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Parts prices

J

jammy

New member
Can anyone explain (besides the obvious answer that they want to rip you off) why a garage would give me a quote to replace FR tie rod and wheel bearing and charge 4x - 6x the price for the parts compared to QUALITY (OEM or equivalent) parts that you can buy on-line? (Rockauto, even Amazon auto)???? :th_scratchhead:

$240 for a $40 wheel bearing! This is the parts price only. Labor is $100.
 


It's how shops make money. Plain and simple.

Because you need the part and have to pay labor, but the shops makes alot less on the labor because most of that money will go to the mechanic doing the job.

For a basic tie rod end, marking it up that high is getting ripped off. In the shop I work in, figure the part costs us 15 bucks, we will charge 40 bucks then the .8 hours for labor. Add your tax and the cost to have the car aligned and it's just over 200-250 bucks.


Or like a wheel bearing, it may cost us 80 bucks for a SKF from napa, but we charge 200 because it's still cheaper than a dealership price for a new unit but slightly higher than what someone can walk in off the street and get it for. And the reason for that is warranty, people that bring in there own parts often don't get the added warranty from the shop because they didnt buy from them.

I don't know how much they are asking for these parts but it's kinda how it can work. Some places will rape you more than others.
 
Do you think you get the benefit of paying the prices for parts that the shop gets? A carpenter gets for wood? Electrician for lights? Of course not, there is always a mark up for more reasons than just raping you. I.e., do you know the correct type of wood or lighting fixture to use? Part needed for the car? Is diagnostic or engineering free? Of course not! How about the time to order and handle the material? Storage? Of course not... Then there's the ol' - geeeeee, my brake lines weren't leaking until you touched the car! Lolz...

Anyways, an educated consumer is always best. Get a quote on the work, shop it around or do it yourself, don't forget to factor in the time you will take -vs- someone who's done it a 100x and the biiish factor, meaning you do it yourself and it's screwed up, you got nobody to biiish at! Hahahaha... Of course add the alignment $ : )

$240 for a bearing isn't such a bad price imo... You can also pay the premium mark up for better parts or ask if they'll install a part you supply and just charge labor. Lol
 
@coolone: I'm not trying to deny anyone's right to make a living, and I do understand the value a professional can add. My only question is why they would mark up the parts so ridiculously high. In the old days, when the consumer had no way of shopping, it was a different matter. But now, in a few clicks I can determine the retail price of any part and the darn website even helps me find the right part for my car and gives me choices ranging from economy to performance grade.

I am tempted to tell his guy that I will provide the parts, settle for no warranty, and pay him DOUBLE his labor costs. I still come out ahead.

You also have to see it in context. I have a 1999 GP with only 90K miles. The car is in great shape, and I only put on about 500 miles a year. I'm 60. This thing is going to outlive me!

I have seriously thought of doing it myself. I am capable, but have too many other projects going on. If I did do it, I could buy a few needed quality tools to do the job and even pass those down for generations.

Anyway, I will find an honest garage and get the work done. But I won't pay 6x for parts.
 
FYI if you only pay $40 for a wheel bearing then you will be replacing it again shortly. The good ones are around $100.
 
even if you dont have any tools righ tnow, you could buy tools, a large socket, rent a torque wrench for free and still do the hub cheaper then the shop. and you own a tool set now. you can get a 30 pc socket set for like 30 bucks at lowes or home depot, hubs are damn, easy to change, the tie rod end even easier. if one side is bad the other side is sure to follow, change both of them, them take it for a alignment.

shops mark up parts. their labor is not free either. they have huge over head. working on your own car....priceless... literally.
 


stealthee said:
FYI if you only pay $40 for a wheel bearing then you will be replacing it again shortly. The good ones are around $100.
Click to expand...
This, el cheapo bearings don't last. I had one last about 7k before it started howling and having play. Replaced with Timkin and almost 20k later no problems.

Sent from the Milky Way
 
Speedy1973 said:
Timkin or Moog ftmfw
Click to expand...

This!

Or else there's a chance you'll be replacing them again.

I go with Moog simply because its easily available from advance... Then I can use coupon codes and it's a easy warranty exchange if it goes out no need to send it in the mail etc then wait for a replacement.
 
If you don't like how much a shop charges to do something then do it yourself.

You don't have the tools or know how to do it yourself........that's exactly why they charge that much. (And also because people like to sue over everything and shops have to pay astronomical amounts of money for insurance to cover their ass and that money has to come from somewhere)

And also 240 dollars for a wheel bearing isn't 4x to 6x the cost of one. Maybe 3x at best. They aren't putting the 40 dollar rock auto bearing on your car. About the only thing those bearings are good for is a car your gonna put in a demo derby.
 
OK, thanks for all the answers/advice. I agree, it's more like 2x or 3x when you look at Moogs. Quite reasonable. PEACE!
 


If anything buy the bearing yourself from advance and use a coupon code and pick up in store.. That way you'll have the receipt so if you do have to warranty it out you can be the shop giving you a run around. Then maybe pay for the labor if your not able to put it on yourself.
 
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