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Author Topic: breakers, eh?  (Read 4128 times)

Offline Diamond Hell

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breakers, eh?
« on: 13 November 2008, 12:52 »
So, I need a headlight for a POS Golf3 that I'm helping a mate get through an MOT.

It's a diesel - just a cheap-assed daily, nothing AT ALL special, as Golf3s should be.

I need a replacement headlight for it, as the adjuster mechanism has sheared off inside the unit (because Golf3s are actually made of cheese).

Quick call to a well-known VW-specialist breaker near Chipping Sodbury.

'that'll be £20, plus VAT'

So I think - that seems a bit steep and I call Vee W Services in Bristol - £22.50 for a new unit.

Now, call me stupid, but if you're in the business of selling secondhand car parts, wouldn't you check to see how much common new things are?  Just to make sure you're not the same price, or near as dammit to the new price?

No, you wouldn't.  Do you know why?  Because you can always trot out the trump card:

'yeah but that'll be a mickey mouse copy one'

Hang on. 

1. The breaker doesn't know whether he's selling you a 'mickey mouse copy' or a genuine item - it's just one off a scrap car that might well be +10 years old (with brittle-as-hell plastic

2. You're not dealing with nearly-new vehicles here - you're dealing with almost end of life shonky motors and the people who drive them.  Do you really not understand that price is the over-riding factor in the maintenance of these vehicles?

3.  The 'mickey mouse copy' light is a static component - it really, really doesn't matter that it's not OEM quality.

As for the 'plus VAT' thing - that drives me up the wall - do you really not have sufficient guile to hide at least some of your cash transactions from the tax man?

I desperately want to meet a breaker who isn't a c*** - just to prove the rule that they all are.

I'll get back in my box now, shall I?
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Offline Wayne

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #1 on: 13 November 2008, 13:00 »
I gave up with breakers a long time ago, you no longer seem to be able to get s/h parts cheap.

You still can get the odd bargain through ebay but getting much harder.
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Offline Organisys

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #2 on: 13 November 2008, 13:18 »
I turn up at the breakers looking scruffy in old oily 'fix the car' clothes :sick:
I have a pocket of misc loose change and fluff, shrug and say that's all I have mate. :sad:
Works most of the time  :cool:
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Quote from: Mr Blue on 29 May 2013, 19:15
... it's turned into a fashion show for poofters.

Offline Diamond Hell

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #3 on: 13 November 2008, 13:20 »
Quote from: Organisys on 13 November 2008, 13:18
I turn up at the breakers looking scruffy in old oily 'fix the car' clothes :sick:
I have a pocket of misc loose change and fluff, shrug and say that's all I have mate. :sad:
Works most of the time  :cool:

I always aim to look like I've crawled out of a ditch.

You should try that trick at Yate Car Breakers - you'd get laughed off the site.
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sharpie

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #4 on: 13 November 2008, 13:23 »
yate are feckin jokers. tried to charge me a tenner for a golf 2 headlight. it also encourages people to 'forget' to pay for stuff by accidentally putting it in their pockets, if they know they will be robbed at the counter.

iirc beavis had his toolbox searched on way out once?
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Offline eightyeightmph

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #5 on: 13 November 2008, 13:59 »
Quote from: Organisys on 13 November 2008, 13:18
I turn up at the breakers looking scruffy in old oily 'fix the car' clothes :sick:
I have a pocket of misc loose change and fluff, shrug and say that's all I have mate. :sad:
Works most of the time  :cool:

Works for me! ;)
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2016 GOLF GTD

Offline golf newbie

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #6 on: 13 November 2008, 17:41 »
one of my great past times nicking stuff out out of scrapyard. :smiley:
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Offline Mew

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #7 on: 13 November 2008, 18:53 »
I was after a manual window mech for a 3 door. Asked the guy and he came out with 2 off the shelf from a mk2 golf but didn't know if they were 3 door or 5 door. I said i need a 3 door as they're different "ah we aint got no gti's" was his reply, "nah doesn't need to be gti, just 3 door" and so it went on. Then we got to the price, he wanted 15 quid plus vat per side, i said "well what if i said they're £12 each brand new from gsf". His reply was "so?"

pikey cock
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Offline mk4luke

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #8 on: 13 November 2008, 19:04 »
i have had a few bits from there nearly stolen, but i though better of it and paid £2 for a break light switch heard they was a fair whack for VW so went to the local pikey site i mean breakers :grin:
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Offline Mr Blue

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Re: breakers, eh?
« Reply #9 on: 13 November 2008, 19:13 »
Most breakers ive met have been C*nts. One b!tched about a car they didnt collect personaly.

I do break cars now and then but give parts away if someone pops round to collect.

Come to me for an engine... leave with a free interior deals :laugh:


Alot of numptys dont realise that VW are sometimes cheaper than patern/second hand parts. Soo dont know the score :rolleyes:
« Last Edit: 13 November 2008, 19:21 by Mr Blue »
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:)
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