NAPA?pricing

[Bedlam]

I had the pleasure today of replacing a couple of wheel bearings. I bought one form my usual small parts company and installed one, then decided to do the other one. I thought Id try Napa and see if they had it in stock.
I tried the website too as I have used the Auto Zone one for some time with great luck.
I searched the part and there it was 48 dollars, (I had paid couple dollars more locally).
I Picked up the phone and called them with the part number, and they had the part . price $78.45.:confused2:
I asked why the difference he said he had no idea. I said well there are better bearings on the site , up in that price range and he asked who it was for.
Lil
I guess I could have said some fancy garage name but It was obvious they don't need customers.I emailed the NAPA corp and got this reply

Most of our stores are privately owned so they can
charge what they want around red book prices.
You're guaranteed the lowest prices and shipping
cost when you shop on line. We do this as a service
but our prices will soon match the store's prices to resolve
any confusion concerning NAPA pricing.

Didn't answer my question at all. I went to my usual place got the bearing cheaper and easier. And I think they liked my business i know people will say don't shop there and I wont. But I will add this to yet another arrogant disregard for customer. .There are 5 other company in town..and not to mention the net...

 

[JDGreenGrass]

This appears to be a very simple message....Shop around for the best price.

This has been going on for many many years, correct.??

 

[fisherridge]

To me, NAPA is only good for last resort.
If you have the time, comparative shopping online can save a bundle.
It is cheaper for me to pay reasonable shipping charges than to buy the gas to drive to town.

 

[MMagis]

Didn't answer my question at all.

I think it's pretty clear.

Most of our stores are privately owned so they can
charge what they want around red book prices.

I'm guessing you're making a big deal out of what was nothing more than a typo on someones part.

 

[brain55]

My guess is that the counterman quoted you list price instead of net. List has about a 40% margin built in. I have a customer that this happened to last week. He went into the local Napa store to get an air filter for his 545, the counterman told him it would be $120. Then he gave him his buddies business name, and that knocked the price down to about $60, nobody pays list, whether you have an account or not. I'm a Napa master installer and get an even better price, my price is about 30% off of napaonline prices.

Brian

 

[rjkobbeman]

My guess is that the counterman quoted you list price instead of net. List has about a 40% margin built in. I have a customer that this happened to last week. He went into the local Napa store to get an air filter for his 545, the counterman told him it would be $120. Then he gave him his buddies business name, and that knocked the price down to about $60, nobody pays list, whether you have an account or not. I'm a Napa master installer and get an even better price, my price is about 30% off of napaonline prices.

Brian

If nobody pays list, did the counterman make a mistake by quoting $120?

I have a NAPA store where I live and go there when I need something right away and all other stores didn't have what I was looking for. They are expensive.

 

[mjarrels]

Guess I'm lucky, brother-in-law is a commerical account manager at a local NAPA store. I get a huge discount (not five finger either).

mark

 

[schmism]

got to love the department store of parts....

Ill sell you this $10,000 part for 99% off! look its ONLY $100 today only! BUT YOU GET 99% OFF!!!!!!!

Meanwhile the none inflated price for the part anyplace else is $50.

Napa parts and new car sales are the worst!

 

[Bedlam]

My point what good is it to have on line look up and then pick up at the store if they don't honor the prices when you get to the store.
Auto Zone I find it and the price. and print it out. and thats it. None of this game playing stuff.If they want to play games to make someone feel like a better customer then so be it.
I know not to pick up any parts while I'm going to a funeral, You have to be all greased up for the discount.
Yes this has gone on for years. doesn't make it right..
I can understand if you do x amount of business with a company you'll get a better discount. but to not try and cut anything off it for a fairly off and on customer isn't gonna make me switch. As I said they have their group. and survive. Perhaps they could do better perhaps they wont...But chances are they will never know how many customers they could have attracted.

 

[massy1635]

I had worked in the auto parts business for fifteen years, seven at a NAPA store. I can tell you that there are at least five levels of pricing in most lines. In some cases, as in fleet pricing, the coustomer pays less than than the store does from the warehouse. The store then gets a pay back from NAPA. I do agree that NAPA parts cost more, but I always felt that they had the best quality in the market. In some cases it might not make much difference, but if I need "important" parts for my $34K tractor, as in wheel bearings, I don't want cheep imported junk. I do feel that if a store advertises a price to the gereral public they should honor it when you walk in the door without question.

 

[QRTRHRS]

My local NAPA is my first choice. I find the people are generally more knowledgable than the other choices. The prices are always competitive and if they don't carry it or have an item in stock, they will call the competition which is an independent to see if they have it.

I don't care for that "deer in the headlights look" that I get at the Auto... places. We also have O'Reilly's auto parts stores around. Some of them are not to bad but then there is another where I have been "shut down" when I know I am right.

I was looking for diesel rated rubber fuel lines and they tried to tell me that there is no difference between gas and diesel. You replace the rubber lines on a Dodge/Cummins one time and you are not likely to bother with gas rated again.

Did I mention, my local NAPA also carries a complete Stihl line? Guess it depends on where you live?

 

[CBW1999]

"List" price is a crock of..... :ashamed:
An imaginary number to make you think you are paying less for the item than someone else. Problem is- it isn't industry wide, each company can make it appear you are getting the better discount. Bottom line is bottom line- don't mess it up by throwing a bunch of different numbers at the customer.

Same goes with the "free shipping" or " lowest prices" on orders over the internet. I just researched a replacement (aftermarket) bumper for my truck. One site "guaranteed lowest prices"- bumper $209 thumbsup Shipping $145 () "Handling Fee" $35 (?!?!? ?!?!) total $389.00.

Second site- "free shipping on all orders" total $389.00....

Both "companies" selling the same brand aftermarket bumper.

They should all stop playing games. Be up front about all costs associated with the sale. I like the "good- better- best" idea for different levels of expected life out or quality of a product- then I get the idea of why something might cost more than another.

I shop multiple stores for parts, once I have researched what I need, a couple of phone calls to see who has it in stock and the price range.

Ironically, the local NAPA store came through beyond the web site. I needed a blower motor resistor for my car. Web site quoted price with shipping options, most expensive being overnight delivery. Local store quoted same price.... but not in stock. When I asked when they could have it- he said tomorrow morning- when I asked......no extra fee!

 

[The Haymaker]

To me, NAPA is only good for last resort.
If you have the time, comparative shopping online can save a bundle.
It is cheaper for me to pay reasonable shipping charges than to buy the gas to drive to town.

That....

I recently was in dire need of a RR brake caliper for my Silverado. The one I knew was bad and replaced that morning was 39.00. NAPA was the only place around that had the rh one and I pad 90. Grr.....

 

[buck12]

I generally buy my auot, lawnmower, etc parts at NAPA. However the solenoid went bad on my deere GT235 earlier this season. The solenoid was $134 at NAPA and $70 at deere dealer.

 

[jenkinsph]

I get a discount at the NAPA store and find their prices to be inline for most things. It helps to be a repeat customer I guess. they also have a better stock of the things I want.

I think the other stores may be better if you need some blue lights to install under your running boards.

 

[AKfish]

I generally buy my auot, lawnmower, etc parts at NAPA. However the solenoid went bad on my deere GT235 earlier this season. The solenoid was $134 at NAPA and $70 at deere dealer.

That's been my experience with NAPA, too! I thought Deere was high on filters, etc. until I went to NAPA and cross-checked the comparable Wix and NAPA gold filters --- whew!

I can now rest easy and save on gas buying at either of the Deere guys near me.

AKfish

 

[FritzII]

About two weks ago I bought a 1/2 x 40 inch belt at NAPA. It was almost $16.00. I figured that I would get another one at a local auto parts place. It was less than half the price and it looks like it's better quality. The package from the local place says heavy duty. The NAPA package says nothing.

 

[tsteahr]

The other day I needed to replace the fuel filter on my Ranger. Went to NAPA and the filter was $36 including a new mounting bracket. When trying to install it I noticed why it came with a new bracket, it was half the diameter of the factory part. I put it back in the box and got the proper factory part at the Ford dealer for $24. I brought both filters back to NAPA to show the guy why I was returning their filter. He was not interested but did refund my money.

Nearly every time I use aftermarket parts I regret it. I have found that if a aftermarket part is a lot cheeper, there is a reason. Auto parts store and midas exhaust parts vs. factory exhaust systems are a perfect example. 13 years on a factory exhaust, 20 months on the exhaust from Autozone. It cost half of the factory replacement but was a waste of money.

 

[6011Artist]

As far as exhaust replacement, I always go to a reputable exhaust shop and replace it with lifetime warranty parts, so far they have been just that. Never had to replace them again.

In the 80's I priced the parts to replace the exhaust on a pickup. The parts were then 153.00. I had to do all the labor and had joints and clamps in various places in the system. The parts guy was a friend and told me that he would gladly sell me the parts but to go down the street to Meineke Muffler and price them to install it for me in lifetime parts and no clamps. Total cost was 150.00. I didn't get dirty or sweatty and saved money, had a better system.

As far as NAPA, years ago they were extremely high on their prices. I know the guys and bought a little from them but there were other stores. Then 2 of the big box A stores came to town. Napa and all the other private owned parts stores had to tighten their belt and get competitive to survive. I now find that some parts are actually cheaper and quality usually seems better, not always, but usually. Also, in the big box stores, they can't find anything on their own, if you don't have a year and make of a vehicle, forget it. NAPA can find it by part number and usually do good on matching up most parts that are obsolete in other stores. And as far as tractor parts, they usually find what I need. For the big tractor parts, I have a good source not too far away but I do shop at NAPA, I know the guys, they seem to look out for me, but I do shop around.