David, that is a great business approach. I'll bet the word of mouth advertising keeps you predictably busy.

Denayel, you wrote, "

In my experience a lot of good honest shops will let a good customer bring in their own parts. That's my first question for a shop and won't use a shop that prohibits it. I think a good honest shop doesn't have a parts profit margin that is so great that they have to be all that concerned about it."

A couple of comments.

That's a fine strategy, if and only if, you are in area large enough to have more than just a couple of MB shops. My area has 3 that I know of and none will allow customer parts purchase. I have a general shop about 3 blocks away from me. He will work on MB and actually welcomes me bringing parts to him. He would rather not hassle with sourcing parts that are not routine for his shop. However, I tell him to just add something somewhere to make up for his lost margin. Whether he does or not, I don't know.

I don't know if you have ever been self-employed or owned a business. My guess is not. I really don't understand how you can connect honesty with concern parts profit. You mean the only shop owners that worry about parts margins are dis-honest? I don't own a shop, but I understand it's quite a tough business.

Maybe a couple of shop owners will post a reaction. My bet is there are so few people actually wanting to bring in their own parts, that those shops allowing it are just winking because it's not significant. The shops that prohibit have made the business decision that it's just not worth the delay and risk involved.

Steve