quote:

ORIGINAL: Bumble B H2

I took my H2 to a mechanic shop and the owner gave me a deal. He offered to install a Magnaflow exhaust for $640 and a K & N air intake for $500. A total of $1140 this is also including labor. Do you think this is a good deal? By the way this guy knows what he is doing. He is constantly working on Supras and Lexus. He also showed me a picture of an H2 he worked on, where he did a lift, air intake, and an exhaust. Please tell me what do you think.  

quote:

ORIGINAL: kild1

ask for a estm.
with a itemized list of parts and labor

im on the other side of the fence here
a shop has to markup their parts for resale
if not they wont make it in busniess long
i know ya know that walmart dont sell ya something for what they paided for it

if ya feel the markup is to high
just bring ur own parts and have them install them
just remember if the part fails there most likely will be no warranty
now the manufacturer will warranty the part itself but no labor warranty
if the shop sells ya the parts and installs them you have parts and labor warranty

i deal w/ this stuff all the time and have gotten cussed out over it
but ya cant expect a shop  to eat labor  over a  customer supplied part
the little parts are not bad and if ur a good customer they (i) will work with ya some
but when it a used junkyard motor and it smokes and  knocks after install
thats when  people get mad ..sure the junkyard will give ya another motor but
the shop will charge ya  labor again to R&R the motor

sry for the mini rant
but i have customers tell me that they can buy the parts cheaper alot
and i have to give this same speech alot

quote:

ORIGINAL: ZYNE

...That would equate to approx $170 dollars worth of markup ($280 for the FIPK, $55 for the install = roughly $330) which on a 280 dollar product is an absolute ...

Same thing on the exhaust, say 2 hours of labor if the mechanic is totally green and can't spell socket wrench properly.  $110 on the install, $380 on the product and you got approx $500. Add what, 10-20 bucks in shop supplies and we got ourselves about $850 dollars worth of parts, labor, and supplies.  They are wanting to charge him almost 50% more than that ...

While I understand we all got to live, the markup they slapped on that "deal" won't make them any money ..

quote:

ORIGINAL: kild1

zyne 55/hr is cheap very cheap
the most of the dealers here in memphis are at 90 to 100/hr
we are 65/hr and are the cheapest around
it helps that we have been open for over 23 years  and 6 years before that in an exxon station

ur right  no shop should rape  a customer 
most shops have a 60% mark-up  on parts
i adjust my mark-up on each part i buy to give the customer a fair price
when buyin through the dealer  we get 10% off retail and charge the customer retail price (the price they would pay if they went
to the dealer and bought the part themself)
but the dealer has no labor warranty on parts bought there
napa & autozone has a labor warranty usally 40 bucks per hr
on parts we buy from them

autozone give no price break to shops
we pay the same thing a walk in pays for parts
but police and firemen get like 10% off at AZ
kinda crazy that a guy who buys 8k to 10k in parts a month gets no break on parts
thats why im a napa carcare center now

quote:

ORIGINAL: kild1

zyne 55/hr is cheap very cheap
the most of the dealers here in memphis are at 90 to 100/hr
we are 65/hr and are the cheapest around
it helps that we have been open for over 23 years  and 6 years before that in an exxon station

ur right  no shop should rape  a customer 
most shops have a 60% mark-up  on parts
i adjust my mark-up on each part i buy to give the customer a fair price
when buyin through the dealer  we get 10% off retail and charge the customer retail price (the price they would pay if they went
to the dealer and bought the part themself)
but the dealer has no labor warranty on parts bought there
napa & autozone has a labor warranty usally 40 bucks per hr
on parts we buy from them

autozone give no price break to shops
we pay the same thing a walk in pays for parts
but police and firemen get like 10% off at AZ
kinda crazy that a guy who buys 8k to 10k in parts a month gets no break on parts
thats why im a napa carcare center now

quote:

ORIGINAL: ZYNE

And whether dealing with the big chains or the little local guy is good or bad, I find your attitude honorable Eric.  I for one look at the bottom line and there's no way in hell I'll spend $369.99 on a part I can get for $279.99 online.  Sure, it will help out the local guy, but no matter how you look at it, you're income to him and I can guarantee you that the committment you have towards him/the business is a one way street and the second your money isn't involved in the equation ... well, lets just say they are in business to do just that, business .. and to be quite honest ... I logically do not see the reason to spend more than you have to just to avoid online retailers or big chains.  It's ultimately a savings to you which is noticed in YOUR pocket ... I'll take the savings personally.  That leaves me more $ left over to spend on other, far more important things!