Do parts stores accept rebuildable cores anymore?

[Capt W]

In the course of maintaining my vehicles I've accumulated some rebuildable cores. Since I get most of my parts from Rock Auto, eBay, etc., I seldom deal with core charges. I'm trying to get rid of my old steering rack and an old alternator (both from a 2005 Caravan), but am wondering if parts stores will actually take them. Both are in proper boxes - from the new parts - so that's not an issue.

I popped into a local O'Reilly yesterday and asked a lady at the counter if they'll take them and send them in for rebuilding. She said "No, we only take old batteries and used oil." I asked what they do when someone buys something with a core charge, such as a starter or some calipers. She kind of shrugged and said "I haven't seen us take back any old parts...sorry. We will take them and throw them away for you if you'd like."

When I ran a parts store in the late-80s/early-90s, we were always glad to take rebuildable stuff from customers. Every week we built and wrapped a couple pallets of cores, which were sent back on our delivery trucks after we off-loaded. I understand times change, but don't the stores still do this?

I could certainly take the parts to the dump with no trouble, but would prefer they were rebuilt rather than tossed into a landfill. Anyone out there have success getting rid of cores? Hard to believe a parts store won't take them. And for the record, the lady at the counter didn't seem very knowledgeable (big shock, I know...).

 

[Hall]

I asked what they do when someone buys something with a core charge, such as a starter or some calipers. She kind of shrugged and said "I haven't seen us take back any old parts...sorry.

She doesn't know what she's talking about....

 

[slacktide_bitog]

They usually only take cores on rebuilt parts you bought from them

If you bought a rebuilt alternator from them, and they charged you a core charge, and you return the core in the same box, they will take it and refund the core charge. Otherwise, they usually don't.

Sometimes there is a time limit on core returns.

Depending on how long she has worked at that store, she might not have seen a core return or a core charge since all-new parts are getting more popular these days.

 

[Hall]

They usually only take cores on rebuilt parts you bought from them

That's pretty much 100% true. Their POS systems are designed to link the core $$$ they pay out to a sale of the corresponding part.

 

[Chris142]

There are places that buy cores. They send guys to picapart to pull starters and whatever. That's why you see big piles of parts .

But it's not going to be an auto parts store that wants them if they didn't sell the part.

You may consider taking them to a scrap yard. At least they will go back to China or India to be melted down and made into something again.

 

[skyactiv]

All you'll get trying to give crap away is grief. If trash pickers frequent your trash day, put it out for them to get a few dollars for scraping and helping our ecosystem.

 

[Kestas]

It also depends on the demand for cores. I bought a rebuilt distributor for my 1971 Cutlass. The core charge was $1.50, not worth the gas to return it. I asked them why so little, and they told me there must not be much demand for the cores.

 

[VWRand]

It also depends on the demand for cores. I bought a rebuilt distributor for my 1971 Cutlass. The core charge was $1.50, not worth the gas to return it. I asked them why so little, and they told me there must not be much demand for the cores.

Probably means they don't want to rebuild them anymore because there is so little demand for the rebuilt part making it more trouble than it is worth. Look for it to be dropped from the catalog sometime soon.

 

[meep]

All you'll get trying to give crap away is grief. If trash pickers frequent your trash day, put it out for them to get a few dollars for scraping and helping our ecosystem.

My last neighborhood had a guy … and I absolutely left items out for him, and would go to lengths to specifically dismantle stuff in a manner which he could get the good stuff. It’s weird to me that my new neighborhood doesn’t have the same ecosystem (maybe bc I’m outside the city now?). But it’s also older folks (I guess thats me now too) who aren’t doing much DIY.

 

[D60]

Your best bet is scrap them. The corporate stores won't know what to do unless it's tied to a transaction.

If you have a local auto electrical shop that rebuilds starters and alternators, they might take that stuff.

Similarly, large cities have steering specialists that rebuild racks, boxes and pumps.

 

[Paco Pena]

She forgot to ask what trim level your vehicle is. Thats a critical part of every auto parts counter inquiry.

LOL.

Paco

 

[Capt W]

Took them both to the scrap metal section at our local dump. Problem solved.

 

[PandaBear]

About 10 years ago I bought a rebuild axles from Acura dealership online, and they just cancel out their core charges. I ask if the local dealer want to "buy" it and they say no, but they can get rid of it for me. I think today I have only seen the dealer take back OEM stuff like hybrid battery.

I did return a core to pick-n-pull when I get a door, I guess that is to avoid metal weight difference or some sort of environmental fine if they don't take scrap back. They could just pull a database and tell the seller how much something is worth when they crush the cars.

To be honest since many rebuild are done in 3rd world, they are likely better off buying cores there from accident totals or the scrap cars we ship there for dismantle. I would imagine they are also the biggest market there for rebuild as well.

 

[Sumboodie]

Parts stores don't take used oil here, that must be a local thing.

As far as cores, they get sent back. I've seen core charges of $40-50k on equipment components like trans assemblies, finals, engines, etc.

Parts stores pay fairly low wages, I don't understand why some folks expect tip of the spear folks to be there.
A friend was a manager at Schucks till about 2 years ago. Not sure they're exact chain of command, but he was 2 or 3 notches up from a counter person.

It paid about $20/hr.

 

[TomYoung]

It also depends on the demand for cores. I bought a rebuilt distributor for my 1971 Cutlass. The core charge was $1.50, not worth the gas to return it. I asked them why so little, and they told me there must not be much demand for the cores.

Was a new distributor available when you bought the rebuilt unit?

 

[johnmyster]

When I was young, I remember dad returning brake shoes (drum) to the store for core charge refund.

All depends on demand. There are so many new parts coming from china that the rebuild industry has shrunk. Very likely that nobody wants your junk cores.

Companies that deal in cores (that the rebuilders buy inventory from) typically work in volume. You don't fit that.

O'Reilly doesn't really want you to return cores for items you buy - brake calipers, steering boxes, etc. They certainly don't want the hassle of taking in cores from items they didn't sell.

 

[D60]

When I was young, I remember dad returning brake shoes (drum) to the store for core charge refund.

All depends on demand. There are so many new parts coming from china that the rebuild industry has shrunk. Very likely that nobody wants your junk cores.

Companies that deal in cores (that the rebuilders buy inventory from) typically work in volume. You don't fit that.

O'Reilly doesn't really want you to return cores for items you buy - brake calipers, steering boxes, etc. They certainly don't want the hassle of taking in cores from items they didn't sell.

You can still find the rivet machines to attach new shoe linings sometimes. Not saying I'd want one, but it's a cool piece of history -- or I'm just easily amused. I ASSume maybe this is still done in heavy industry or OTR trucks?

O'Reilly wants battery cores because they're worth just enough to be worth the hassle.

I feel like other core charges are just a way to prop up sales: charge an extra $X and then figure ~50% of people will never claim it. I wonder what core redemption rates truly are? Of course it obviously varies by initial charge, eg most won't bother for $7 but at several hundred (like some steering racks) I bet redemption is north of 75%

 

[50yr Street Mech]

The last time a bought a rebuilt alternator from Napa, ( about 3 yrs ago), they charged for the core, then refunded it when I brought the bad one back. This is in NY. Don't know if Napa is doing this everywhere though. Rebuilt is still going strong though. Guess I got lucky on that one.

 

[Kestas]

Was a new distributor available when you bought the rebuilt unit?

I'm not sure. This was 30 years ago.

 

[altaylar]

I might be wrong, but I remember seeing "core return requires" or something on an item on rackauto, and i did not purchase it since I didn't have anything to return (it was more of an upgrade for my calipers, rather than exact replacement).
So what i understand is, you always have the option of not returning the core back as long as you forego the return value?