Think I got screwed???

[jyoutz]

I never even look at Messicks anymore, because I can always find it cheaper. Admittedly, I use Amazon a lot, not that I buy much. They make it too easy. There is value in what they offer, but I still look elsewhere, and buy if it beats the Amazon value.

Messicks prices aren’t too bad, but their shipping is extremely expensive.

 

[sixdogs]

I've had great luck with Messicks and find their prices are on the low side of average. Plus, they always seem to have what I need in stock and that includes some odd things. Shipping is expensive.

I always used to shop for the absolute best price but gradually learned that lots of things factor into price. When things go wrong, you need a dealer to bail you out and it happens more we would think. Just my two cents

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I agree with both, it is shipping that makes Messick's too expensive for me to shop. And yes, the convenience and knowledge that you get from some places does have value. We have an Ace Hardware about 20 minutes away, locally owned, but still controlled by corporate rules, I assume. Their prices are very high. I drive another 10 or so for a true Mom and Pop store, and price and selection are worth it.

 

[sixdogs]

The shipping thing is a problem everywhere. Every time I check a shipping example, I am floored by the $$. To ship the power unit for my small limbing chainsaw for repair would be almost $50 and that's only one way. I'll fix it myself

I believe shippers like Messicks charge actual costs but it's just that costs are so high. High wages, union rules, pensions, medical, overtime, inflation and whatever gives you the bottom line.


I once ordered over 120 heavy flat steel slicer discs from Messicks (in stock) that were heavy. Shocked at the shipping quote but I still came out ahead because their price was OK. So I agreed. Twenty minutes later the sales guy calls back and said he was checking around and says the parts would fit in the right size boxes to ship USPS, be much less to ship and did I want to? Heck, yes.

My goal is to shop local with dealers I can get things from. I will pay more to buy local from small business. Sometimes, like in those slicer discs, Messick's had them on the shelf and others had to order and shipping, delay with an hour to pick them up and I needed them now. So, mail order worked.

 

[WinterDeere]

The shipping thing is a problem everywhere… My goal is to shop local with dealers I can get things from. I will pay more to buy local from small business.

Unless your local shop is part of a chain that has their own aggregator (read: “warehouse”) and trucking, you’re paying the same shipping, it’s just built into the higher price of your local shop. Unless they’re buying multiple pallets worth of material from the same source at regular intervals, it arrived at your local shop via UPS, FedEx, or USPS.

 

[TMGT]

I usually check Messicks or Coleman for parts diagrams and to get an idea on pricing, but typically buy from my local dealer. Prices are typically within a couple of $'s and no shipping cost unless it's wholegoods.

 

[Hay Dude]

Messicks prices aren’t too bad, but their shipping is extremely expensive.

Thats because the price of fuel. Messicks doesn’t ship the products, UPS, Fed Ex, etc does.

I live near Messicks HQ (Mount Joy, PA) and do farm business with them. They’re no different than any other dealer on shipping.

 

[Oaktree]

I usually check Messicks or Coleman for parts diagrams and to get an idea on pricing, but typically buy from my local dealer. Prices are typically within a couple of $'s and no shipping cost unless it's wholegoods.

Yeah, I discovered that when I needed some parts for my ATV. Found them "cheaper" online, but with shipping came to exactly (to the penny) what the local dealer wanted. Went with the local dealer.

 

[tradosaurus]

I never even look at Messicks anymore, because I can always find it cheaper. Admittedly, I use Amazon a lot, not that I buy much. They make it too easy. There is value in what they offer, but I still look elsewhere, and buy if it beats the Amazon value.

Just be wary of counterfeits. I bought F250 fuel filters on Amazon a few years past. Counterfeit.
Some parts I will only buy at a dealer.

 

[stevem5215]

Spark plugs on Amazon too. Counterfeit. I got some of them. You just can't tell by looking at them either. Very sneaky scammers.

 

[WinterDeere]

Thats because the price of fuel. Messicks doesn’t ship the products, UPS, Fed Ex, etc does... They’re no different than any other dealer on shipping.

UPS and FedEx both offer rates based on how much business you're doing with them. Large businesses like Amazon negotiate much better rates per package with these carriers, than Messicks ever can, and Messicsks surely pays less than you or I would.

I ship products for my business through UPS, and I'm always frustrated that we pay much higher rates than packages of the same size and weight that I'm buying from my larger-volume vendors. I can get a package here from McMaster-Carr or DigiKey for $6 - $8 in shipping, but I pay $15 - $20 to ship the same exact package back out to the same zone. They do more volume than me, and so they're on a different pricing tier.

Spark plugs on Amazon too. Counterfeit. I got some of them. You just can't tell by looking at them either. Very sneaky scammers.

I always wondered about this, since I buy some of my spark plugs and filters through Amazon. I stick to the OEM-spec'd brands (NGK, Bosch, Champion), but always wonder if I'm getting the real thing.

So far, no problems. Whether they're "real" or "counterfeit", they've all worked just fine, but maybe I've just been lucky.

 

[jyoutz]

I never even look at Messicks anymore, because I can always find it cheaper. Admittedly, I use Amazon a lot, not that I buy much. They make it too easy. There is value in what they offer, but I still look elsewhere, and buy if it beats the Amazon value.

For tractor parts, it’s just easier for me to go pick them up at the local dealership.

 

[jyoutz]

Thats because the price of fuel. Messicks doesn’t ship the products, UPS, Fed Ex, etc does.

I live near Messicks HQ (Mount Joy, PA) and do farm business with them. They’re no different than any other dealer on shipping.

I bought a chain guard assembly for my cutter last year. I checked with both Messicks and Coleman’s in the Midwest. Both places were pretty close in pricing, but Messicks wanted over $200 for shipping, while Coleman’s charged me $83.

 

[bmaverick]

Spark plugs on Amazon too. Counterfeit. I got some of them. You just can't tell by looking at them either. Very sneaky scammers.

NGK are the most counterfeit plugs out there followed by Champion.

I was in AutoZone in 2019, bought a pack of radiator hose clamps, opened the package and they were NOT stainless like the package stated, they were FAKED, chrome over plastic! The manager at first didn't believe me, so I took him to the shelf and said, just how heavy should a pack of 4 be? And in that package, unopened, the chrome was flaking off.

 

[WinterDeere]

I was in AutoZone in 2019, bought a pack of radiator hose clamps, opened the package and they were NOT stainless like the package stated, they were FAKED, chrome over plastic!

Not a great situation, when the advice is to buy in a reputable store, to avoid fakes on Amazon.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm lucky that anything I need through Messicks or any of the other local Ag dealers each has a delivery day. They are trucked directly to me in a box truck.

 

[sixdogs]

NGK are the most counterfeit plugs out there followed by Champion.

I was in AutoZone in 2019, bought a pack of radiator hose clamps, opened the package and they were NOT stainless like the package stated, they were FAKED, chrome over plastic! The manager at first didn't believe me, so I took him to the shelf and said, just how heavy should a pack of 4 be? And in that package, unopened, the chrome was flaking off.

That is interesting. I bought some stainless steel clamps a while back and they started to rust on me.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been buying parts from Messick's for my 1998 New Holland 555E Backhoe for over a decade. My local dealer rarely has what I need in stock, and their prices are always high. I can go online and order it from Messick's and have it here faster than my dealer can have it shipped to their Parts Department. And best of all, I never have to drive to town to get the part.

Before placing my order, I check to see if it's available for less somewhere else. Usually, Messick's has the best price. I check Ebay, Amazon and I use multiple search engines. It's very hard to find parts for less money and shipping then what Messick's charges. Over the years, I've also developed a trust from them to get quality parts that won't fail on me.

Having said all that, I just priced a steering arm on Messick's that was $460. I searched online and found Amazon had several to choose from that where as low as $150 on up to over $600. I read the reviews and looked at who the venders where, and found a factory CNH steering arm for $220 with shipping. It was here in two days.

 

[gstrom99]

First rule of buying... After you purchase something stop looking....

That's great advice. That I too often don't follow...

 

[steve tym]

There is more to buying almost anything than the lowest price.