Shop around for dealer parts!!!

[ARedetzke]

Just ordered a water pump for the truck today. I figured that dodgeparts.com would probably have the cheapest price, but was curious as to what the local dealer would want. First I called a dealer about 30 miles away, they wanted $92, the dealer here in town wanted $165. Yeah, that's right, $165, I even asked him to double check to make sure it was the right one ( which didn't make him very happy). Ordered it from dodgeparts.com, $70 for the water pump, $7 shipping, $0 taxes. Every time I have checked a part, they have been cheaper, never by this much. Anyway, always shop around, sure I have to wait the better part of a week to wait for it to come in, but that's worth the difference to me.

AJ

 

[tugboatphil]

Ditto. I have a pretty friendly parts guy at our dealer. It's a small town. He'll let me look at the diagrams and research the parts, but if I buy somewhere else, it's no problem.



I read parts quotes here and what I've gotten at a dealer is usually close, but some stuff differs a lot. I think they have a "price wheel" that they spin. Then throw a dart at it and whatever number it lands on... .



Best choice is to let your fingers (or the mouse nowadays) do the walking before you go to buy.

 

[Lock93]

Believe it or not, but dodgeparts.com is a local Dodge dealer here in Washington state. They run the web site separate from their walk-in parts counter, and the differences in price between the counter and the website is very noticable. I called their 800 number and found out they are a stone's throw from where I work. Also, someone here on the TDR also informed me they were local (for me).

 

[ARedetzke]

I kind of figured that they were probably a dealer somewhere that was doing it to sell more parts. I've found that a lot of chevy dealers do the same thing from ordering parts for some of my work vehicles.

 

[Greenleaf]

Tug,

That's really how it works!!!! I used to work for a Ford dealership while attending college. They have a different price depending upon the following;



A. The mood of the parts guy

B. Which parts guy you ask

C. The buyer's social status

D. Who you know/your connections



It's true people!! Don't doubt my word, I have been there!!!!



-S

 

[Paychk]

If you go to Parts.com it is the index for a company called TradeMotion. TradeMotion sells software for online sales of most anything. Anyway at Parts.com you'll find 20 parts dealers if you search on "Dodge" such as this:



http://www.parts.com/index.cfm?action=subCategories&categoryID=1&subCategoryID=8



As tugboatphil says

Best choice is to let your fingers (or the mouse nowadays) do the walking before you go to buy.

 

[DieselTweaker]

I have to agree with Scott on this I work for for a dodge dealership in the parts dept most dealerships any more use a matrix system for pricing and it is one screwed up system I have yet to figure out how it works other than this it marks parts up over list and it changes, it's not just a base % of list, also if you have a good realationship with your dealership or parts man that will help you alot. If you think your getting the short end of the stick email me and ill see if i can get you an upper leg on the parts guy your dealing with, or if you need help with part #'s



A few tips... .



Ask for list price... . might catch them off gaurd



Be cool about asking, some small talk normally helps



Don't get smart that's a good way to get a high price



#1 Take care of your partsman and they will take care of you.