Why do garages now all refuse to fit owner-supplied parts?
Discussion
As above really. Have some new disks and pads to go on the XF which I had intended to do myself but haven't had the time/haven't been arsed. Had a bit of a ring around at lunchtime (everything from big franchises to 3-employee family-run types) to see if anyone would fit them in exchange for whatever princely sum they charge for their labour and none of them would even consider it as they only fit parts they supply.
I remember this just completely not being an issue last time I tried, which was admittedly about 4-5 years ago.
Now, is it just the cynic in me that suspects this is because they'll lose out on the markup they'd make by selling the parts themselves? I'm not having an outraged rant at all and I will sort it myself at the weekend in all likelihood, just puzzled at why they'd turn away work.
For context, these are brand-spanking, sealed-in-box, Brembo parts complete with an invoice to prove I didn't buy them from Chinese Ebay, so not really any case to answer in terms of asking them to fit sub-standard or dangerous parts that they wouldn't be happy with.
I remember this just completely not being an issue last time I tried, which was admittedly about 4-5 years ago.
Now, is it just the cynic in me that suspects this is because they'll lose out on the markup they'd make by selling the parts themselves? I'm not having an outraged rant at all and I will sort it myself at the weekend in all likelihood, just puzzled at why they'd turn away work.
For context, these are brand-spanking, sealed-in-box, Brembo parts complete with an invoice to prove I didn't buy them from Chinese Ebay, so not really any case to answer in terms of asking them to fit sub-standard or dangerous parts that they wouldn't be happy with.
d when it comes to where i take my car.I use a garage that will fit supplied parts but it's noted on the invoice.
That said, there's another local to me that categorically won't fit customer-supplied parts. Their reasoning is that they don't want to waste time trying to ascertain where the parts came from or what kind of quality they are. If they fit them, and there's a subsequent failure or insurance claim as a result of a failure, they suggested that it could rapidly become their problem – which is something they were keen to avoid.
That does make sense to me but it's somewhat frustrating that they won't, like my other garage, let me sign away any potential comebacks.
That said, there's another local to me that categorically won't fit customer-supplied parts. Their reasoning is that they don't want to waste time trying to ascertain where the parts came from or what kind of quality they are. If they fit them, and there's a subsequent failure or insurance claim as a result of a failure, they suggested that it could rapidly become their problem – which is something they were keen to avoid.
That does make sense to me but it's somewhat frustrating that they won't, like my other garage, let me sign away any potential comebacks.
Edited by Lewis Kingston on Friday 6th April 16:56
I had no problem getting a local garage to agree to fit my discs and pads for me - I told them that I knew I was being cheeky and wouldn't blame them for any issues with the parts.
Sadly, I opened the bonnet to find that the brake fluid reservoir had overflowed all over the subframe and took the car straight back, but that's another story!
Sadly, I opened the bonnet to find that the brake fluid reservoir had overflowed all over the subframe and took the car straight back, but that's another story!
NickofName said:
For context, these are brand-spanking, sealed-in-box, Brembo parts complete with an invoice to prove I didn't buy them from Chinese Ebay, so not really any case to answer in terms of asking them to fit sub-standard or dangerous parts that they wouldn't be happy with.
Giving them a very generous benefit of the doubt, maybe they get people turning up with rusty old bits ripped off something from the scrapyard asking for it to be fitted, so it's easier just to have a blanket policy rather than arguing on a case by case basis?Zetec-S said:
Giving them a very generous benefit of the doubt, maybe they get people turning up with rusty old bits ripped off something from the scrapyard asking for it to be fitted, so it's easier just to have a blanket policy rather than arguing on a case by case basis?
Or don't want to get involved in what seems to be a huge stolen car/parts industry? (what with all these Golf Rs and S3 thefts)They are a business, for the purpose of making money, not for saving you a few pennies searching all over for the cheapest parts.
If you supply a part that turns out to be faulty are you going to be delighted when the garage tells you that it's your problem to sort out with the supplier & that their time for removing your faulty part & fitting its replacement is all chargeable?
Plus they aren't going to be happy having your car in bits tying up one of their ramps - or at best taking up space in the premises while you sort it out, especially if you've bought it from an online suppler & are now having difficulty getting a replacement part (or even an answer) from the supplier.
If you supply a part that turns out to be faulty are you going to be delighted when the garage tells you that it's your problem to sort out with the supplier & that their time for removing your faulty part & fitting its replacement is all chargeable?
Plus they aren't going to be happy having your car in bits tying up one of their ramps - or at best taking up space in the premises while you sort it out, especially if you've bought it from an online suppler & are now having difficulty getting a replacement part (or even an answer) from the supplier.
Integroo said:
I think they're also concerned with wasting their ramp time and risking non payment when they dismantle your car to fit something to discover it doesn't fit as you provided the wrong part.
That's certainly one reason.Then there's fitting something, and being blamed in a week because the tight-fisted owner bought the cheapest eBay chocolate bits.
They supply and fit - their problem if there are problems.
You supply, they fit - no comeback unless and until you prove the parts were good.
7795 said:
It's down to $$$.
The car garage will make a margin on the parts they supply you.
I appreciate the point you make , but if it was my garage I’d add the margin from the parts to the Labour I’d be charging to make it worth doing.The car garage will make a margin on the parts they supply you.
The punter isn’t really in a good position to negotiate.
paintman said:
They are a business, for the purpose of making money, not for saving you a few pennies searching all over for the cheapest parts.
If you supply a part that turns out to be faulty are you going to be delighted when the garage tells you that it's your problem to sort out with the supplier & that their time for removing your faulty part & fitting its replacement is all chargeable?
Plus they aren't going to be happy having your car in bits tying up one of their ramps - or at best taking up space in the premises while you sort it out, especially if you've bought it from an online suppler & are now having difficulty getting a replacement part (or even an answer) from the supplier.
I fully understand and appreciate that they're there to make money, but as I explained my motivation wasn't to save money, I had actually intended to do this myself and just haven't got around to it. Also, they'd be being paid exactly the same as they would for any labour-only job, which I'm assuming they wouldn't refuse out of hand? A couple of the places I spoke to had immediate availability to do it as well so it seems to me a case of literally turning down money being waved in their face.If you supply a part that turns out to be faulty are you going to be delighted when the garage tells you that it's your problem to sort out with the supplier & that their time for removing your faulty part & fitting its replacement is all chargeable?
Plus they aren't going to be happy having your car in bits tying up one of their ramps - or at best taking up space in the premises while you sort it out, especially if you've bought it from an online suppler & are now having difficulty getting a replacement part (or even an answer) from the supplier.
Your second point I do get, especially if we're talking about something more involved. However we're talking about brakes, which are generally regarded as consumables. I see very little risk for them there either in terms of parts not fitting or in terms of them going wrong and me having any cause to blame them for it.
Integroo said:
I think they're also concerned with wasting their ramp time and risking non payment when they dismantle your car to fit something to discover it doesn't fit as you provided the wrong part.
Yup, my local place won’t do it either - says there’s too much hassie with supplied parts being wrong / fake / faulty / stolen. He doesn’t charge me a mark up on parts though, so can always get them cheaper than me anyway.
7795 said:
It's down to $$$.
The car garage will make a margin on the parts they supply you.
Yep - same reason a dealer and a specialist refused to strip and clean the brakes on a car I don't use much. They were both happy to get in there and change the pads - oh, and the discs too. What's that all about these days - they won't even think about not changing the discs now.The car garage will make a margin on the parts they supply you.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff