Hi James,

>>>>The 'hidden costs' of using of fitting substandard parts is indeed well documented. I hear many war stories from Trade Diagnostic Customers and Techs who come on training.<<<<

>>>>The problem is what to do about it.<<<<

In my opinion The independent motor sector has got itself into this position by bowing to the demand for ever cheaper parts and not insisting on quality.

Too many garages are willing to fit cheap parts to either maximise their profit (charge dealer price) or surrender to customer demand for cheap parts.

The independent factors are generally only supplying what garages are demanding, so much so that often when I price parts, knowing the original is Bosch, my Bosch supplier quotes me for "Facet" or "Intermotor" I have to then ask if Bosch is available and what the cost is.

My business would actually suffer a little if all these cheap parts were to suddenly disappear because a lot of my work is re diagnosing faulty poor quality aftermarket parts.

It is very rare to get a faulty part from the dealers and if garages would insist on genuine OE quality parts which the factors could supply and not cheap imitations then this problem could be solved overnight.

Mike

ps: Is that a flying pig I see..............?