what should I pay my mechanic for parts?

I've brought some parts to my mechanic (Gary Bobileff), and he's always been fine with it. I also haven't noticed much if any markup.

My 328 needed a new coolant expansion tank, and he charged me his cost on it plus shipping from his source. I called Ricambi and one other place before giving Gary the go ahead to order it, and the prices on this ~$400 item were actually slightly higher at the two places I checked.** While I don't get the sense that he makes 5 calls on a part trying to get the lowest price, I also think parts aren't a real profit center for him (except for custom fabrication, which they do). In this case, the labor involved was <1 hour, so it wasn't the most lucrative job for him.

Hourly shop rates in California seem to be ~$100. That's not cheap, but for that you're getting the services of a guy who has done ground-up restorations on multiple Miuras and countless Ferraris (275 GTB next to my car last time, in for an engine rebuild.)



** Ricambi's prices are usually fine, and I recommend them. In this case, they weren't the lowest, but they were in the ballpark.

 

Every mechanic on the planet marks the prices up. If you find one that charges what the seller/distributor does, I would love to know about it. Figure that the shop will double the parts price, at least. To a certain degree thats fair, as they do have holding/carrying costs.

Whenever I provided parts in the past, the mechanic always mentioned that he will not warranty the parts/labor if ANYTHING fails. Not sure how fair, or legal that might be.

 

One thing you might consider when you supply parts to your mechanic, what if that part fails, who is responible for the replacement?

 

+1......to compare check your daily driver and what you are paying on parts as mark up on that end.

Not an uncommon practice. Here in Canada, dealer rate is $100.00 per hour, and independants run around $75-$80 per hour for shop rates.

 

When I used to get my Lotus serviced I'd always bring the parts to my independent mechanic. This was standard for him since he serviced lots of brands and wasn't a "parts guy". The disadvantage was that I'd have to wait longer to get the car back as one could never be sure what exactly he would need until he was into the car, so I'd order them as he went.

If one goes to a dealer, I would think their markup on parts is part of their business model. You could supply your own parts but I wouldn't be surprised if the total bill came out the same anyway. If everyone brought in their own parts, the dealer would have to add a few extra bucks to his hourly rate to make the same profit. After all, he's in business to make money, and if he needs to clear (for example) $1000 for a belt job as profit for parts and labor, he still would need to make that regardless of who brought in the parts.

Ken

 

Of course it's fair. He's in business to make a living and a profit. If he's just selling labor, and one of the parts fail, you bought it, you fix it. It amazes me that people with very expensive cars don't want their mechanic to make any profit on items supplied to keep that car running.

I've always found that when I deal fairly with people, it comes back in spades. An example: got the interior of the plane done. Cost was about 20k. A few months later, I get a call from a young lady, who'd been hurt in an accident, referred by the shop that did the interior. Turns out the interior was less than free when it was all over and done. There are many more of those instances where I'd done a good deed, and even though I didn't expect any return, it came back and I've been rewarded.

Art

 

Most mechanics do not cover replacement labor if you bring them the part and that part fails. Also if you mis diagnose the problem with your supplied part, then you can't blaim the mechanic. Most shops mark up the parts 20-40%.
If you buy the parts from him, he covers it.
Charles

 

100% mark up is robbery...JMO.

I make 10%-15% on lumber and materials for homes and remodeling.

 

I agree, if it is warranty you should not have to pay anything. The parts were sent free to the mechanic. Who covered the labor?

 

Drew:

Think about this for a second: 1. He has to take the car apart, see what is wrong, then ascertain the part number, and then pick up the phone and order it, pay for it, unpack it. The latter half of the list isn't charged on the repair. Not entitled to a few dollars to mark up the part? Obviously there is a line where there is over charging, but I don't see it here. I wasn't trying to insult you, but I think you missed that point.

Art

 

Yes, but also most mechanics are getting the parts at a cheaper price than you are. When I've had my Ferrari in, the parts usually cost me roughly what the major parts places would have cost me to buy direct (without getting into Fchat discounts and such). My mechanic is marking up, but he's marking up from his cost, not mine.

 

Art, I generally accept a markup for parts the dealer has on hand, as I am paying for the convinience. But if a dealer tells me he has to order the part, and it will take a week...its different. In that scenario what is the difference if I order it, and its not marked up a ludicrous amount? I will order it from the same place, it will come in the same box, with the same warranty.

I understand that the dealer needs to make a certain amount of money, and I am all for a capitalism. But if a patron takes it upon himself to do some of the legwork, they should be allowed to save some money. I don't think thats unreasonable.

If you take a car to the painter, and strip it yourself, take of the ancillaries, etc...they do charge you less. That makes sense. If you scrounge your own parts, in theory, it should work the same.

Also, at most dealerships, the parts department is a totally seperate entity from the workshop itself. They are either in the red or black individually. I once bought a car, and asked for a cd player to be added as part of the deal. Dealer didn't want to do it, said the parts guys keep completely seperate books. He ended up giving me a credit, I had to walk down the hall and get the item, etc...

Its a free market. As a doc, I can't insist that patients get meds from any place I have a financial interest in. I also can't sell meds in my office...conflict of interest. In fact, if I refer a patient anywhere where I am an investor (radiology lab, phlebotomy, etc), I could lose my liscence.

I would love to tell folks that they HAVE to get there supplies in a certain place . Yet, its illegal. Why its tolerated in other areas is beyond me...

 

In general, I find that Ricambi advertises at about 50% less than my local dealer cost. At least on items I have purchased so far (oil filters, maintenance stuff, gaskets, etc).

 

If you bring your own parts to a repair shop it's sort of like walking into a tavern with your own six pack and asking for a glass and having the bartender pour your drinks while watching his TV. Sure you would leave a tip but is it woth it to him?? Many shops will put your parts in but I would bet the labor costs would be jacked up with no responsibility for the parts.

MIke

 

Not quite. The tavern is selling the beer as a retailer. They do not charge you for pouring the beer, etc. The anology doesn't work.

Something closer to what you were mentioning might be a movie theather. They mark up their food quite a bit, and you cannot bring in your own. But, as a consumer you have options even in this scenario. You can simply chose not to eat there, and eat before or after the movie.

Listen dealerships have every right to mark up their parts. But, it would be nice if the average Joe could save a couple bucks by doing the legwork themselves...

 

it's not the cost of the part so much as it is the warranty and 'paper trail' of where the part was acquired. sure I'll install customer parts if need be, but I can not guaranty the part for any reason since I had no decision or involvement of the parts acquisition. if the part fails then the customer has to pay the shop again to replace it and diagnose the problem. if the shop had purchased the part then there would be no cost outlay to the customer for a defective part.

 

The repair shop is also a retailer. He buys his parts at a discount ands sells them at a profit. The same as a bar keep who buys his product at a discount and makes a profit. Don't forget the elaborate shops most exotic car repair shops have which cost money to up keep. The consumer is paying for that. Nuff said.

Mike

 

My thoughts....


I am the service manager @ a BMW/VOLVO/MINI Indep. repair facility.

Our policy is simple, we will not install customer supplied parts.

1) Parts sales is a part of our business, which we are here to make money. This is why I stock over a 100k in parts. You can't take a steak into steak house and say "cook this".

2) If you bring me your part, I can not warranty it. If I put it in and it goes bad, the customer will always say I put it in wrong, it "could never be the parts fault, the part is new". Just because a part is new doesn't mean it's any good.
When I warranty a part, it is backed by whom-ever I purchased it from. I didn't build it, so I want my money as an installer back also. If I didn't sell it to you, I have no one to cover the replacement costs to me (like labor). If I install a OE BMW part bought from a BMW dealer and it goes bad, BMW will replace the part and install it with no cost to me. If I manufactured the part then I am responsible..but I didn't design or build these parts, only sold them. There are 2 levels to a parts warranty. The customer (final user) and the other customer (myself). They both have to be backed.

3) If you are going to buy the part yourself, you should also have the ability to install it yourself, have a shop with proper tools, automotive technology training and the knowledge.

It's funny how the auto repair field really gets the short end of the stick in todays day and age.
If you go into the doctor for a problem...pay the office co-pay, go buy the drugs he sets for you and a week later you still don't feel any better...you go back again, pay the co-pay (again) and buy the new drugs (again).
If you have your car fixed and pay for parts and labor and a week later it's still not right (or close too), why do I (as a shop) have to pay for it?..warranty. If it's because of a bad part and you supplied it, why should I have to pay my tech's again to replace the part you supplied? Are you going to pay the tech again?
If you need surgery to have screws put in your leg, your not going to go on ebay and buy some titanium screws and bring them to the hospital with you and hand them to the doctor.

I use the doctor/auto repair comparison a lot, as the 2 industries are actually very similar. But they make A LOT more money then the auto repair industry does.


At this point I am just rambling on.....but being in the auto service business and having an auto collection myself (that I do not work on most of them, other shops do) I see it from both sides. And I still agree with the service manager side.

Just my .02 cents.

 

My independant doesn't stock many parts, and is very apologetic if he has to order them...

Pontiac as well as Honda mark up on parts is 100% of cost, I have worked for them and seen both sides of the books...

So it's unfair to state a guy isn't entitled to a mark up, and sadly we know know what his "cost' is, due to helpful folks like Ricambi....

So the other day before a Drag Race in my Ferrari, I pay the Graphics Shop to go by and get Royal Purple Oil, Purple Ice radiator treatment and drop the car over and take a Taxi back.......

My guy knew I was in a bind, did the car in 2 hours ahead of every engine and resto project in his shop, and delivered the car to Valeria's office next door when completed.

Did I mind seeing a $36.00 oil filter on the ticket, when I can buy Baldwins in quantity for $6- $8 each?

Not a bit.

A quality Technician can be the difference between 'owning' and 'not owning' in my case.

I not only paid the bill with a smile (some weeks later! LOL!) but shook his hand, told him how mauch I appreciate him and his crew, and dropped off a Houston Grand Prix Bikini Girls poster for the shop wall!


THAT's how a greatful Ferrari owner should act towards the people who support his ownership experience.

Man, I miss JRV........all the time....R.I.P.

 

I am a doctor, and that's a very good analogy! Which is one reason I never haggle with my mechanics.

 

JRV used to use the "steak and eggs into Denny's" analogy all the time....

The medical field DOES have many similar analogies...you never see anyone take three $$$ bids and pick the low one, on a pacemaker.....LOL!

The construction field can function on 15% (but more is BETTER!) because we do not have the storage, marketing, or facilites overhead a Shop has, tools and employee training are similar, though.....

 

I bought a 79 used 928 in 84 from the only Porsche dealer in town.
Short trips it was ok, long trips (60 miles) I had to stop and let it cool.
Went to the dealer, Thermostat $$500 inc labor.
Did not FIX the Problem.
Water pump quoted $1000. inc labor.
I did it myself for $200 including the timing belt.
Did not fix the problem.
Had a coworker husband over, we were talking cars, showed him mine and he looked at the radiator and said I built that radiator. He did not now what it went into but the Dealership had ordered it.
He told thme it had the same water capacity but NOT the same cooling ability.
The dealership knew it and they would have just milked it for all they could get.
Sorry, but if I don't know the mechanic well, I DON'T TRUST Them!

 

All I can say to that is....many of my customers have become personal friends. If you find a good repair facility, they should treat you like family.

Tony.