Important: The following is a text only archive!
For full features; Go to custom shop question -parts cost
Hey, I am new here, but this looks like a place with a lot of good info.
My dad took his 59 apache to a custom shop for an overhaul, and I had a
question for you about parts cost. The invoice has the suppliers listed
and a cost per item, but when I look up how much the parts cost it looks
like the prices are all padded by about 10% I thought maybe they were
including the sales tax, but they are charging us the tax separately (and
the shipping too)... I just wanted to see if this is mark-up normal
practice, or something I should question them about.
Thanks for the advice
gflo77
Most shops will mark-up parts prices. Some of this is to make some profit
on the parts, the other part of this is there is a small administrative
cost involved in buying things (ordering the parts, paying bills, sorting
out parts shipments, etc.) which must be accounted for in pricing
tbaxleyjr
*If* I have to take any of my vehicles to a shop, I always buy the parts
myself from good parts store. There are three well known named stores that
are located all over the USA that are usually close to everyone. Then I let
them put them on, usually all I get charged is for shop time and such. But
usually I do the work myself. Spending 20 - 30 dollars at a parts store for
a book on your vehicle is well worth the money. Some people think working
on a car is hard.. but if you can read and turn a wrench, you can fix
pretty much anything. Even if you don't have all the tools, some parts
stores will loan them out, for a deposit of course. But to answer your
question, yeah, shops that you get parts from that does the work also, will
always buy the parts(from the shop you probably checked the price on) and
then jack up the price to have profit.
SillyLights
ps.. Whats it like driving that old 59? I had the pleasure of driving one
for awhile and it was the big old steering wheel and no power steering and
was a chore in itself to keep on the highway cause it had so much play in
it. :orglaugh: I think it was about 3/4 of a revolution in play. Not very
fun when you're trying to do 70 down the highway. And no, I didn't have one
of those little knobs that assist in steering. :screwy:
SillyLights
some of the play could be front end work the truck needed, In some case,
the steering pre-load can be adjusted as well.others
tbaxleyjr
I have not driven it yet, my dad took it in almost a year ago to get power
steering put on and ended up with: power steering, ABS, air conditioning,
digital gauges, a stereo, new wheels, rebuilt transmission, new springs,
new front axle, had the bed redone, all the trim removed, new steering
wheel, floor shifter, all new window seals, and God knows what else...
Unfortunately my dad passed away a few weeks ago, two days after they
finished with the truck so he never got to drive it. I need to figure out
how to finish paying of the shop so I can take his truck home.
I was wondering about the parts mark up b/c I was hoping to negotiate a
reduction in the bill...
gflo77
Sorry to hear about your dad.
I can understand about the power steering. Good call there.
But unfortunately I doubt the shop will lower the price at all. I'd explain
your current situation and ask about making payments or something.
SillyLights
