Loader Price gouging on parts

[IH3444]

I bought some large metric bolts at my New Holland dealer and thought they were very reasonably priced. The had them in stock, in bins where customers could select the ones they needed. A 12mm x 400mm socket head cap bolt, 8.8 hardness was $1.25, 2007 prices.

 

[beppington]

You should buy them all right now & open your own store!! :thumbsup:

 

[BobF]

So it was convenient? But you aren't willing to pay for the convenience.

Convenient b/c I was laready there, but only by 1.5 miles at a hardware store I would be passing anyway.

No such thing as gouging, not in a situation like this anyway.

'Gouge' isn't the right word, of course. 'Taking advantage' is a better way to put it.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

BobF I got into something like that over some lug nuts at the Case dealer. The learning curve was step but the lesson is being retained well.:thumbsup:

I am buying more a more online for all kinds of parts for everything. Prices are high but dealers seem to be struggling. Not sure if there is anyone making a lot of money. I know I paid MF about 5x the cost of a temperature sensor but it was special order.

 

[1950T]

this is why it is a good idea to make friends with the guys in parts/service. having friends that can help you pays off. i was in PA today getting supplies up in newholland and i stopped by the dealer and droped off a dozen doughnuts and case of soda to the guys in parts/service.

 

[beenthere]

I don't think the price was out of line.
It pays to look at the item and maybe do some shopping elsewhere. Paying someone to shop for me is costly, but sometimes very convenient.
Having the right part or a rare part available at all is often a life-saver. Nothing junks a tractor faster than not being able to come up with a part, because it is NLA (no longer available).
Carrying inventory of all the parts (and includes all the different size bolts) for the different tractors (in this case Mahindra) is in itself very expensive and many dealers have been forced to give up that inventory. Either that or go out of business.

I like to keep my dealer and parts guys happy, as they are important to me when I need their help, and I'd be lost and up the crick if they closed their doors.

Hope this doesn't sound too much like a lecture, but on the other hand....it's life. And soon it will get much worse, if anyone is aware of what is happening and what lies ahead to pay our way out of this mess.

 

[BobF]

I don't think the price was out of line.
It pays to look at the item and maybe do some shopping elsewhere. Paying someone to shop for me is costly, but sometimes very convenient.
Having the right part or a rare part available at all is often a life-saver. Nothing junks a tractor faster than not being able to come up with a part, because it is NLA (no longer available).
Carrying inventory of all the parts (and includes all the different size bolts) for the different tractors (in this case Mahindra) is in itself very expensive and many dealers have been forced to give up that inventory. Either that or go out of business.

I like to keep my dealer and parts guys happy, as they are important to me when I need their help, and I'd be lost and up the crick if they closed their doors.

Hope this doesn't sound too much like a lecture, but on the other hand....it's life. And soon it will get much worse, if anyone is aware of what is happening and what lies ahead to pay our way out of this mess.

I've been living my life long enough to understand 'life' ...

I understand what makes some parts expensive. I don't mind repaying R, D&E costs for a machine that performs well and helps me make my own money. OTOH, *every* part shouldn't be as expensive as the rare or innovative ones.

I'm a value guy. I charge as little as I can for what I do, being fair to myself and my customers. That gets me more business and keeps my conscience clear.

Now that I think about it, the bolts are prolly priced like this to keep people from ordering them as they are likely more trouble than they're really worth for the dealer to deal with them.

 

[BobF]

Not really, The postal service charges $4.95 for the smallest flat rate box. UPS charges a minimum of around $8-$9 depending on where it is coming from. Ken Sweet

Interesting. I order a lot of stuff online. What you've quoted isn't my experience. BTW, anytime somebody offers to 'flat rate' something, they aren't doing it b/c it's a good deal for you. Convenient? Maybe.

 

[Reg]

Yeah, I can argue it both ways - at the same time.
Overhead and admin costs for special orders, etc.
vs
Material cost of a single bolt.
and of course they don't want the carrying costs of holding any parts inventory (-:

GM dealership charged me almost $20 for a small plastic bleed screw that sits on top of the fuel filter on my Duramax. An IN STOCK part.

Time for me to put in a plug for an almost local NH and K-word dealership.
Chappell tractors in Milford NH sells nuts, bolts, washers, etc. BY WEIGHT.

Of course, you have to know what it is you want, so take a matching one with you, or the broken/worn one.

 

[sweettractors]

I just happened to go back and read the original post. He says it is a "Shoulder Bolt" I challenge anyone to go to a Tractor Supply and buy a Shoulder bolt, in addition, probably metric, and specific hardness from a $1.50 per pound bin. This bolt had to do with a loader, so the bolt needs to meet manufacturers specifications for this loader to be covered under warranty. If this hardware store bolt breaks causing untold damages, who is responsible? I don't have a ax to grind either way on this matter, just a couple observations. Ken Sweet