Feeling ripped off
Discussion
I diagnosed a dodgy alternator on my 92 pre-cat a week or so ago. No problems methinks, I'll just fit a recon one. To cut a long story short I just bought one from a TVR dealer and then I find out its easily available from a Lucas dealer for LESS THAN HALF THE SODDING PRICE I PAID FOR IT! £100 cheaper to be precise.
I had exactly the same experience with the throttle pot I bought from the same dealer - available elsewhere for half the price - £50 less! Admitedly, the dealer the did turn around the alternator mounting bracket (a two minute job I could easily have done).
How can they justify charging twice as much? My lucas dealer has rent and business rates to pay just like my TVR dealer.
They have always done a first rate job servicing my car but I just feel as if I've been bent over and royaly shafted by a company who I've always praised. I am left wishing there was a decent independent nearby.....
I had exactly the same experience with the throttle pot I bought from the same dealer - available elsewhere for half the price - £50 less! Admitedly, the dealer the did turn around the alternator mounting bracket (a two minute job I could easily have done).
How can they justify charging twice as much? My lucas dealer has rent and business rates to pay just like my TVR dealer.
They have always done a first rate job servicing my car but I just feel as if I've been bent over and royaly shafted by a company who I've always praised. I am left wishing there was a decent independent nearby.....
Dealers, whether TVR or any other make, will almost always be the most expensive option for any replacement parts 
Ring them 1st and get a price, then ring your local autofactors, Landrover dealer/specialist, Auto Electrician, etc, etc, you'll quite likly save yourself a fortune
Sometimes though the dealers price may well be the best, and some bits are dealer only, but not much
Ring them 1st and get a price, then ring your local autofactors, Landrover dealer/specialist, Auto Electrician, etc, etc, you'll quite likly save yourself a fortune
Sometimes though the dealers price may well be the best, and some bits are dealer only, but not much
Yes, I know all dealers are usually a bit more expensive, but I was a bit shocked to discover just how much more!
I didnt have a part number because my alternator was totally devoid of any writing. I did try to get the part details from PH but couldnt find it at the time. I also tried asking my local landrover dealer and motorfactors, neither of whom had a clue. I did ask my TVR dealer for the part number but was told he didnt know. He also said I would need to know whether its a 65 or 100amp alternator. He said he could look at a 4 litre engine bay in the garage and try and order the same item for me. I was given the impression that I was asking for something quite rare. Not having a better solution, I agreed (not thinking just to ask him to read out the manufacturer and part number off the car in their service bay - Doh!). I checked it would be a recon rather than new unit and was told yes, so I just (wrongly) assumed it would be the same sort of price you'd expect to pay for a recon alternator at about £80-£100.
I know I didnt have to accept the part once I found out how much it was. I'm not saying the dealer had done anything technically 'wrong'. I'm just saying that I feel ripped off by high prices and would like to advise others to research other channels for parts availability before parting with any money.
On a more positive note, the new alternator did at least solve the problem, and the Griff started up first time after sitting dormant for 4 weeks
>> Edited by JamieT on Monday 13th December 12:16
I didnt have a part number because my alternator was totally devoid of any writing. I did try to get the part details from PH but couldnt find it at the time. I also tried asking my local landrover dealer and motorfactors, neither of whom had a clue. I did ask my TVR dealer for the part number but was told he didnt know. He also said I would need to know whether its a 65 or 100amp alternator. He said he could look at a 4 litre engine bay in the garage and try and order the same item for me. I was given the impression that I was asking for something quite rare. Not having a better solution, I agreed (not thinking just to ask him to read out the manufacturer and part number off the car in their service bay - Doh!). I checked it would be a recon rather than new unit and was told yes, so I just (wrongly) assumed it would be the same sort of price you'd expect to pay for a recon alternator at about £80-£100.
I know I didnt have to accept the part once I found out how much it was. I'm not saying the dealer had done anything technically 'wrong'. I'm just saying that I feel ripped off by high prices and would like to advise others to research other channels for parts availability before parting with any money.
On a more positive note, the new alternator did at least solve the problem, and the Griff started up first time after sitting dormant for 4 weeks
>> Edited by JamieT on Monday 13th December 12:16
It's usual, I had the same when looking for brake pads and shoes, as well as a wiper motor. A dealer wanted £180 for a new wiper motor. After speaking to a very good independent I found out that the motor itself was from a mini and the two could be amalgamated to get a working one. Great as I have 3 mini wiper motors. Turned out to be a park switch which was most certainoly not £180.
With dealers you are paying for the Convenience of not having to shop around for the part, plus knowing its 100% official part and warranted / guaranteed to fit.
Yes it costs more, and if that is an issue, then you just do as mentioned and goto the Factors and run the chances...
Still, chin up, least the car will be working again
Yes it costs more, and if that is an issue, then you just do as mentioned and goto the Factors and run the chances...
Still, chin up, least the car will be working again
Don't feel cheated and don't blame the poor old dealer, who was just doing his job!
Mostly likely he bought the part off TVR (and the margin he gets from them is not that great). Alternatively, if his parts man is canny, he bought it from a factors and then charged you the TVR quoted price. But not all factors' supplied items are the same as TVR OEM parts and I suppose if this were the case, you are paying for the parts man's knowledge that the part is fit for purpose.
Either way, you've paid the TVR RRP.
Mostly likely he bought the part off TVR (and the margin he gets from them is not that great). Alternatively, if his parts man is canny, he bought it from a factors and then charged you the TVR quoted price. But not all factors' supplied items are the same as TVR OEM parts and I suppose if this were the case, you are paying for the parts man's knowledge that the part is fit for purpose.
Either way, you've paid the TVR RRP.
I would echo Corin's comment, but hey, you run a TVR! No one said they were going to be cheap to run. And with the dealer you know you have the right part, and if there was any problem with it I know there would be no quibbles about changing it straight away.
If you were dead set on buying one from Lucas, why didn't you? It would be a fairly safe bet that it's a V8 Rangey or Landy part. But would you have got the no quibble exchange if it had turned out to be wrong?
If you were dead set on buying one from Lucas, why didn't you? It would be a fairly safe bet that it's a V8 Rangey or Landy part. But would you have got the no quibble exchange if it had turned out to be wrong?
los angeles said:Hmmm, that was the exchange rate in 2001. Today, $1000 is £519.49 (www.xe.com).
Here's the sting: currently $1,000 USD is only about 650 pounds sterling ...
US prices have always (in recent years) been dollar=pound, in restaurants, clothes, CDs, etc, not just car parts. They're cheap if you bring them back in your luggage but just check out the shipping rates and you'll see where a lot of the difference goes.
I khow how you feel!!
When i had a clutch master cylinder fail on my Chim a couple of years back, i contacted a TVR main dealer(in London), Inc postage it cost around £60.
I helped a Range Rover Machanic fit it,And was told that it was an identical part the he had just fitted to his Range Rover, which cost him £16.50.
I know that someone is going to say that the part number may be the same, "it's the insides that are differant", possibly right? but not that efin differant!!!
Dave
When i had a clutch master cylinder fail on my Chim a couple of years back, i contacted a TVR main dealer(in London), Inc postage it cost around £60.
I helped a Range Rover Machanic fit it,And was told that it was an identical part the he had just fitted to his Range Rover, which cost him £16.50.
I know that someone is going to say that the part number may be the same, "it's the insides that are differant", possibly right? but not that efin differant!!!
Dave
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