Suspension springs snapped!!

[Thom89]

Well within that senario I agree.  But I have always supplied brand new parts - typically from GSF - where they would get them from anyway.  I've just saved them the phone call.

Obviously any garage has to make some mark up on the parts, this is usually small, and fair, and to stay competitive, however there is one huge difference between lets say you and me phoning GSF, if you order the part, you get that part, If I order the part, I get the part and any likely variant of that part, just incase its been modified, and simply return if not needed..

Thom

[Thom89]

Thats news to me.  All the garages I've used have been happy to use parts I've supplied.

what happened to this part?

Do it yourself.  LEARN.

  cruel

Thom

[The Mighty Elvi]

Well within that senario I agree.  But I have always supplied brand new parts - typically from GSF - where they would get them from anyway.  I've just saved them the phone call.

Obviously any garage has to make some mark up on the parts, this is usually small, and fair, and to stay competitive, however there is one huge difference between lets say you and me phoning GSF, if you order the part, you get that part, If I order the part, I get the part and any likely variant of that part, just incase its been modified, and simply return if not needed..

Thom

Now, if I discoverd a garage was making a margin on parts I'd be horrified.  All the garages I have used have always been like for like on parts and make their money on the labour.

Cowboys. 

[The Mighty Elvi]

Thats news to me.  All the garages I've used have been happy to use parts I've supplied.

what happened to this part?

Do it yourself.  LEARN.

Followers of Elvi would know from my posts that there have been occasions where I have had to use my local garage, as a last resort.

The only two were:

1. siezed caliper at MOT time.  I got a new one, they fitted it. Then completed the MOT
2. I had purhcased new Brembo pads and discs, and a full exhaust system.  Not having a ramp, it only made sense to use my local garage fit them all at the same time.  This  in no way say that I am not competent to do the jobs myslef.


 In point of fact, I have done all these jobs when previously I had access to a ramp, so nothing for me to learn.


As my local garage is owned and run by a school friend, I know I get a good service.

Jonathan.

[swampy50]

Well within that senario I agree.  But I have always supplied brand new parts - typically from GSF - where they would get them from anyway.  I've just saved them the phone call.

Obviously any garage has to make some mark up on the parts, this is usually small, and fair, and to stay competitive, however there is one huge difference between lets say you and me phoning GSF, if you order the part, you get that part, If I order the part, I get the part and any likely variant of that part, just incase its been modified, and simply return if not needed..

Thom

Now, if I discoverd a garage was making a margin on parts I'd be horrified.  All the garages I have used have always been like for like on parts and make their money on the labour.

Cowboys. 

Most garages charge list price for parts, but get them at a discount from the suppliers (anywhere from 5-30%). So although they're not charging more for the part than the punter could get them for, they aremaking a small profit on each part..

[Thom89]

Well within that senario I agree.  But I have always supplied brand new parts - typically from GSF - where they would get them from anyway.  I've just saved them the phone call.

Obviously any garage has to make some mark up on the parts, this is usually small, and fair, and to stay competitive, however there is one huge difference between lets say you and me phoning GSF, if you order the part, you get that part, If I order the part, I get the part and any likely variant of that part, just incase its been modified, and simply return if not needed..

Thom

Now, if I discoverd a garage was making a margin on parts I'd be horrified.  All the garages I have used have always been like for like on parts and make their money on the labour.

Cowboys. 

Cowboys.... really?!
What if I could get parts from lets say GSF again 10% cheaper than any other garage in my area, simply because I spend a huge amount of money with then every year, overheads costs of a garage are astronomical, before you even open the doors, or pay the staff, surely that save 10% is better being put back into the business, and used to keep the garage running in lean times, while still providing a fantastic level of service to loyal customers, from loyal staff...
Cowboys, I don't see how that even enters the equation!

Thom

[The Mighty Elvi]

Well within that senario I agree.  But I have always supplied brand new parts - typically from GSF - where they would get them from anyway.  I've just saved them the phone call.

Obviously any garage has to make some mark up on the parts, this is usually small, and fair, and to stay competitive, however there is one huge difference between lets say you and me phoning GSF, if you order the part, you get that part, If I order the part, I get the part and any likely variant of that part, just incase its been modified, and simply return if not needed..

Thom

Now. To be fair.  On reading that it is fair to assume that it meant charging the customer more for the parts.  Hence my reply.

If however it is garage profit from discount, then I have no beef.

Jonathan.

[Thom89]

This is what I don't understand then with your replies, if its OK for us to make a profit out of the extra discount we get, then why cant the garage that doesn't make it put 10% on to help make ends meet... It seems to be a common misconception these days, that anyone that owns/runs a garage is ripping people off, do you question the price when you go to GSF about the price you pay, their mark up, is most likely considerably higher than ours...

Thom

[AudiA8Quattro]

All garages i've ever used always mark up prices on parts, and by quite a bit.
They also don't like fitting parts supplied by the customers.
Not that i use garages much 

In point of fact, I have done all these jobs when previously I had access to a ramp, so nothing for me to learn.

What's wrong with just using a jack and axle stands?
I'm better than you today 

[The Mighty Elvi]

today you can directly go to the parts supplier of your service supplier.  For heating/plumbing you can go to The Parts Centre. For builders you can go to screwfix or a builders merchant. For car parts you can go to GSF etc..

I cannot see any justification as to why plumbers/builders/garages should put a mark up on prices when ALL they are doing is phoning up and ordering stuff.

Where is the added value to justify the margin?

People who accept such practices are either incompetent or mugs.

If you got a builder round to build an extension and he said it would take 500 breeze blocks. Would you be a bit annoyed if he charged you 80p a block when you could have phoned up the builders merchant yourself and bought them for 60p.

Garages are not retail. They don't hold stock to sell to joe public.  They operate to fix problems. They order the necessary parts to fix the problem and are paid for their time and effort in doing so.

If a garage can get good discount at a parts supplier and make margin when charging me the same, then that is good business practice.  But when a garage charges me more for the part than I can get it myself, I see no justification.