Would you bother discussing price of repair?

[RacingGreen0001]

I was advised by a Garage to conduct a certain type of repair.

I initially wanted to source the parts myself but the garage convinced me otherwise, saying they could get the parts for cheaper from the same website.

They quoted me a total for labour + parts. After agreeing to start the work, I found the parts were actually cheaper if I had bought them myself from the website.

Should I mention this and renogitate the price when I go to pick my car up? Or chalk this up to my poor planning and checking on my part?

Edited by RacingGreen0001 on Wednesday 20th September 04:40

[UberMeister]

Given you've authorised the repair at a certain cost I doubt you'll be able to renegotiate based on information you've now discovered.

I'd just accept and move on...

[Alucidnation]

RacingGreen0001 said:

I was advised by a Garage to conduct a certain type of repair.

I initially wanted to source the parts myself but the garage convinced me otherwise, saying they could get the parts for cheaper from the same website.

They quoted me a total for labour + parts. After agreeing to start the work, I found the parts were actually cheaper if I had bought them myself from the website.

Should I mention this and renogitate the price when I go to pick my car up? Or chalk this up to my poor planning and checking on my part?

Edited by RacingGreen0001 on Wednesday 20th September 04:40

So, after happily accepting the quote for the work to be done, you went back on the website to check prices again and found the garage might be making a small profit on the parts.

The shame of it.

Everyone in business should sell materials at cost price.

Edited by Alucidnation on Wednesday 20th September 07:40

[ToothbrushMan]

whats the price difference?

[Dabooka]

As asked above, what's the difference and what was the repair?

Bearing in mind the horror stories about customer supplied parts failing, I personally wouldn't bother and let the garage source them anyway.

[xjay1337]

Garage supplied parts usually come with a warranty whereby the garage covers the labour cost.

[steveo3002]

thing is now theyve supplied the parts , if you drive the road and that part fails its all their problem , vs if you supplied it then its not their problem and up to you to sort out with the supplier and repay to have another one fitted

[John Laverick]

Depends ..... I had a 'discussion' with my local garage regarding replacing the rear discs on my Clio years ago.

I went in for a quote and he said something like 2hrs labour plus parts, labour rate is £50 an hour.

OK I thought, told him to crack on.

I was going to do it myself and I'd already priced the discs and pads up which were £200 (from the dealer). I was expecting a bill for circa £300 (maybe less if he buys the parts from a motor factor or gets a trade discount).

I collected the car and was presented with a bill broken out at 2hrs labour x £50 then £320 for parts .... I wasn't happy. He said that's what they cost him, I said well you've been ripped off and you're therefore ripping me off and I refused to pay.

After discussing with his supplier he adjusted the bill, I don't know to this day who was at it (the garage or the supplier).

In my opinion if I'm getting work done at a garage the parts prices should be closely related to what is available on the market.

Don't get me started on the fact he quoted his labour rates exclusive of VAT as well!!!

[InitialDave]

Alucidnation said:

So, after happily accepting the quote for the work to be done, you went back on the website to check prices again and found the garage might be making a small profit on the parts.

The shame of it.

Everyone in business should sell materials at cost price.

If you tell me you can get parts cheaper than I can, you should get the parts cheaper than I can. Because that's what you said you'd do.

I agree that if you accepted the quote, well, you've accepted it, but they still shouldn't say things like that if untrue.

Now, if they said "Sorry, even though they may be the same parts from the same company, we have to source them ourselves in order to have the confidence to stand behind our work on the basis we have used quality products. If you wish to supply your own, I'm afraid we cannot warranty the work done" well, that would be fair enough.

[paintman]

I take it this is also the issue you're on about in your other thread?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Time to buy yourself a Haynes manual.

[Toyoda]

John Laverick said:

Depends ..... I had a 'discussion' with my local garage regarding replacing the rear discs on my Clio years ago.

I went in for a quote and he said something like 2hrs labour plus parts, labour rate is £50 an hour.

OK I thought, told him to crack on.

I was going to do it myself and I'd already priced the discs and pads up which were £200 (from the dealer). I was expecting a bill for circa £300 (maybe less if he buys the parts from a motor factor or gets a trade discount).

I collected the car and was presented with a bill broken out at 2hrs labour x £50 then £320 for parts .... I wasn't happy. He said that's what they cost him, I said well you've been ripped off and you're therefore ripping me off and I refused to pay.

After discussing with his supplier he adjusted the bill, I don't know to this day who was at it (the garage or the supplier).

In my opinion if I'm getting work done at a garage the parts prices should be closely related to what is available on the market.

Don't get me started on the fact he quoted his labour rates exclusive of VAT as well!!!

I've found this as well. I suppose if the garage is sourcing the parts then there's no incentive to get them at a good price, as that cost is passed to the customer. I've no problem with a garage making some profit on the parts (after all, they have to spec them up, phone in the order etc), but when the base price of the part is already inflated then I can see why we feel hard done by. Take ECP for example, who many indy garages use. We all know the prices are a joke and there's a permanent 25-30% sale on for online orders, but when the mechanic phones up to place an order what price do they get them at? It seems to me they pay the same rate as anyone walking in the shop to buy (and obviously not getting the 25-30% permanent offer).

[John Laverick]

Toyoda said:

I've found this as well. I suppose if the garage is sourcing the parts then there's no incentive to get them at a good price, as that cost is passed to the customer. I've no problem with a garage making some profit on the parts (after all, they have to spec them up, phone in the order etc), but when the base price of the part is already inflated then I can see why we feel hard done by. Take ECP for example, who many indy garages use. We all know the prices are a joke and there's a permanent 25-30% sale on for online orders, but when the mechanic phones up to place an order what price do they get them at? It seems to me they pay the same rate as anyone walking in the shop to buy (and obviously not getting the 25-30% permanent offer).

The thing is my part price was based on a phone call to the dealer with no discount so no excuse here.

If i'm quoted an all in price then fair enough no quibble, but if it's parts plus labour the parts have to be market price or thereabouts. Any speccing them / calling up / profit should be built up into the hourly rate in my opinion.

OP - in your position I wouldn't be happy. They haven't done what they said they'd do (source parts cheaper), it's as simple as that. If it's a few quid then i might let it slide but anything more significant i'd be having words.

[V8covin]

The price of main dealer parts should come out the same to you whether the garage supplies them or you buy them yourself.
The dealer will get a small trade discount and I mean small.
If they don't say otherwise, or you don't ask, assume dealer price is plus vat

[xjay1337]

V8covin said:

The price of main dealer parts should come out the same to you whether the garage supplies them or you buy them yourself.
The dealer will get a small trade discount and I mean small.
If they don't say otherwise, or you don't ask, assume dealer price is plus vat

Really? "small".

Up to 60% on some items. Then again some items are 6%. So it's swings and roundabouts.

I know many trade outlets have a "retail" price (the price you would charge to retail customers in an ideal world) - this is fairly standard across the board and generally abouts the same.

Then depending on your account etc you will get discounts applied to this.

[V8covin]

xjay1337 said:

Really? "small".

Up to 60% on some items. Then again some items are 6%. So it's swings and roundabouts.

I know many trade outlets have a "retail" price (the price you would charge to retail customers in an ideal world) - this is fairly standard across the board and generally abouts the same.

Then depending on your account etc you will get discounts applied to this.

You've had 60% discount on parts from a main dealer ?

[V8RX7]

Toyoda said:

I've found this as well. I suppose if the garage is sourcing the parts then there's no incentive to get them at a good price

Take ECP for example, who many indy garages use. We all know the prices are a joke and there's a permanent 25-30% sale on for online orders, but when the mechanic phones up to place an order what price do they get them at? It seems to me they pay the same rate as anyone walking in the shop to buy (and obviously not getting the 25-30% permanent offer).

CORRECT (as most garages aren't well run)

CORRECT - I went to GSF to buy the parts for my car - the garage said I could use their Trade Account - however this was HIGHER than I could buy them for over the counter let alone via their internet pricing on Ebay - the simple answer was that the Traders expect the parts to be delivered - and quickly so they are paying for the delivery staff and vans.

[Mr2Mike]

Toyoda said:

I've found this as well. I suppose if the garage is sourcing the parts then there's no incentive to get them at a good price, as that cost is passed to the customer. I've no problem with a garage making some profit on the parts (after all, they have to spec them up, phone in the order etc), but when the base price of the part is already inflated then I can see why we feel hard done by. Take ECP for example, who many indy garages use. We all know the prices are a joke and there's a permanent 25-30% sale on for online orders, but when the mechanic phones up to place an order what price do they get them at? It seems to me they pay the same rate as anyone walking in the shop to buy (and obviously not getting the 25-30% permanent offer).

Any half competent garage will be getting parts at trade cost from ECP.

[xjay1337]

V8covin said:

You've had 60% discount on parts from a main dealer ?

From TPS , yes.


Not from a main dealer. Main dealer you pay retail prices.

[V8RX7]

xjay1337 said:

V8covin said:

You've had 60% discount on parts from a main dealer ?

From TPS , yes.


Not from a main dealer. Main dealer you pay retail prices.

Not if you ask nicely - TPS was closed and I asked the VW dealer if he could do anything on his price otherwise I'd wait for TPS on Monday - he actually beat TPS price !

That was for a full cambelt kit and water pump.

I regularly get 10-30% off simply by asking for a "Trade discount"