Price differences.Go figure

Anonymous-0 · Apr 27, 2009

Figure this out. I went to price a clutch kit for my KIA today. Local parts store wanted almost 400 dollars for the set (Sachs brand). Sachs factory is a block away from the store. I go on Rockauto.com and get a Sachs clutch kit for $97 plus shipping. Same thing a few years ago with a Bosch starter for my truck 450 bucks here and 67 at rock auto.

Just thought I'd share that.

Dave

Nancy Howell · Apr 27, 2009

If you ever figure it out, I'd like to know, too.

CWL · Apr 27, 2009

It's funny how that stuff works. I was pricing a gooseneck hitch for my pickup last fall. I bought the truck used and it had a hitch in it before that had been removed. For ease of installation I wanted the same brand of hitch. It is made in Northern Kansas. I called a local dealer in Wichita Kansas for pricing. Then I found the same hitch online from a dealer in Minnesota. I ordered it from them for about $100 less in total cost. I got the hitch delivered to me the next day shipped direct from the factory in Kansas. I'm all for supporting local dealers, but there comes a point when you have to look out for yourself first.

Ultradog MN · Apr 27, 2009

How about this one:
Friend of mine needs a brake adjusting screw for a 67 Ford 3000 Tractor. Only place we can find to buy one is at CNH. $168!
A friend of his says no. Go to NAPA and buy the adjusting screw for a 85 2 ton Ford truck.
He checks and they are identical. NAPA price: $9
Don't know how his friend knew that but we're glad he did.

noncompos · Apr 27, 2009

Having sold a few auto parts in the way way back, I can say:
Local store may buy in small amounts, from regional distributor (or if chain store may be required to do so), with each step adding its profit, raising final retail store price;
Local store almost certainly does smaller business, requiring higher profit per item;
Rockauto probably either buys in much larger amounts, or does enough total business can get massive discounts per item from mfr, as well as being able to operate on a smaller retail profit margin per item.
It's murder on the little local dealer, but that's business...(not that some local dealers haven't made a good thing out of being the only parts place handy when you can't wait for a mail delivery, and haven't adjusted to UPS etc and the internet).

just another old geezer · Apr 27, 2009

Here's another one aling those same lines. My brother has a friend who workes on a plant that makes electronic parts for cars. He makes a winshield wiper delay switch for GM. they make this switch and put it out the door for under $4. when he needed one he called a dealer for a price. $140. he told the dealer it only cost GM $4 for that switch. Parts man told him he was nuts and that there was no way that that switch could be built for that .He told the parts man to look on the back of the switch, then quoted him the Mfg number. THEN HUNG UP ON HIM!!

Goose · Apr 27, 2009

Once when I owned a Mercury car, I needed a heater control unit. The same part, with the same FoMoCo part number, cost twice as much at a Mercury dealer as at a Ford dealer.

Price differences.Go figure

Anonymous-0

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Nancy Howell

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CWL

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Ultradog MN

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noncompos

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just another old geezer

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Goose

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