Independently Owned Shops
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 17
From: Ontario Canada
I will venture to say that the guys saying 'oh, he's just chasing business away', or 'business is business' have NEVER run their own similar business. When you have done so, you'll agree more with that independent who won't install parts you provide.
First off, a necessary part of doing a repair business is the margin on parts. That's what keeps the doors open, in part. When you go get your parts on the net, you're taking that money out of their mouths. Just making money on labor doesn't cut it.
Secondly, I will absolutely guarantee you that when it's time to warrantee the part, the customer will expect the mechanic to remove the part, go thru the warranty process, and install the new part...all for free. Every time. How can a mechanic warranty a part he didn't purchase himself, realize the profit, and be able to stand behind it. And don't tell me 'oh no, I wouldn't do that!' Bull crap. 95% of cheapass internet buyers DO do that!
Then there's the quality issue, which is related to the item above. If you're gonna cheap it out by buying on the web, you're going for the bottom line, meaning that you're probably gonna be bringing in a crap part for that mechanic to install. How can he stand behind that? And when problems happen...and they will...you, the customer is gonna get all pissy when the mechanic tells you 'ya bought a cheap *** part, it broke, I ain't standing behind it'. You're gonna argue, you're gonna whine, you're gonna go on HD Forums and cry about it and the Real Bikers and gonna back your play.
Nope. No reason for an independent to install parts that you provide. Why would anyone think that's OK? YOU bought it on the net...YOU install it. Simple as that.
First off, a necessary part of doing a repair business is the margin on parts. That's what keeps the doors open, in part. When you go get your parts on the net, you're taking that money out of their mouths. Just making money on labor doesn't cut it.
Secondly, I will absolutely guarantee you that when it's time to warrantee the part, the customer will expect the mechanic to remove the part, go thru the warranty process, and install the new part...all for free. Every time. How can a mechanic warranty a part he didn't purchase himself, realize the profit, and be able to stand behind it. And don't tell me 'oh no, I wouldn't do that!' Bull crap. 95% of cheapass internet buyers DO do that!
Then there's the quality issue, which is related to the item above. If you're gonna cheap it out by buying on the web, you're going for the bottom line, meaning that you're probably gonna be bringing in a crap part for that mechanic to install. How can he stand behind that? And when problems happen...and they will...you, the customer is gonna get all pissy when the mechanic tells you 'ya bought a cheap *** part, it broke, I ain't standing behind it'. You're gonna argue, you're gonna whine, you're gonna go on HD Forums and cry about it and the Real Bikers and gonna back your play.
Nope. No reason for an independent to install parts that you provide. Why would anyone think that's OK? YOU bought it on the net...YOU install it. Simple as that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,858
Likes: 5,421
From: My own little slice of heaven
I just get all my work done at the dealer with only Harley parts.
That solves that.
Seriously you can always look for another Indy or go talk to him if you are a long time customer
That solves that.
Seriously you can always look for another Indy or go talk to him if you are a long time customer
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
where I once lived, I used a shop where the policy was.. if you buy the part from them, there was a credit on the labor charge (some weird formula based on the cost of the part vs. estimated (by the book) labor time. if you brought the part in, there was no discount on labor, and a service charge that they "explained" was because the tech had to do a bit of research to make sure the part was correct before putting on the bike - and a waiver was signed.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Almost impossible to run a well equipped independant shop with well trained technicians on just the competitive labor charges alone. Same with a factory dealership.
If you want to make a profit, you must charge for labor, parts, supplies, lubricants, batteries, and have a markup for everything.
The labor charges usually go to covering the labor expenses, including employee insurance, unemployment, workers compenstation health insurance, paid days off, sick leave, vacations, etc.
The profit on parts can go to facility overhead, such as stocking parts, rent, phones, secretary, business insurance, lights, heat, water, trash pickup, and all the other things that go into the monthly shop nut.
On of the reasons a good independant shop is so valuable is that his experience will allow you to talk together to get the best and most cost effective parts that will go on your bike to get the results you want.
Would drive me crazy to have someone come into my shop wanting a bunch of ill fitting parts that my experience tells me would not provide a good result.
Best to have a conversation with your independant before having him do the work to agree to what parts you would buy from him, and what parts you could supply on your own.Not an argument, but a conversation where you discuss what would happen if the part was bad, the installation did not go smoothly, the parts did not perform as expected, who would be responsible for the part down the road, and an understanding whether or not that customer would intend to post on forums his distain for any problems that might ensue for putting on those parts.
For me, a great independant mechanic is a real joy. I tend not to do things that might **** him off when he is going to be working on my pride and joy. Would rather pay him a fair price for doing a good job, and standing behind his products, that make a mess of it with internet parts.
If you want to make a profit, you must charge for labor, parts, supplies, lubricants, batteries, and have a markup for everything.
The labor charges usually go to covering the labor expenses, including employee insurance, unemployment, workers compenstation health insurance, paid days off, sick leave, vacations, etc.
The profit on parts can go to facility overhead, such as stocking parts, rent, phones, secretary, business insurance, lights, heat, water, trash pickup, and all the other things that go into the monthly shop nut.
On of the reasons a good independant shop is so valuable is that his experience will allow you to talk together to get the best and most cost effective parts that will go on your bike to get the results you want.
Would drive me crazy to have someone come into my shop wanting a bunch of ill fitting parts that my experience tells me would not provide a good result.
Best to have a conversation with your independant before having him do the work to agree to what parts you would buy from him, and what parts you could supply on your own.Not an argument, but a conversation where you discuss what would happen if the part was bad, the installation did not go smoothly, the parts did not perform as expected, who would be responsible for the part down the road, and an understanding whether or not that customer would intend to post on forums his distain for any problems that might ensue for putting on those parts.
For me, a great independant mechanic is a real joy. I tend not to do things that might **** him off when he is going to be working on my pride and joy. Would rather pay him a fair price for doing a good job, and standing behind his products, that make a mess of it with internet parts.
Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,084
Likes: 829
Almost impossible to run a well equipped independant shop with well trained technicians on just the competitive labor charges alone. Same with a factory dealership.
If you want to make a profit, you must charge for labor, parts, supplies, lubricants, batteries, and have a markup for everything.
The labor charges usually go to covering the labor expenses, including employee insurance, unemployment, workers compenstation health insurance, paid days off, sick leave, vacations, etc.
The profit on parts can go to facility overhead, such as stocking parts, rent, phones, secretary, business insurance, lights, heat, water, trash pickup, and all the other things that go into the monthly shop nut.
On of the reasons a good independant shop is so valuable is that his experience will allow you to talk together to get the best and most cost effective parts that will go on your bike to get the results you want.
Would drive me crazy to have someone come into my shop wanting a bunch of ill fitting parts that my experience tells me would not provide a good result.
Best to have a conversation with your independant before having him do the work to agree to what parts you would buy from him, and what parts you could supply on your own.Not an argument, but a conversation where you discuss what would happen if the part was bad, the installation did not go smoothly, the parts did not perform as expected, who would be responsible for the part down the road, and an understanding whether or not that customer would intend to post on forums his distain for any problems that might ensue for putting on those parts.
For me, a great independant mechanic is a real joy. I tend not to do things that might **** him off when he is going to be working on my pride and joy. Would rather pay him a fair price for doing a good job, and standing behind his products, that make a mess of it with internet parts.
If you want to make a profit, you must charge for labor, parts, supplies, lubricants, batteries, and have a markup for everything.
The labor charges usually go to covering the labor expenses, including employee insurance, unemployment, workers compenstation health insurance, paid days off, sick leave, vacations, etc.
The profit on parts can go to facility overhead, such as stocking parts, rent, phones, secretary, business insurance, lights, heat, water, trash pickup, and all the other things that go into the monthly shop nut.
On of the reasons a good independant shop is so valuable is that his experience will allow you to talk together to get the best and most cost effective parts that will go on your bike to get the results you want.
Would drive me crazy to have someone come into my shop wanting a bunch of ill fitting parts that my experience tells me would not provide a good result.
Best to have a conversation with your independant before having him do the work to agree to what parts you would buy from him, and what parts you could supply on your own.Not an argument, but a conversation where you discuss what would happen if the part was bad, the installation did not go smoothly, the parts did not perform as expected, who would be responsible for the part down the road, and an understanding whether or not that customer would intend to post on forums his distain for any problems that might ensue for putting on those parts.
For me, a great independant mechanic is a real joy. I tend not to do things that might **** him off when he is going to be working on my pride and joy. Would rather pay him a fair price for doing a good job, and standing behind his products, that make a mess of it with internet parts.
This folks, is the REALITY of it all right here.
I know all about it.
I don't pull up to McDonalds or Burger King with ground beef, or a bag of potatoes, and I bet no one eles does either, but by golly, it is supposed to be AOK to do that same scenario to the guy at the corner bike shop?
Scott
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 975
Likes: 316
From: Bolivia, NC
My guy is great....he usually just purchases the parts for me, I give him the internet #s and he goes from there. A lot of the parts I buy are from sponsors right here on the forums, and they are more than happy to start an account with my indy....win/win for everybody including me!
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 305
Likes: 4
From: Kansas City
I had a metric mechanic that was awesome. I would find the part online and he would either match it or beat it if he did the install. Tires on the other hand, he would only go through specific vendors which often made his price slightly higher. Other than that, he won't touch Harleys... So I'm going to miss him.
