customer supplied parts,how do you handle this?

[jay]

I don’t usually install customer parts I compare it and explain it to customers that you don’t bring a steak to the restaurant for your dinner,your paying for the cook,the building,insurance ect..
How do you guys handle this issue.
I do install customer parts and do give a break on labor for hardship folks and do quite a bit of work for free,that kind of thing does pay off in the long run(besides why not do some good in a tough world).

Topic

[Justin]

It is not the same thing as bringing a steak to a steak house…

If you are a private garage, I would generally suggest offering parts at relatively competitive prices and generally not accepting after-market parts. i.e. If you are doing a brake job you don’t want a customer bringing in $9.99 semi-metallic pads because they are going to be upset there is dusting and noise.

That said, IF they are bringing in a Honda and just so happen to bring in Genuine OEM Honda Front brake pads, I see no reason to turn them away. If anything they made the job for you easier because you don’t have to A) Track Down the parts B) Won’t have to fuss with fitting parts that don’t quite fit right and C) they will work better (or as well) as the best after market parts, so you have no worries. The Care WILL brake as nicely and quietly as it did when new off the lot.

So, I see it as a YES/NO

If you are a dealer, you probably do not use any aftermarket parts… and you already have a supply of OEM parts and a supplier that can get them to you… I could see you not accepting any parts.

[scott37300]

I’m not a shop owner but have run into some issues helping others out with repairs and them wanting to buy parts. The problem you run into is people that don’t know that much about parts trying to pick the right part for their vehicle, all they see is price and will go with the cheapest parts they can find. There are some instances where OEM parts are almost manditory or where it pays to go with a higher priced higher quality part. People that want to bring their own parts usually are trying to save money or don’t trust you with their money. So they almost always will just get the cheapest parts.

Take spark plugs for instance. Most cars are pretty picky on what plugs they like. So if the owner just runs down to the closest parts store and gets the cheapest plugs and you install them and the car has a misfire or other issue a month down the road due to the plugs who’s fault is it? Obviously we know it’s most likely due to cheap plugs the car owner is going to blame you and want you to fix it for free, remember that whole thing about them being cheap? So now you have an arguement over who pays for new plugs and labor to install them. Most shops use quality parts and offer a warranty on them.

I’ve heard of shops making customers sign a sheet saying NO warranty on parts they bring in.

[Justin]

Yeah, sprak plugs are terribly pickey. They should always be in the same heat range and type. I.e. Don’t buy a platinum plug if the car came with an irridium plug for example.

Personally, I just buy the EXACT same OEM plug ALWAYS. In the case of my Mazda 3, I needed the NGK Laser Iridium ILTR5A-13G plugs… The Actual OEM plugs said FordMoCo by NGK ILTR5A-13G…

They ARE the EXACT same plug… and no surprise the car is totally happy with them.

If the car is japaneese, it probably calls for a Denso or an NGK. An American car probably takes a Champion or an Autolite… a German likley takes Bosch…

Regardless, I cannot stress enough how silly some people are. The WORST thing someone could do is at 60,000 or 75,000 remove perfectly good working plugs (that should be replaced only based on millage) and put in standard copper $2 AutoLite plugs. They are just asking for a misfire. If I were a garage, I would outright refuse.

[Lord Ihcalam]

im not a shop mechanic. I would classify myself as a shadetree, who occasionally helps out others in exchange for a little cash, or a meal. given this, i often install parts purchased by car owners. its stupid, especially since i can get parts cheaper with a ‘corporate’ discount. If they get the wrong parts (autolite plugs for a GM for example) i tell them they got the wrong ones and send them back for the proper ones. Of course i dont warranty anything and tell them str8 up im not a licensed mechanic and thats why they can get me to swap out their starter for a beer and a burrito. I have taken parts i have purchased to a shop to have them installed (the labor was cheaper than buying one time use tools) so it always depends on what they want done. and always tell them up front there wont be any sense of a guaranty on the parts they bring in.

[John B Kobberstad]

I almost always go with the cheapest parts that I can find. A week ago I picked up 4 NEW Monroe Sensa Track struts for my 1998 Plymouth Neon (71959 and 71960 2 of each) for less than $86. total for all 4 shipped. I have NEW Bosh 4002 Platinum Plus spark plugs that are also new that I got for $0.61 each The $2.00 Champion Copper core which are OEM for my vehicle are too expensive so I bought the CHEAP plugs. The new Wagner 21290 SS muffler that I have cost me $24.55. The NEW Delphi EG10387 EGR valve was $17.37 These are just a few listed here I have many other cheap parts like these in my basement. Not the no brand cheap China aftermarket though. I don’t take my vehicle in often to have others work on it (when I need something done sooner than I would be able to get it done, or when it’s too cold outside for me to do it) but when I do take it in I prefer to have them use my parts and pay them for the labor. I consider myself knowledgeable enough to know what parts will work on my vehicles and what won’t and I don’t expect a warranty on the parts I provide from the installer. That is provided by the manufacturer and the place that sold me the parts. However I do expect the installer to warranty that the installation was done correctly, and I have found that some do not install things as they should. I always ask for the old parts back so that I can inspect them. Like I said I don’t do this often but the winters are long and the summers are short so I try to do everything I can to make sure there will be no failures during the cold months cause working in the parking area outside the garage (which is too full of other things to allow a car to get in) is no fun in the cold as some of you may know.
When I do bring something in for work done I generally know what I want them to do and if they find something else to let me know as I may have the part in the basement and will do it myself later.
I don’t consider myself like most of the people that bring in their own parts who are not really knowledgeable about the automotive repair business or how a job is done and billed for, not that there aren’t things that I still don’t know about it.
Just my own thoughts and opinion.

[Tyler]

Well, this depends if i’m working at my work, or if i’m doing it in my yard. Usualy if i’m working from my yard i’d want them to bring me the parts and i do explain to them if they are cheap parts only give them a year max. The reason i like them bringing me the parts is because if they want to skip out on paying me (It does happen unfortunately) the only thing im in it for is my labor. But if it’s at the shop it doesn’t really matter to me i still explain that cheap parts will only last a short time.

[Author]

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