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re: Purchase parts and expect me to put them on...
Posted on 2/6/25 at 5:54 am to genuineLSUtiger
Posted on 2/6/25 at 5:54 am to genuineLSUtiger
quote:
problem is that I hate work more than I like making money.
Fair enough. If your expenses are where they need to be and you don’t need the income do what is better for you.
I agree, money isn’t everything. Time.
0
Posted on 2/6/25 at 5:57 am to Pirate0714
quote:
What's board's opinion on buying stuff and expecting a business to install them for you?
Better than some mechanical pirate stealing my plunder by marking up parts
Posted on 2/6/25 at 6:01 am to Pirate0714
quote:
In what world is this normal to do this?
In what world is me purchasing something and paying someone to install it not normal?
I buy my tile and grout and the contractor comes to my house and installs it or he’ll do it for me…for a price.
quote:
I don't bring my food to a restaurant for the chef to cook...
But there are places that allow it.
The medicine argument is a bad comparison.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 6:08 am to 777Tiger
quote:
I'll bet you there a lot on here that know how much it costs to run a business
If you are relying on up charging parts to stay in business, you are undervaluing your labor.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 6:25 am to Pirate0714
On vehicles, I will may bring my own parts if I have a good relationship with the shop and I don't make a habit of it.
Esp with a Jeep, I like to get parts that are upgrades and aren't available at NAPA etc.
I wouldn't try it with a random shop or use ebay/amazon parts.
Esp with a Jeep, I like to get parts that are upgrades and aren't available at NAPA etc.
I wouldn't try it with a random shop or use ebay/amazon parts.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 6:37 am to crap4brain
quote:
Some places charge a huge markup on parts. If I can get them cheaper than the repair shop why not try to save a little.
Nothing. And, there's nothing wrong with a business not being willing to do it.
This is the great thing about capitalism. All contracts and transactions are acceptable to both parties.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 6:53 am to Pirate0714
In my opinion if a mechanic did not want to install parts the customer bought elsewhere that is a decision for the mechanic to make. I understand why a mechanic would make that decision....if the parts are wrong or fail many customers would conclude the mechanic either did not know what they were doing or had done something wrong. If I were a mechanic and I did install their parts I would tell them I was charging whatever to install them and I was marking them up just like I would any parts I provided. I would also charge them for any shop supplies used and finally I would tell them there was no warranty on their parts or the labor since I would have no idea where they came from and what the quality was. It would then be up to the customer. If they were OK with it I would install them but if I was busy and had good customers waiting it might be a while before I did.
When I was young and dumb and had just started a small business I was DESPARATE for work. I did some national chain restaurants with a GC in Atlanta who specialized in those types of jobs. They would place all of the material on the job....any material I had to furnish I could mark up 20% total. Labor was a hard money price for the job. It took me one of these to realize I was not making much if anything on the damned thing. Marking up "parts" is a pretty sizeable reason to be in business....
When I was young and dumb and had just started a small business I was DESPARATE for work. I did some national chain restaurants with a GC in Atlanta who specialized in those types of jobs. They would place all of the material on the job....any material I had to furnish I could mark up 20% total. Labor was a hard money price for the job. It took me one of these to realize I was not making much if anything on the damned thing. Marking up "parts" is a pretty sizeable reason to be in business....
Posted on 2/6/25 at 8:52 am to Pirate0714
Why would you turn down someone seeking you out, just wanting to hand you money?
I mean, most times when I get repairs I always have to waot for the part to arrive. In this case you dont. So youre actually making quick money
I mean, most times when I get repairs I always have to waot for the part to arrive. In this case you dont. So youre actually making quick money
Posted on 2/6/25 at 9:17 am to Pirate0714
quote:i remember when i first read this quote in a 1974 issue of Car & Driver
In what world is this normal to do this? Or for that matter to get pissed off when I won't install your parts you purchased from cheap arse Amazon or Temu site.
I don't bring my food to a restaurant for the chef to cook...
I don't bring my medicine to a doctor's office to treat me with...
Posted on 2/6/25 at 9:29 am to Pirate0714
quote:
I don't bring my medicine to a doctor's office to treat me with...
Yes you do, or should
Every time I see a new Dr, the automated message or written notification ALWAYS tells me to bring any prescriptions that I am currently taking
Posted on 2/6/25 at 9:46 am to moneyg
quote:
This is the great thing about capitalism. All contracts and transactions are acceptable to both parties.
This is an accurate concept that many people just don't get.
Even the OP, which I defended, doesn't quite seem to grasp it.
If a customer wants to supply the parts and you don't want to deal with that, tell them to "no thanks" to the work and carry on with your life. Now sometimes the problem is that the customer got offended and thinks you turned down the work because you couldn't "scalp" on markup. Then the customer bad-mouths your business unreasonably.
Just be an adult. Unfortunately, the world is filled with 40yo children.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 10:04 am to Turnblad85
this is the issue if your business relies on individual transactions with the general public. I do not envy anyone who has that business model. I couldn’t do it
We tell people no thank you all the time, at least once a week. It’s just business and not personal
We tell people no thank you all the time, at least once a week. It’s just business and not personal
Posted on 2/6/25 at 10:48 am to Pirate0714
I passed along this thread to a friend that owns a very respected repair business in the area.
His comments were,
He will install some parts that come in their original box with the receipt from where they are purchased from a local area parts supplier. He alone makes the final decision on the quality and correct part number of the part requested to be installed.
Aftermarket suspension parts are on a case by case decision. He turns down many requests.
He will not under any circumstances accept or install used/junkyard parts such as radiators, alternators, steering components, etc. He sees that everyday.
He will not tamper or remove any emission control that alters original design and function.
He does not recommend any parts supplier as some customers try to use his company discount to get a break on price.
He strongly advises that you know who you are dealing with online to supply your parts. While many are legit, some are a nightmare to get a refund or will not accept a core exchange. That is your money lost.
He said there have been occasions the wrong part can be found in a box that lists the correct part number. He will not accept the responsibility if the online part the customer has is not correct and the customer wants him to procure the right part through them or get your money back. He has been asked.
These are just a few of the many comments he had. Happy motoring.
His comments were,
He will install some parts that come in their original box with the receipt from where they are purchased from a local area parts supplier. He alone makes the final decision on the quality and correct part number of the part requested to be installed.
Aftermarket suspension parts are on a case by case decision. He turns down many requests.
He will not under any circumstances accept or install used/junkyard parts such as radiators, alternators, steering components, etc. He sees that everyday.
He will not tamper or remove any emission control that alters original design and function.
He does not recommend any parts supplier as some customers try to use his company discount to get a break on price.
He strongly advises that you know who you are dealing with online to supply your parts. While many are legit, some are a nightmare to get a refund or will not accept a core exchange. That is your money lost.
He said there have been occasions the wrong part can be found in a box that lists the correct part number. He will not accept the responsibility if the online part the customer has is not correct and the customer wants him to procure the right part through them or get your money back. He has been asked.
These are just a few of the many comments he had. Happy motoring.
This post was edited on 2/6/25 at 11:31 am
Posted on 2/6/25 at 11:07 am to Pirate0714
quote:
This was more of a rant on people buying stuff and acting like children when I tell them no...
Judging by your poor communication in the OP, them acting like children might have more to do with the way you say no.
Try something like, “I’m sorry, that’s not my business model. There are too many unknowns for me to stand behind the service I provide when there’s a chance I might be dealing with inferior parts I’ve never worked with before.”
They still won’t like it. But then reply with, “I am sorry, but I will be glad to come back and help you if that part does not work out. “
I can’t imagine being so upset with a customer’s reaction that I start a thread on TD to bitch about it. You have to own your part in the outcome of a conversation.
If you are the one with the subject matter expertise - you’re driving the outcome.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 11:12 am to crap4brain
quote:
If I can get them cheaper than the repair shop why not try to save a little.
Because then the shop has no quality control over the supplier the parts are sourced from.
A lot of body shops refuse to install parts provided by the customer because cheap body parts often don't fit very well. You'll have bumpers that don't line up properly where they meet the fenders. Or hoods that either have uneven gaps or rub against the fender every time you open or close it. Then its a pain in the arse for the body shop trying to screw around with the parts you ordered off Temu or eBay to get them to look and fit right.
I'm sure you'll find a shop who will do the install on parts you bring them. They may make you sign a waiver that the shop isn't responsible if those parts don't fit perfectly or something. Other shops may not even want to mess with it because they don't want their name attached to a repair job that may not be up to their standards due to low quality parts.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 11:19 am to RobbBobb
quote:
Why would you turn down someone seeking you out, just wanting to hand you money?
I mean, most times when I get repairs I always have to waot for the part to arrive. In this case you dont. So youre actually making quick money
Because then you're taking the risk that the customer ordered cheap, low quality parts that will likely result in a more difficult installation and/or a completed job that doesn't meet the shop's quality standards because they were working with inferior parts.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 11:34 am to Pirate0714
quote:
What's board's opinion on buying stuff and expecting a business to install them for you?
At $100 an hour and no responsibility if it works sounds like a great plan; anyone want to bring me their parts for me to install?
Posted on 2/6/25 at 12:09 pm to Pirate0714
I've got a mechanic I have been going to for over a decade. He is from Vietnam, and works almost exclusively on Japanese cars. I get the parts from Rockauto, or OEM from Toyota/Honda...and he installs them for me. His stance is...he is a mechanic who works on cars. Do I really want him spending time looking up part numbers, placing orders and/or keeping spare parts in inventory...or do I want him to quickly (and affordably) repair my vehicle so I can get back on the road?
I will add that I'm heading there this afternoon for him to replace the long past due AHC (Active Height Control) suspension fluid in my Lexus. I was able to buy the fluid online for a fraction of what it would cost at my local dealership, and his only requirement is to put in the 2 hours of labor and take my money. It works out great for both of us.
I will add that I'm heading there this afternoon for him to replace the long past due AHC (Active Height Control) suspension fluid in my Lexus. I was able to buy the fluid online for a fraction of what it would cost at my local dealership, and his only requirement is to put in the 2 hours of labor and take my money. It works out great for both of us.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 12:39 pm to Pirate0714
quote:
What's board's opinion on buying stuff and expecting a business to install them for you?
It depends. From my perspective as a residential/commercial electrician, I have no problem whatsoever with installing customer-provided items/materials/fixtures/devices etc. I don’t make much off of material markups. I actually insist that customers select their own decorative fixtures and such. But there are pros and cons (from the customer position)
Pros: You get exactly what you want, and you save 10-20%.
Cons: If it doesn’t work, or I have to leave and get something to make it work, or leave and come back when you get the right thing- you’re paying for that. If what you bought takes longer to install than what I would have bought- you’re paying for the extra labor. If it breaks (before or after installation) you have to pay to replace it. If it causes damage when it breaks- that’s on you. If I have to tell you what to get- you’re paying for it.
So, for most things (that are not decorative), it’s probably better to let the installer supply them. But typically the only thing we don’t provide is surface mounted/decorative fixtures. And we provide options to choose from, for the things we do provide (like recessed lighting, switches and outlets, etc). The best outcome is when the person who knows what they want collaborates with the person who knows what it takes to make it happen.
Posted on 2/6/25 at 12:53 pm to Pirate0714
If seen many mechanics do this- they however will not usually warranty the work !
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