On Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:42:54 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 23:19:39 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:28:51 -0700, "taxed and spent"
wrote:


"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
On 6/22/2015 9:31 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Just had a first. I've been repairing refrigerators for
about twenty years. I went out this AM, and worked on a
refrigerator. Did my best. She called back about 6 PM,
it's still problems. She gave me more information, and
my diagnosis changed. Drove back (half hour from here)
to work on the fridge again. Used a new in the bag part,
I'd bought several years ago. Told her I guessed the part
was about $25, bought it years ago.

She asked if I had the receipt. Took a minute to understand.
She wants to see the receipt of what I paid at the wholesale
house. No, the receipt is in a drawer or folder at home.

And even if I did, I wouldn't show you. I sell for retail.
I'll make a phone call tomorrow, see what the current
retail price is, and call her back. What an evening.


Amazing. She expects to pay wholesale?

No, she expects the repair guy to not just make up a number out of his head.

But she has no business knowing what the repairman paid for the part.
I occaisionally had customers when I was at the garage who expected
to get the parts at cost, or who brought in parts they bought
elsewhere and expected me to install them. (used, discount, or
whatever)
I finally posted labour rate to install customer supplied parts at
150% of regular rate. Easier than refusing to install the parts, with
the same result.


Most people don't expect to get screwed on parts prices nowadays.
The parts costs are readily available, and they're not in the dark.
Labor cost is take it or leave it.
Car parts prices have been available for many years, and so has part
costs on the final bill.
Why go where you're going to get gouged on parts?
Even 50 years ago a good mechanic working for my cousin took me aside
and told me in a whisper I needed ignition wires. "Get them at the
parts store down the street and do it yourself. Mike is gonna charge
you twice what he pays for them."
Even he didn't like that practice.
That's what got me started doing most of my own repairs.


It's been a LONG time since there was a 100% markup on auto parts -
but also remember the old saying about price and quality.

"If you want first quality oats, be ready to pay first quality price.
If you are willing to settle for oats that have already gone through
the horse, they do come a bit cheaper".

There are parts, and then there are parts - and there can be a LOT
more difference than just the price!!!!