I do not think the over pricing of spare parts is exclusive most cars and domestic appliances come immediately to mind but I agree the more niche an industry is the greater the rip off.

We like Bosch products generally as a brand, one reason being their website shows exploded views of their appliances and lists all the parts and part numbers down to individual screws. I once did in a moment of boredom an exercise to see how much it would cost to build a washing machine by buying all the parts and assembling it yourself and did not even get part way through it before it was already costing 5 times what we paid never mind the cost of manufacture. I really would like to know from someone in the spares supply industry how some of these prices are justified because at the moment it seem a case of think of a number and triple it!

Richard