars, BMW, Toyota, Renault, Ford. All stolen to order for parts.

Found the article

RTE News wrote:

Gardaí in Co Meath believe they have broken up a major stolen car operation.
Navan-based gardaí had been involved in a surveillance operation for sometime before they raided a rented shed on a farm between Navan and Slane early this morning.
Inside they found nine cars which had been stolen in the north and west of Dublin as well as in Meath.
The vehicles are mainly high performance cars.
The cars were in the process of being broken up with the parts due to be sold on.
There were also parts from a large number of other vehicles in and around the shed.
Gardaí believe the gang may have been operating there for a number of weeks.
Three people were arrested during the operation.
Two men, both in their 20s, are still being questioned in Navan and Trim Garda stations.
The third person, a woman, was released.
Garda investigations into the gang are continuing.

Stories differ between sources, I read somewhere else it was 12 cars, will try find it....

Edit: Found it on the Meath Chronicle too, they reckon 11 cars were found at the time of the raid

JohnBoy26

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

Not my business, I only work there. I am not going to start my own on the side business, not something that interests me. TBH there are people that would take advantage expecting cheap parts all the time, I would only be doing myself out of a job.

And Yeah, I have something to hide, you don't think my real name is OldmanMondeo

That's fair enough, I taught it was your own buisness, I now see where you are coming from.

What I meant by something to hide was with regards the parts you sell, you haven't answered my question. :-)

Technoprisoner

while we are ranting....what really gets on my nerves is when a customer rings up with minimum information...no chassis number.... no reg...no engine code...and ask's...give me a rough price on what ever part it is they need.....and when you tell them anywhere between 50-500 euro they nearly have a heart attack because you say 500 euro....all cars are different....whats cheap on one car could be expensive on another... please please please try bring as much info with you when you need go to a motor factors

JohnBoy26

ljpg wrote: »

well if you take the time to read whats already posted your questions have already been answered,he supplies "OE parts"......and he does'nt sell to anyone only current customers because its "not worth the hassle"...

I have read what is posted and if you TAKE YOUR TIME to read it again I think you will find my question hasn't been answered. I asked specifically what BRANDS are supplied by the OP, I asked nothing about "OE" parts did I?

hoodrats

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

I sell car parts and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time I hear "Sure it is a 5, 10, 15 year old car, how can the clutch/brake disc/shocks etc cost that much, how do you sleep at night".

Since I am a professional and would never insult a customer, I am saying it here where people don't know me or the company I work for.

The parts cost you what you are willing to pay for them, I sell OE parts and not some cheap crap that you will be back with in a few months cause they fell apart. The car may now be worth peanuts, but the part is brand new, like what was in your car when it was built and lasted this long, the tooling, manufacturing costs have not decreased on your required part.

I also make sure that you get the right part from the little information you gave me, eg "I need a part for my red car" (I kid you not). I would usually be given a reg for the car and a vague description of what is wrong. I am not a mechanic, you tell me the part you need and not the problem with he car and I can help you.

Oh, and how do I sleep at night, very well thank you for asking...

why are reconditioned brake calipers so expensive here compared to the uk?

TGi666

hoodrats wrote: »

why are reconditioned brake calipers so expensive here compared to the uk?

transport I would imagine usually they have to be ordered in and a few places don't mention a surcharge they just add it to the cost

hoodrats

TGi666 wrote: »

transport I would imagine usually they have to be ordered in and a few places don't mention a surcharge they just add it to the cost

was looking for a caliper for my corolla , cheapest i could buy it for here ,local motor factors micks garage etc was 130 euros.
went on ebay uk and could buy it for 53 pounds with free delivery to the parcel motel. they would even give me 15 pounds for my old one if i sent it back, motor factors here must be taking some profit on them even allowing for delivery.

TGi666

hoodrats wrote: »

was looking for a caliper for my corolla , cheapest i could buy it for here ,local motor factors micks garage etc was 130 euros.
went on ebay uk and could buy it for 53 pounds with free delivery to the parcel motel. they would even give me 15 pounds for my old one if i sent it back, motor factors here must be taking some profit on them even allowing for delivery.

Ah here, I could have done it for the same and you'd get 40 back for your old calliper

hoodrats

TGi666 wrote: »

Ah here, I could have done it for the same and you'd get 40 back for your old calliper

now your pulling the piss lol

TGi666

hoodrats wrote: »

now your pulling the piss lol

sorry doing a business plan here and just said what i was thinking

OldmanMondeo

hoodrats wrote: »

why are reconditioned brake calipers so expensive here compared to the uk?

It depends on the brand. You can get cheap re-conditioned calipers that will fail the minute you put the on the car or you can get a good brand re-manufactured that will last as long as the original. Some re-manufactured calipers are more expensive than new...

I have compared the same a cheap v good caliper, from the same car, and the difference is new v well used.

Most recon / reman will carry a sur-charge, this is to keep the circulation of stock going.

Technoprisoner

hoodrats wrote: »

why are reconditioned brake calipers so expensive here compared to the uk?

depends on what car they are for

Hellrazer

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

I sell car parts and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time I hear "Sure it is a 5, 10, 15 year old car, how can the clutch/brake disc/shocks etc cost that much, how do you sleep at night".

Im with you oldman mondeo.

^^^^^^This does my head in along with lack of the correct info-no reg/vin etc.

Im at the parts game 20 odd years at this stage and since this recession kicked in the amount of people that think used / fake /dodgy car parts are a replacement for the real deal (oem or main dealer) is amazing.

Ive helped out numerous lads here on boards with parts and so far havent had any complaints.Ill always try get the best deal for someone if I can (like recommending people get the ford part number off a volvo alternator and save a couple of hundred quid on the same part) but I wont sell crap.

Does my head in when people say main "stealers"
I dont make the prices but I do raise it wth the manufacturers if I see something thats priced way out compared to oem or factors and that we cant sell or Ill try get you a discount if I can.

Us parts lads get a hard time of it these days!!

nct tester

Was in my local auto-factors this morning and my buddy there was telling me what's happening. Different garages ringing him for quotes on the same part for a specific car up to five times a day because customers who need work done on their car are calling to a few different garages for quotes. The garages are then ringing the motor factors for quotes. As a side note, I often get brake callipers from the autofactors and they are reconditioned genuine ones. For example today I got 2 callipers for a golf, genuine vw recon ones and I returned the old ones. Reconditioned genuine parts are much better than spurious new ones imo.