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Price guaging

#1

M

Mattmotors

Talk about getting ripped off!!!!Screen Shot 2024-10-24 at 3.18.58 PM.png


#2

StarTech

StarTech

Yes a lot pricing gouging is going on for those that don't know to just buy the Champion plug RC12YC or the NGK-2460.

Back in June I brought a couple seats from SearPartsDirect for under $90 plus shipping each. Now they want $179.96 plus shipping each. More than double the price.


#3

I

ILENGINE

That price is over twice the Kohler list price. And from the listing they don't even have it in stock. They would have to order from their warehouse prior to shipping to you.


#4

H

hlw49

We use parts tree for parts lookup but the are really high on the price of parts. It is a good parts lookup.


#5

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

Mattmotors said:
Talk about getting ripped off!!!!View attachment 69915
Click to expand...
The beauty of a free capitalist economy is that competition naturally takes care of most pricing issues.


#6

StarTech

StarTech

Tiger Small Engine said:
The beauty of a free capitalist economy is that competition naturally takes care of most pricing issues.
Click to expand...
This is why they try to hide things from us. And sometimes they do pretty darn good job of doing it too.

In the case of the seats one distributor is very reasonably priced, the other main distributor is just as high as Sears but they were before the Sears price hike.

As other parts it takes someone like me to find, cross reference, and keep track of the alternate parts.

Here is an example of the stock record here for the Kohler PN. By checking the crosses I can usually find a better priced part that both saves me and the customer money.
In the case of spark plugs it help reduce the overall inventory of different plugs that are the same just different part numbers.
1729860687149.png


#7

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

Mattmotors said:
Talk about getting ripped off!!!!View attachment 69915
Click to expand...
Heck i have a couple i will let go for $15.99. Taking a loss but just trying to be a good guy.
🤫


#8

S

slomo

Thank Joe and Kam' la.

Better get out and vote.


#9

StarTech

StarTech

slomo said:
Thank Joe and Kam' la.

Better get out and vote.
Click to expand...
The problem is not as much as our politicians as it is all the financial investment companies taking other the supply chain.

The only ways to get this under control is either price controls or we simply keep using our knowledge to beat them back down. There will always be those that think only OEM parts are the best when they sometimes are not.


#10

StarTech

StarTech

But everything has took such a jump price. I just brought 3500# trailer bearing set that cost $22.98 back in 2019 which are now $24.58 from O'reilys. Now the same bearings and seal but from a different company thru TSC was sticker price @ $37.98. Just shows that shopping around even local can have its benefits.

It all depends how greedy a company is.


#11

S

slomo

StarTech said:
The problem is not as much as our politicians as it is all the financial investment companies taking other the supply chain.

The only ways to get this under control is either price controls or we simply keep using our knowledge to beat them back down. There will always be those that think only OEM parts are the best when they sometimes are not.
Click to expand...
All I know is gasoline, insurance all types, groceries, toilet paper, medicine, cold beer, housing prices, spark plugs and so on are more expensive than the last guy in office.

Realistically, we are all getting price jacked. They do it we pay it. Most are still on that fake covid scare company manning skeleton crew where you can't get any help from vendors and the like. Poor customer service. These days, the customer is not always right. Used to be.

Ever see the price on honey? Bees gather it in those boxes, FREE to us. Then it's bottled and sold. They need a security guard watching it in the store. Many groceries have tripled in the stores.


#12

I

ILENGINE

All companies will take another companies parts and change the part number or in some cases just add a prefix to the OEM part number and then put their own price increase on it. MTD in all their forms is probably the worst in the bunch. Back between 2005-2010 MTD had an agreement with McCulloch to market their products and service them. When that agreement ended MTD discontinued support for McCulloch products. I had a chainsaw that needed an oil pump for a period was NLA but came back on the market. MTD retailed that oil pump for $17 something and dealer cost was $10 something. I was also a McCulloch dealer and that same part number from them retailed for $3.69 and dealer cost was $1.39.


#13

M

Mattmotors

Regarding the the $20.99 spark plug, I wonder how many Cub dealers pass that price on to the customers?
If they passed that on to me , they would be ordering me a new head gasket because I would have blown mine.


#14

StarTech

StarTech

ILENGINE said:
All companies will take another companies parts and change the part number or in some cases just add a prefix to the OEM part number and then put their own price increase on it. MTD in all their forms is probably the worst in the bunch. Back between 2005-2010 MTD had an agreement with McCulloch to market their products and service them. When that agreement ended MTD discontinued support for McCulloch products. I had a chainsaw that needed an oil pump for a period was NLA but came back on the market. MTD retailed that oil pump for $17 something and dealer cost was $10 something. I was also a McCulloch dealer and that same part number from them retailed for $3.69 and dealer cost was $1.39.
Click to expand...
That what I getting at by knowing as many different PNs for the same as I can find. Sometimes all you got to do is find the right vendor too. Here many of the local Stihl dealers are out of sight on their parts. I did manage one that is reasonable and I sticking with them for the time being.

Just can't rush out and buy a part nowadays without doing your homework or you just asking to get ripped off.
Mattmotors said:
Regarding the the $20.99 spark plug, I wonder how many Cub dealers pass that price on to the customers?
If they passed that on to me , they would be ordering me a new head gasket because I would have blown mine.
Click to expand...
Only those crooked dealers would do something like because most regular shops buy from regular distributor and not places like Partstree unless it is absolutely necessary. Even my small buy through a regular Cub Cadet site if I can' get the parts thru the MTD distributors.


#15

D

davis2

slomo said:
All I know is gasoline, insurance all types, groceries, toilet paper, medicine, cold beer, housing prices, spark plugs and so on are more expensive than the last guy in office.

Realistically, we are all getting price jacked. They do it we pay it. Most are still on that fake covid scare company manning skeleton crew where you can't get any help from vendors and the like. Poor customer service. These days, the customer is not always right. Used to be.

Ever see the price on honey? Bees gather it in those boxes, FREE to us. Then it's bottled and sold. They need a security guard watching it in the store. Many groceries have tripled in the stores.
Click to expand...
We gotta pay for the newbies...


#16

StarTech

StarTech

Here's an saying that comes to mind here.

"A fool and his money is soon parted."

Otherwords don't buy on impulse or because it is nice and shiny. Look there are places out there that will gladly take your if you willing to just throw it away. Matter of fact you can toss some my way if some you don't want.


#17

H

Honest Abe

Mattmotors said:
Talk about getting ripped off!!!!View attachment 69915
Click to expand...
So, they make 700% + profit, what's the big deal. Exit stage right.........................!


#18

Ozcub

Ozcub

eBay $10.00 Aud free postage or $9.75 Aud $2.50 Aud inc postage
Aud is Australian Dollars , exchange rate is about .60cents US buys an Australian Dollar
So $6.00 dollars US for your plug


#19

Its Me

Its Me

A local mower shop has gone up so high for now had to stop dealing with them, they used to be good people and honest a three-month dry spell selling no mowers and no repairs has turned them into robbers, needle and seat, sixty dollars, that white piece of plastic that the needle sets in $ 120.00, motor oil $9.00 Quart, that's way out of control, I say that we are on the brink of a depression we are just were we were in 1929, will have to break several companies and start at zero again, come on depression help us find our way back.


#20

I

ILENGINE

Its Me said:
A local mower shop has gone up so high for now had to stop dealing with them, they used to be good people and honest a three-month dry spell selling no mowers and no repairs has turned them into robbers, needle and seat, sixty dollars, that white piece of plastic that the needle sets in $ 120.00, motor oil $9.00 Quart, that's way out of control, I say that we are on the brink of a depression we are just were we were in 1929, will have to break several companies and start at zero again, come on depression help us find our way back.
Click to expand...
What engine are you working on that they are charging those prices. Just asking to determine what list is compared to what they are charging. And as far as oil prices. There maybe more to that story than appears on the surface. Some OEM distributors don't consider lubes on their standard freight policy and charge the dealers actual freight.


#21

3

350c

StarTech said:
The problem is not as much as our politicians as it is all the financial investment companies taking other the supply chain.

The only ways to get this under control is either price controls or we simply keep using our knowledge to beat them back down. There will always be those that think only OEM parts are the best when they sometimes are not.
Click to expand...
There are several reasons prices are higher, but slomo is correct: the politicians are the reason the investment companies are able take over the supply chain and for the inflation that has run so rampant recently. Companies have no choice but to pass along the higher prices they have to pay, if they want to stay in business. And you're right, some companies are greedy and will take advantage, raising prices more than they have to, but with a free market we have that option of "shopping around", ... for now at least.


#22

G

Grasswhore

Its Me said:
A local mower shop has gone up so high for now had to stop dealing with them, they used to be good people and honest a three-month dry spell selling no mowers and no repairs has turned them into robbers, needle and seat, sixty dollars, that white piece of plastic that the needle sets in $ 120.00, motor oil $9.00 Quart, that's way out of control, I say that we are on the brink of a depression we are just were we were in 1929, will have to break several companies and start at zero again, come on depression help us find our way back.
Click to expand...
Be very careful about what you ask for!!


#23

StarTech

StarTech

First depends on where you are at. Different countries have different exchange rates so price can be higher.

As for the motor oil I seldom sell Dino oil now as mainly I selling Synthetic and it is around $9 a quart and it would higher if I didn't buy from Walmart in 5 quart jugs so I can make a little profit for me keeping it in stock. Dino oil is cheaper but I prefer the Synthetics as they have a high operating temperature range.

And parts prices at local shops are dependent on their sources too. Before I got in with several distributor I was at the mercy of places like Partstree, Repair Clinic, and Jacks.
Currently the Briggs 698780 transfer tube is retail listed at $71 but take Partstree for one source it is wholesaled at $96 which a lot more than the $64 it costs me. Now my distributor does charge $15 for shipping; unless, I order at least $250 in parts then shipping is free. Also OEM sources are higher if they are buying from say Toro instead of Briggs as that is another middle man.

Now that same 698780 I get from Amazon for less than my distributor. So we must use procurement methods and buy from the vendor with the best over price for the whichever part we need,

Also reliable shipping time are important at times. Right now an Amazon package made it to my local shipper on Wednesday but now it is all the way across the US in Arizona and will take another five days to get back to local shipper. Luckily it is a stock item that I don't need right a way.


#24

H

hlw49

High fuel prices cause higher prices across the board. Drill baby baby. Vote for the right Man.


#25

K

kjonxx

Hammermechanicman said:
Heck i have a couple i will let go for $15.99. Taking a loss but just trying to be a good guy.
🤫
Click to expand...
Wow I sell mine for 3.00


#26

I

ILENGINE

Was looking earlier and my Kohler distributor sells the 25 357 64-S synthetic blend which replaced the 25 357 05-S Dino which for the most part is NLA...Dealer cost is $60/case and retails for $120/case. Now here is the catch. Unless you buy a pallet of 84 cases or the dealer orders his oil on a stock up special sale which offers free freight the cost of shipment is $60/case. So the dealer cost for less than pallet amounts is $10/quart.


#27

J

Joed756

slomo said:
Thank Joe and Kam' la.

Better get out and vote.
Click to expand...
Thank tariffs


#28

C

Chipg1956

StarTech said:
The problem is not as much as our politicians as it is all the financial investment companies taking other the supply chain.

The only ways to get this under control is either price controls or we simply keep using our knowledge to beat them back down. There will always be those that think only OEM parts are the best when they sometimes are not.
Click to expand...
Price controls only lead to shortages, the cause of this inflation is a huge increase in the money supply. It is a problem caused by politics and anyone that tells you otherwise is misinformed or more likely a lair.


#29

packy51

packy51

Green agenda's have driven oil prices up and onslaught of Government regulation's have driven the price of doing business up. These are the reason for high prices and not corporate gauging. Getting rid of Bidenomics will restore pricing back down but not to pre-Covid levels.


#30

G

Gym123

Why would anyone buy from them when everyone has this plug for much less?


#31

O

Oddjob

hlw49 said:
High fuel prices cause higher prices across the board. Drill baby baby. Vote for the right Man.
Click to expand...
Oil production in the US has been far higher in the current administration than in the previous one. We have been the world leader in 2023 and 2024. The difference is that demand is also at an all time high as the world economies recovered from the pandemic and Russia invaded Ukraine which put Russian oil on the sanctions list. Iran is also being sanctioned and Venezuela is a complete mess due to corruption and the communist idiocy that has devastated their oil production. It’s the old story, where supply meets demand you get price. Corporations learned during the shortages of the pandemic that consumers are willing to pay a whole lot more for stuff than the manufacturers realized. Prices are coming down, including gas, but so long as there are tons of people with more money than brains or patience, businesses will get away with profiteering.


#32

B

bentrim

Go back and look at the original post--- they even can't show the correct plug!


#33

O

Oddjob

Gym123 said:
Why would anyone buy from them when everyone has this plug for much less?
Click to expand...
Laziness and ignorance.


#34

F

Freddie21

That pic does not look like a RC12YC. It is a 5\8" diameter, that is a 3\4" plug. A RN12YC is the large plug. I buy in sets of 8 from Amazon and never had a bad one. $2-3 each.


#35

G

Gym123

Oddjob said:
Laziness and ignorance.
Click to expand...
But they could at least look for the best price! I guess that consider that gouge equal to the local price because their time it so effing valuable, eh? I mean, driving a long distance vs online is fine but not if it involves grabbing the handles to assume the position.

BOHICA!

And these are the same people who complain about the high prices of other items.


#36

M

marinusdees

Mattmotors said:
Talk about getting ripped off!!!!View attachment 69915
Click to expand...
I am not a professional repair man. I recently had reason to need an ignition coil for a Stihl hedge trimmer. I thought Stihl parts would be "fair-traded" so every dealer charged the same retail price. Just for shits and grins I shopped several dealers. Wow, was I wrong! Prices ranged from $30 to $50. And, I didn't shop all the dealers in range. Figured $30 was as good as it would get, maybe I was wrong??


#37

Alan46

Alan46

marinusdees said:
I am not a professional repair man. I recently had reason to need an ignition coil for a Stihl hedge trimmer. I thought Stihl parts would be "fair-traded" so every dealer charged the same retail price. Just for shits and grins I shopped several dealers. Wow, was I wrong! Prices ranged from $30 to $50. And, I didn't shop all the dealers in range. Figured $30 was as good as it would get, maybe I was wrong??
Click to expand...
Thank for the heads up I bro!🔷


#38

StarTech

StarTech

marinusdees said:
I am not a professional repair man. I recently had reason to need an ignition coil for a Stihl hedge trimmer. I thought Stihl parts would be "fair-traded" so every dealer charged the same retail price. Just for shits and grins I shopped several dealers. Wow, was I wrong! Prices ranged from $30 to $50. And, I didn't shop all the dealers in range. Figured $30 was as good as it would get, maybe I was wrong??
Click to expand...
The local dealers set their own pricing scale. It is the same here with Stihl dealers. This is why went thru several dealers before the one I now use. One was nearly twice the others on pricing. Even have to pay the same as the end users when comes to Stihl parts.

For the most part I use my distributor price files. Even then you can find one distributor charging more for some OEM parts than others. One example is the seats I brought back in June. One distributor wanted $180 ea cost with a retail of @$230 for the same seat as the other that was under $100 cost with a retail of $150. This is why I have two main distributors.

For a while I was having to bump the retail price from my distributors as they started charging 3% surcharge for paying by credit card. But I now have that resolved and my retail prices are now back to normal. Even 3% surcharge made some of parts cost more than the suggested retail prices. MTD is one of the worst to have razor thin price margins for us if we stick with the price files.

Anyone in business will tell you there is a lot cost that we have to cover at times. This why many of us have in house part inventories which help to both keep our costs down and the retail prices down. This allows us to buy in larger quantities to reduce our inbound freight costs.


#39

O

Oddjob

Gym123 said:
But they could at least look for the best price! I guess that consider that gouge equal to the local price because their time it so effing valuable, eh? I mean, driving a long distance vs online is fine but not if it involves grabbing the handles to assume the position.

BOHICA!

And these are the same people who complain about the high prices of other items.
Click to expand...
There are a lot of people in this country with so much money that they don’t bother asking “how much?”. These folks aren’t interested in fixing their own lawn equipment, so they are not typically on this site. But have to admit that it is possible that because they sell so few Cub Cadet branded plugs, that the cost to stock and inventory such low numbers translates into a per plug cost/price of $20.


#40

S

SamB

StarTech said:
The problem is not as much as our politicians as it is all the financial investment companies taking other the supply chain.

The only ways to get this under control is either price controls or we simply keep using our knowledge to beat them back down. There will always be those that think only OEM parts are the best when they sometimes are not.
Click to expand...
A lot of time I have found that OEM parts are exactly the same as aftermarket parts. This leads me to believe the OEM's are getting their parts the same aftermarket manufacturers as I am!


#41

I

ILENGINE

SamB said:
A lot of time I have found that OEM parts are exactly the same as aftermarket parts. This leads me to believe the OEM's are getting their parts the same aftermarket manufacturers as I am!
Click to expand...
What I am starting to see if the aftermarket parts suppliers are charging the dealers list price for their aftermarket parts and then doubling the price over retail. Had a case of a JD idler pulley that the aftermarket folks wanted $34 cost and $66 retail for a part from the JD dealer sells for $17.


#42

S

SamB

Grasswhore said:
Be very careful about what you ask for!!
Click to expand...
Kate , on the Drew Carey Show :-D


#43

StarTech

StarTech

I too seen some of this going on. JD buys Kohler and Kawasaki parts and resell them as their own. Stens has sent me a few Kohler under the Stens part number in all of things the OEM packaging.. And as IL said I have also seen over priced Idler pulleys where it was just cheaper to buy from the equipment OEM.

And take A&I they buy some parts from Rotary and then sell like it was their own product. But I caught on to their numbering system years ago. So I sign up for a Rotary account.

This is the very reason we should look and price before leaping into a purchase. Having a database like I have that gets updated as I find alternatives that are lower in price does help a lot. Sometime the alternatives are higher so I from whom ever has the best price for the same part. One thing here is that both the customer and my company benefits from the part sourcing scheme. Another benefit of all this cross referencing is lower over all on hand inventory.

It is very rare for a customer to insist on OEM parts, most just want reliable repairs. With that said some aftermarket parts are better than OEM and others are worst. Kinda a crap shoot on first time purchases. What companies hates is guys like me that catches on to their con jobs by them hiding their part source info. Otherwords why for example buy JD Kawasaki part when the Kawasaki part is the same but at a lower price.

And a lot of the rules have been over turned by DJT executive orders when he was in office and we are just now feeling the effects. None of today's companies are like the ones our fathers dealt with. It now about how much is too much to charge. It seem that anyone is out ripoff the other guy as much as possible. I had one new customer a couple years that the Scag dealer told he need a complete new engine at $4000. He was wise enough to get a second opinion at my shop and it was only a $300 repair. All over a blown head gasket.

A good procurement officer can really save a company a lot money by doing his or her job. And they usually earn their pay and then some. I was put in the position of buying repair parts back in 1979 and basically been doing every since for which ever company I have worked for including myself now.


#44

S

SamB

ILENGINE said:
What I am starting to see if the aftermarket parts suppliers are charging the dealers list price for their aftermarket parts and then doubling the price over retail. Had a case of a JD idler pulley that the aftermarket folks wanted $34 cost and $66 retail for a part from the JD dealer sells for $17.
Click to expand...
Truly a nest of worms and difficult to tell what is what and from who made what. I am fortunate to have two 'vintage' mowers, the Husqvarna CZ42175 and the really vintage 1985 Snapper Extra Tough 33" RER. Both have requirements of aftermarket parts only. Most OEM parts are now NLA. So far, Aftermarket parts have served me well.


#45

G

Gym123

Oddjob said:
There are a lot of people in this country with so much money that they don’t bother asking “how much?”. These folks aren’t interested in fixing their own lawn equipment, so they are not typically on this site. But have to admit that it is possible that because they sell so few Cub Cadet branded plugs, that the cost to stock and inventory such low numbers translates into a per plug cost/price of $20.
Click to expand...

Why does the plug need to be Cub Cadet brand? That would be similar to buying headlights or wiper blades with Chevrolet on them- the company that sells products don't make the parts, so generic is going to be cheaper and a better alternative may be available.


#46

StarTech

StarTech

Gym123 said:
Why does the plug need to be Cub Cadet brand? That would be similar to buying headlights or wiper blades with Chevrolet on them- the company that sells products don't make the parts, so generic is going to be cheaper and a better alternative may be available.
Click to expand...
Most times when it comes to spark plugs you can still buy a name brand that is lower in cost. All OEMs do is to contract the manufacture to custom label them at an additional cost.


#47

G

Gym123

marinusdees said:
I am not a professional repair man. I recently had reason to need an ignition coil for a Stihl hedge trimmer. I thought Stihl parts would be "fair-traded" so every dealer charged the same retail price. Just for shits and grins I shopped several dealers. Wow, was I wrong! Prices ranged from $30 to $50. And, I didn't shop all the dealers in range. Figured $30 was as good as it would get, maybe I was wrong??
Click to expand...

That's not 'fair trade', that's price fixing- fair trade is for developing countries, so they can receive better price for their products. Did you mean 'free trade'? That was outlawed a long time ago.

Setting prices can be done- MAP is Minimum Advertised price but if the dealer wants to sell for less, they can but they can't advertise the lower price unless the source discounts and approves of the discount.

UAP (or UPP)- Unilateral Pricing is explained in the link and as it explains, it's a way to set prices without it being illegal-

prisync.com

What is Unilateral Pricing Policy and How it Differs From MAP

What is unilateral pricing policy (UPP)? Why is it better than MAP policy? How can MAP help you enforce it? Find out the answers here!
prisync.com prisync.com


#48

G

Gym123

StarTech said:
Most times when it comes to spark plugs you can still buy a name brand that is lower in cost. All OEMs do is to contract the manufacture to custom label them at an additional cost.
Click to expand...

I have to wonder if the people who buy these are proud of the fact that it has the brand name of the mower. I don't understand that thinking.


#49

R

rhkraft

When the seat price goes over $100 you may check with a small local re-upholsterer. May get it done for less. When I I I did my airplane seats a few years ago, the aircraft re-upholsterer want over $400 for just the two front seats. Since airplanes require fire resistant fabrics I bought the fabrics from aircraft supplier for $30 and a local auto seat guy cut new foam and re-upholstered the fabric into a nice tuck and roll seat for $75 a seat. I had to check the weight, but no change from the original. It never hurts to look.


#50

G

Gym123

rhkraft said:
When the seat price goes over $100 you may check with a small local re-upholsterer. May get it done for less. When I I I did my airplane seats a few years ago, the aircraft re-upholsterer want over $400 for just the two front seats. Since airplanes require fire resistant fabrics I bought the fabrics from aircraft supplier for $30 and a local auto seat guy cut new foam and re-upholstered the fabric into a nice tuck and roll seat for $75 a seat. I had to check the weight, but no change from the original. It never hurts to look.
Click to expand...


#51

G

Gym123

Was the new foam fire-resistant, too? That's the material that kills people faster than anything, not the cover fabric.

I have a friend who owns an upholstery shop (he has done a lot of aircraft seats & interiors, too)- they recover tractor seats all the time and in fact, we know some people who work(ed) for Milsco, which is based in Milwaukee. I asked how they recover these and was told that they add a gusset for attaching the foam & cover and because I didn't have mine with me, the details weren't so easy to follow, but the foam bisquit is glued in at the factory.

I'll post photos and more info when I recover mine this Winter- it has a hole at the right upper corner, where a hand is placed when getting on & off. They needed to have a wider top edge, behind the line where the backrest and shell meet- The other problem is that when weight is on that corner, the seat rocks hard to the side.


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