Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Timd32
TDR MEMBER
I can get certain material for at .1 off "list", we never sell at the list. Its some make believe number that does have an algorithm to it in most of our cases.
But I'm sure this is the same.
Say list is $3k, I'm buying that part at $300, then I do a 40% markup, your looking at $420 out the door.
Alot of my contract buyers will say "x" off list, which is a really bad deal for them, I usually correct that for them and develope a proper parts list for them to purchase off of, others says 15% above cost which might not be enough for me to even consider selling a product with that small of a mark up. Then others it's up to me to decide what's fair, and when they call you out or price check you, that's the real test of how fair you are treating your customer.
It's all a free market which is a good thing.
Considering the cost of the tools and software needed by a dealer to cover all the makes and models vs a very small niche vendor, it's easy for the niche vendor to cut the price down to fractions of what a dealer can sell it for. And provide a better customer experience along the way since they cater to a much smaller market.
Maybe spliting the electronics into a separate part not all in one at some point. Then connect via a harness to keep the electronics safe from the coolant issue and heat cycles. That's a lot of development with maybe a very small pay off, so my guess is they just will become a known issue and just deal with them as needed.
That's the value I see in the TDR. Having access to that knowledge of these known issues and fixing them for fractions of what folks charge, then maybe getting it into the buyers guide at some point if documented enough times to merit that for these model years.
This reminds me of the ECM/PCM repair houses, some are really great, some not, so it's nice to have avenues to get real world feedback on these parts.
But I'm sure this is the same.
Say list is $3k, I'm buying that part at $300, then I do a 40% markup, your looking at $420 out the door.
Alot of my contract buyers will say "x" off list, which is a really bad deal for them, I usually correct that for them and develope a proper parts list for them to purchase off of, others says 15% above cost which might not be enough for me to even consider selling a product with that small of a mark up. Then others it's up to me to decide what's fair, and when they call you out or price check you, that's the real test of how fair you are treating your customer.
It's all a free market which is a good thing.
Considering the cost of the tools and software needed by a dealer to cover all the makes and models vs a very small niche vendor, it's easy for the niche vendor to cut the price down to fractions of what a dealer can sell it for. And provide a better customer experience along the way since they cater to a much smaller market.
Maybe spliting the electronics into a separate part not all in one at some point. Then connect via a harness to keep the electronics safe from the coolant issue and heat cycles. That's a lot of development with maybe a very small pay off, so my guess is they just will become a known issue and just deal with them as needed.
That's the value I see in the TDR. Having access to that knowledge of these known issues and fixing them for fractions of what folks charge, then maybe getting it into the buyers guide at some point if documented enough times to merit that for these model years.
This reminds me of the ECM/PCM repair houses, some are really great, some not, so it's nice to have avenues to get real world feedback on these parts.
