Online Parts

[lochstein]

So... Has anyone noticed this new trend of dealers selling parts online at a discount from MSRP (from their dealership main website) while showing actual MSRP on the order page? These dealers also use a price matrix on customer pay ROs, by the way. I called them as a secret shopper to confirm this. When confronted about it, the person answering the phone had a ridiculous reply such as, "that pricing is handled through our service dept, you have to talk to them." Or, "that's our online price, I can match it." Or, "you can buy it online, pick it up at the store, and discuss installation with our service dept." This is not just in our local area, it's all over the country! Does anyone else find this ridiculous? They are literally advertising a discount off MSRP on their website that customers can search for on their smartphone while waiting in the lounge! How can they seriously allow this to happen or give such a BS excuse when confronted about it? At this rate, everyone is going to sell parts @ 10% over throughout the country to compete with same-franchise dealers 2000 miles away. The manufacturers could care less because they might sell even more parts at the same margins since their parts are now more competitive with the aftermarket!

Thoughts?

[X476]

Would love to kick them in a$$. I tell people if the found it cheaper on-line to buy it there pay the frieght and hope they get it and its right. I wont price match we have brick and motor to pay for.

[lochstein]

I agree; I won't match those prices, either! My favorite is kicking people out when they bring their ebay keys to have cut here. You don't bring your own eggs to the diner, right? My question is what is up with dealers cannibalizing their own department and opening themselves up to a world of customer distrust? It's bad enough that they refer to us as "stealerships."

[Zep33]

There's a place on line that sells at 2% over cost - F them

[tmundal]

Cross town dealer sells at straight GM list. We matrix. Sometimes aggressively. Maybe too aggressive At the front counter if they say "(other dealer) said it was this much." I'll usually match. Back counter gets no deals because of the gross split. I won't match those online prices.

[dbuck]

For us the most common price matching request is on accessories. I limit my counter offer to ten percent off. If they really want to order it themselves, wait a week, and pay for the freight, go right ahead.

As for those ebay keys, those things are fun....arrgh. I charge ten bucks to cut them. I also warn people ahead of time they may not program. I usually end up selling them the key they should have just purchased in the first place after their ebay key turns out to be garbage. Of course, the ebay seller uses phrases like : the dealer should cut them for free......or if the dealer can't program the key they are lying to you.... that sort of stuff to deflect the blame off of their useless crap.

[possum]

That's EXACTLY what GM is proposing for collision repair pricing! "Market Driven" MSRP? WTH does that mean? It means you're competing with the guy 2000 miles away, because his lowest price offer is affecting GM's retail calculation, which will in turn be all that the insurance companies are going to pay!.

[Rykid50]

we get 10 per key cut but if they bring there own I get 50. Glad you got the key for .49 cents but still would have been cheaper now if you went through us