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parts buying groups

Posted by kelly clarke on November 27, 2007, 7:48 pm

Yet again today i ahve stumbled upon the problem of getting top quality parts for especially for electrical problems as i don't want hassle from incorrect or corrupt signals etc, but several of the factors in my area are part of a buying groups and so the choice is restricted as to what is avilable off the shelf.

I can see why these factors go into these groups to get a better deal from the supply chain but when choice and quality come into play i know which way i would go. The cheap bits are on the shelf but not always the better quality ones.

Another example is i had an alternator fail and was told i could not claim labour because the deal in the buying group would not allow, thankfully the factor in question wanted to retain my business and gave me a deal on my next order.

Am i the only one getting wound up about this or do others feel the same way?
I did note that this was one of the question in the Motaquip survey during the summer but i have not seen any results.

Will get off the soap box now

Kelly

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Graham Bullock on November 27, 2007, 11:27 pm, in reply to "parts buying groups"
Graham Bullock

I agree, quality is what matters. I never price parts unless I am asked to do so by the customer. I would like to be able to ring factors, get parts, fit parts and forget. But lately it appears to be getting more like will it come back or won't it?
Exhausts are one of my biggest problems, bad fitting and resonating etc, found this to be a problem when VFM part numbers are supplied because that is all they have in stock.

Graham

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by John Kennard on November 28, 2007, 1:30 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
John Kennard

The only way round it is to tell your local factor that we are being forced into the hands of the dealers having to buy genuine parts. On engine management we will only fit Bosch if a Bosch system or the genuine part. Our local factors used to stock Bosch but now are stocking Intermotor or Sovereign neither of which I would touch with a barge pole. We now have to especially order Bosch if we want it.

The factors surely know the Motor Trade is a shrinking market and when we are gone so are they. I just don't know how many other Wally's there are out there willing to fit the other rubbish. All quality garages need to get the message home to them that we want quality or we go and sign up to all the dealer Trade Clubs; we already are. I couldn't agree more with Graham about exhausts & Catalyst's these are the next most bought items off the dealers we fit. No wonder the factors are having to huddle together to survive. It's time they got tough with their suppliers and put pressure on them.
John Kennard.

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Matt Elliott on November 28, 2007, 6:21 pm, in reply to "parts buying groups"

All these factors make me sick,they all want your business & start off well with deliveries,general service,price etc & then slowly turn to crap.

They sell whatever they've got the best deal with that year,rubbish everyone elses products & then stock the very stuff they were saying was crap the previous yr.

Box's turn up that look like they've been used in a whole season of warehouse football,i've even pulled out oil filters that have been fitted before,three pads in a box etc etc I could go on all night,don't start me on the Rep's ,sorry order collectors as we know them as

ARHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I even considered getting together with a few other garages in my area,pouching one of the better parts guys & setting up our own supply business it's ready made & would easily cover the wage,unit etc... & might even return a profit

.

Rant over

Matt

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Peter Warman on November 28, 2007, 8:42 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Hi John

I was thinking this on Monday. I had a 2000 Ka with P/S in for front suspension arms with the rear bushes completely shot, i had fitted these arms only 14 months ago and covered 8,000 miles

My factor sent another set up, i fitted one, but it was fouling the subframe, you could see the bush had not been pushed into the arm far enough

I was not happy so i got the rep out from the factor to see the problem. He agreed that they were not right, he sent another pair up, but the same again. The only way i got the right clearance was to fit non P/S ones (third lot)

This was a good customer, so i could not charge him 14 months later for the same work. I had a word with the manager at the factor who assured me "We have not had a problem with any others"...........well to cut a long story short the factor is going to pay even though they are 2 months out of warranty

I have another Ka in tomorrow for more suspension arms, but i will be buying from the dealer

The suspension arms are a well know brand name......but the quality was suspect

A growing trend i think

Peter

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by John Kennard on November 29, 2007, 1:25 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
John Kennard

What I dont understand there are quality after market parts out there like Bosch, Febi, Valeo, Motoquipe, Motorcraft, Delco, Beher, NGK, Blueprint etc.etc. But just try asking for these brands and it is like you are from another planet!!!!!
John Kennard.

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Colin Jupp on November 29, 2007, 2:07 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"

Hi Peter. I had a problem with a KA P/Steering rack which was supplied in a faulty state from a Factor. I claimed a labour charge from them which took an absolute age to receive although they did eventually pay. The really annoying thing was that I had originally ordered the rack at about triple the price from a main dealer only for that to turn up labelled correctly but was in fact for LHD no less! They just shrugged their shoulders and said they would order another with no guarantee that it would be correct, hence the pattern part. Makes for a fun life though!

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Tom Williams on November 29, 2007, 8:08 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
Tom Williams

Hi all,

The saying used to be "avoid buying gaskets or anything made of rubber" from factors.
Whilst the independent factors trade associations keep banging on about the fact that they sell OE quality parts, in many cases this simply isn't true.
Any good technician will know this. Most aftermarket exhausts just don't fit properly. Many of the igniton components, unless they are from a maker like Bosch,are often very poor quality. Most of the CV boots,steering rack boots and suspension bushes sold by independent factors don't come close to OE.
Even some of the companies that make OE seem to have a line of 2nd quality 'universal fit' parts such as wiper blades that often don't come with the correct fittings.
As for gaskets, well I can't think many independent brands that I would trust not to give me the big headache 'the comeback job'

Tom W

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Phil Dunmore on November 29, 2007, 8:54 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
Philip Dunmore

Here here.
We will not buy certain brands, regardless of price or promised quality. Some factors who previously had choice of brands now only carry the budget. We are fortunate in that we have a surplus of factors competing, the only way forward for them is to supply quality at a better price than dealer. What worries me is if they all fall. If the dealers have monopoly trade clubs and prices will come to an end, we all know what they can charge for stuff you can't get anywhere else.
Dread failed catalyst on older cars, you know a good cat costs more than the car is worth and a cheap one will probably fail the next MOT.

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Phil Dunmore on November 29, 2007, 8:57 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
Philip Dunmore

And another thing, you need to keep an eye on the dealers, just 'cause they supply it dosn't mean it's OE!

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Matt Elliott on November 29, 2007, 9:35 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"

You're right Phil but the ones round my way will give me the OE part first with the option of after market if there is one.To be honest if it comes down to things like vauxhall cam sensors,Fiesta heater valves,renault coils etc you might as well give the after market one a go as the OE one aren't much cop.

Another thing I've noticed is surcharges from factors on things like Cat's & now batteries(£5),just because they are worth something at the moment.To avoid this just ask them for a enviromental waste note that slows them down a bit. I might gather old pads,discs,exhausts etc & throw them in the back of their vans when driver disappears over the shop/bookies(leaving some poor sod waiting for an asap/urgent delivery)they might get the message then. Oh God I'm starting to rant again.

This thread could be a long one

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Gordon Donaldson on December 1, 2007, 10:53 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
Gordon Donaldson

Didn't realise the factors are charging a surcharge on the old cats, at least not up here.

Reason will be that the old cats are worth around £40 each if oe.

Local scrap guy takes my scrap away weekly, and he used to lift my old cats as well.

Not anymore

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Paul A. Potter on December 1, 2007, 11:26 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"

Good Evening,

I must say after 20 years as an independant, i've never had it so good

Within 10 miles of my garage i've got all vehicle manufacturers, Vauxhall offering trade club, VAG - trade parts supply etc,etc

Andrew Page selling Bosch, Blueprint, Delphi, Mann Filters, LUK, Sachs, SKF, etc... and 8 deliveries a day!

GSF - excellent OE range from stock, waited all day to get go ahead from customer, Audi A4 Quattro rear brakes, Brembo discs & pads ordered 3.45, delivered 4.30 (excellent price, open forum)

Euro car parts, 2005 Renault OE window regulator 1/4 price of dealer

Long may the CHOICE of quality parts continue here in North East.

Best wishes to all.... Paul

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by Michael Whitworth on December 2, 2007, 11:37 am, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
Mike Whitworth - Administrator

Hi Paul,

Being half way between Bolton and Manchester, We have just about every factor known to man. But I don't feel privileged as despite this my choice is still ltd.

I use Andrew page in the main for most my parts as they seem to cover most things I use. Unipart are a waste of space and rarely have in stock what I need (I dont do servicing or mech repairs)

Euro car parts are often the cheapest but I refuse to use them as they give very little discount and will usually sell the same parts for the same price to any one who rings up or walks in off the street (and all your customers already know the price before you quote) plus they appear to sell a lot of counterfeit parts in Bosch boxes. GSF I do use from time to time |But they have had to adopt a similar approach to ECP in order to compete. In my opinion ECP have Killed the parts supply chain.

We have many other smaller factors locally but like Unipart they seem to concentrate mainly on servicing parts, clutches, exhausts, brakes etc which I dont use so again they are not much use to me. I used to use Fuel Parts but Pages can offer me similar or better quality and have it with me in an hr or less most days.

Mike

Re: parts buying groups

Posted by John Kennard on December 4, 2007, 1:07 pm, in reply to "Re: parts buying groups"
John Kennard

Please see the warning in the general technical disscussion.
http://members4.boardhost.com/ukautotalk/msg/1196764531.html

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