Savage Difference in car part price

beetlefan

I had to get a new wiper arm for a renault scenic last week. This is a common problem so i thought the parts might be cheap So i priced it with a renault dealer in the west and he quoted me 175 euro and i would have to collect it or pay for a courier.:mad: I went on the net and got the exact same part, genuine renault part from a renault dealer in northern ireland delivered to my door for 108 euro total the very next day .Someone is making a serious killing here :eek:

coylemj

Yes I can't believe how cheap the parts are in the UK when I watch that Wheeler Dealer program on Discovery (TV channel). They always have to buy some parts for the car they're restoring to roadworthy condition and they are way cheaper than over here.

Gloomtastic!

I gave up going to a dealer for parts the day they quoted us €3000 to replace the radio/cd player in my wife's RAV4.

'The computer says.......'

Skopzz

coylemj wrote: »

Yes I can't believe how cheap the parts are in the UK when I watch that Wheeler Dealer program on Discovery (TV channel). They always have to buy some parts for the car they're restoring to roadworthy condition and they are way cheaper than over here.

That's no excuse. They are getting away with robbery over here. Good to see more people buy their car parts from the U.K - nothing beats competition. As for the dealers over here, suffer away. They will soon figure out that their monopoly game is over.

dwsl280

Why go to the UK when you can get perfectly good parts for a fraction of the price from any breakers yard in Ireland.

I had to get two water jets for the bonnet of the car and main dealer wanted €49 each, ended up getting them both for €10 in a breakers yard and they work perfectly.

ejmaztec

dwsl280 wrote: »

Why go to the UK when you can get perfectly good parts for a fraction of the price from any breakers yard in Ireland.

I had to get two water jets for the bonnet of the car and main dealer wanted €49 each, ended up getting them both for €10 in a breakers yard and they work perfectly.

Some breakers' yards here take the piss as regards prices compared to the UK, unless they know you well.

Our man in Havana

Indeed. Some breakers absolutely rip the piss. I was asked €65 for a used headlight for a ford escort. I could get a brand new one for €70 quicker. Chancers.

borderlinemeath

Skopzz wrote: »

That's no excuse. They are getting away with robbery over here. Good to see more people buy their car parts from the U.K - nothing beats competition. As for the dealers over here, suffer away. They will soon figure out that their monopoly game is over.

It's not the dealers - it's the distributors. They're the ones making the margins, the dealers have the same if not less margin on spares than their UK counterparts.

Skopzz

borderlinemeath wrote: »

It's not the dealers - it's the distributors. They're the ones making the margins, the dealers have the same if not less margin on spares than their UK counterparts.

Not all of them use distributors because they are pre-owned car parts. In other cases, some go direct to the producer (for new parts).

Consumers were right to say these guys should have been allowed to suffer away.

maxer68

beetlefan wrote: »

I had to get a new wiper arm for a renault scenic last week. This is a common problem so i thought the parts might be cheap So i priced it with a renault dealer in the west and he quoted me 175 euro and i would have to collect it or pay for a courier.:mad: I went on the net and got the exact same part, genuine renault part from a renault dealer in northern ireland delivered to my door for 108 euro total the very next day .Someone is making a serious killing here :eek:

Do people still buy original car parts? - Spurious parts as as good and less than half the price. In Toyota garages they even give you an option of a spurious part or an original.

Micks Garage.ie or any decent motor factors would have looked after you.

Never a need to go to a branded garage unless the car is very new and spurious parts haven't come to market.

borderlinemeath

Skopzz wrote: »

Not all of them use distributors because they are pre-owned car parts. In other cases, some go direct to the producer (for new parts).

Consumers were right to say these guys should have been allowed to suffer away.

Scrapyards and breakers sell "pre owned parts". You don't get them in a dealership. And I don't know anybody who goes direct to the producer, you'll have a 12 week lead time from factory if that was the case. No customer is willing to wait that long.

How many cars have you owned in your lifetime? Not many I assume, because your statement above is a far cry from the truth.

Main dealerships depend on sales and then the aftercare service and repairs. They use their distributors in Ireland who have the parts priced for the irish market. Go across the border and the price is completely different at no fault to the main dealers.

You'll be blaming the main dealerships for the VRT next. :rolleyes:

beetlefan

maxer68 wrote: »

Do people still buy original car parts? - Spurious parts as as good and less than half the price. In Toyota garages they even give you an option of a spurious part or an original.

Micks Garage.ie or any decent motor factors would have looked after you.

Never a need to go to a branded garage unless the car is very new and spurious parts haven't come to market.

i dont think there are spurious parts available for this particular problem, and there would be no point buying used parts as they are likely not to last very long either as this is a fault in all renault wipers.

Skopzz

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Scrapyards and breakers sell "pre owned parts". You don't get them in a dealership. And I don't know anybody who goes direct to the producer, you'll have a 12 week lead time from factory if that was the case. No customer is willing to wait that long.

How many cars have you owned in your lifetime? Not many I assume, because your statement above is a far cry from the truth.

Main dealerships depend on sales and then the aftercare service and repairs. They use their distributors in Ireland who have the parts priced for the irish market. Go across the border and the price is completely different at no fault to the main dealers.

You'll be blaming the main dealerships for the VRT next. :rolleyes:

I wasn't trying to blame anyone but simply pointing out that the prices they set for the Irish market are complete Nuts (Celtic Tiger prices). Their distributors are middlemen (mostly local people who haven't a clue about the concept of competition). Those guys need to be replaced by more competent, forward thinking people. A direct to consumer approach is much cheaper and is available to Irish customers (who can take this route in order to eliminate the middlemen). The distributors need to reined in on their charges by the Car Companies to adapt to our price sensitive market. Otherwise, it's adversely affecting the Car companies directly (although many don't seem too bothered about this). It will be interesting to see if any depressed sales force them to act (now that the car scrappage schemes are ended).

keithclancy

Skopzz wrote: »

I wasn't trying to blame anyone but simply pointing out that the prices they set for the Irish market are complete Nuts (Celtic Tiger prices). Their distributors are middlemen (mostly local people who haven't a clue about the concept of competition). Those guys need to be replaced by more competent, forward thinking people. A direct to consumer approach is much cheaper and is available to Irish customers (who can take this route in order to eliminate the middlemen). The distributors need to reined in on their charges by the Car Companies to adapt to our price sensitive market. Otherwise, it's adversely affecting the Car companies directly (although many don't seem too bothered about this). It will be interesting to see if any depressed sales force them to act (now that the car scrappage schemes are ended).

Not an Irish thing at all.

Rear wheel hub - Volvo V50 2005

Volvo - 280 ex VAT per hub in the Netherlands
Volvo - 275 ex VAT per hub in Germany
ATU (Motor Factors) - Germany - 180 Euros / Hub (Pattern Parts)
Wheel Bearings UK - 80 pounds / Hub (Pattern Parts)

Dealers are just a rip off, end of.

Although your guaranteed quality with the Dealer, with Pattern Parts your taking a chance that they are what they say they are.

Saying that though, the Dealer will have much higher overheads than a Parts Distributor.

With scrappies, your lucky they exist in Ireland, theres a massive selection available, in the Netherlands is pretty difficult to get scrapped parts for any car less than 10 years old as:

A. They don't buy as many new cars
B. They don't scrap as many old cars
C. Land is expensive so Scrappies aren't very cost effective to operate

Agent P

I think it depends on the garage and the part.

For example, rear tail light for Nissan Qashqai.

Micks Garage: €149.50

Windsor Bray: €150 including fitting.

BostonB

The vast majority of Dealers seem to charge excessively for parts and labour. They've been ripping people off for decades.

TBH I've not had a great experience of Irish breakers either. Most of the time they don't know what parts they have, then you'd go to jump through hoops to go see/find the parts. Often the prices weren't that much cheaper. I was at one on Friday, and prices were almost the same as buying new parts. Completely pointless.

Lots of people keeping older cars on the road, so many hoping to make a killing on these used parts now.

maxer68

Skopzz wrote: »

I wasn't trying to blame anyone but simply pointing out that the prices they set for the Irish market are complete Nuts (Celtic Tiger prices). Their distributors are middlemen (mostly local people who haven't a clue about the concept of competition). Those guys need to be replaced by more competent, forward thinking people. A direct to consumer approach is much cheaper and is available to Irish customers (who can take this route in order to eliminate the middlemen). The distributors need to reined in on their charges by the Car Companies to adapt to our price sensitive market. Otherwise, it's adversely affecting the Car companies directly (although many don't seem too bothered about this). It will be interesting to see if any depressed sales force them to act (now that the car scrappage schemes are ended).

whilst your comment would have been correct about 5/6 years ago, most car companies now control distribution directly in Ireland including Renault, Toyota, BMW, Mini, Honda, Audi, Mercedes, VW & possibly others.

Its the Car companies that make the price list, not distributors and not garages themselves.

As I said above, any motor factors will source any motor product for yoy. They are not beholden onto a brand and will in many case have a spurious part available.

PCPhoto

ireland is a lot more different to the UK and Northern Ireland in terms of prices.
Yes !! you can find a lot cheaper up north, you can find it cheaper in a lot of other places ..... if you goto poland, china etc the exact same part will cost cheaper.

in ireland the government has so many taxes/fees added to importers/distributers that they charge more (so they can make a decent profit - its possible they are too greedy and looking to make too much profit - I dont know)

anyway - the point is that because of excessive taxes, fees, charges and the layers of people between the consumer and manufacturer (in Ireland at least) Prices will ALWAYS be that little bit higher.

take into consideration:
- Landlords want to make profit on the premises - so rents can be high.
- Commercial businesses are charged a higher rate than ordinary consumers for electricity/phone/gas/internet.
- you can always shop online and buy the product elsewhere and send it back to the online shop if you have an issue/problem.

I'm open to correction on this but .....in Ireland - manufacturer sells to the importers/distributors only and not to retailers.

- The importers sell to the distributors or the distributors pay for import fees/customs fees via a merchant/importer.

- The retailer purchases from the distributor (the distributor must try to make a profit on the cost price plus the fees for importing)

The retailer sells to the customer - again trying to make a profit on what the distributor has sold them at.

essentially because the retailer is at the bottom of the list they are paying so 2/3levels of people can make a profit.

maxer68

PCPhoto wrote: »

in ireland the government has so many taxes/fees added to importers/distributers that they charge more .

no added taxes on car parts except vat at point of sale.

high rents, high rates high wages play a part as does size of market (too small)

In the UK, many branded car parts are priced similar to Irish levels, but the options on copy/spurios parts are much bigger - so whilst you may be quoted 40% less, the chance are you're being quoted on a spurious part

BostonB

Irish people are poor consumers who don't shop around if retailers feel they can charge so much.

I've experienced Irish dealers charging higher prices then finding out they were using spurious parts anyway. So I don't buy that argument either. Dealers are too often very poor value for money.

exador

Common sense should prevail and its no different to shopping around for car insurance e.t.c..how many people just pay their car renewal without checking around for a more competitive quote ?

Bottom line is shop around.. In theory if you were to apply the same practice when grocery shopping you would do some in Aldi some in Dunnes e.t.c ..I know this is not always practical but SHOP AROUND ..

Just because a main dealer is 40% more on one part compared to the UK it would be unwise to assume that all parts are more expensive..Main dealer prices are changing all the time as I found out when I priced parts recently. I can understand that price is important but if you are getting a sub standard part for 10 - 15 % less than main dealer genuine part you would need to take this into consideration...

I would rather deal with local main dealer, keep the business in the country , ASSUMING I was getting a good deal and weighed up all the pros and cons...

SHOP AROUND -

BostonB

I think I'd prefer to keep business in the country and pay a non dealer whos selling OEM parts at vastly cheaper prices, trying to provide a service at reasonable cost, rather than dealers who seem to try to rob you at every opportunity. Its not just the cost, its the attitude too.

borderlinemeath

A lot of the main dealers around the country had a gun put to their head by the brands in the past 7/8 years. They were told to invest in their premises and to come up to brand standard or else the brand would be taken from them. Some of them complied and invested heavily in their existing premises and some moved premises but either way millions were spent by the dealers to keep the brands that they had built up over the years.

Firstly the Green party got their way with emissions and virtually wiped out the second hand car market and then the recession hit so new car sales were decimated. Within a 2 year period the motor industry in this country was on it's knees.

Lots of dealers went out of business because of their huge overheads and the fact that their forecourt of existing second hand cars that were pre 2008 were practically worthless. ie unsellable. They were screwed by everybody, brands, government, the recession and the banks (because most customers can't get finance)

Only now with scrappage on certain brands has a bit of positivity come back into the market. But scrappage brings it's own problems with resale values in years to come.

exador

I agree with you on the attitude. you can apply the attitude to any business not just dealers. In the current climate anyone that has staff with bad attitude and not customer focussed are only heading in one direction.

Its simple you just vote with your money and go elswhere. The point that I was making still counts - shop around as it is a moving feast and as dealers or any business for that matter are trying to keep the business going they will offer more and more special deals/offers... The alternative is to sink.

main dealers are entitled to sell spurious parts as long as they specify this when you are buying and you are aware that it is alternative part. I recently received a flyer from local dealer for my wifes car - 4 page A4 size with prices on alternative parts inc fitting e.t.c..

BostonB

borderlinemeath wrote: »

A lot of the main dealers ...

Lost the run of themselves, and have suffered accordingly.

borderlinemeath

BostonB wrote: »

Lost the run of themselves, and have suffered accordingly.

That's a huge assumption on your part. You cannot tar all with the same brush. As the saying goes "walk a mile in their shoes"....

Yes there were dealers who got carried away around '00 when they had queues of people wanting new cars for the '00 reg but no dealers I know did it to the extend of the builders/bankers. Can you name a dealership that was high profile/in the papers every week/in the governments pockets? No, I can't - but I can name at least a dozen builders/bankers.

Myself and my partner personally know at least 8 dealerships around the country that had the threat of the brand being pulled. My OHs father was one of them. He said no - they pulled the dealerships. He was lucky - because he didn't play the brands game. The others weren't so lucky. Borrowed and invested to maintain their businesses and then folded when the going got very tough indeed.

Edit: While we personally know 8 dealers - there are many more. All the brands pulled the same stunt on their dealers. That's why every dealer now is based in a retail park beside at least 5 other brands. ie Airside style set up. And that's what pushes the costs up. To make it "convenient" for the begrudging customer.

exador

Myself and my partner personally know at least 8 dealerships around the country that had the threat of the brand being pulled. My OHs father was one of them. He said no - they pulled the dealerships. He was lucky - because he didn't play the brands game. The others weren't so lucky. Borrowed and invested to maintain their businesses and then folded when the going got very tough indeed.

I would think that a lot of the dealers that are still around and adhered to the standards set by the manafacturers have used up a lot of reserve money as like a lot of other business they have made huge losses. What a lot of people don't realise is that the dealers were forced to invest in modern showrooms e.t.c and achieve certain standards due to ABE - block exemption... Another EU directive..

borderlinemeath

exador wrote: »

I would think that a lot of the dealers that are still around and adhered to the standards set by the manafacturers have used up a lot of reserve money as like a lot of other business they have made huge losses. What a lot of people don't realise is that the dealers were forced to invest in modern showrooms e.t.c and achieve certain standards due to ABE - block exemption... Another EU directive..

They surely did, one that I know has lost about 5million. He had a 2 brand dealership, was told to move fromt the rural(ish) location or lose his business. He invested millions and one of them still wasnt' happy so pulled their brand.

So now he has half the business and a huge debt. He's had a heart attack and a by pass since with the stress of everything. Yeah, all the dealers lost the run of themselves.:eek::eek:

BostonB

I'm not really seeing how that isn't losing the run of yourselves.

Not as bad as the bankers is some defence.

borderlinemeath

BostonB wrote: »

I'm not really seeing how that isn't losing the run of yourselves.

Not as bad as the bankers is some defence.

Of course you're not "seeing it". It's very convenient to plead ignorance.

Read my posts again. I said I didn't know any dealers that were carrying on like the bankers. I certainly don't condone the actions of the bankers whatsoever. You were making out that all dealers "lost the run of themselves". A huge assumption from a begrudging perspective.


What is your definition of "losing the run of yourself"??

Being told to upgrade your premises to a very high specification or lose your business that you spent your lifetime trying to build up isn't losing the run of yourself.

Running yourself into the ground and into bad health to try and maintain your business isn't losing the run of yourself.

Declaring yourself bankrupt like many dealers have, not being able to run your business, letting go all your employees, some that have been with the business for decades? Yeah, losing the run of themselves. :eek:

BostonB

What am I'm begrudging exactly?

Is'nt that exactly what the banks did. Completely over extend themselves with massive debt chasing business that they couldn't possibly sustain in the long run. All with the defence that they had to do in order to compete with the other banks/business'es. All while ignoring the fundamentals. Seems very similar IMO. Besides you gave an example of a dealer who chose not to do it.

Coming back to the subject of the price of car parts. the defence seems that's it ok for the consumer to pay high prices in dealers to finance these property deals. To me that's just wrong.

However it doesn't explain the shocking bad attitude and poor customer service in many dealers.