INDY PRICING?
 

Do indies typically add a mark up to the parts they install, profiting on them as well as the labor? What has your experience been?

Yes, though I nip things quite a bit by having the problem diagnosed with the parts in hand when I take it in on bigger jobs with high markup parts. Little bits is fine.

I have gotten price discounts on genuine MB parts from some independent shops, while others charge retail. OEM-like or compatible parts are priced accordingly. I have also provided my own parts to the shops for installation, with the understanding that I would be responsible for any parts defect or non conformaning fit.

I discussed this with a mechanic one time, and he said "generally, 20-30%". Some parts have a higher list, while some only have a couple of percent.

Being in the appliance repair business, I can say for sure that some parts I only make a buck or two, while others are marked up 3-500%!

Nothing about the work a highly recommended indy I hired did was necessarily out of line, after doing a little peripheral Q and A about the job I had done to my car.

I'm 100% comfortable with the work my indy did, versus the labor/parts rates at an MB dealership I've used exclusively over the years on two MBs.

.....just wondering what the experiences others around the country have dealing with their indies.

Mechanics will mark up the parts that they sell. This is normal and should be expected.

Yup. I used to sell parts for a while, they get pretty deep discounts for being great repeat customers. Sometimes you can negotiate something out if you have a good relationship with your indie

My indy (Ernie) is very cool with me/my family/group of friends.


He does not mark up the parts (at least for the group mentioned above), and will tell me what they cost him. Most of the time, it is cheaper than the autozoo, napas, kragens, etc, and is the correct part! I usually bring him beer/food/beverage/tip when I go pick up the part though.


He is very cool with the group of friend mentioned above (SirNik, DieselKraut, Turbobenz). We can go in there and shoot the bowl with him and/or pick his brain, and he is usually more than happy to shoot the bowl. Even on the phone with a car related problem, he does not mind spending the time to help out. :D


Hell, I bring my wagon over there from time to time to have him look at/adjust things, and he sometimes spends an hour messing with it - only for him to go "you crazy kids - get outta here" (in a sarcastic tone of course). He still winds up with a $20 tip... :)


There was one time I brought SirNiks SD in for a steering box adjustment. He spent about an hour dialing it in.... When he was done - he refused to accept payment! Needless to say, I brought him a case of cold beer later that day! It was spring - and was about 90*, so it was a nice break. :D

DieselKraut needs to rebuild one of his wagon 617 motors - and wanted to pick my indys brain. My indys response "Why don't you rebuild it here in my shop. I can make sure you have the tools you need, and that you do it right."

I could go on and on....

When I did the motor swap from Trigger to Dave's old wagon, the 300TD, I took it to my friend Bob who has the salvage yard. He also has a World Pac account, a parts wholesale sight selling OEM equivalent parts. We agreed to a straight 20% markup on everything parts wise related to the motor swap.

I didn't calculate it out but the savings was well over $500 if I had paid list for everything. A few of the bits weren't marked up quite to 20%, but alot were as Lorainfurniture said 300%+++.

Total cost for the motor swap with me providing the motor donor was around $1200+ the shell of Trigger with alot of good parts. I don't think I could of done much better.

I love Worldpac, especially since they have huge warehouses in the Denver area. :D

My Indie charges full retail which is about double what I normally pay if I get my own parts. But they allow me to bring in my own parts either used or new.

Normal,SOP,Accepted
 

For Independent garages to include a profit on parts installed.
(In addition to the Labor Costs involved)

How Much Profit Varies.

'Got to remember YOU ain't paying the Light Bill,Mortgage,Employee Costs,Etc.,Etc.

I always marked up parts. If I managed to get a good price then I usually passed some discount on to the customer. That's what makes the world go 'round.

I have an indie who lets me bring my own parts and he charges $20-30/hr. Not a bad deal, but he does it as side work so I have to plan ahead.

That's slave wages these days. You should cultivate your relationship with him. If I were still in business I'd be charging 80% of the dealer rate.