It's amazing the mark up of some stores

[Stingray89]

Back story: The fuel pump in my Chevy S-10 died yesterday in the parking lot of Taco Bell. I got it to start back up by beating the bottom of my fuel tank with a hammer to get the vibrations to get the pump running again.

Now onto the story: I'm searching online for replacement parts and check out the local auto stores and they have the product I'm looking for priced around $350. I go to search on amazon and they have the same product for $200. Even if I overnight it to me I'm coming out money ahead. So needless to say I could have my truck fixed today but I'm all for saving money. I understand the concept of stores making money but marking a product up that much is a little ridiculous if you ask me. You may now carry on about your day knowing that I saved about $150.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

As someone who has worked in a few smaller shops.

You need to remember that just because stores have the same product, doesn't mean the stores got them in at the same price.

I remember more than once seeing a large electronics store selling items for less than we could buy them!

The bigger the shop, the bigger the buying power, the more product they buy, the less it costs (per unit). One thing I will say, local places will tend to (not always) try and provide better CS as a way of making it up.

Did you approach the local store and show them how much you could get it for online? You probably could have bartered them down (maybe not as much, but a fair bit).

[Indiana Mike]

Try " 1-A auto " on the net

Cheapest parts I've found

The company that employees me marks stuff under a certain acquisition cost up 350%.

Insane crazy

[Jay Ralston]

I agree what the above poster said. What made me mad was in the small town we live in, the local hardware/lumber store had prices through the roof. Home Depot decided to build a store in out town and the owner of this place through a fit. But he was underpaying his employees and much of his stuff was literally double to triple the cost of what Home Depot sells the same stuff for. One of his employees had been with him for almost 20 years but was only making less than a dollar above minimum wage. Once Home Depot came in, that employee quit and went to work there where they gave him a very nice raise and benefits. When I first moved into this town, I needed a new drywall screw gun. The most powerful one usually goes for around $100.00 and the cheapest goes for around $70.00. They only carried the smallest, cheapest one but wanted $150.00 for it. Needless to say, I went elsewhere and waited until my next trip to Denver and bought one from the Home Depot there. After the Home Depot in this town was built, amazingly, that hardware store carried all of the models and had them all priced the same as Home Depot did. The owner did nothing but price gouge the people of Sterling, Colorado for I don't know how long but it was at least 20 years or more. He still is in business but I honestly don't know how? I refuse to buy anything from the guy and I know a lot of people who do the same.

[Munjibunga]

You did exactly what you're supposed to do in a capitalist system - you took your business elsewhere. Merchants are free to sell product at whatever price they want, and you're free to look for it at the lowest price you can get. If enough people do what you do, the chain store will have to lower its prices. Everything went as it should.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Indiana Mike

Try " 1-A auto " on the net

Cheapest parts I've found

The company that employees me marks stuff under a certain acquisition cost up 350%.

Insane crazy

Crazy for whom? If your company can sell enough of them at that price to be profitable, that's what they should do. It's what keeps you employed. The purpose of any commercial enterprise is to maximize the return to its shareholders.

[Skitch it!]

I very rarely buy in stores anymore, the online prices are so much better. I replaced a Lambda sensor on my car last week, $105 in what is considered a competitive local Auto shop here, $75 for exactly the same part online and delivered. Stores can't compete with that.

[Stingray89]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

You did exactly what you're supposed to do in a capitalist system - you took your business elsewhere. Merchants are free to sell product at whatever price they want, and you're free to look for it at the lowest price you can get. If enough people do what you do, the chain store will have to lower its prices. Everything went as it should.

That's what America is all about. I asked the said auto store if they would match the price and they told me they would not so I did what I had to do.

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm more amazed about the banging on the fuel tank as a means to get your pump working. How did you know to do that?

[Indiana Mike]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Crazy for whom? If your company can sell enough of them at that price to be profitable, that's what they should do. It's what keeps you employed. The purpose of any commercial enterprise is to maximize the return to its shareholders.

I agree
My statement came out wrong and makes no sense.

[duff beer]

Stores overcharge because most consumers willingly pay overinflated prices. Tim Hortons is very popular here in Canada, and there is no shortage of people that will stand in line every single day to pay $2 for 5 cents worth of coffee.

[Pilgrim]

First, is it REALLY the same part?

Are you 100% sure it's not:
- a rebuilt?
- a second?
- an aftermarket brand?

If it's a dealer OEM part, there should not be that much difference. If it's an aftermarket brand, that would explain it.

I've been working on cars for 40 years, and I have no problem using aftermarket or rebuilt parts, as long as I know what they are and where I'm using them.

A Chevy OEM fuel pump will cost more than a Borg-Warner aftermarket pump, but I'll buy the Borg-Warner every time.

Most retail merchandise is marked up so that their cost is about 50% of the retail. What their cost is will pretty much determine the retail. Rebuilt, aftermarket and parts bought in high volume cost the retailer less.

[Skitch it!]

I miss the community aspect of trading through the internet buying I will say, and has Munji related it's what it's worth to the consumer, they pay the asking price.

There is a serious mark-up, there was for the companies I worked for, that's business and we have choice in whether to pay that or not, I don't agree with it but it is what it is.

The purchases I make I'll price check a few places, but it's v.rare I find things cheaper offline I've found, competition is just a click away.

[Stingray89]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

I'm more amazed about the banging on the fuel tank as a means to get your pump working. How did you know to do that?

An old trick my dad taught me. The fuel pump gets jammed up sometimes an banging on it just gets it free to start moving again. The $10 question is where is the hammer but the $150 question is knowing where to hit it.

[Simo98]

Online stores and small business are two completely different things. Hypothetically if the buying price was the same for both stores (which I doubt), the extra money you pay goes to the rent of a premises in a convenient location, and the wages of a sales assistant who is there to, well, assist you.

Sometimes going in to have a look around, as well as talk to someone who knows what they are talking about is worth the extra price, sometimes its not.

Of course, it depends a lot on the store and many other variables, but thats how it should work

[Stingray89]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

First, is it REALLY the same part?

Are you 100% sure it's not:
- a rebuilt?
- a second?
- an aftermarket brand?

If it's a dealer OEM part, there should not be that much difference. If it's an aftermarket brand, that would explain it.

I've been working on cars for 40 years, and I have no problem using aftermarket or rebuilt parts, as long as I know what they are and where I'm using them.

A Chevy OEM fuel pump will cost more than a Borg-Warner aftermarket pump, but I'll buy the Borg-Warner every time.

Most retail merchandise is marked up so that their cost is about 50% of the retail. What their cost is will pretty much determine the retail. Rebuilt, aftermarket and parts bought in high volume cost the retailer less.

Sorry for the double post but it is an OEM part.

[Mike N]

Look real careful at that AC Delco fuel pump box and you'll find "Made in China" printed on it. No wonder you paid $150 less for it.

Hopefully they remembered the fortune cookie.

[Stingray89]

Originally Posted by Mike N

Look real careful at that AC Delco fuel pump box and you'll find "Made in China" printed on it. No wonder you paid $150 less for it.

Hopefully they remembered the fortune cookie.

I didn't buy an AC Delco because I've heard bad things about them. I decided to go with a Delphi Fuel Pump.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Stingray89

Sorry for the double post but it is an OEM part.

I am not sure that Delphi is OEM, but perhaps it is. All I can find searching online for an OEM 2000 S-10 pickup fuel pump is Delco.

But I wouldn't buy an OEM pump if I had a more affordable alternative.

And you're right, the REAL challenge is knowing where to bang the tank! Full marks to you!

[MJ5150]

Were both fuel pumps the exact same model and condition?

-Mike