even when i'm wealthy...

[ptownTSI]

I will refuse to pay shop prices. Since i'm in town on winter break I went to get a quote to change the struts on my dads first gen GS300 with oem replacements. $1054.42. $631 for parts and $423 for labor. the lexus dealer wants $1200

I can get the parts from a lexus dealer in texas, with 12 month unlimited mileage warranty for $275 shipped ... time to break out the spring compressor.

Hoy Fox in Texas doesn't sell parts for less than they get them for, so that means the lexus dealer here wants to make $500 profit on top of the $275 price that already includes a profit and shipping. It makes me sick. I can't think of another industry that rapes people this bad.

[Mike325]

Welcome to the world of auto charge rape. Every shop that you bring your car to will try to get every penny from your pocket. I am not surprized by the high price, it is everyday practice at any auto shop in the world. That is why doing it yourself saves you a crap load of cash.

[JGood]

I will refuse to pay shop prices. Since i'm in town on winter break I went to get a quote to change the struts on my dads first gen GS300 with oem replacements. $1054.42. $631 for parts and $423 for labor. the lexus dealer wants $1200

I can get the parts from a lexus dealer in texas, with 12 month unlimited mileage warranty for $275 shipped ... time to break out the spring compressor.

Hoy Fox in Texas doesn't sell parts for less than they get them for, so that means the lexus dealer here wants to make $500 profit on top of the $275 price that already includes a profit and shipping. It makes me sick. I can't think of another industry that rapes people this bad.

Something doesn't add up. If you get a price quote for parts from a Lexus dealer, and do the same thing with another Lexus dealer, you will not likely find that one is over double the price of the other. Are you sure you asked for the same part number and everything?

Is this place in Texas an actual Lexus dealership or just a parts distributor? That price seems awfully cheap. What exactly are you getting, new strut inserts or full strut assemblies? If you didn't specify, the more expensive dealer may have gave you a price for full struts and your price from the Texas place may be just inserts. If that's the case, both of those prices are reasonable.

[ptownTSI]

it gets better...lets do some Dealership math together.

so then I just called hoy fox... $250 for struts from the parts department, but somehow magically the price is staying the same as it would be from the lexus dealer here.

instead of $500 labor and $750 parts, they want $250 parts and $1000 labor.

what a bunch of crooks, this is hilarious.

[ptownTSI]

this is just for the strut, they don't use an insert. all prices are for the same OEM lexus part.

$750 for parts from local lexus dealer
$631.42 for parts from Big O tires (buying from local lexus dealer)
$250 for parts from Hoy Fox Lexus (El paso, texas)

$500 for labor from local lexus dealer
$423 for labor from big O tires
$1000 labor from Hoy Fox Lexus.

[Mike325]

$500 for labor from local lexus dealer
$423 for labor from big O tires
$1000 labor from Hoy Fox Lexus.

Doing it yourslef-Priceless.

[JGood]

this is just for the strut, they don't use an insert. all prices are for the same OEM lexus part.

$750 for parts from local lexus dealer
$631.42 for parts from Big O tires (buying from local lexus dealer)
$250 for parts from Hoy Fox Lexus (El paso, texas)

$500 for labor from local lexus dealer
$423 for labor from big O tires
$1000 labor from Hoy Fox Lexus.

Well there ya go, it's simply manipulation of prices to effect the cusomters outlook on the cost of the job. Some shops believe it's better to impress the customer with low prices, and upcharge in labor. Others believe the opposite. It's a dealer, they are the only place gaurunteed to do ALL repair work on your car. Some garages will turn down BMW's, Mercedes, Lexus, etc... It's the price you pay for the QoS (supposedly).

I guess my question is why don't you get KYB replacements for $80?

[ptownTSI]

KYB's are $170 or so off of ebay, and i'd rather have OEM lexus parts. they lasted 100k miles... kyb's will definitely not. i have had piss poor luck with anything aftermarket lasting for shit compared to OEM, and this is going on my dads commuter.

[JGood]

KYB's are $170 or so off of ebay, and i'd rather have OEM lexus parts. they lasted 100k miles... kyb's will definitely not. i have had piss poor luck with anything aftermarket lasting for shit compared to OEM, and this is going on my dads commuter.

I'd be suprised if KYB shocks don't last 100k miles under normal conditions on a stock vehicle. They are an OEM part aren't they?

That said, if you can get Lexus parts for $275 shipped, it's not much more, and probably worth it if you've got extra money laying around.

My Bilstein Sports have like 150,000 miles on them. Not many factory shocks can do that and still work perfect. My factory shocks were trashed when I took them off at 160,000.

[ptownTSI]

well bilsteins are pretty nice shocks, they aren't available for this lexus from what i've found. only expensive stuff from Tanabe or coilovers from japan outside of OEM or KYB.

[Dave]

I'd bet a dollar to a donut that the OEM part is KYB. They are on most Toyotas. Toyota doesn't make its own shocks and struts.

[JGood]

I'd bet a dollar to a donut....

That is great. I LOL'd.

[AdironRider]

Its called providing a service. 99% of people in the country couldnt tell a wrench from a screwdriver, let alone have the knowledge or motivation to do it themselves. In turn shops can charge as much as the demand will allow, its the same in any other industry. Sucks, but thats the way the world works.

All you really do is bitch and post useless crap huh?

[Dave]

Think of it more as how much you are saving by doing it DIY. Not how much the dealer is "screwing" you.

That fancy waiting area with the leather sofas, the plasma TV, the latte machine, WiFi and work stations at the dealership (at least at my Lexus dealer) costs them a ton of money - but most of their customers make use of it. I know the two times I took mine in under warranty for little things, I liked it. Only way it'd be better is if they had an open bar and lap dances.

The other things my dealer has are valet service (they will either come pick up your car at work/office, or will shuttle you around when you car is in) and "free" car washes as long as you own your car. I really should take better advantage of it.

All that adds up. And if its what 80% of your demographic wants, and they can pay the higher rates, you go with it.

Most higher end car customers will pay the higher rates because they like the service and because they believe they have a more sophisticated/complex car - which in some ways is true.

[ptownTSI]

I just called Hoy Fox, they are true OEM parts....and NOT KYB.