wow, try and figure this out, the dealership wants 150 dollars for the wiper fluid pump on my commuter, but Amazon sells them for, I shit you not, 80% / one fifth that amount, just 30 dollars
and that is exactly the part number the nice parts guy at the dealership showed me:
just what the hell is up with such a rip off? Some mark up is expected, most sales are 300% of wholesale, but this situation is 500%!!
Very common practice this side of the pond! The repair shops are working with 300-500% margin on parts, oil, filters, etc. I said "OK, that is enough" when the technician - very nice guy by the way - accidentaly showed to me they are using a "low shelf" brand oil instead of the factory recommended expensive one. So I begged as long to my brother-in-law, he was finally caved in to take care about my car's yearly maintenance in his truck / heavy truck / semi truck service business. (Actually it was funny, they did not have oil filter removal tool small enough to fit my car. One of his guys went to the neighboring car service they are in good relation with to borrow one.) The price of the whole set of parts - oil / air filters, engine oil, brake fluid, spark plugs, break pads, pollen filter - was LESS then the dealership's official service was asking for the spark plugs only. OK, they did not put any margin on those - his older sister is my wife - but while I think 30-60% percent of margin are acceptable, 300-500% is a highway robbery.
And the cherry on the top of the cream was when we realized some very unprofessional job the dealership did on the car before. They changed a the break fluid two years ago, but did not opened the ABS control valve. So some old, abused break fluid remained in the system. My car - the brand in general - are well known about how sensitive to this, if you did not change brake fluid in every two year, the chemical compound of the fluid is starting to degrade and damaging the ABS control unit - some call it ABS cube. If you take care of it and change the fluid in time, you don't have to worry about it. What is really funny about it: you can only open the ABS valve with a service software with a computer connected to the car through the OBD II connector. They have a very expensive general software, with all the expansions for trucks. They was not sure if it is compatible with my car or not. Surprise, surprise! It was! Just imagine: How neglectful or badly trained was the technician at the official dealer!
Oh, by the way: You know the Lamborghini turn signal story? Those are originally cheap Ford parts: https://www.tiktok.com/@matarmstrongbmx/video/7187045666609171717?lang=en
That is working in small: There are Audi and Volkswagen parts that are far more cheaper if you order to a Skoda - the company somewhat cheaper brand in Europe and Middle-East, most of the times very reasonable deals compared to the other two. But you need to have a part number database for both brands to find those "same part, different part number"... Well... Let's call them "tricks".
And anyone would trust a car dealer! They probably started out selling used cars on a corner lot wearing plaid slacks and drinking coffee with bourbon out of a foam cup. I had friends doing that in the early 70s. Bought two vehicles from them and wish I still had both.
Very common practice this side of the pond! The repair shops are working with 300-500% margin on parts, oil, filters, etc. I said "OK, that is enough" when the technician - very nice guy by the way - accidentaly showed to me they are using a "low shelf" brand oil instead of the factory recommended expensive one. So I begged as long to my brother-in-law, he was finally caved in to take care about my car's yearly maintenance in his truck / heavy truck / semi truck service business. (Actually it was funny, they did not have oil filter removal tool small enough to fit my car. One of his guys went to the neighboring car service they are in good relation with to borrow one.) The price of the whole set of parts - oil / air filters, engine oil, brake fluid, spark plugs, break pads, pollen filter - was LESS then the dealership's official service was asking for the spark plugs only. OK, they did not put any margin on those - his older sister is my wife - but while I think 30-60% percent of margin are acceptable, 300-500% is a highway robbery.
ReplyDeleteAnd the cherry on the top of the cream was when we realized some very unprofessional job the dealership did on the car before. They changed a the break fluid two years ago, but did not opened the ABS control valve. So some old, abused break fluid remained in the system. My car - the brand in general - are well known about how sensitive to this, if you did not change brake fluid in every two year, the chemical compound of the fluid is starting to degrade and damaging the ABS control unit - some call it ABS cube. If you take care of it and change the fluid in time, you don't have to worry about it. What is really funny about it: you can only open the ABS valve with a service software with a computer connected to the car through the OBD II connector. They have a very expensive general software, with all the expansions for trucks. They was not sure if it is compatible with my car or not. Surprise, surprise! It was! Just imagine: How neglectful or badly trained was the technician at the official dealer!
Oh, by the way: You know the Lamborghini turn signal story? Those are originally cheap Ford parts:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.tiktok.com/@matarmstrongbmx/video/7187045666609171717?lang=en
That is working in small: There are Audi and Volkswagen parts that are far more cheaper if you order to a Skoda - the company somewhat cheaper brand in Europe and Middle-East, most of the times very reasonable deals compared to the other two. But you need to have a part number database for both brands to find those "same part, different part number"... Well... Let's call them "tricks".
Exactly the same thing happened to me with the wiper fluid jug on my wife's Mazda. I think the Amazon reservior cost about one tenth of the OEM part.
ReplyDeleteAnd anyone would trust a car dealer! They probably started out selling used cars on a corner lot wearing plaid slacks and drinking coffee with bourbon out of a foam cup. I had friends doing that in the early 70s. Bought two vehicles from them and wish I still had both.
ReplyDelete