Getting ripped off on parts by shops. list vs retail?

[Maluco]

On top of expensive labor you have to get ripped off on parts as well. This shop is adding $100 on top of what I can get this control arm for directly from "BMW"! They bluntly state that is how they make money, by adding on top of what a part actually costs and that it helps them warranty the part/their work. I always knew this but since it is my first time actually having a shop do work and by also seeing the dollar difference in the part and what they are charging me for the part, I feel completely ripped the fk off!!!! Damn.

I'm stuck between buying the parts for less myself and having my tech cousin take forever to do the work or getting ripped off by these fkrs!!!!

[PeaveyBassist]

You would be surprised how much some stuff's list price is. My shop gets catalytic converters for a 740iL about $500 from WorldPac (list for about $1,000). Direct from the BMW Dealer we pay over $900 I think and list is almost $1400. Somethin like that lol. I dont remember exact numbers but its a lot. I think on e30m3 aluminum control arms we pay a little over $200ea and sell for $300ea.

Will

[Maluco]

You would be surprised how much some stuff's list price is. My shop gets catalytic converters for a 740iL about $500 from WorldPac (list for about $1,000). Direct from the BMW Dealer we pay over $900 I think and list is almost $1400. Somethin like that lol. I dont remember exact numbers but its a lot. I think on e30m3 aluminum control arms we pay a little over $200ea and sell for $300ea.

Will

Bro, you are absolutely right on the money!!! BMW will sell me the control arm and the bushings kit for $220 ($141 arm / $72 bushings). They are charging me $312. I really feel ripped off. I know it is the nature of the beast when it comes to working with shops but damn! At this rate I am going to be spending alot of money. I just don't have the patience to mess with my cousin anymore and there is no point in going to a half-ass shop either so I guess I am stuck. And from what I know, they won't let you buy the part and give it to them either, at least not with them void the warranty on their work. Crooked!

[PeaveyBassist]

At our shop, we will use customer's parts but unless the parts are straight from BMW (OEM Factory Parts) it is only guaranteed to a certain extent. Like... our work is, but not the parts. btw... Lemfoerder arms from BMAparts.com is $100ea and both front CAB's are $25 I believe. So $225 for arms/bushings. If you have the time/skill/patience, try changing these yourself. They really arent that hard to do. The only "difficult" part is getting the bushings onto the ends of the arms. You have to lube both bushing and arm up REALLLL good. Then push pretty hard. You can do this job with basic tools as well. Not hard at all. If you want more details just say so. We would be glad to help.

Will

[Maluco]

At our shop, we will use customer's parts but unless the parts are straight from BMW (OEM Factory Parts) it is only guaranteed to a certain extent. Like... our work is, but not the parts. btw... Lemfoerder arms from BMAparts.com is $100ea and both front CAB's are $25 I believe. So $225 for arms/bushings. If you have the time/skill/patience, try changing these yourself. They really arent that hard to do. The only "difficult" part is getting the bushings onto the ends of the arms. You have to lube both bushing and arm up REALLLL good. Then push pretty hard. You can do this job with basic tools as well. Not hard at all. If you want more details just say so. We would be glad to help.

Will

Thanks bro

[SchnellerVert]

Company needs to make money.

[Old'n'Slow]

Honda parts are WAY more expensive than BMW parts...

We have a '97 CR-V and the dealer wanted $108.25 per rotor for brakes! Just the part! The OE supplier is Aimco-Quay Morris. AutoZone had Aimco-branded rotors for $29.99 each. The markings are identical on the rotors...arrgh!

I got BMW rotors for under $40 at my dealer-nice warranty, too...

I own a bike shop, and at the end of the year, I end up getting to keep about $.03 from every dollar spent. That ain't much-and everyone from the government to the local charities has their hands out for a piece. I don't jack up my parts prices, but I do charge a fair rate for labor and I don't discount labor. "If you can't or won't do it yourself, then you shouldn't expect someone to do it for you for free" is the premise...

I guess this is why I do all my own work on my e30-I'm not willing to pay someone else $$ to do it because it needs little things so often. I find that my dealer, with CCA discount is often pretty close to internet, and it's nice to have easy return priviledges if I end up with a part that went unused...

[T.Dot E30]

stop ur whining, thats just how business works.

Buy your own parts and take it somewhere to get installed. But dont expect them to warranty it.

[rs4pro3]

Ya what he said, take an accouting class it will all make since, included in that's parts price, is the cost of the part it self, certain mark up to cover the guy's wages who unloads it off the truck etc..., the guy who sells it, utilities for the building etc.....

[SchnellerVert]

Or do it yourself.

[Rigmaster]

Sounds like they are gouging a bit.

Shops typically make a good bit of their money on parts, and most are open about that fact. But, most shops buy parts for some percentage less than "retail" or "list" price, then mark them up to retail or list to the customer- this seems to be the norm, and the shop IMHO makes a fair profit off the parts. So, if the price you got from BMW is their normal retail price, and the shop is marking it $100 OVER that price, then it sounds like it's time to find a new shop. If the price you quoted was with some sort of discount, then you don't have much of an arguement.

This is one of the main reasons I decided long ago to do my own work. I have not taken any of my cars to any shop in the past 20+ years, except for alignment and tires.

Bret.

[Maluco]

Sounds like they are gouging a bit.

Shops typically make a good bit of their money on parts, and most are open about that fact. But, most shops buy parts for some percentage less than "retail" or "list" price, then mark them up to retail or list to the customer- this seems to be the norm, and the shop IMHO makes a fair profit off the parts. So, if the price you got from BMW is their normal retail price, and the shop is marking it $100 OVER that price, then it sounds like it's time to find a new shop. If the price you quoted was with some sort of discount, then you don't have much of an arguement.

This is one of the main reasons I decided long ago to do my own work. I have not taken any of my cars to any shop in the past 20+ years, except for alignment and tires.

Bret.

Yeah, I will just bite the bullet this time. I will be buying parts retail and paying my cousin for labor from now on. (I'd still rather someone else do the work) I got to much other sh** to do and a whole lot of unwinding to catch up on during my spare time.

[AdironRider]

Dude either do your own work or pay the price. Simple as that. Theyre not price gouging its called running a business. Last time I checked mechanics arent rolling in the dough.

[Maluco]

Dude either do your own work or pay the price. Simple as that. Theyre not price gouging its called running a business. Last time I checked mechanics arent rolling in the dough.

I agree with you bro, I understand this is what it takes for them to run their business and to turn a profit, which every company has to do in order to stay in business. I understand that them ordering the part does entail some work as well.

I guess I am just crying really, it's the first time I pay a shop to buy parts and do work to my car. I've always called around and bought parts myself and hung around with my cousin while he did the work.

[HST]

Do the work yourself, it is half the fun. That way you "bond" with your car.