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Muskieman

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Posts posted by Muskieman

  2. Radio Question?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Bring a 50' roll of speaker wire , twist a stripped end onto the antenna , twist a rock onto the other end and toss it into a tree.... Has worked for me for the past 20 years ..... My old radio has seen better days but still works and sounds great .

     

    Randy

    :)

  3. Auto parts mark up

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    There is also a big difference in the quality of parts.

    You can buy bargain rotors for 15 bucks, but a year later they are a rusted mess.

    Brake pads are also this way.

    Cheap bonded pads often squeal and fall apart quickly.

     

    Keep in mind that your mechanic shop has a lot of overhead to keep the business going.

    Insurance, tools, hoist maintenance, licensing,hydro, skills upgrading...the list is much longer I can assure you.

     

    By the way, I run an honest shop....

    Bang on the money Bernie!

  4. Auto parts mark up

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I owned a 2001 Saturn Coupe (son now owns it) and it needed a hanger for the muffler near the tail pipe....no big deal I thought....went to Auto Zone and they were not sure if they could produce the right part but they would order it and in 5-7 days it would be here.......I thought by then, the rest of the exhaust system could be damaged.....so I called the dealer where I purchased the Coupe......I was quoted $51.....I thought that was a LOT OF MONEY for something Auto Zone quoted me for $22...but I said OK and I'll be right down to pick it up......

     

    So I get there and low and behold the part is right on the counter but I have to wait for the guy to wait on me......while waiting I look at the part and the invoice on the counter.....it was the EXACT part I needed but had a invoice made out to a local Ford dealer for the cost of $17.....so when the "guy" came to wait on me I just stood back and waited for "my price of... $51"....that's when I picked up the part and invoice sheet on the counter and demanded the same price....well, around and around we went....finally I said "I purchased 3 vehicles from you guys, how many did this Ford Dealership purchase from you guys".....I finally got my part for $17 and NEVER purchased another GM product again....

     

    BTW this part wasn't even worth $17....a glorified piece of sheet metal banding with a mounting bracket welded to it.....their cost....no more then $5 at most.

     

    Bob

     

     

    Exactly! Sometimes ... dishonesty goes even further..... say a muffler for a 2000 Cavalier offshore manufactured OTC cost to the customer 32$ *one year warranty against manufacturer defects .... It's purchased from a dealer at a parts store for 16$.... an is then sold to a unsuspecting customer as a genuine bowtie part for 116$....Happens all the time , GM , FoMoCo , Mopar and ALL imports... Making money trumps service almost everytime nowadays......Here's a tip .... Mom & Pop operations usually have the BEST Mecano and the best price period.

     

    ****** THE MECHANIC HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRICING THE SERVICE ADVISER/MAN DOES ****************

     

    Simply put .... lets say Midas,CTC,Jiffy,Wally, ya know.. they're gonna get customers for ever, because of advertising..... Joe Blow's garage operates by word of mouth , If Joe screws someone , he's lost a tool box full of business , because of word of mouth, he's just screwed everyone and anyone that knows somebody that owns a car/truck, it almost forces him be more honest than the BIG TICKET..... I know the ins and outs of the auto parts business... no offense intended to anyone.. but ..that's usually how the wrench turns.

     

    Randy

    :canadian:

  5. Auto parts mark up

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The problem with repair parts is that they pass through so many hands and each wants to make a profit. By the time you get it it has been marked up several times.

     

     

    here's an example ....

     

    2000 F150 4x4

     

    front rotors Raybestos # 66947

    cost to the supplier 16.00

    garage price 22.00 total profit for the parts store is 8$

    list price is 52.00 total profit for the garage is 30$

     

    3 years ago garage price was usually cost + 15%...... retail was cost + 30-65% depending on what product was being sold/purchased.... garages make more $ on the part than the supplier does.

     

    It's not a rip off or dishonesty... it's how business works... If the garage wants to sell at MSRP it's their choice.... 50/50 chance on a deal for the consumer... some garages are greedy some aren't and discount the $ and have a margin of their own... except CTC full retail on parts discounted labor ( usually ).

     

     

    Randy

    :canadian:

  6. Auto parts mark up

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    He gave you " trade" price or level 3 pricing .... You never pay MSRP except at CTC .....it's an illusion .

    I was a counter man for about 10 years , sometimes the garage will pay 12.00$ per rotor and sell them to you for 20$ plus install... You go to the same parts store and pay 25$ for them... In most cases it all depends on which counter person answers the phone ..

     

    Randy

    ;)

  8. An Evening with Dave Mercer

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Dave put on a great & very funny show ! He was pretty patient with an older man , this guy would disagree with almost everything Dave said and was kinda getting on my nerves, some lady was actually taking notes for her husband , Dave poked clean fun at her all night .....he took time to listen to all questions and answer them clearly... he gave special attention to a few little 5 yr old girls , all I have to say about Dave is that once again he's a class act..... and a class act that is 80 lbs lighter , congrats Dave!

     

    A special Thank You to two more class acts T.J. and Monique for letting me hitch a ride to Sudbury.

     

    I had a great time .

     

    Randy

  9. Dave Mercers gonna be in Sudbury

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Dave put on a great & very funny show ! He was pretty patient with an older man , this guy would disagree with almost everything Dave said and was kinda getting on my nerves, some lady was actually taking notes for her husband , Dave poked clean fun at her all night .....he took time to listen to all questions and answer them clearly... he gave special attention to a few little 5 yr old girls , all I have to say about Dave is that once again he's a class act..... and a class act that is 80 lbs lighter , congrats Dave!

     

    A special Thank You to two more class acts T.J. and Monique for letting me hitch a ride to Sudbury.

     

    I had a great time .

     

    Randy

    :)

  10. Pickerel opener

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    To get from Marten Lk into Wicksteed you need a running start to jump the dam ..... Or the other option would be to trailer your boat to the launch above the dam .... Watch for rocks, sandbars and deadheads.... Wicksteed is notorious for wrecking lower units .

  23. looking at a used , new to me boat.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    A friend of mine has this boat for sale.... He has no clue wht to sell it to me for... neither do I.

     

    it's a 1995 Starcraft 1700 Walleye edition... fully loaded with an older 55 Minn Kota cable steer. 3 new batteries and 2 depth finders, 2 Scotty down riggers and a few more things along with all the safety gear.

     

    the motor is a 1995 Mariner 75hp 3 cylinder ( 131 hours )that needs a main bearing in the middle piston ( ran out of oil ) I seen the repair estimate and it comes in at 475$... other than that the boat is immaculate..

     

    He has to sell it to me for more than he paid for it ( 20 $ ) He won it in the OFAH lottery along with a new Jeep in 1995..

     

    Now, without ripping each other off, what would be a fair offer on this unit ?

     

    1995Starcraft.jpg

     

     

    Randy

    :canadian:

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