Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives @#$%^ clutch

It's a little louder but not that much. I've run it at 70 since I got it fixed and it's not bad at all.

I have no problem with a shop obtaining the parts but I do have a big problem with them charging me more $$ for the parts than what I can buy them over the counter for...that's just outright gouging as I feel certain that shops get a discount on purchases so why gouge the client?

I've worked as a mechanic and I never liked the mark up on parts. Its ok to charge 300% on a headlight or similar part you have setting around waiting for a customer. But to charge 100% plus for something napa just dropped at your door on order, and the customer will pay for before you do, seems wrong. If labor does not pay the bills then charge more. I dont like to be deceived, even if the end bill is the same at least its all in the open. JMHO

Auto repair shops make their money from the sale of parts and labor. They are under no obligation to price-match. When you are given an estimate, it includes both labor and materials. You can chose to sign it or not.



100%? Come on! If they charged you more for labor, you'd bitch.

Do you go to the butcher shop with your own cow? What friggin chiselers!

I have no problem paying shops retail for parts, but the shops should and probably do get parts wholesale or at a big discount. My problem is when they mark them up way above retail. That is a bad business practice.
Example. I can buy a Dodge front end stabilize bar from Adavnced Auto for about $350. Shops can probably get it for less than $300 The last quote I got, the front end shop wanted $450 for the exact same bar. That shop does not get my business any more.

When I ran a shop - we didn't care if customers bought parts elsewhere so long as they understood we warranty what we do - the labor. Up to them to fight the parts.

Parts dept didn't like it but it forced them to be competitive. More than once I went into the parts mgr's office and told him to sharpen his pencil because if he doesn't - we lose parts AND labor. He did and often.

Years ago when I worked for an LTL trucking company, we had a regular stop to deliver parts to the local Chevy dealer. Box after box would be labeled JC Whitney. I bet they didn't charge JCW's prices, though.

i do most of my own work. If lift intensive i go to my former employer and we do it, i buy my parts through their store. I guess i should say my part time employer, since i still do casual driving for them. And yes sometimes 100% since shops dont pay over the counter retail and often charge suggested retail.