Crazy Parts Prices from Manufacturers

Powertour wrote:
Recent eye-opener.

Got a burnt out marker light on my Demco dolly on my last trip. Called Demco, parts dude quoted me $30 (plus shipping) :R.

Went on Amazon & got the OEM part for about $7 shipped.

I can see some mark up but my goodness.... don't these companies realize there's such thing nowadays as the internet?

They don't care. If your stupid enough to pay their asking price then they make a lot of money, if you don't oh well they get their paycheck at the end of the week. Parts people are some of the dumbest marketing people on the face of the earth.

I had to deal with them during my career in the automotive industry and not one had any idea of customer service or marketing.

It's like people who buy Harbor Freight tools then sell them on Ebay for twice what they paid at Harbor Freight or elsewhere.

If they get their asking price, good. If not, they can lower the price and still make money.

It pays to shop around.

They are not a parts supply house. They offer spare parts as a “courtesy” for their customers. It’s not worth their time to provide competitive pricing, or try to compete with Amazon, eBay, Walmart.

Shop, shop, shop. When I was looking for a baseplate for our Explorer I found the prices varied by $100 and in between. The cheapest ended up being from Walmart (actually someone that sells through Walmart’s site). It was a new Roadmaster baseplate in OE packaging.

It pays to shop around.

“don't these companies realize there's such thing nowadays as the internet?”

Can’t think of a business that doesn’t offer some service or part that they really don’t want to perform or sell. It’s so they can say “we sell parts or we’ll service or fix it.” This isn’t a new trend...well known.

Don't dump on the parts people, they have to follow the rules and go by whatever the computer tells them. Yes, patrs and accessory pricing can be ridiculous. I ran a fleet of light and medium duty trucks, a ten ply pickup tire listed at $245. I paid $156 and the dealer made money, it was obscene. I have met very knowledgable counter persons, others would have trouble tying their shoes.

Several years ago, a nice, shiny, brand new AutoZone opened near me.
When a fog light (3 inch sealed beam) on the motorhome burned out, I thought I would give them a try, so I popped the old one out and took it in.
Me: (holding the sealed beam up for the counterman to see) I need one of those.
Counterman, moving towards computer: What is it out of?
Me: 2002 Fleetwood motorhome.
Counterman, turning away from computer: Oh, I don't have parts for one of those!
He didn't look at the GE number on the bulb, made no effort to find out if he had one or a similar one!
Me: OK (turned and left).
I have never been back.
I often wonder, though, what he would have said if I had been looking for parts for the Ford engine or transmission...

Mowermech - It's like a meme I recently saw where someone goes into an Autozone needing to replace the clutch in their 19-whatever-year BMW car. Autozone dude asks them if the car is a standard or automatic.......

Sad part is I would bet that really happened.

I like shifting a clutching automatic.

Go into NAPA, "I need oil filter for 2016 Ford, F53, V-10." "You mean an F-350?" Back and forth with this, still can't find it. He ask me again and I replied "No, F53, it is a motor home chassis." He finally produces one.

I get home and get online to NAPA, select my MH in my profile, search for oil filter, yep there it is. At least I was given the proper filter.

Then on the other hand I have gone in with a bearing out of my utility trailer, the number mostly obscured, guy looks at it, takes some calipers and measures it, and tells me to give him some time. I told him no rush, I'm going to go get a sandwich and I'll be back in half hour or so. Had it on the counter when I got back.