Dealership Parts Counter Prices

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The Critic

The Critic

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I have been finding lately, that for many maintenance parts, I can purchase the genuine part from the dealership for about the same price as the lesser aftermarket parts. Also, I have found that with a bit of effort, I have usually been able to convince the dealership parts counters to match the price of the online OEM parts sites.

Do any of you do this on a regular basis, or am I the only who is crazy enough to try and politely haggle with the dealership parts counter?
 
I give you kudos sir for trying. I cant imagine that working on anything these days. The type of store I swear that will haggle with you is a pawn shop or gun store. I never pay asking price for anything in those stores.
 
The haggling thing depends really. We will make the customer show the website and then we will match that with shipping on occasion.

And ya a lot of times the OEM part isn't that much more than the aftermarket part. On a lot of parts like gaskets we have found that aftermarket is actually more expensive than OEM.
 
I've got two BMW service departments not far from me. Surprisingly, each one has different part prices. Sometimes the first one has something for less. Sometimes it's the second one. In any case, I'll usually call both to check prices first. Then I'll go to the one which happens to be on my way that day, even if they're the more expensive one. When I get there, I tell them that the other dealer has it for less. They have no problem price-matching. And when you factor in shipping, the dealer price is usually very close to the on-line price.
 
Strangely, the one time I asked if they'd price match an online dealer the guy didn't ask for the source or ask for shipping. But I later found out that the price from the online dealer, which was courtesy, was only 15% off from sticker-- which is probably why they had no problem price matching that.
 
I live in a small town. The local dealers seem to charge retail+ for all parts. Even heavy parts shipped in are cheaper. Tried to get them to match online parts and they said they have overhead which won't allow it.
Like an online dealer doesn't have overhead.
 
All depends on the dealer owner. Some just can never make enough money to make them happy so the parts/service departments are forced to try to sell more parts, many times over suggested retail prices. We are paid on commission in our parts department, and do a fairly large amount of sales, but the owner takes the first $30,000 of profit each month for himself and we get paid on 2.5% of whatever we make above that amount. Seems fair, right?.....
 
My local Toyota dealer also has an online presence. So whenever I needed an OEM filter or something, I'd print out the page from the website and bring that in and they'd give me that price. It was almost always cheaper than buying aftermarket.

Now, my local Honda dealer isn't as user friendly with prices, and pretty much says, "take it or leave it."
 
I've done it. The local ford/hyundai dealer will haggle easily. Advance will price match autozone and their own website.
 
Most stores have management with the intelligence to realize you need volume to stay in business. And business volume is down. A reasonable discount to keep old business and attract new business just makes sense.

In my younger days (before I got into the business) I'd go into a dealership parts department, explain that I was rebuilding a '69 Camaro, and had a budget of $xxxx.

The counterperson would confer with the manager and come back with something like "The manager says if you spend $xxx or more here on the project, we'll give you a XX% discount on everything you buy." Worked well for both of us.
 
Originally Posted By: rat
...........but the owner takes the first $30,000 of profit each month for himself and we get paid on 2.5% of whatever we make above that amount. Seems fair, right?.....


If it is legal, then it is within his right to do what he sees fit with his business. Terms like "fair" and "right" do not come into play.
 
Dealerships have room on pricing.
They give shops and techs special rates, so they are not too concerned about giving it to a civilian customer.
A good attitude help immensely!
 
It depends on the part, but most of the time even the online price or commercial/mechanic price is about the same or little more than aftermarket retail at parts stores. But the quality is better. Most of the dealers and aftermarket part stores around here don't want to haggle much on price unless you are from another shop or have a commercial account.

Now if you compare online "quality" aftermarket to online OE, apples to apples, OE can be quiet a bit more expensive, for example, wheel hub $190 vs $90, struts $180 vs $60, pads and rotors $60 or more vs $20-30, tie rod $70 vs. $40, OE belts and hoses can be quite a bit more too etc. It's the parts like filters, plugs and obscure electrical and other parts where the price can be sometimes lower and much better quality.
 
Hootbro- rat wasn't disputing the legality of the owner's actions, or whether or not it is the owner's right to do as he pleases. He was talking about the morality of his actions. Terms like "fair" and "right" do not necessarily come into play when discussing legality, which seems to be your discussion. However, they DO come into play when discussing morality, which seems to be rat's discussion. To say those terms "do not come into play" as an absolute is a bit narrow-minded.

Originally Posted By: Hootbro

If it is legal, then it is within his right to do what he sees fit with his business. Terms like "fair" and "right" do not come into play.


Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Originally Posted By: rat
...........but the owner takes the first $30,000 of profit each month for himself and we get paid on 2.5% of whatever we make above that amount. Seems fair, right?.....


If it is legal, then it is within his right to do what he sees fit with his business. Terms like "fair" and "right" do not come into play.
 
Yeah I don't agree with the idea that terms or concepts, "like fair and right" should not come into play in business and only what is legal and illegal should matter. That is about everything that's wrong with society IMO. If a dealer parts department owner wants to run the department with near minimum wage and the resulting incompetent personel like a discount auto parts store but charge full suggested retail, it's not a place I'd would work or shop at. It sounds like short sided business policy to me.
 
With my previous 2004 Subaru the local dealer was one of those decent online seller/mail order.

I would place my order online(required) and simply choose pick up as option and avoid shipping. I would save a good amount over retail they charge by service or in person.
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Dealerships have room on pricing.
They give shops and techs special rates, so they are not too concerned about giving it to a civilian customer.
A good attitude help immensely!


You hit the nail on the head. Pricing is dependant upon attitude sometimes. I'm at the dealership level and I HATE when someone I've never seen before says "is that MY price?" I've warned my manager that one day I'm going to confront a customer on this and it's not going to be pretty. Try pulling that haggle tactic or "is that MY price?" at Wal-Mart or Kroger and see what happens.
 
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