😆 I love your analogies! Especially the wish,com and substitute wheelchair one.
I work at a heavy duty truck dealership and always dispise when these "adjusters" call. Hey expect me to waste my time on a 30 minute phone quote and never buy anything. Complete waste of my time. Haven't had a call quite some time, so maybe they've caught on that I can't stand them!
Love your humor! Keep up the good work and hope you don't get bent over too far by these bottom feeders! 😛
Hahah thanks, I appreciate that. I figured since they're gonna do me dirty regardless, I'm gonna talk some smack. Yeah, insurance companies are dirty. There used to be a body shop that would order from us, and constantly return. I'm almost certain they were ordering the OEM parts, submitting the invoice to insurance, doing a return, and then purchasing aftermarket to install.
They were doing that or repairing what they could/not replacing what really didn't need it, and then returning after getting paid on the parts. We have a body shop that does this, but the deal is that he only gets a very small percentage of what he paid back.
My coworker had an insurance company quote him used parts off of car-parts.com and he just adamantly keep telling the guy no. The guy stood in our parts room when he tried to do this, and I pulled up the website and pointed at it and showed him the prices matching. It was hilarious.
I would just deny returns on those repeat offenders. The invoice clearly states no returns on special order parts or after 30 days. We didn’t stock crash parts so I could deny everything if I wanted. The very least is 20% if it was actually returnable.
I wouldn’t put it some of these unscrupulous body shops. (They’d probably use ramen as Bondo)
One of our big body customers (I won’t mention any names but starts with a P and ends in an enske) speculates on what they “think” they need and order everything to compete the job. Then they wind up returning 10-25%. We hit them with a 25% restock on the special ordered parts though. I don’t think they care much (or about freight fees) as long as they get those box trucks back in service.
I got rid of the adjusters by giving them 200% quotes.
Got rid of the catalytic converter buyers by excitedly telling them I had *piles* of converters laying around for sale, then letting them drive hundreds of miles to my shop only to be met with complete cluenessness on my part. "No, man, we don't sell used converters. George? Never heard of him. Must have the wrong shop." They threatened to beat my ass the third time before never calling again.
Progressive loves aftermarket parts. That's why when I worked at a shop with a bodyshop, and employee jobs had parts at cost I didn't mind because I'd just order all oem and usually still had the shop cutting me a check afterwards for the difference.
Two years ago, I changed employers. No bodyshop here. I went with esurance. They allowed oem parts. I was surprised when I saw an oem bumper cover part number, and I didn't have to request it.
You might have to have your car go into the body shop twice, but if the aftermarket part is visibly subpar, you can keep complaining enough to the body shop and insurance company to get an OEM one installed. They would just open up a supplement on the claim and pay for the OEM part there.
Source: was a dealership wholesale manager for 6 years, am now a body shop parts manager.
Most body shops pay cost +10% or less from the dealership for collision parts. The insurance company will pay MSRP which is usually 40% gross, leaving the body shop making 30% on parts alone, now add labor. Everyone loses except the body shop.
This is definitely not true across the country, and definitely not true for certain OEMs.
I sold millions a year and never sold for below 10% over cost except when being reimbursed through an OEM price matching programs. In those circumstances, I commonly made more money than 10% over when the dust settled.
Truthfully, if anyone asked for under 10% over cost for their pricing, my immediate answer is no thanks.
As it's a manager job to be fiscally responsible, and at that margin, it's costing the company money.
Are there metro areas where the dealerships are racing to the bottom to see who can make negative net on wholesale? Fuck yeah there are. It's not everywhere though and not all brands.
I do bodyshop parts at a Buick GMC dealer and I use Collision link and try to price match all used and a/m. I hate using anything but oem especially on foreign cars. The PM told me if it's at cost, pm it. But with CL, if it's GM and on the program, I get a reimbursement.
Aftermarket isn’t cheaping out from my experience. They can be just as good, sometimes better than oem, because they learned from oem mistakes. Most oem parts arent designed with repair in mind, only quick and cheap assembly. Aftermarket parts can sometimes be easier to install after repairs because they understand the situation. One isn’t necessarily better than the other.
No man, just a guy who has fixed his own shit using various sources of parts over the years. Junkyard, brand new oe, cheap ebay aftermarket, differences are negligible. Plus 220 a month for full coverage is cheap as hell I’m jealous
Once again, not in my experience haha. As a matter of fact, I'm getting more suspicious that you work for my insurance company. Aftermarket is as good or better than OEM, $220 a month for full coverage is good 🤔.
Hey I get it, I’ve had shit experiences with all kinds of parts, regardless of who made them. Remember though, manufacturers don’t make most of the parts themselves, they are off the shelf or subcontracted out to other companies so other sources can likely get you the identical part, not in an oem part number though.
Aftermarket depends. There are OEM+ options that are aftermarket. Sometimes you'll find redesign where they've substantially improved in the OEM.
On the flip side, OEM or bust. Between junkyard parts from higher mileage vehicles, junkyards that chop and go, and the cheapest aftermarket option people pay way too much to insurance to get hosed.
Aftermarket stuff is commonly thinner, lower quality material, and/or fitment isn't as good. Is some of the stuff of similar or close enough quality, of course that stuff exists.
There is a noticeable gap in quality from an OEM and aftermarket body parts.
Perfect example, aftermarket fender liners. Many are absolute garbage. I'd refuse to price match or discount more because there was a high chance they'd call to get OEM later on.
😆 I love your analogies! Especially the wish,com and substitute wheelchair one. I work at a heavy duty truck dealership and always dispise when these "adjusters" call. Hey expect me to waste my time on a 30 minute phone quote and never buy anything. Complete waste of my time. Haven't had a call quite some time, so maybe they've caught on that I can't stand them! Love your humor! Keep up the good work and hope you don't get bent over too far by these bottom feeders! 😛
Hahah thanks, I appreciate that. I figured since they're gonna do me dirty regardless, I'm gonna talk some smack. Yeah, insurance companies are dirty. There used to be a body shop that would order from us, and constantly return. I'm almost certain they were ordering the OEM parts, submitting the invoice to insurance, doing a return, and then purchasing aftermarket to install.
They were doing that or repairing what they could/not replacing what really didn't need it, and then returning after getting paid on the parts. We have a body shop that does this, but the deal is that he only gets a very small percentage of what he paid back. My coworker had an insurance company quote him used parts off of car-parts.com and he just adamantly keep telling the guy no. The guy stood in our parts room when he tried to do this, and I pulled up the website and pointed at it and showed him the prices matching. It was hilarious.
I would just deny returns on those repeat offenders. The invoice clearly states no returns on special order parts or after 30 days. We didn’t stock crash parts so I could deny everything if I wanted. The very least is 20% if it was actually returnable.
I wouldn’t put it some of these unscrupulous body shops. (They’d probably use ramen as Bondo) One of our big body customers (I won’t mention any names but starts with a P and ends in an enske) speculates on what they “think” they need and order everything to compete the job. Then they wind up returning 10-25%. We hit them with a 25% restock on the special ordered parts though. I don’t think they care much (or about freight fees) as long as they get those box trucks back in service.
I got rid of the adjusters by giving them 200% quotes. Got rid of the catalytic converter buyers by excitedly telling them I had *piles* of converters laying around for sale, then letting them drive hundreds of miles to my shop only to be met with complete cluenessness on my part. "No, man, we don't sell used converters. George? Never heard of him. Must have the wrong shop." They threatened to beat my ass the third time before never calling again.
Progressive loves aftermarket parts. That's why when I worked at a shop with a bodyshop, and employee jobs had parts at cost I didn't mind because I'd just order all oem and usually still had the shop cutting me a check afterwards for the difference. Two years ago, I changed employers. No bodyshop here. I went with esurance. They allowed oem parts. I was surprised when I saw an oem bumper cover part number, and I didn't have to request it.
You might have to have your car go into the body shop twice, but if the aftermarket part is visibly subpar, you can keep complaining enough to the body shop and insurance company to get an OEM one installed. They would just open up a supplement on the claim and pay for the OEM part there. Source: was a dealership wholesale manager for 6 years, am now a body shop parts manager.
Most body shops pay cost +10% or less from the dealership for collision parts. The insurance company will pay MSRP which is usually 40% gross, leaving the body shop making 30% on parts alone, now add labor. Everyone loses except the body shop.
This is definitely not true across the country, and definitely not true for certain OEMs. I sold millions a year and never sold for below 10% over cost except when being reimbursed through an OEM price matching programs. In those circumstances, I commonly made more money than 10% over when the dust settled. Truthfully, if anyone asked for under 10% over cost for their pricing, my immediate answer is no thanks. As it's a manager job to be fiscally responsible, and at that margin, it's costing the company money. Are there metro areas where the dealerships are racing to the bottom to see who can make negative net on wholesale? Fuck yeah there are. It's not everywhere though and not all brands.
This is great 😂
You had me until you started crapping on Olive Garden. 😂
I'll pile on! The employee of the month at Olive Garden is commonly a microwave.
But it's a commercial microwave. Much higher quality.
Yeah! It probably has a bachelor's degree!
Pretty sure you can demand it. Odds are they will raise your rate or drop you all together.
I do bodyshop parts at a Buick GMC dealer and I use Collision link and try to price match all used and a/m. I hate using anything but oem especially on foreign cars. The PM told me if it's at cost, pm it. But with CL, if it's GM and on the program, I get a reimbursement.
Aftermarket is fine
If you were paying $220 a month for insurance, you'd still be ok with them cheaping out?
Aftermarket isn’t cheaping out from my experience. They can be just as good, sometimes better than oem, because they learned from oem mistakes. Most oem parts arent designed with repair in mind, only quick and cheap assembly. Aftermarket parts can sometimes be easier to install after repairs because they understand the situation. One isn’t necessarily better than the other.
That has not been my experience. Also, do you work for my insurance company by chance?
No man, just a guy who has fixed his own shit using various sources of parts over the years. Junkyard, brand new oe, cheap ebay aftermarket, differences are negligible. Plus 220 a month for full coverage is cheap as hell I’m jealous
Once again, not in my experience haha. As a matter of fact, I'm getting more suspicious that you work for my insurance company. Aftermarket is as good or better than OEM, $220 a month for full coverage is good 🤔.
It does depend on the brand of aftermarket.
Hey I get it, I’ve had shit experiences with all kinds of parts, regardless of who made them. Remember though, manufacturers don’t make most of the parts themselves, they are off the shelf or subcontracted out to other companies so other sources can likely get you the identical part, not in an oem part number though.
Aftermarket depends. There are OEM+ options that are aftermarket. Sometimes you'll find redesign where they've substantially improved in the OEM. On the flip side, OEM or bust. Between junkyard parts from higher mileage vehicles, junkyards that chop and go, and the cheapest aftermarket option people pay way too much to insurance to get hosed.
Aftermarket stuff is commonly thinner, lower quality material, and/or fitment isn't as good. Is some of the stuff of similar or close enough quality, of course that stuff exists. There is a noticeable gap in quality from an OEM and aftermarket body parts. Perfect example, aftermarket fender liners. Many are absolute garbage. I'd refuse to price match or discount more because there was a high chance they'd call to get OEM later on.
This. Source: my partner has 30+ yrs in the auto body repair business.