My Vendor Rant!!!! | FerrariChat
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My Vendor Rant!!!!

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by shashi27, Mar 17, 2006.

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  1. shashi27

    shashi27 Formula Junior

    Jan 7, 2006
    988
    Long Valley, NJ
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    Shashi
    #1 shashi27, Mar 17, 2006
    OK, we all know Ferrari ownership is pricey due to the service on the cars. So like many of you I have taken to servicing my 308 by handling the suspension, brakes, steering, exhaust...etc, myself. Thanks to everyone that makes this Forum what it is...names like Verrel and Birdman come to mind.

    With regards to the steering, I am too chicken to rebuild the rack myself, so I looked throught the posts for some info. It seems we can use a Pantera rebuilt rack, with Ferrari tie rods, and walk away with $200 more than if we went with a US vendor. If this is true, why? Ferrari snops need not reply. I don't want to hear the idiot answer about because it is a "Ferrari". Parts for Porsche CV joint are cheaper on Pelican Parts than a vendor Ferrari CV joint. It is not like Ferrari makes the CV joint.

    The reason why I am singling out the US vendors is because even with the piss poor exchange rate with the UK, the prices at place like superperformance.co.uk blow out a lot of the US vendors. I have learned that most Ferrari mechanics order from UK and Italy rather than going to US vendors. I understand that everyone needs to make money, but if one of our sponsors could step up and not fleece us like the rest of Ferrari Nation it would be appreciated. For God sakes, I am talking about 308 owners here not F360 or F430 owners. Maybe in thirty years they can rant about their car parts. I am going to go drink some green beer and get drunk now.

    P.S. This is just my way of blowing off steam as my checking account recedes and the boxes of parts in my garage accumulate.
     
  2. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2003
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    Dave M.
    #2 dm_n_stuff, Mar 17, 2006
    DEEP BREATH.

    INHALE - EXHALE. RELAX.

    A lot of the US ources for Ferrari parts get at least some of their 246 and 308 stuff from Superformance. Mike at Superformance probably doesn't offer much of a discount to them, after all, why should he.

    Then they have to mark them up, pay freight, duties, etc, hence the price difference.

    Unfortunately for us 70's car guys, there just aren't a ton of sources here, and none that I've found that are cheap.

    Daniel at Ricambi might be able to help. He's the most reasonable guy on here, and works hard to find the tought parts. Give him a shot.

    also, believe it or not, if you shop around at the Ferrari dealerships, you'll find a wide variety of prices for the same parts. Sometimes dealers have parts for a while, and their cost was lower than current ones.

    Finally, EBAY. I find tons of stuff on EBAY.

    Dave M
     
  3. shashi27

    shashi27 Formula Junior

    Jan 7, 2006
    988
    Long Valley, NJ
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    Shashi
    #3 shashi27, Mar 17, 2006
    I am better. Thanks.

    I did want to name one vendor that has gone beyond...wwwaaaay beyond, the call of duty. I am replacing my exhaust, not with a Tubi or ANSA, do to price. Dave at Timevalve which is located in CT, actually drove to my house in NJ, two states away, to measure my exhaust. That is two to three hours one way depending on traffic. Who does that??!! He is coming again to pick up the old exhaust to make sure they locate the brackets right!!! Some nimrod welded my muffler to the exhaust and modified it as well. I don't mind a premium for that kind of service, and they don't even charge a premium!!!

    Go Timevalve!!!!
     
  4. RossoCorsaItaly

    RossoCorsaItaly F1 Rookie
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    Jun 9, 2004
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    Kevin
    #4 RossoCorsaItaly, Mar 18, 2006
    My favorite U.S. dealer gives me better prices on my parts than U.K. or Italy. Plus it saves me long distance bills.

    Regardless OEM parts aren't a speciality of mine, just something I like to offer.

    Then you won't hear anything. You just answered your own question. Porsche can't sell their cars nearly as well as Ferrari can. Look at 996 turbos their all over the place, you can walk into any authorized P dealership and get one. Try that with an F430. So why don't they allow their official retail stores to discount their parts? They don't have to. Also unlike Porsche, Ferrari makes a huge portion of their money selling parts.
     
  5. andrewg

    andrewg F1 Rookie
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    #5 andrewg, Mar 18, 2006
    Its just supply and demand (and economies of scale), If you ask Wayne from Pelican how many CV joints for 930's he sells in a year and also ask any ferrari parts people I'll bet Wayne sells more, yes we all NOW know 308's use the same cv as a 930.....but its taking a while for that to be reflected in the prices, as always it pays to shop around.

    And you'd be suprised at how many people wont have anything but the part in the yellow box on their cars rather than the same part but in a different box,

    You've got some great parts guys in the US (Daniel at Ricambi for example), who work hard to find all the parts that ARE difficult to find......and trust me nobody is going to get rich from the turnover of Ferrari parts.....Porsche is a different matter
     

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