Genuine parts prices. Where do you draw the line?

[Timbo]

Fan belt pulley/tensioner - £185 from JD dealer & £45 from Nick Young including next day delivery . I’d say that’s too much markup .

Does Vapormatic do this pulley / tensioner? If so, then it'll be OEM and will probably have a JD part number stamped on it !!! (JD own vap...)

Edit: Vap do do a big assortment of tensioners and idlers for JD's.

 

[john432]

Fan belt pulley/tensioner - £185 from JD dealer & £45 from Nick Young including next day delivery . I’d say that’s too much markup .

And the £45 one was probably made in Turkey, and if you bought enough you'd probably get them for less than £20!
What really annoys me is the way some local dealers pressurise aftermarket part supplier's into stopping or not letting me get a trade account, claiming I'm a farmer, not a mechanic or retailer. Lot of protectionism and price fixing going on.

 

[colhonk]

I have a box of METRIC o rings and a box of IMPERIAL o rings so are covered for every eventuality Exept they are never the size I need

 

[ollie989898]

You think that is bad, it is rife in other industries. An extreme example perhaps but you try buying a clutch for a Lamborghini, realise they are made by a well known third party, so you duly contact the third party who say: 'no thank you we only deal with Lamborghini... try asking them!'

This kind of thing is going on all the time only the internet and international trading make it easier to the manufacturer and consumer to speak directly.

I do wonder if dealers really want the grief these days, they aren't going to stock O rings are they lets be honest.

 

[An Gof]

But can you get a single item cheaper?
You're still out 22 x £1.7 just to get an O ring

I know they will be used, eventually, but you get my point.

Minimum order was 3 o-rings. I needed 11 to change the set, thought id have another 11 in stock for next time.
If i had bought 500+ from Polymax the unit price dropped to £0.63 each.
Now do you see just how much is being added on, i expect amazone are buying 500+ every time they order. If Polymax can stock, invoice and dispatch and add a margin for £1.70 why can't Amazone?

 

[An Gof]

You think that is bad, it is rife in other industries. An extreme example perhaps but you try buying a clutch for a Lamborghini, realise they are made by a well known third party, so you duly contact the third party who say: 'no thank you we only deal with Lamborghini... try asking them!'

This kind of thing is going on all the time only the internet and international trading make it easier to the manufacturer and consumer to speak directly.

I do wonder if dealers really want the grief these days, they aren't going to stock O rings are they lets be honest.

Thats exactly what happens with the Actuators used on KRM Bogballe spreaders.

 

[DrWazzock]

When I worked in industry there was an attitude that if we couldn't make a decent margin on the sale of the machine (usually 5%) then we would fleece them on the spares and maintenance contract. But it then became worthwhile for third parties to sell spares and offer a refurb service, particularly as they would poach staff from the OEM.

It's just markets. If you don't like it, don't buy that machine. Buy one that is easier to maintain. I like older more common models preferably made from generic parts where there has been time for breakers and others to build supplies of parts and expertise.

Ironically some tractors that suffer known problems with certain items such as for example hydrashifts on Case/David Brown's are easier and cheaper to repair using third party suppliers as it has been worthwhile for these third party suppliers to set up a business supporting these models. On the other hand, if you buy a tractor that rarely has problems, there is no such third party back up network, and if it breaks down the main dealer has you over a barrel.

 

[ollie989898]

When I worked in industry there was an attitude that if we couldn't make a decent margin on the sale of the machine (usually 5%) then we would fleece them on the spares and maintenance contract. But it then became worthwhile for third parties to sell spares and offer a refurb service, particularly as they would poach staff from the OEM.

It's just markets. If you don't like it, don't buy that machine. Buy one that is easier to maintain. I like older more common models preferably made from generic parts where there has been time for breakers and others to build supplies of parts and expertise.

Ironically some tractors that suffer known problems with certain items such as for example hydrashifts on Case/David Brown's are easier and cheaper to repair using third party suppliers as it has been worthwhile for these third party suppliers to set up a business supporting these models. On the other hand, if you buy a tractor that rarely has problems, there is no such third party back up network, and if it breaks down the main dealer has you over a barrel.

I am not sure I would buy a machine that was a mongrel assembled from a variety of generic parts, it would depend on the quality of the parts/manufactures in question but I am not sure I would do it with a sprayer or anything 'agricultural'. In other markets, no problem, CAT engine, Rexroth hydraulics, Poclain motors etc all where no expense is spared and for good reason, but how many companies are truly Rolls Royce in the Ag world? I can think of maybe two companies, Chafer being one of them.

 

[Field Marshall]

Are you talking about the small ones in the bottom of each section valve?

 

[An Gof]

Are you talking about the small ones in the bottom of each section valve?

No, these are the o rings on the inline section filter baskets. Not the small o rings on the filters themselves.

 

[mixed breed]

Last time I had genuine couplers like the bottom ones, they were £48. So I've had non genuine ones threw another dealer for £26 and they've been very good.

In semptember during drilling my biggest tractor needed one desperate as it started pouring oil out. My usual stockist couldn't help as it is a different jic fitting. Phoned main mf lot up and partsman, who lives local left it under his hedge for me to pick up that evening, can't moan about the service but when the bill came it was £127

Obviously I needed it and I wasn't going to get a non genuine one anywhere else in a hurry but In hindsight I should have just got some adapters and rigged up a generic 5quid one but who knew a 1 inch longer jic fitment would add so much to the price.

 

[Mursal]

That giddy to get the grain in, its only natural wanting to keep going.
And I suppose a couple of goes in the dish washer, would leave it looking like new again?

 

[Jim B]

This reminds me of George Parker [Parker Plant Hire, Llanelli] phoning me up in a hell of a mood because he had an independent mechanic change the brakes on one of the many tractors I'd sold him. His complaint was that the independent mechanic's bill was substantially more expensive than the bill he'd recently had for the same job on another tractor by the main MF dealer [for whom I was a sales contractor]. Why was he angry at me, considering 'my' bill was considerably cheaper? I still can't get my head around that one. I'd explained several times that as a large fleet owner he got a favourable trade discount off 'us' for parts and a certain amount for labour as long as he paid promptly. The independent was only an occasional parts customer and while he did get a lesser trade discount [not a good payer apparently but not my dept], he added his own margin and actually charged PP the list price. Perhaps Mr Parker just didn't believe that I had negotiated a superb deal on his behalf?

The great mystery to me is why he wasn't angry with the independent, but was angry with the company that supplied the cheaper service? Perhaps he was and I just wasn't aware of that side, and I personally don't have a clue who the independent mechanic was. Perhaps he just couldn't get his head around a big main dealer being better value than an independent?

Life is always full of mystery and you just can't win sometimes. By the end of the call he became aware of how misdirected his complaint was and we were on the same page again. I really liked dealing with George and people like him. Such an interesting chap, a gentleman, and a pleasure to deal with.

Cool story.

However, it doesn't have anything to do with the OP...?

 

[Mursal]

No, but still a good story
Loads of pages left ...........

 

[Cowabunga]

Cool story.

However, it doesn't have anything to do with the OP...?

It is in answer to the previous post about brake parts price. It is worth exactly what you paid for it and is certainly more on topic than your, I’m afraid, highly riveting two sentence comment with an unwarranted question mark.

 

[Mursal]

You two lads go previous, or has this just flared up, recent like ?

 

[Cowabunga]

You two lads go previous, or has this just flared up, recent like ?

Perhaps Jim is, or is related to whoever the independent mechanic was? Or not.

 

[Tha Ulsterscot]

Interesting thread, but has been so for a long time. Old boy near me, long since departed, went for something small for his combine. Got the part and the invoice which he looked at, and then informed the parts person. " Young man this is just robbery without violence". Sometimes when you are up against it you just have to close your eyes and do it.

 

[Muck Spreader]

I was billed nearly 200 euro for ram seal kit (2 rubber rings) on one of our FE loaders by the local dealer. I refused to pay it, still waiting for them to come back to me, 18 months now.

 

[sahara]

I had a similar experience a few years ago.
A rotary hydraulic coupling on our NH combine failed and needed fixing quickly, a call to our local dealer and I find out that its just under £300.00 + vat. Being a bit stunned I didn't order it then and there (it wasn't in stock), the store man said if I wanted it for tomorrow then to let him know by 3pm, as that when the cut off time was.
Looking at the thing, no bigger than a C cell torch battery, I could see the manufacturers name, a quick google and I find that they have a UK division. A call to them and a very helpful and intrigued chap at the other end gets me the same thing in the post (lucky timing!) for the next day for a little over £100.00!
It duly arrived, it was the right item, and was fitted and is still working today. I went back to the dealer and the store man was actually very sympathetic, saying that at the price he quoted was the price that they were charged by NH. My grumble went up stream but to what effect who knows!