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Subject:Parts and Repair shops
From:Joel Cort
Date:Tue, 21 Sep 1999 10:21:29 -0700

Hi Steve,

We are not so lucky to find alternate shops here in
Rochester. We are kinda stuck with only 3 shops in our
area and 2 of them deal with their own suppliers.  The
third shop wanted me to get my own parts and would
have welcomed any parts I brought in. The problem was
that the shop was booked for another month. (he only
does VWs and is always busy)

We are just complaining but really happy campers ;-)

Joel

--- Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM wrote:
> Get a new mechanic.  My mechanic lets me have BD of
> Volks Cafe ship directly to his shop, with NO mark
> up.
>
> Alan Bosch wrote:
> >
> > One expects various pricing differences between
> dealer and independent
> > parts suppliers.  That's why parts distributors
> like BusDepot are able to
> > flourish.  Where I have trouble is independent
> repair shops charging
> > dealer-like prices for their parts, when it's no
> secret that there are much
> > more cost effective suppliers out there.
> >
> > Case in point:  A local repair shop recently
> charged $500 each for new
> > heads on a 2.1L Westy.  That price was the just
> for the parts.  When it was
> > pointed out to the shop that heads could be bought
> for $400 from Bus Depot,
> > a flat "We don't buy from them" was issued.  Well,
> why not?  "Because we
> > mark our parts up".  No problem.  Buy from
> BusDepot and charge me $450 a
> > head. It's worth it to me, and I understand you
> need to make a living too.
> > "No.  We can't."  End of discussion.  End of
> story.
> >
> > Too, there's a huge cap between suppliers.
> Comparing prices between Ron
> > and say Parts Place must be an eye opening
> experience for the uninitiated.
> >
> > Alan Bosch
> > & Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
>

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