Are these manufacturers getting sneaky with part numbers?

[The motor guy]

You would think I would learn by now to remove the part and then get the part number and order a new one, or atleast get the part numer off of the part when it's still installed vs just looking at some manufacturers part diagram. I just spend $375 on a pto clutch when I could have just gotten it straight from the manufacturer for half of that. The part number that ferris had for this pto wasn't even the same part number as the clutch that I pulled off. Warner pretty much makes all these pto clutches for most mowers and I already had what i thought was the original warner part #, but ferris changed that too. Lesson learned I guess. Honestly, I spent about an hour deciding whether it would be worth my while to return this one, pay their 15 percent restocking fee, return shipping etc and then getting the cheaper warner part number, but I finally got mad and just put the $400 clutch on that I wasted money on. Atleast it's fixed. The upside was that the neighbor came over and helped me out with it. We ended up lifting the front of the mower up with my tractor, since I was able to drop the clutch out from underneath with no problems, but couldn't see good enough laying on my back to get everything lined back up. I guess now I know why everyone lifts the front up like they do. All this time I kind of thought that was ridiculous lol

 

[shortyb]

Part numbers get all jumbled up when translated into Chinese .

 

[dnewton3]

Final OEMs often will assign their own part numbers to parts (subassemblies) they purchase and use in the final product. This is VERY common. In just about every industry.

You are often best served to see if you can find the original source part number of the subassembly and cut out the "middle man" (end supplier).

 

[JimPghPA]

One company I worked for made an electronic field interface unit ( controler ). It contained a microprocessor board with memory, a communications board, 2 boards to work together to work as a very good a to d that could pull small signals like the voltage from a thermocouple out of large background electric noise on the same wires, and 10 slots that the customer could load with a variety of input and output cards. We sold the base unit with the 10 slots empty for $15,000 back in the 80's. Sometimes Beckman would buy a batch of them ( 5 to 18 units ), remove our logo, stensel on their name, double the price and sell them as Becknan units.

Standard business practice. If it moves through their company, double the price.

 

[bdcardinal]

Final OEMs often will assign their own part numbers to parts (subassemblies) they purchase and use in the final product. This is VERY common. In just about every industry.

You are often best served to see if you can find the original source part number of the subassembly and cut out the "middle man" (end supplier).

Its a daily thing explaining Ford engineering numbers vs part numbers. Also when someone takes something apart and gives me a number, only to have that part serviced with the assembly.

 

[The motor guy]

One company I worked for made an electronic field interface unit ( controler ). It contained a microprocessor board with memory, a communications board, 2 boards to work together to work as a very good a to d that could pull small signals like the voltage from a thermocouple out of large background electric noise on the same wires, and 10 slots that the customer could load with a variety of input and output cards. We sold the base unit with the 10 slots empty for $15,000 back in the 80's. Sometimes Beckman would buy a batch of them ( 5 to 18 units ), remove our logo, stensel on their name, double the price and sell them as Becknan units.

Standard business practice. If it moves through their company, double the price.

I didn't know you could do that. I thought you had to become a dealer. So I can just buy up a few of these pto clutches, add a $150 to the price and flip it on ebay?

 

[bdcardinal]

I didn't know you could do that. I thought you had to become a dealer. So I can just buy up a few of these pto clutches, add a $150 to the price and flip it on ebay?

If you are good at grinding off their logo and adding yours, go for it. Also a MSRP is just that, suggested.

 

[The motor guy]

If you are good at grinding off their logo and adding yours, go for it. Also a MSRP is just that, suggested.

It's just the manufacturers logo and a common part number is all. No body puts their own logo on the actual part. I guess this is how it works. Back when I worked in a warehouse they bought a part probably from wherever, then shipped it to the warehouse so we could take out whatever business card or stickers on the box and then installed our own stickers and packing tape, etc.

There used to be a time when you couldn't buy straight from the factory. Now it seems like they'll sell to anyone.

 

[nbpt100]

It's just the manufacturers logo and a common part number is all. No body puts their own logo on the actual part. I guess this is how it works. Back when I worked in a warehouse they bought a part probably from wherever, then shipped it to the warehouse so we could take out whatever business card or stickers on the box and then installed our own stickers and packing tape, etc.

There used to be a time when you couldn't buy straight from the factory. Now it seems like they'll sell to anyone.

The internet makes that so much easier. If they can cut out the middle man that is more profit for them. Do you actually think they will share the cost savings with the customer?

 

[The motor guy]

The internet makes that so much easier. If they can cut out the middle man that is more profit for them. Do you actually think they will share the cost savings with the customer?

Idk, I'd guess each guy hikes the price up about 30 percent leading to roughly 100 percent markup but the time it gets to the end user. Depends on the item though. Sometimes they'll mark it up as much as they can as long as they can still sell it.

 

[The motor guy]

I ended up just installing a new clutch. I guess that bearing was getting tight the last year or so. I was wondering why the engine was kind of hunting up and down a little bit above idle. All this time I thought it was the governor out of whack a little bit. Nope. She runs steady as can be. Funny thing is my boat did the same thing where it would idle up and down plus or minus about 50rpm. Drove me nuts, until one day the bearing in the bell housing seized up and had to be towed in. two bearings stalled a 350 sbc

 

[97prizm]

Final OEMs often will assign their own part numbers to parts (subassemblies) they purchase and use in the final product. This is VERY common. In just about every industry.

You are often best served to see if you can find the original source part number of the subassembly and cut out the "middle man" (end supplier).

I'm seeing this on a Carquest oem water pump on my Cavalier. The part number is different than the one at three different auto parts stores. It looks like a Gates water pump.