In a message dated 9/16/2009 11:20:55 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
thargrav@HIWAAY.NET writes:

I have a  very different opinion.

A friend who is dead now, used to work on all  my stuff I could not get to,
would not let customers bring in their own  parts. He stated more than once
that he was tired of customers bringing in  used stuff that often was not in
any better shape than what he pulled off  and he was tired of customers
bringing in incorrect parts.

He would  let customers pick up & pay for parts with their own money
provided
he  ordered what was needed.

As far as cost is concerned? Shops do get a  discount, but they should, and
they should make a profit on the parts they  buy to install on your Vanagon.
It's just a part of business, like gasoline  at a gas station or milk from
WallyWorld.

Thanks,
Tom  Hargrave
256-656-1924

Our Web  Sites:
www.kegkits.com
www.stir-plate.com
www.andyshotsauce.com

-----Original  Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]  On Behalf Of
B
Feddish
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:25  PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Mechanics using customer  supplied parts.. Was bars leaks

>> If you have a mechanic that  refuses to warranty parts not purchased
through him, I can fully understand  his postion, however to refuse to
install anything that he didn't sell you  is an indicator that you need to
consider a new wrench.  As times get  tighter and the willing spenders
become
fewer in number some attitudes  along these lines will change.

My Vanagon Shop will install whatever  proper part you bring, but only
warranty the labor and installation, not  the part.  So if it falls off,
he'll fix it, if it breaks you pay to  fix it.  Pretty fair I'd say.  (Kudos
to StephansAutohaus,  Sacramento, an oasis of service and professionalism in
a desert of  mediocrity) <<

Good topic.  I've always had mechanics that  would put in parts that I knew
were considerably cheaper than what they  could get. My current mechanic had
no problem with it and would even stop  work to call me to say I need "x"
part and if I could get it cheaper at say  BD or somewhere else.  I never
abused this by showing up with spark  plugs and distributer caps but a $99
BD
muffler beats $300 from the dealer,  no matter if he added a "secret
markup".
Unfortunatly my mechanic had a  fallout with his partner and closed shop and
now he works for a shop nearby  as regular mechanic and the owner HATES that
I bring parts. He gave my wife  the nastiest look when she was dragging my
BD
EV muffler into the shop last  week. I even gave them the chance to find a
non-dealer muffler for the EV  and they cound not.  If they ever tell me to
stop bringing my own  stuff I'll find another mechanic.

Bryan

hey guys  what I do is tell the customer this,  first no  quarantee of any
kind, second if it is the wrong part and I have to reinstall  your old part
till the correct part comes in I have to charge you for the job  and then
again when I do it again, third if it is the wrong part and the vehicle  is
stuck on my lift then it is $50/hour when it is sitting there waiting on you
to get me the correct part.  last my labor rate for your parts just went
up.  This is when they normally tell me to get the correct  parts     later
mark  dearing