Dealer Rip-off

[BBlyman]

I called my local dealer Friday to get a price on replacing 2 of my 2500 CTD wheels... damaged when I slid off the roadway. They want $307 per wheel to replace them... . are you freakin kidding me?



I want to get 18x9 wheels in the spring and they are only $225 and chrome... dealers are such thieves.



Just had to vent. Insurance man isn't going to like me to much now.



Bob

 

[JARichard]

that is exactly why I bought my Centerlines! They wanted $310 plus shipping. I got the Centerlines with center caps delivered for $1000 but that was in 05.

 

[DGStrate]

Next time, check e-bay - there are always take-offs out there for GREAT prices! I bought an 04. 5 alloy stock wheel (really good condition) to use for my spare tire for about $75. 00 including shipping.

 

[DSteimle]

I called my local dealer Friday to get a price on replacing 2 of my 2500 CTD wheels... damaged when I slid off the roadway. They want $307 per wheel to replace them... . are you freakin kidding me?



I want to get 18x9 wheels in the spring and they are only $225 and chrome... dealers are such thieves.



Just had to vent. Insurance man isn't going to like me to much now.



Bob

so, you ran off the road and damaged your vehicle and it's the dealers fault? understand that dc does not make the wheels, they purchase them from a vendor and mark them up just as every other retailer in the world does (you dont work for a retail company do you?). dealers are forced to buy the manufacturer at a set price and then resell on a markup. i dont appreciate being called a thief when i work at a legimate retail business which is in the market to turn a profit! maybe you should do a study of economics before you come here and vent such trash.



just a mopar parts guy trying to make a living. \



btw, just guessing, but probably your first visit to the dealer in a while. only if what you need is not available anyplace else on earth. if that's the case, we really dont need you business anyway!

 

[turbinesurgun]

man thats kinda harsh on the guy. We can all agree that you have to make a living also, but that price is a little high bartender

 

[Edgemann55]

Thieves is the wrong word,The right word is GREED. That is what is going on in the good ol USA. While I think a retail business should make a fair profit the markup today at some is unreal. We live in a day and age when expected profit is not enough. I always thought profit is what you made after paying your employees and bills. Not any more-now you have to figure in obscene bonus checks to the top.

Nice thing is Bob has the choice to go to another source for his wheel and does not have to spend his $'s at the over priced dealer.

 

[WVanHemert]

That is just the kind of dealer attitude that is losing dealer parts companies business. When you can buy the same or better part somewhere else for significantly cheaper it doesn't make sense.

I have a philosophy, I always support the local guys, be it dealer or whatever when the price is within 5% on small items and a 1 or 2% on very high priced items.

Example the starter for my bobcat is 485 bucks from the local bobcat dealer, 1 week delivery, the same starter from Bosch is 260 bucks delivered to my door in 4 days. Which should I buy from?

 

[JARichard]

so, you ran off the road and damaged your vehicle and it's the dealers fault? understand that dc does not make the wheels, they purchase them from a vendor and mark them up just as every other retailer in the world does (you dont work for a retail company do you?). dealers are forced to buy the manufacturer at a set price and then resell on a markup. i dont appreciate being called a thief when i work at a legimate retail business which is in the market to turn a profit! maybe you should do a study of economics before you come here and vent such trash.



just a mopar parts guy trying to make a living. \



btw, just guessing, but probably your first visit to the dealer in a while. only if what you need is not available anyplace else on earth. if that's the case, we really dont need you business anyway!

WHOA NELLIE!



$305 a piece for chrome leaf covered steel is ridiculous! Like I said i got centerline polished aluminum for $250 a piece with shipping. The local dealer wouldn't sell me take-offs for $250.

BTW I need to go to this same dealer Wednesday for a rattle in the dash on a truck with 12,000 miles. I have tried everything since it was new to fix it myself. And they are going to give me crap because i didn't buy the truck from them. I saved $6k by driving 220 miles to Houston, it isn't my fault they don't deal. I even told them if they came within $2k of the quote I would buy from them. Their response was drive to Houston.

 

[BBlyman]

DSteimle:

No its not the dealers fault I ran off the road... . Its ridiculous that a stock 17" no frills-wheel cost $307 and a aftermarket custom 18" is 225 and chrome. Its robbery.



Wow your getting all upset over me venting about a price of a wheel... . no I don't work for a retail company but I do understand that people do need to make money in this world... . just don't mark things up so the are OUTRAGESLY Priced.



Your right, I don't go to the dealer alot due to this reason. I usually go locally to find parts and help out others that aren't trying to rob the regular diesel class joe. I have no problem driving around to find a deal, but when the Insurance company says to call the dealer and find it, its shocking.



Bob

 

[JStrasser]

so, you ran off the road and damaged your vehicle and it's the dealers fault? understand that dc does not make the wheels, they purchase them from a vendor and mark them up just as every other retailer in the world does (you dont work for a retail company do you?). dealers are forced to buy the manufacturer at a set price and then resell on a markup. i dont appreciate being called a thief when i work at a legimate retail business which is in the market to turn a profit! maybe you should do a study of economics before you come here and vent such trash.



just a mopar parts guy trying to make a living. \



btw, just guessing, but probably your first visit to the dealer in a while. only if what you need is not available anyplace else on earth. if that's the case, we really dont need you business anyway!

I am a very small business owner (1 employee) and I do understand about overhead, etc... . But for my first oil change- wanted to do it myself to see what was involved- I bought the oil filter from my Dodge dealer. $38 !!!!!

That isn't just making a profit, that is gouging, no matter how you try to explain it.



John

 

[DieselFiend]

I think it's funny when the dodge parts/service guys on TDR get all up tight about people talking bad about their precious DC. If it weren't for emergencies and dumb people, DC wouldn't sell parts. You can almost always get most of what you need elsewhere for a lot cheaper. Bob, agree with you 100%

 

[mcsinfl]

boy am i glad my local dealership is not the one that DSteimle works at. with that attitude, it's no wonder most of us look elsewhere first and use the dealer as last resort

 

[GOlsen]

The prices at a dealer are quite ridiculous. When my starter went out, I priced at a dealer. When I called the guy, he looked up the price and said holy ****, the price on the starter is over $900!!! He said I would be better off getting a lifetime warrantee starter from Autozone for $200.

 

[DSteimle]

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)



as for you viper, yes i am a mopar fanatic, but i have sold parts for gm, hyundai, mopar, isuzu, and mercedes so its not really my precious dc. you seem to be one who purchases on price only, therefor your not a customer that can be retained anyway, so go buy your cheep parts and enjoy the savings.



as for the oil filter, mopar buys them from fleetguard in a mopar box. again, someone elses product being marked up and sold by a middle man. (you guys really need some economics 101). but still i sell mopar diesel oil filters #5083285aa all day long for $12. 70. i dont know what you bought and why it was so much.



towards the factory vs centerline, i seriously doubt the aftermarket replacement has the r&d to exact fit you truck like the original engineers did. i'm not saying all aftermarket products are inferior (they're all over my trucks), but i do know if you purchased the dealer part, it will fit and operate the way the truck did when new.

 

[DSteimle]

boy am i glad my local dealership is not the one that DSteimle works at. with that attitude, it's no wonder most of us look elsewhere first and use the dealer as last resort

why dont we ask catcracker about the level of parts service at my counter?

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Talk to your insurance guy. Maybe he'll let you get the new wheels you want now, if you pay for the other two. It would save him some money, too. That's how I put an aftermarket bumper on my 93 a few years back.

 

[DSteimle]

had you came to my counter with a positive attitude and said it was for you (not your insurance co. ) i would more than likely have helped you with the price. if the wheel i looked up is the same (52110366AC) i would have sold it to you for $244. 00.



i have several regular customers with diesels that i help whenever i can. i enjoy conversation with like minded people and enjoy what i do for a living. but if you come in looking for a fight, i can provide that too.

 

[BBlyman]

DSteimle... I never tried to start a fight..... you brought this onto you. I was simple venting and stating that it was crazy about the price of a stock item. I'm sorry your feeling were hurt when I said that dealer's are theives, but thats my opinion... and apparently alot of others opinion also.



Bob

 

[JHardwick]

thievery? robbery? did someone stick their fingers in your wallet? they named their price ... ... ..... take it or leave it ... ... ... ..... it's not gouging or robbery.

 

[DSteimle]

DSteimle... I never tried to start a fight..... you brought this onto you. I was simple venting and stating that it was crazy about the price of a stock item. I'm sorry your feeling were hurt when I said that dealer's are theives, but thats my opinion... and apparently alot of others opinion also.



Bob

no fight here and no hurt feeling here either, just trying to explain the hows and whys. as for bringing this upon myself, it doesn't bother me to defend what i do same as you would. as for other peoples opinion, walmarts full of chinese junk buying people who only worry about price. makes no difference to me. just know that if you rant and rave a my counter about a high price, you will ALWAYS get one