The price of buying genuine

[Hairs]

The price of buying genuine at times is astounding. The difference between purchasing items for our vehicles from dealerships compared to Auto retailers is amazing and then throw in to the mix eBay.
I needed to replace the Clutch Master Cylinder and Slave on my 80 Series 1HD-T.
Gave Toyota ring to start with, Sometimes and I must admit, not very often they suprise me and are cheaper than after market.
Quoted $289 for the Master, $160 for the slave, was told they would have to order them, a week, I was told there wasn't either in the country. 
Local auto spares dealer, $160 Master, $35 Slave, both in stock.
eBay, Master, $93.50 delivered(Free Postage) with in 48 hours, Slave $32 with $8 postage.
Got the eBay Master and bought the Slave and fluid from the local bloke.
A couple of years ago the High Pressure hose on the power steering pump started to leak, The one that runs from the pump to the steering box, Toyota wanted $600 for the one piece item, a local Hydraulic Hose fitter, charged me $150 for a 5 piece item to replace it with.
I'm not just having a go at Toyota, Nissan can be just as bad. Several years ago when we had our VL Dunny Door, With the 3Lt Turbo under the hood, the rocker cover hose to the injector box, it has two different size ends, Holden didn't have one in stock($27), Overnight, Nissan did, While in Grafton I swung on by to pick it up, $58, Yet the Holden dealer would source the item form Nissan Grafton.
As you would guess I rang the Holden dealer and ordered one, the wife picked it up the next morning.
It does pay to do your homework on anything that you purchase these days and the internet has help with this.
I still do try to buy local, but when there is nearly double the difference or in the master cylinders case Triple, the cash is better off in my Skyrocket than theirs.
 

[Gunna Do]

Some equipment on my vehicle I'm prepared to compromise a little on quality for the sake of price, however this does not extend to anything which I consider may leave me stranded out in the bush.  If I go looking for aftermarket parts etc., I still prefer to buy the more well known brands, even though now days these known brand products are sourced from all around the world, just some have stricter quality control than others.

As you say, E-bay has helped to give us an idea of what is available and at what price, much the same as the WWW helps research this stuff, and they give us the option as to what we want to pay.

I cannot work out how the pricing on Genuine parts works.  I have often been surprised by the cheapness of some of the genuine parts I have bought from Nissan, and on the other hand I have been shocked by how dear some are also.

[Redback]

How true is this, in the Land Rover world 95% of genuine parts are very expensive, but they do supprise at times, aftermarket sellers are evrywhere, 2 in particular sell the genuine Land Rover gear and aftermarket, Karcraft at Silverwater and Rovercraft at Mascot, they give you a choice when you want stuff and will tell you if the aftermarket stuff is made by the same mob that make the genuine item, Karcraft even have both on their online catalog.

As an example, I needed a CV, so off to LR the CV alone was $800, quick call to TR Spares and a new axle/CV and Hub complete $440, I asked where he got it from, he said Trivett Land Rover in Parramatta

Then there's the Rover suppliers in the US, UK and Europe and they all sell genuine at cheaper prices than Land Rover will ever sell and because of the Aussie dollar even cheaper now

I think in this day and age you would think the dealers would reduce their prices to compete with the aftermarket sellers, but no

Baz.

[Hairs]

Hi Gunna Do,
eBay ATM is a great place to buying 80 Series gear, with the 80 only finishing production in Venezuela in 2008. When I do buy from eBay it is only after a lot of research on the item I'm after and then only from a seller that has a shop front here in Oz, at lest that way I can contact a local for help or information. Also as you mentioned somethings you must buy the top notch gear, especially when you life may depend on it Not failing, but any part is only as good as the person who over saw it's production.
One of the chaps at the Toyota dealer, told me one day it was cheaper for him to buy some rear suspension parts for his Camry off the Holden dealer(for an Apollo) then it was from his work,
and not by 10 or 20 bucks either.
I use a web site, Toyo DIY.com as a reference for parts, I can use that when ordering from the local auto spare parts guy and even off eBay to make sure I receive the correct part.

You would think they would hey Redback, The only reason to have such a huge mark up is to keep their doors open, I guess if the didn't sell parts they wouldn't last long just selling new vehicles. It is a good thing when you go looking for parts that people give you the choice, buy doing that, there is a fair chance you'll come back.
I still deal with the guys at Toyota, because they will give me information on where to go to get what I'm after.




 

[Redback]

Hi Gunna Do,
eBay ATM is a great place to buying 80 Series gear, with the 80 only finishing production in Venezuela in 2008. When I do buy from eBay it is only after a lot of research on the item I'm after and then only from a seller that has a shop front here in Oz, at lest that way I can contact a local for help or information. Also as you mentioned somethings you must buy the top notch gear, especially when you life may depend on it Not failing, but any part is only as good as the person who over saw it's production.
One of the chaps at the Toyota dealer, told me one day it was cheaper for him to buy some rear suspension parts for his Camry off the Holden dealer(for an Apollo) then it was from his work,
and not by 10 or 20 bucks either.
I use a web site, Toyo DIY.com as a reference for parts, I can use that when ordering from the local auto spare parts guy and even off eBay to make sure I receive the correct part.

You would think they would hey Redback, The only reason to have such a huge mark up is to keep their doors open, I guess if the didn't sell parts they would last long just selling new vehicles. It is a good thing when you go looking for parts that people give you the choice, buy doing that, there is a fair chance you'll come back.
I still deal with the guys at Toyota, because they will give me information on where to go to get what I'm after.




 

We have a Toyota as well and deal with them quite often, some parts are just rediculous, but at times, can be cheaper than aftermarket, I guess it depends on the part, other times you just have to buy genuine, because you can't get aftermarket or the part just looks like it would break in 5min.

I think it's true that most of their money is made from parts though and as you said, they wouldn't last long without selling parts, and yes dealers are good for info.

Baz.

[Pipeliner]

Jeep Australia are just as bad.  Last year I needed a new clutch: Jeep Australia wanted about $750 and 6 weeks:  I got (a genuine Mopar) one from a Jeep dealer in the UK in 3 weeks for $450 - and that included $200 for express air freight!

Most Jeep owners I know buy their spares from MoparOnlineParts in the US - genuine parts at a fraction of the Australian cost.  The reason I had to go to the UK for the clutch was that the diesel manual version was never sold in the US.

[britts]

Acessories are just as bad Ctek DC-DC $430 upwards on the phone, jumped on the web, out of Sydney free postage $378 from a battery dealer with shopfront X2 went back to the local outlet and he came down to $380 so he got the sale.

[camdyson]

I've had a look at rooftop tents recently and been learning a lot.

The "branded" ones I liked were all in the $1600-2500 range. Same (yep, same-same) on Fleabay are in the $800-1100 range. Hmm. Decided to dig deeper, and tracked down the Chinese distributor of same tents - allegedly supply ARB - and I'm down to around $500 for a single unit order.

Don't think the China option is realistic for a single rooftop tent, but can see how the local guys buy them by the dozen and flog off on Fleabay at $1000 or so. Looks like an $800 one bought locally is a good compromise to the 2-3 times that I could pay for the "branded" ones.

Times they are a-changin' alright.

Cheers,

Canny Cam

[Murray]

My mechanic races go carts and goes through a set of tyres in a weekend. He found he can buy from a retailer in the US, have them delivered air mail and still save 40% of what the same tyres cost to buy in Brisbane. Delivery time is 6 days. Do you ever get that feeling we pay too much in Australia?

Murray

[briann532]

My mechanic races go carts and goes through a set of tyres in a weekend. He found he can buy from a retailer in the US, have them delivered air mail and still save 40% of what the same tyres cost to buy in Brisbane. Delivery time is 6 days. Do you ever get that feeling we pay too much in Australia?

Murray

Not wanting to get too far off topic, but perhaps if the powers that be, could start encouraging business in Oz rather than encouraging off shore manufacturing and importing, we might be better off.

Increase import tarrifs and decrease local tax.
Bugger................sorry getting political now, I'll bow my head and shut up, but on the original topic...............

It doesn't make sense does it?
Raise it with your local mp just out from an election 

[morgue]

My mechanic races go carts and goes through a set of tyres in a weekend. He found he can buy from a retailer in the US, have them delivered air mail and still save 40% of what the same tyres cost to buy in Brisbane. Delivery time is 6 days. Do you ever get that feeling we pay too much in Australia?

Murray

Mate, we been bending over and coping for years....

[Hairs]

. Do you ever get that feeling we pay too much in Australia?
Murray

I'm  not a tight arse, but I don't like being taken for a ride.
Last year Choice, I believe, published figure were we do pay to much for goods here.
Itunes for eg, was 200% more, form memory.
Groceries, were between 25 & 40% more for the same item in other countries, yet we have one of the highest saturated markets which should mean lower prices.

I believe a business must be profitable to become competitive.

I also believe we must be come more vocal towards pollies, Councilors and business about what we want and not to be told what we need.
And as a customer the only power I have in this regard is to spend my money where I see I get the most value, whether that be price or service.
Most of the time service will win over a couple bucks any day.

 

[bullfrog]

We know you're not a tight arse Jon, remember I was at the Canoe Centre when you got the Rocky Rapid Re bore 
 I know what ya sayin'. Imagine the $$ " discrepancies" I see at work each week. No bloody wonder I scratch me head & go for the fridge.

[Murray]

Sorry Hairs for hijacking your thread.
I agree with all that is said here. I believe we should support Aussie businesses and there is the point that the US companies have a much larger volume turn over and therefore a smaller profit per item is part of competition. But my story of the tires supports Hairs original point about price variation on the same item. The tires I mentioned were made in Asia, shipped to the US, sold by a retailer, flown to Australia as a single import (as opposed to mass import by cheaper means) and were still 40% cheaper than the Australian price. Hopefully, internet buying will increase competition and the free market will see 'realistic' markups so we can support Aussie companies.

When I had a Jackaroo I used to buy parts from a Melbourne based Company "Jackaroo World" and have them delivered to my house in Brisbane for significantly less than I could buy them from the Holden dealer around the corner.

Murray

[Hairs]

. No bloody wonder I scratch me head & go for the fridge.

Apparently I don't need to scratch me head before I go to the fridge these days mate,
Might explain why the turf on ya sun deck is a bit sparse these days as well mate.
 

I believe we should support Aussie businesses and there is the  Hopefully, internet buying will increase competition and the free market will see 'realistic' markups so we can support Aussie companies.
Murray

Hi Murray,
Can't remember whether I read the post here or not, But a bloke was talking about ARB product(Diff Lockers I think), he lived down the road from the factory here, where they are made, yet it was some couple hundred dollars cheaper to buy it from an American company that imported to the States and the shipped it back to here.
Now how the bloody hell does that work? 

 

[Pipeliner]

I support Australian business whenever possible, but not to the extent of paying $750 for a $250 clutch.  The actual country of manufacture was Mexico anyway.  How Australian is Chrysler Australia anyway?

One reason I heard for high Jeep part prices in Australia (can't guarantee it's true) is that Chrysler have subcontracted all their parts distribution in Asia Pacific to Caterpillar out of Singapore - so not only does everything have to come through Singapore but we have to add to Caterpillar's profit margin as well.  Not that that explains a 200% markup (more actually, as I'm sure the UK dealer who sold it to me for $250 was also making a profit on it).

[Alloy C/T]

Got a split in the top hose that runs from the turbo to the intercooler on the wifes Jeep 2.8 diesel , phone Jeep for new Hose, $550 , no freaking way for a rubber hose 18 inches long says I , removes hose and takes hose to a Exhaust fitter /bender , got stainless pipe bent up 1.5 inches short at each end , cut ends off each end of original rubber hose  , 4x clamps and new pipe back on , total cost $50 bucks , why buy genuine?

[MarkGU]

Nissan genuine parts examples  

right rear mudflap...........$200 each
left rear mudflap.............$235 each
plastic centre caps for d22 ............$96 each


they can go and get knotted.  

[Hairs]

no freaking way for a rubber hose 18 inches long says I, total cost $50 bucks , why buy genuine?

That's a great idea,
Does the job, what more can you ask?
Just recently I made a second battery tray for the cruiser, a length of door slider track, a couple of pieces of 19x19 box, a couple bolts, couple of pieces of Aluminum for a heat shield, some capping so as not to cut ya self on the alloy edges, 600mm 5/16 threaded rod, 2 lock nuts to hold it in place, Conveyor belt to sit the battery on, and Bullfrog wires up the battery for me(already had the Redarc smart charger) A big thanks for doing that mate  ,
Does the job just as good as the factory one, but less than a 1/4 the price.

Nissan genuine parts examples  
plastic centre caps for d22 ............$96 each

I can get Genuine Toyota steel center caps off Fleabay for less than $70 bucks delievery and that's for 4 of buggers. I remember when you lost one of yours up in the Wild Cattle Creek State Forest,
About here wasn't it?  and you got a price for them and you said $96, I thought you said for 4, Now I know why you remove them when traveling down dirt roads.  

[MarkGU]

yeah thats right Hairs. i dont even bother to put them on anymore now. if they dont fall off 4wding then some BEEP knocks em off in a car park somewhere   

[bobnrob]

Increase import tarrifs and decrease local tax.

Something I've been saying for a while now

Other side of the coin...
Recently needed to replace the clutch pedal rubber in the X-Trail. For genuine...
Ebay $7 + $4 postage
Local Nissan $6.50 + 15min walk

Like many are saying, it does pay to shop 'round!

[Mallory Black]

Bought a Hayman Reece IQ controller for my car a few months ago, got the suppliers off the website which was a choice of Pedders outlets, some TJM and a few towbar and RV places. (QLD)
$238 plus p&h.

Just saw the same item in the Brisbane Camperland catalogue... $160

Those bloody Pedders, saw me comin' alright.

good controller though

[hempo]

CV Boots wear every 30 to 40,000 ks or so on Mazda BT/Ford Ranger

Mazda - $200 per boot
Local mechanic $35
Wholesaler $5

excluding fitting

[Crisp Image]

Got an aftermarket ignition module or fuel pump (cant quite remember) for wife's micra. It came in a genuine Nissan Box from an aftermarket supplier. I was told by the mechanic that sometimes aftermarket supplier can buy excess stock from genuine suppliers.