Dealer Rip-off

[JStrasser]

WOW- Daryl,



I don't think anyone here is blaming you or any other dealer employee of wrong-doing. Don't take this so personally.



We do understand "Economics 101" and that the parts guy who sold me the $38 oil filter has no more control over that price than you have with the $12. 70 filter. But the difference in price (the $38 filter is the ONLY one that they sell) is what bothers us. How about $48 for a block heater cord- bought the SAME THING for well under $20. That Economics lesson does have many of us buying from non-dealer sources.



Again, NOBODY here blames you what we feel are very high prices at your place of work or any other dealer. But those high priced wheels (along with many other parts costs, repeated numerous times every day) is just one reason why all our insurance premiums steadily rise.



Just my 2 cents.

John

 

[olznut]

I don't mind paying for parts or service if treated fairly. The dealers I USED to deal with would actually call me over and show me what was going on with my trucks. I never complained about their prices because they took care of me, and I sent them biz from family members with other Mopar vehicles, to then the next time I came in, they discounted the service/part without me asking. I topped it off with a super nice kudos letter to them for their efforts. Different people work there now, so I left. Bottom line here is that someone needed to do some better shopping. I don't know about Deleware, but out here, we have TONS of wrecking yards around, one phone call does it all. And as an other member said, ebay always has something for cheap, you just gotta be careful. I don't mind going out of my way to get taken care of. Like my local dealer, he was great to buy the truck (he just left recently also :{ ), but I'll be dammed if I take it there for service, service manager there has a Napolean complex, took 2 days to tell me nothing was wrong, and then tried to charge me $150 to enable the high idle, which I told them to pound sand :-{} .

 

[Holysmokes]

i bet you are the same bunch of idiots standing in line fussing at the 17 year old behind the counter about the price of diesel. i said before and i'll say again, the dealer does not set the prices. the manufacture does. same way as the vehicle. if a dealer can sell all the trucks it can get at sticker price, why would it discount one to you? if your time and expense to drive to a couple of hours and back is worth the amount of savings then so be it. supply and demand (economics 101)

Man, someone THAT angry has ALOT of built up stress! Things must be slow at the ole counter.

Well, lets see here, helping out people... . gouging..... people complaining about EVERYTHING someone else does / did / or feels ..... "looking for a fight" if they come to THEIR counter..... ticked off in LA. ..... yup, sounds like their hurricane season.



$300 is WAY too much for a wheel. And IF you can discount it to $244 then why not SELL it for $244? Might have a few more customers that way,the counter business will pick up, your stress level goes down. Sounds like a win,win,win situation to me.



Not trying to be mean, this guy was venting,not looking for a personal attack on you. The manufacturer wants too much (charging DC) as well, im sure.

 

[DSteimle]

WOW- Daryl,

I don't think anyone here is blaming you or any other dealer employee of wrong-doing. Don't take this so personally.

We do understand "Economics 101" and that the parts guy who sold me the $38 oil filter has no more control over that price than you have with the $12. 70 filter. But the difference in price (the $38 filter is the ONLY one that they sell) is what bothers us. How about $48 for a block heater cord- bought the SAME THING for well under $20. That Economics lesson does have many of us buying from non-dealer sources.

Again, NOBODY here blames you what we feel are very high prices at your place of work or any other dealer. But those high priced wheels (along with many other parts costs, repeated numerous times every day) is just one reason why all our insurance premiums steadily rise.

Just my 2 cents.
John

REALLY, no hurt feelings and have taken nothing personal :-laf . this thread started with an attack on dealer pricing and i responded. sounds as if some people cant handle hearing the other side of the story. i'll admit my first post was a little heavy handed but he started it

it's not like we're pricing brain surgery here, if you can find a cheaper part at a better price then buy it. but when you cant, buck up and accept the pricing as delivered or ask for assistance (sometimes it works).

the major reason for increase in insurance premiums (which i pay also) is stupid lawsuits and huge settlements.

 

[DSteimle]

Man, someone THAT angry has ALOT of built up stress! Things must be slow at the ole counter.

Well, lets see here, helping out people... . gouging..... people complaining about EVERYTHING someone else does / did / or feels ..... "looking for a fight" if they come to THEIR counter..... ticked off in LA. ..... yup, sounds like their hurricane season.



$300 is WAY too much for a wheel. And IF you can discount it to $244 then why not SELL it for $244? Might have a few more customers that way,the counter business will pick up, your stress level goes down. Sounds like a win,win,win situation to me.



Not trying to be mean, this guy was venting,not looking for a personal attack on you. The manufacturer wants too much (charging DC) as well, im sure.

i really dont understand why so many of you want to make this personal. i responded to a posting. if you misunderstand the response, perhaps you should reread the original post in this thread (including the title). there is a big difference between venting and insulting an entire profession.



as for you first paragraph, yes it is slow this time of year. and i find your hurricane reference to be in poor taste.

 

[starkmr]

i really dont understand why so many of you want to make this personal. i responded to a posting. if you misunderstand the response, perhaps you should reread the original post in this thread (including the title). there is a big difference between venting and insulting an entire profession.



as for you first paragraph, yes it is slow this time of year. and i find your hurricane reference to be in poor taste.

Poor taste was started by you when you called everybody idiots. 60-70% markup is above and beyond what most businesses use for their markup. You stated earlier that the R&D wasn't there with aftermarket as to fit and finish. ON wheels?? Give me a break. The mark up is dictated to you from DC, well you are going to have to accept the fact that you work for a bunch of price gouging profit mongers. I don't mind a business making a profit, that is what they are supposed to do, but I've got about as much sympathy for this as I do for the oil companies.

 

[DSteimle]

Poor taste was started by you when you called everybody idiots. 60-70% markup is above and beyond what most businesses use for their markup. You stated earlier that the R&D wasn't there with aftermarket as to fit and finish. ON wheels?? Give me a break. The mark up is dictated to you from DC, well you are going to have to accept the fact that you work for a bunch of price gouging profit mongers. I don't mind a business making a profit, that is what they are supposed to do, but I've got about as much sympathy for this as I do for the oil companies.

60-70% is rather low actually. most retail outlets (not the biggies like walmart) shoot for around 100%. furniture and jewelry can be over 1000%.

it really depends on how long something sits on the shelf before it sells. the markup is suggested by dc. supply and demand. really guys, economics 101, do some research.



i called the people fussing at gas attendants idiots, reread the wording. everyone in america (including the self-employed) works for profit mongers.



as for r&d on wheels. you dont believe that testing is done to evaluate the capabiliteis of wheels and tires (esp those designed for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks). how do you think hauling and towing capabilities ratings evolve? in order to know something limits, you have to break a few of them. every nut and bolt on a mass produced vehicle is evaluated for cost, construction and standards long before it is put into assembly. manufactures provide a group of stnadards and quantities that a product must meet and allow bidding to see who can build it to spec for the lowest price. sounds like that economics 101 thing again.

 

[CDyksman]

I think it's interesting that DSteimle says more than once how the manufacturer sets the price, then turns around and says he can discount the price for you himself.

 

[starkmr]

60-70% is rather low actually. most retail outlets (not the biggies like walmart) shoot for around 100%. furniture and jewelry can be over 1000%.

it really depends on how long something sits on the shelf before it sells. the markup is suggested by dc. supply and demand. really guys, economics 101, do some research.



i called the people fussing at gas attendants idiots, reread the wording. everyone in america (including the self-employed) works for profit mongers.



as for r&d on wheels. you dont believe that testing is done to evaluate the capabiliteis of wheels and tires (esp those designed for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks). how do you think hauling and towing capabilities ratings evolve? in order to know something limits, you have to break a few of them. every nut and bolt on a mass produced vehicle is evaluated for cost, construction and standards long before it is put into assembly. manufactures provide a group of stnadards and quantities that a product must meet and allow bidding to see who can build it to spec for the lowest price. sounds like that economics 101 thing again.

You implied that only the stock parts have any R&D on them, yes that is a generalization, just as you said it. You said, "I'll bet you are the same bunch of idiots standing in line... ... ... " I haven't heard anyone on this thread complain about the kid at the gas station. Aftermarket wheels have to meet standards as well as the ones that DC carries as stock, they're probably made by the same company anyway. What I am getting at is that the mark up is excessive if you can find the same quality or better everyday for $50 bucks less (in the case of wheels), it is DC sticking it to their customers then wondering why they don't make as much money at their parts counters as the bean counters have projected.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Poor taste was started by you when you called everybody idiots. 60-70% markup is above and beyond what most businesses use for their markup. You stated earlier that the R&D wasn't there with aftermarket as to fit and finish. ON wheels?? Give me a break. The mark up is dictated to you from DC, well you are going to have to accept the fact that you work for a bunch of price gouging profit mongers. I don't mind a business making a profit, that is what they are supposed to do, but I've got about as much sympathy for this as I do for the oil companies.

Actually 60-70% really isnt all that much higher than most retail places. Yeah, some items are sold for 1-5% over cost normally, but you would be shocked as hell is you knew how much stuff was marked up to 50-60% on a regular basis at retail stores! And usually its the little stuff, so most people dont realize it. That printer cable you bought at the local computer store for 30 bucks cost them maybe, MAYBE 6-10 bucks TOPS!



Now, why would he sell the wheel for under 300 if someone would pay 300? Most people come into a dealer looking to haggle them down anyway, just like any place selling parts! And he does have a point about the wheel being better than most aftermarket wheels. I have yet to find an aftermarket wheel that tops the quality of finish or all around quality of an OEM wheel. I have had MANY different aftermarket wheels, and guess what, I am back to an OEM wheel. its a H2 wheel, but that because I got sick of the aftermarket wheels always being junk, and I wanted a wider wheel. Plus, i bought take offs, and they were pretty cheap considering.



Not trying to defend the dealer guy all that much, as sometimes, I laugh at the prices they charge for some parts, but hey, they are a middle middle man.

 

[DSteimle]

I think it's interesting that DSteimle says more than once how the manufacturer sets the price, then turns around and says he can discount the price for you himself.

the manufacture determines the dealer cost (what it cost my owner to purchase the part from dc). this is set in stone and can only be changed by dc. they also provide a suggested retail and wholesale price. this provides a pretty level pricing across the board (same part should cost you the same in several different dealers). now based upon several economic (there's that word again) factors (market area, wholesale customers, current demand) the dealer can adjust the sale price. if i feel your situation and attitude deserve assistance i can sell you as a wholesale customer. if you buy lots of parts from me i will do the same. now if you come in fussing and cussing and i've never seen you before, the discount won't be there.



really guys, didnt ya'll see the playstations on ebay for 3000-5000 dollars. its really simple economics 101

 

[starkmr]

Cowboy, I know that mark up is higher in many cases, but I haven't seen where you can haggle with retailers other than buying vehicles. Try walking into Autozone and haggling over price, it don't happen. Most people don't know that they can haggle with the parts counter at dealerships. The problem here is that the new car industry made a bad name for itself many years ago, and hasn't really done anything to change that image and probably don't care to start anytime soon. So when someone is offended when they are looked at in that light, rightly or not, then that's tough. Better grow a thicker skin.

 

[DSteimle]

You implied that only the stock parts have any R&D on them, yes that is a generalization, just as you said it. You said, "I'll bet you are the same bunch of idiots standing in line... ... ... " I haven't heard anyone on this thread complain about the kid at the gas station. Aftermarket wheels have to meet standards as well as the ones that DC carries as stock, they're probably made by the same company anyway. What I am getting at is that the mark up is excessive if you can find the same quality or better everyday for $50 bucks less (in the case of wheels), it is DC sticking it to their customers then wondering why they don't make as much money at their parts counters as the bean counters have projected.

no, aftermarket parts do not have to meet the same requirements as oem, ever heard of a aftermarket retailer performing a government mandated recall due to substandard quality? yes they may all be made by the same company, but the ones they sell to dc will meet a very strict list of requirements.



ok, maybe i called a few of you idiots .



how much markup do you think is on the performance and cosmetic parts ya'll put on you trucks? really this seems to be an argument of convienence. the dealer is ripping you off, but that guy that sold you that turbo, injectors, programmer, etc they're just good guys in it to help you out :-laf

 

[starkmr]

no, aftermarket parts do not have to meet the same requirements as oem, ever heard of a aftermarket retailer performing a government mandated recall due to substandard quality? yes they may all be made by the same company, but the ones they sell to dc will meet a very strict list of requirements.



ok, maybe i called a few of you idiots .



how much markup do you think is on the performance and cosmetic parts ya'll put on you trucks? really this seems to be an argument of convience. the dealer is ripping you off, but that guy that sold you that turbo, injectors, porgrammer, etc they're just good guys in it to help you out :-laf

Naw, my truck is stock!!!! Ok so I have a brake controller, B&W turnoverball, Companion 5th wheel that I probably paid too much for, but those are accessories, not something required for the vehicle to move down the road.

 

[DSteimle]

Naw, my truck is stock!!!! Ok so I have a brake controller, B&W turnoverball, Companion 5th wheel that I probably paid too much for, but those are accessories, not something required for the vehicle to move down the road.

yeah, but the guy had a perfectly good set of wheels for a while that came on the truck too. that $350. 00 a piece didn't seem to bad when it was wrapped in $40000. 00 truck.

 

[Holysmokes]

First, that wasnt a dig about a huricane and the... AHHHHH whatever man. What was implied was supply and demand. (ECO 101) With the disaster that was down there Im sure people needed A LOT of parts to get them back on the road; and Im guessing there wernt as many parts stores. Thus you were busy at the counter. Deep breaths man!

Second, IF the dealer was HONEST than why when I pull my 2000 truck up to a 1999 truck IDENTICAL in everyway other than I wanted a manuel shift they offered me $12K and wouldnt budge off $26 for theirs? Cause they were giving me "wholesale price" for mine huh? ok so now I know the WHOLESALE has to be CLOSE to mine or even less for theirs and the mark up is $14K?

Fact is thats wrong. ANYWAY you look at it!

 

[JARichard]

It is amazing the difference in dealer pricing. When my steering stabilizer went out the local 5 star wanted about $210. About 30 miles away the mom & pop Dodge dealer wanted a $100 for the same part but they were check or cash only!



Can Dsteimle reduce the price? YES! The local 5 star had a young girl running the parts counter. I was buying my oil filters from the 5 star to prove for warranty. One day I helped her out and after that my oil filters went from $15 to $8. When she left my filters went up to $17 and I said HELLO Geno's 4,2,1 kit minus the air filter!



You probably know this dealer the Only 5 star in Lafayette, LA!

 

[Buffalo]

DSteimle, this is NOT aimed at you. Just a general comment.



I recently read that Costco's mark-up is between 8-14%. Nothing over 14%.



Their employees have good benefits & pay and seem to be quite happy. Costco seems to be doing quite well in spite of their reasonable mark-ups.



This may be an "apples to oranges" comparison but, it does make you wonder, a bit.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[BILLUA]

man, what a reach!!!!! ignorance must be contagious . what does my retail counter (you should know most markup is about 60-70%) have to do with corporate america stealing benefits from individuals??? you maybe forgot your meds today?



btw, what the heck is gmafb?

Glad you found out what GMAFB means :-laf



It is called corporate greed my man... That is how they are related... It is MANY paygrades above you and I... Corporate America is all about gouging the working man. . Be it by marking up parts to a ridiculous amount, or bankrupting a company, or driving jobs off shore... The point is corporate greed... . Not yours... That is what the original poster was trying to convey...

You are correct in that he does not have to buy that part from the dealer...



Economics 101 (of which you like to quote) would have you charging that man a fair price for a couple hundred dollar product so that maybe he buys a 45,000 dollar truck from you and you make $3,000... OK, maybe that is Econ 301... At anyrate, how is the economic health of the big 3????



Cheers, Bill

 

[wcjp]

Two friends have bought 06' take-offs. One paid $400+tax for 4 chrome clad rims and BFG's. The other paid $600+tax for the factory aluminum rims and Michelein LTX's. Take-offs were bought at different dealerships. At the cost of your local dealership it would be worth your time to find some take-offs from an out of town source.