Refused service for bringing my own (OEM) parts

[The Critic]

If I install a part from Advance, and it fails, Advance replaces the part and pays me book rate to replace it.

That’s why I don’t want customer provided parts. You bring me junk, it fails. You blame me. I’m out several hours.

No way I’m taking your part.

You brought up an interesting topic.

A lot of independent shops prefer to use aftermarket parts from the big auto chains for this exact reason: you can generally count on partial labor reimbursement (sometimes full) when a part fails under warranty. Plus you can generally get better margins; it’s a lot harder to achieve these margins on dealer parts.

In general, dealer parts carry no labor reimbursement when they fail under warranty. Many OEM’s also require for the vehicle to be brought to the dealer to be diagnosed (on the shop’s dime) for any warranty to be paid. So in many situations, dealer parts essentially have no warranty.

 

[burning oil]

You brought up an interesting topic.

A lot of independent shops prefer to use aftermarket parts from the big auto chains for this exact reason: you can generally count on partial labor reimbursement (sometimes full) when a part fails under warranty. Plus you can generally get better margins; it’s a lot harder to achieve these margins on dealer parts.

In general, dealer parts carry no labor reimbursement when they fail under warranty. Many OEM’s also require for the vehicle to be brought to the dealer to be diagnosed (on the shop’s dime) for any warranty to be paid. So, in many situations, dealer parts essentially have no warranty.

This. Most of the shops in my area are just going to throw on whatever the local Advance, AutoZone, O'Reilly's or Napa has in stock (oftentimes junk parts). Luckily I have a very good mechanic close by that will let me supply my own OEM or high end parts when it's something I don't have the time, tools, or know how to do. I also understand that he will not provide a warranty on my supplied parts, but that is a trade off I'm willing to make. He also doesn't charge tax if you pay cash (no receipt will be given) and I have had zero part related issues so far knock on wood.

 

[GON]

I wish I could charge my customers extra when the price of gasoline goes to $6 per gallon. I wish I could charge them extra for the cost of trimmer line, 2-cycle oil, or when an object in their yard trashes my mower blade, but I can't. I have to tally all that into my labor rate and still try to remain competitive.

Strongly recommend you read the book "The E-myth Revisited", by Michael Gerber, published 1979. Hundreds of used copies on Ebay for a few dollars, likely still in stock new at most Barnes and Nobles for $26.99 USD.

The E-myth Revisited is a super easy read, and I think you will make more money, work less, and have happier customers. A great book for people that run small businesses, although huge corporations can also benefit from the book.

 

[Lubener]

I have a vehicle that doesn't have a dealership in the area so I often order OEM parts to bring to a shop so I'm not dealing with their O'Reilly / Autozone crap. I called and asked if they'd swap my transmission fluid and filters (with brand new gasket). They said they'd only do the service with their provided parts (which would be universal fluid and aftermarket filters) because they don't make any money off customer parts. I thought my request was reasonable (and a simple job with all the parts in my back seat). I suppose a lot of people bring shady parts off Amazon but I felt weird being denied this service. Why lose a customer over this? Is this a common experience these days?

I don't blame a shop denying service with customer provided parts. They deserve to make a fair profit and have to stand behind their work with their parts. If something goes wrong using your parts, you are on the hook not them. If you don't like their policy , either find some other desparate shop or do it yourself.

 

[TomYoung]

This. Most of the shops in my area are just going to throw on whatever the local Advance, AutoZone, O'Reilly's or Napa has in stock (oftentimes junk parts). Luckily I have a very good mechanic close by that will let me supply my own OEM or high end parts when it's something I don't have the time, tools, or know how to do. I also understand that he will not provide a warranty on my supplied parts, but that is a trade off I'm willing to make. He also doesn't charge tax if you pay cash (no receipt will be given) and I have had zero part related issues so far knock on wood.

Not paying sales tax? Another good tip for saving money is to shoplift your parts.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I never thought a repair shop should make a profit on the parts. The $100-$120 per hour shop time should be enough.

They shouldn't be in business to sell parts for a profit. The customer should only have to pay whatever the shop paid for the parts.

Automotive repair is supposed to be a SERVICE business. You provide a service and the customer pays the labor cost for the service.

 

[4wd]

It didn’t work out for me - needed rotation and alignment - yeah, I’ll bring some new shocks …
They put them on - too long - they won’t redo them …
(I changed the front and waiting on rear replacements)

 

[D1dad]

I was out of town one time and my wife was getting tires rotated and a tie rod did actually have a leaking boot that needed replaced. Since I wasn’t going to be back for a few weeks I authorized them to replace it. Oreilleys tie rod that listed for $32 and they charged me $89 for the part. They warrantied the part and work for 3 yrs. 2 yrs later it failed and I installed an Oem tie rod and after some heated back and forth they refused my $89 dollars plus tax. I will generally do most work myself unless it’s something that requires multiple hours under the car and a lift makes more sense. I know shops have over head and blah blah blah. But they probably paid way less than $32 for this part and then quadrupled the price. That’s bull! Unless you’re a stock trader, no one should make $60 to press a few keys on a computer and then turn around and charge $160 an hour to install that part. I wouldn’t use that shop now if my car broke down in their parking lot. My daughter was quoted over $380 for new stablinks recently. I did both in the driveway in an hour and paid full price at advance, minus the online discount and they were done for $60.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

When it comes to car repair I personally have 4 options
#1 do it myself
#2 Use a dealer , I have many times negotiated better pricing
#3 Use my 3rd party shop that is almost as pricy as a dealer but does good work
#4 I have a discount shop I have used 25+ years for my high mile not so expensive cars when PRICE is the object.

The Dealer has the fancy shop my discount guy has a tiny place.

With that 4th option he charges me as little as 1/4 - 1/3 the dealer price for say a brake job but his serviced come with some risk and does best at simple stuff.

You 100% get what you pay for but I may ask for a discount but I never feel I have the right to suggest what a man charges for his parts or service! 20%, 200% markup, thats his business.

This is AMERICA a man can change what he wants ( I do in my business, take it or leave it, i'm very, very expensive and worth it ) and as an American I have a choice of what I am willing to pay for different levels of service and is why I have 4 shop numbers in my phone and I use all of those shops depending on what car and what needs to be fixed and what i'm willing to pay.

 

[PWMDMD]

Wen't through this 6 years ago with the Tundra. I got a great deal on Bilstein's that were preassembled to the height I wanted. First garage in town said he was going to pass because if something went wrong he doesn't want to deal with it. The second shop just wrote on the involve no warranty on parts through garage and that if anything failed I'd have to pursue the warranty myself and pay the labor to correct the issue. I said sure and it was a done deal.

I don't blame the first shop at all and I was grateful the second shop would do it.

 

[4wd]

When it comes to car repair I personally have 4 options
#1 do it myself
#2 Use a dealer , I have many times negotiated better pricing
#3 Use my 3rd party shop that is almost as pricy as a dealer but does good work
#4 I have a discount shop I have used 25+ years for my high mile not so expensive cars when PRICE is the object.

The Dealer has the fancy shop my discount guy has a tiny place.

With that 4th option he charges me as little as 1/4 - 1/3 the dealer price for say a brake job but his serviced come with some risk and does best at simple stuff.

You 100% get what you pay for but I may ask for a discount but I never feel I have the right to suggest what a man charges for his parts or service! 20%, 200% markup, thats his business.

This is AMERICA a man can change what he wants ( I do in my business, take it or leave it, i'm very, very expensive and worth it ) and as an American I have a choice of what I am willing to pay for different levels of service and is why I have 4 shop numbers in my phone and I use all of those shops depending on what car and what needs to be fixed and what i'm willing to pay.

People can point and click to see who is doing who in Hollywood - or learn something about how to manage their money - bcs ownership/PM of vehicles takes significant $$$$$

 

[Wylie6G72]

I've spent years building up a relationship with the Caliber Auto, turned Sun Auto near my house. They're honest guys and are close to my house so it's very convenient to drop a car off and walk home. I'm so grateful they're there.

Their policy is to accept customer parts with the understanding that there is no warranty on them. I always bring them OEM parts because I don't want AutoZone junk on my cars. I know they'd pay for the replacement if something went south, but what a hassle.

I would hope that shops would take this on a case-by-case basis and allow their customers to bring in OEM parts if that's what they want on their vehicles. My Canyon is 11 years old and it's only ever had OEM parts, right down to the brake pads. But I would understand if they turned down a box full of aftermarket junk. I know case-by-case basis is a rare thing these days.

 

[blkwtr]

If I ran a shop and a customer came in to have his car repaired and brought a box of parts for me to use, my first thought would be: if the customer can't do his own repairs, I can't trust him to get the right parts.
It would be an ordeal to verify the parts were correct and complete. If there were problems, I would be stuck with the car in my shop and have to try and work it out with the customer who would have to work it out with his supplier and then get back to me so I would then have to verify again. What a pain.

 

[zzyzzx]

As a theoretical situation, what would happen if the parts you supplied were counterfeit parts, and as a result the job done caused major trouble?

Because counterfeit parts never show up at the shop when the shop orders them?

 

[burning oil]

Not paying sales tax? Another good tip for saving money is to shoplift your parts.

Good idea!

 

[KrisZ]

It’s all fine until there is a problem and all of the sudden, these “easy to deal with” people become a nightmare and start making unreasonable demands and accusations.
I’ve seen it enough in my corporate career to know that it must be 1000 times worse for a business owner.

 

[SShooterZ]

My shop just adds "Customer supplied parts" to the work order, thus if anything goes haywire, they know they're not responsible.

Haven't had an issue yet.

 

[Paco Pena]

That why I DIY.

Paco

 

[Huskyguy68]

Some shops do/some will not.
I think most dealerships will not, mainly to avoid hassles of wrongly supplied parts, possible down time , issues with warranty, etc.....bottom line, it affects their profits in some ways.
A smaller independent shop that is starving for business might be more willing to accept customer parts. Some of them may have gotten burnt in the past with parts mix up or customers arguing/complaining/small claims court suing, etc...and outright refuse to ever install customer parts.

I worked in the auto glass trades for thirty years. I was an installer/technician. There were many times (in many glass shops I worked in) where the shop manager was willing to install automotive glass , new or used, door locks, regulators, moonroof parts , windshield wipers, etc, the customer tracked down and asked for us to install. It's more of a customer service thing, maybe to please loyal customer or to make a new long term customer/get customer referrals, sometimes they did the detective work and found the parts they needed quicker or they scoured junkyards for hard to find parts.
In the End, it's up to the shop owner/manager/supervisor to lay out the Shop rules and enforce them.
You supply parts/No Warranty.
You supply wrong part: We do not install and try to ''make them work''. No arguing, don't waste shop time and labor.
If the technician/installer thinks the parts are inferior/defective , don't argue and complain and accuse of trying to rip you off . It could be they are junk and the shop trying to avoid headaches/save you time and money .
Lastly, if you do find a great shop willing to work with you and install your supplied parts, and the work is done correctly.....pay your bill. Give a small tip. Or return another day with a box of donuts and/or coffee. Give compliments, appear grateful. Tell the manager/owner you will write a glowing/positive Yelp or Google review.
But try not to be that guy who only comes in with customer parts and expecting a great deal. Use common sense.

 

[k1xv]

Because counterfeit parts never show up at the shop when the shop orders them?

If the shop buys the parts and they fail, its the shop's responsibility to make things right,

If you brought in counterfeit parts and they fail, good luck.