will shops install parts you bring to them

[chris777]

I took my FJ60 into a shop that has been doing much of my brake work for the past several years. An independent shop that has been in business for 60 years in the old part of town. I told them to replace the brake master cylinder ( A job I could do but just didn't have the time to do it). I told the owner that I knew it would take an extra day, but I prefer to have him order a new one from Toyota, but that you take your chances when ordering from Irving Toyota because they don't know how to look up old Land Cruiser parts since my friend in the parts department left them. I suggested calling Dallas Toyota.

At 1pm, I get a call saying that the part has been back ordered and will take 1.5 weeks to get it. I called Toyota Dallas and they said they could get me one tomorrow morning and deliver it to Kens. I knew that the cut off time for special orders was quickly approacing so I placed the order. I tried calling Ken but he was out on errands. I finally got in touch with him at the end of the day and he said that he would not put my part on for insurance reasons. I have to pick it up and replace it myself or find another shop.

question 1. Does Ken have a legitimate point? or, is he just blowing me off because he loses the parts markup? ( I would still be paying him for the installation).

question 2: should I try looking for another garage to install the master cylinder or will they all claim that their insurance will not allow it? (like I said, I am just too busy to do it myself right now).

 

[brokenparts]

most shops are hit or miss. Most of the bigger/chain type of shops wont do it but with enough calls you should be able to find a shop that will do it.

 

[FJ40Jim]

No.

No, most shops will not install parts provided by the customer for two reasons.
1. customer satisfction. when the cheapo part the customer brings from autozone fails after 2 days, the customer is gonna be pissed at the installer, not autozone.

2. profit. shops are supposed to make 1/2 their profit on the parts markup and 1/2 on the labor profit. No parts sale means the margin on the job has just been cut 50%, w/ the vehicle still taking up the same bay-hours.

Ask around, you might find someone looking for work who will take your job without the parts sale.

GL!

 

[jb welda]

there might be a bigger issue at play here too, one having to do with insurance as he said. basically he installs a part you give him, a safety part like brake stuff, then you go out and the part fails and kills you and/or some third party. then the installer gets sued and has to prove he didnt supply the part or he didnt warn you it was junk or something something. basically his insurance policy might have language that prohibits him from using customer supplied parts, just like he says.

that said ive never had a problem having my own parts installed even brake stuff but you never know.

i would look around for someone to install it; even offer to sign a waiver waiving all claims including warranties for the work.

or install it yourself. it might take less time to just do it yourself.

one love
jah bill

 

[Zack1978]

I am VERY lucky my mechanic does VERY HIGH QUALITY work out of his driveway. He has no over-head except his home. You must make an appt with him, usually two weeks out. He will always install my parts, and in many years every repair has been great. His prices are also very fair.


Zack

 

[Cruisergreg]

If he doesn't want to do it because of less profit that's fine, but he should state it that way. If he's lying about his reasons then what else is he lying about?

No one should be doubting the quality of a Toyota OEM part.

 

[sandcruiser]

In your shoes, I'd call him and point out that
A) it is an OEM part, apparently delivered to him from the dealer
B) you would be willing to pay him a markup on the part if that is the problem (?)
C) he told you 1.5 weeks. You got it next day. Either something is fishy, or he should thank *you* for not tying up his parking space for 1.5 weeks.

I think that if you calmly explain the situation, you should be able to reach a reasonable solution. After all, the only (apparent) difference between him gettin the part and you getting it is the $$ he makes on parts. If you offer to pay him some of that (after all, you did the work and put out the $ to buy the part) it seems to me that if he values you as a customer he should be willing to bend a little. Alternately, maybe he just doesn't care about your business. In which case you might be doing both of you a favor if you find a mechanic who is more interested in working with you. No malice intended.... just that in every business owner's life they have to decide who they will or won't bend the rules to accomodate.... if you aren't on the "A" list... maybe there is someone else with whom you can build a better relationship.

 

[Zack1978]

In your shoes, I'd call him and point out that
A) it is an OEM part, apparently delivered to him from the dealer
B) you would be willing to pay him a markup on the part if that is the problem (?)
C) he told you 1.5 weeks. You got it next day. Either something is fishy, or he should thank *you* for not tying up his parking space for 1.5 weeks.

I think that if you calmly explain the situation, you should be able to reach a reasonable solution. After all, the only (apparent) difference between him gettin the part and you getting it is the $$ he makes on parts. If you offer to pay him some of that (after all, you did the work and put out the $ to buy the part) it seems to me that if he values you as a customer he should be willing to bend a little. Alternately, maybe he just doesn't care about your business. In which case you might be doing both of you a favor if you find a mechanic who is more interested in working with you. No malice intended.... just that in every business owner's life they have to decide who they will or won't bend the rules to accomodate.... if you aren't on the "A" list... maybe there is someone else with whom you can build a better relationship.

Just go to another shop, if he does not want to do it why beg him?

my 2 cents!!!,
Zack

 

[BwardeAZ]

I had a part from Toyota that a shop wouldn't put on. In short I believe it is two things either the shop truly is worried about liability or they wanted to make some extra money on the part. You will problem never know which one it is and I would look else were a good mechanic will do it some were. I think sandcruisers advice is good, but if it doesn't work I would look else were you might be happier for it.

 

[kwon-offroad]

All these points are valid: lliability and profit. in my opinion, it's good business practice. They just don't want their customers to have that mindset. If you do it this time, what about something else, or the next time, etc. In short, they don't want to become a 'labor only' shop for you, regardless if that's not your intention.

On a tangent, you'll find the same problem with welders. A lot of them will turn you down when it comes to welding something on your car, like a spring perch, or shock towers, because of the liability.

Take it somewhere else or do it yourself. Brake master does not take all that long.

 

[Dynosoar]

Do you bring your own bandages to the emergency room, or a dinner rolls to restaurant? The shop has gotta make the bucks on the part. Return the part to the dealer and have you mechanic call that dealer since they will now have it in stock. Alternativly do it yourself it will take all of about 1 hour including bleeding the brakes and LSPV.

Dynosoar

 

[chris777]

I would just like to say to those who said they don't want customers coming in with cheap parts from Autozone..... I was the one that told him NOT to buy a cheap aftermarket part like he normally would (that IS the quikest way, no?), and, that I only wanted Toyota and was willing to spend the extra time and money.

the second point I would like to make is, I understand that he should make his money from both parts and labor, but he FAILED to get the part, whereas I came through with the part. He didn't bother to call around, even after I warned him that the nearest dealership was lousy at finding Toyota Land cruiser parts (for some unknown reason). therefore, I felt like he should have been willing to suck up and lose the parts markup since he failed to produce. If I had waited to hear back from him, I would not have ordered the part in time to get it delivered the next day. AM I being unreasonable?

 

[Tinker]

He only makes 20-25% markup on dealer parts (I buy my OEM parts wholesale from the biggest local Toyota dealer) but 80-200% on parts from a big distributor like WorldPac (who supplies lots of OEM parts in addition to aftermarket).

We'll install customer glass & parts, but won't guarantee 'em. It happens only rarely & typically on special-interest vehicles like Cruisers. It builds good will with enthusiast customers, & you know how much they talk.

But I wouldn't take a package of soup into my favorite restaurant & ask them to cook it for me.

 

[chris777]

Do you bring your own bandages to the emergency room, or a dinner rolls to restaurant? The shop has gotta make the bucks on the part. Return the part to the dealer and have you mechanic call that dealer since they will now have it in stock. Alternativly do it yourself it will take all of about 1 hour including bleeding the brakes and LSPV.

Dynosoar

did you read the part where I said I wanted the mechanic to get the part but he failed to do so. I tried replying to his message that he couldn't get the part, but he was out and about, so I had to order the part before the dealers cut off time for ordering parts.

If I go to a restaurant and find out that they are not able to have dinner rolls, then I WILL bring my own. If I know that the hospital room is unable to provide me bandages, then yes, I WILL bring my own. wouldn' you?

Have you ever special orderd parts from a dealership before? if you ever do you will learn that you can not return those parts. I have replaced this part before, but I am swamped with work right now. I will just do it myself this weekend. glad I went ahead and ordered the part. I will have it tomorrow. I feel like the shop should have cut me some slack in this particular case, because I asked them to get the part, but they failed to be as resourcefull as me, and because I have been a customer for years. I doubt I will return to them. They didn't care enough to be deligent in their search for the part. why couldn't they have done as good a job as me at finding it?

 

[grant5127]

I took my FJ60 into a shop that has been doing much of my brake work for the past several years. An independent shop that has been in business for 60 years in the old part of town. I told them to replace the brake master cylinder ( A job I could do but just didn't have the time to do it). I told the owner that I knew it would take an extra day, but I prefer to have him order a new one from Toyota, but that you take your chances when ordering from Irving Toyota because they don't know how to look up old Land Cruiser parts since my friend in the parts department left them. I suggested calling Dallas Toyota.

At 1pm, I get a call saying that the part has been back ordered and will take 1.5 weeks to get it. I called Toyota Dallas and they said they could get me one tomorrow morning and deliver it to Kens. I knew that the cut off time for special orders was quickly approacing so I placed the order. I tried calling Ken but he was out on errands. I finally got in touch with him at the end of the day and he said that he would not put my part on for insurance reasons. I have to pick it up and replace it myself or find another shop.

question 1. Does Ken have a legitimate point? or, is he just blowing me off because he loses the parts markup? ( I would still be paying him for the installation).

question 2: should I try looking for another garage to install the master cylinder or will they all claim that their insurance will not allow it? (like I said, I am just too busy to do it myself right now).

Bring a young good-looking girl over that is easy & will let me have my way with her & a bunch of beer and your parts... I'll do whatever you want...

 

[Cruisergreg]

Bring a young good-looking girl over that is easy & will let me have my way with her & a bunch of beer and your parts... I'll do whatever you want...

Chirs777's irritation is legitimate and reasonable given his experience. ANY private shop than won't use a client-supplied OEM part when they couldn't get themselves is either over-booked or wanting a pissing match over the mechanic's "authority".

 

[Cruisergreg]

Return the part to the dealer and have you mechanic call that dealer since they will now have it in stock.

You must run a shop.

Next to boxed cereal auto repair has to be the next biggest rip-off, on average.

Don't get me wrong, there are PLENTY of honest, legitiamte shops out there. But time and time and time again I or someone I know has been abused by a private auto shop. That's why I learned to do all my own work.

OK, flame away.

 

[Martin White]

I think this boils down to a pretty simple point. You're not happy with the service. Therefore, go elsewhere. It shouldn't be this difficult. Unless, of course, you have no other options.

 

[grant5127]

Chirs777's irritation is legitimate and reasonable given his experience. ANY private shop than won't use a client-supplied OEM part when they couldn't get themselves is either over-booked or wanting a pissing match over the mechanic's "authority".

Hell, Man.. maybe the client ( as you put it ) is a dickhead??? We need to hear the other side of the story....

 

[Mark W]

I run my own shop. Real shop, not a driveway (BTDT). I prefer to provide the parts, but I'll install customer supplied parts. Especially if we're talking about specialty jobs (Solid axle swap under a mini-truck using springs and axles rounded up by the customer for example, or a laundry list of long defered major maintenance using parts that the customer has accumulated while procrastinating over the repairs.) If the customer suggests getting the parts himself, I'll tell him not to worry because I can get them quicker and cheaper and more reliably. But if he has the parts already, I'll put them on. I don't make nearly the markup on parts that Jim mentions, but that's probably just me.


Liability because parts that the customer supplied failed? I'm glad that we don't have that kind of attitude here.

That said, why all the bother. Do you really want to keep using a mechanic that you feel has treated you wrong. Whether he has or not isn't even the issue. You are not happy with him so why go back. Find another mechanic.


Mark...