caterham prices (rant)

[fergus]

Why are Caterham so full of BS with their pricing?

I called Caterham Parts for a seal repair kit for an AP master cylinder yesterday, and the guy would not tell me the AP part number (no surprises there). He then told me the price of £30 (ex VAT), which I said was a tad high, as most seal kits are £15-£20. He replied they were selling them close to "cost". Having got the kit today (and hence the part number), then speaking to AP themselves, the retail price of the kit (inc VAT) is £21....

Why do they *insist* on being so unhelpful and taking the pi ss with respect to prices? Yes, I appreciate they need to make a profit, but a fair profit. Their sales staff also have the technical knowledge of most root vegtables.

Rant over.

[sam919]

Whats the AP part number? need to do them myself.

[fergus]

sam919 said:

Whats the AP part number? need to do them myself.

For the 13/16" bore AP m/c, the kit number is CP4627-18RK. Speak to Tim Phillips @ Circuit Supplies (google the phone #)

[sam919]

Perhaps it would be worth listing all these bits and there OEM part numbers, to save any ripping off from caterham?

Thanks for the PN.

[pw75]

fergus said:

Why are Caterham so full of BS with their pricing?

I called Caterham Parts for a seal repair kit for an AP master cylinder yesterday, and the guy would not tell me the AP part number (no surprises there). He then told me the price of £30 (ex VAT), which I said was a tad high, as most seal kits are £15-£20. He replied they were selling them close to "cost". Having got the kit today (and hence the part number), then speaking to AP themselves, the retail price of the kit (inc VAT) is £21....

Why do they *insist* on being so unhelpful and taking the pi ss with respect to prices? Yes, I appreciate they need to make a profit, but a fair profit. Their sales staff also have the technical knowledge of most root vegtables.

Rant over.

not saying I agree with being ripped off, but why don't you return the item. If its unused problem solved.

[fergus]

pw75 said:

fergus said:

Why are Caterham so full of BS with their pricing?

I called Caterham Parts for a seal repair kit for an AP master cylinder yesterday, and the guy would not tell me the AP part number (no surprises there). He then told me the price of £30 (ex VAT), which I said was a tad high, as most seal kits are £15-£20. He replied they were selling them close to "cost". Having got the kit today (and hence the part number), then speaking to AP themselves, the retail price of the kit (inc VAT) is £21....

Why do they *insist* on being so unhelpful and taking the pi ss with respect to prices? Yes, I appreciate they need to make a profit, but a fair profit. Their sales staff also have the technical knowledge of most root vegtables.

Rant over.

not saying I agree with being ripped off, but why don't you return the item. If its unused problem solved.

am in process of doing so, but it really frustrates me as to why they cannot be more honest/helpful at the point of sale. I wouldn't mind so much if the pr1ck in the parts dept was more helpful/knowledgable about anything other than how a set of parts is bolted together...

[Finchy172]

Unfortunately when darren was made redundant the parts department lost all of its technical knowledge and customer services skills.

[DaveK-S1]

Finchy

I think you will find darren is still there :-)

He deals in all the pre-2000 car parts now not the current parts

Dave

[fergus]

Finchy172 said:

Unfortunately when darren was made redundant the parts department lost all of its technical knowledge and customer services skills.

Did anyone there ever have any?

[BertBert]

fergus said:

Finchy172 said:

Unfortunately when darren was made redundant the parts department lost all of its technical knowledge and customer services skills.

Did anyone there ever have any?

Sure did/do Fergus. Perhaps your pricing frustration has spilled into the customer service experience in this instance?
Bert

[fergus]

BertBert said:

fergus said:

Finchy172 said:

Unfortunately when darren was made redundant the parts department lost all of its technical knowledge and customer services skills.

Did anyone there ever have any?

Sure did/do Fergus. Perhaps your pricing frustration has spilled into the customer service experience in this instance?
Bert

Not specifically. For instance they don't know the tensile strength of the various bolts they stock, what type of rivets they supply, etc, etc. Perhaps I'm expecting too much?

[sfaulds]

Ever tried asking the same sort of question at a Ford parts desk?

[anonymous-user]

A classic I am afraid!! I have experienced this for many years. “Aloofness”

That s why of all the toys Ive ever had TVR/Lotus/7 etc I go to the independents... the ones that wear overalls, always have a cup of tea in their hand and have the aroma of engine oil rather than BS...

FB

[fergus]

sfaulds said:

Ever tried asking the same sort of question at a Ford parts desk?

I wouldn't expect a Ford parts desk to know that type of answer as they're a different sort of car/market....

[James.S]

Fergus - so let me get this right, you want the Caterahm Parts Department to go and look up the AP part number for you so you can go to a factors and buy them......and they wouldn't do it for you, jees what a complete set of tossers.

FFS, people do not appreciate what is involved in operating a parts department.

Edited by James.S on Thursday 12th March 16:07

[fergus]

James.S said:

Fergus - so let me get this right, you want the Caterahm Parts Department to go and look up the AP part number for you so you can go to a factors and buy them......and they wouldn't do it for you, jees what a complete set of tossers.

FFS, people do not appreciate what is involved in operating a parts department.

No - I don't expect them to do that, if they priced their stock fairly in the first instance there wouldn't be a requirement for this type of request. Why are they so protective in their covert part numbering system.

What is involved with running a parts dept out of interest?

[DaveK-S1]

fergus said:

BertBert said:

fergus said:

Finchy172 said:

Unfortunately when darren was made redundant the parts department lost all of its technical knowledge and customer services skills.

Did anyone there ever have any?

Sure did/do Fergus. Perhaps your pricing frustration has spilled into the customer service experience in this instance?
Bert

Not specifically. For instance they don't know the tensile strength of the various bolts they stock, what type of rivets they supply, etc, etc. Perhaps I'm expecting too much?

Fergus, Why would you need to know the tensile strength of a bolt, If you ask for the bolt for a particular location, ie de dion , don't you think they would have tested it and supply a bolt fit for purpose ?

Dave

[fergus]

DaveK-S1 said:

fergus said:

BertBert said:

fergus said:

Finchy172 said:

Unfortunately when darren was made redundant the parts department lost all of its technical knowledge and customer services skills.

Did anyone there ever have any?

Sure did/do Fergus. Perhaps your pricing frustration has spilled into the customer service experience in this instance?
Bert

Not specifically. For instance they don't know the tensile strength of the various bolts they stock, what type of rivets they supply, etc, etc. Perhaps I'm expecting too much?

Fergus, Why would you need to know the tensile strength of a bolt, If you ask for the bolt for a particular location, ie de dion , don't you think they would have tested it and supply a bolt fit for purpose ?

Dave

Unfortunately not. Don't forget that some of the decisions at Caterham aren't necesserily based on the most sound engineering practice in all cases. Take the damper mounting points and gusseting onto the d/dion tube for instance.....

[sam919]

James.S said:

Fergus - so let me get this right, you want the Caterahm Parts Department to go and look up the AP part number for you so you can go to a factors and buy them......and they wouldn't do it for you, jees what a complete set of tossers.

FFS, people do not appreciate what is involved in operating a parts department.

Edited by James.S on Thursday 12th March 16:07

A caterham parts dep is for spoon fed caterham owners. An alternative method to get the same part from a motor factors is for the mechanically orientated.

Two parts departments two different customers

[BertBert]

That sounds a bit of a big leap. Do you really expect to have an in-depth discussion on tensile strengths of bolts with a motor factor? I don't think so.

Bert