25 replies to this topic

[liam1288]

As above I'm looking to see what the trade price is for one bearing kit for the front of a 1990 mini.

Reason being is I've taken the mini to a mini garage today with a whirring noise and he says it sounds like 80% bearing and it would be £65 so I asked how much the bearing is, he said £27 plus vat so I asked if he can do the bearing any cheaper as they're generally cheaper online. Answer was no as he doesn't use Chinese ones and mentioned he uses SKF but doing research just now, they are at least £40!
I'm just wanting to know if that's the average price as he must be getting them at trade price.
I dont want him telling me he's using SKF but actually the price reflects he's more likely using Chinese copies!

[1275GTS]

I get my front wheel bearings from minits and they are £21.40 per side inc vat. These are not chinese copies. Try minispares as they do not tend to sel junk either.

[liam1288]

Cheers for the advise but I'm not looking at buying some, just an idea from any traders if the price I've been gives is about right?
£27 plus vat seems cheap to be SKF so I'm thinking the mechanic just tried to baffle me and say he uses them to get my custom...

[liam1288]

??

[A-Cell]

Personally if you are in any doubt about the genuine nature of the bearings then I would recommend you buying some genuine Timken ones from Minispares yourself and then insist that the garage fits those. That way you are sure it's safe.
There are many many fake bearings in circulation.

See tigers recent post http://www.theminifo...rfeit-bearings/

[liam1288]

I did ask that and he said no...
I'd do it myself, I know its not hard to do but since I agreed to him doing it as I can't be bothered I don't want to cancel him doing it last minute as he'll just be pi**ed off and essentially I could be 'burning down bridges' which I don't want to do.

[Tamworthbay]

Not being funny but I would be suspicious of any garage that won't fit parts you have supplied. If the reason was that you were buying cheap parts then fair enough, but knowing you want quality bits it would ring alarm bells with me I'm afraid.

[Frisco]

What happens is people buy the cheapest **** possible then turn up and want it fitted only to come back and moan when it fails. Yeah you might just want to fit decent parts but most just want cheap

[liam1288]

Yeah I can see your point and that what I was getting at so it probably my fault am for suggesting a cheaper price. I just don't know why he said £27 plus vat for an SKF bearing that costs £40-50 to buy...

[Tamworthbay]

What happens is people buy the cheapest **** possible then turn up and want it fitted only to come back and moan when it fails. Yeah you might just want to fit decent parts but most just want cheap

I understand that, which was why I made that point in my post but if the OP has made it clear they want genuine parts and want to make sure of that by buying genuine parts then I don't see a problem. If there is a problem you have to ask yourself why.

[Tamworthbay]

Yeah I can see your point and that what I was getting at so it probably my fault am for suggesting a cheaper price. I just don't know why he said £27 plus vat for an SKF bearing that costs £40-50 to buy...

Give these people a ring:

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/

They are brilliant and will give you an idea of price. If you want to know trade price ask for a price for 20 sets and give yourself a company name such as 1288racing or something. If you have no uck and are desperate for a price let me know and I will ring them as I have an account with them.

[Globule]

I understand that, which was why I made that point in my post but if the OP has made it clear they want genuine parts and want to make sure of that by buying genuine parts then I don't see a problem. If there is a problem you have to ask yourself why.

 

 

I'm with the garage on this point. If they supply and fit the parts, any failure is due to them, whereas if you supply the part, then any later faults "may" be based on the component but the reputation of the garage may be tarnished. Even if you take in genuine parts, what is to say they aren't fakes (as in the link above etc). It's the same with Autoglass etc, they won't fit a windscreen you supply even if it is brand new! 

[Frisco]

 

What happens is people buy the cheapest **** possible then turn up and want it fitted only to come back and moan when it fails. Yeah you might just want to fit decent parts but most just want cheap

I understand that, which was why I made that point in my post but if the OP has made it clear they want genuine parts and want to make sure of that by buying genuine parts then I don't see a problem. If there is a problem you have to ask yourself why.

 

 

As if the people who buy cheap tripe walk in and say it's the cheapest dirt they could find. 

The garage invariably get blamed when something goes wrong so why would they take a risk on where you got the parts from

[mk1nova_rich]

Why not ask to see a parts invoice? If they have fitted SKF bearings they will have no hesitation in proving so. Just say you have had a bad experience with other brands of bearings in the past. To be fair though £27 plus VAT at trade price would be about right I reckon

[Frisco]

Because people get insulted when asked to prove things so it's easier and safer for them to just blanket refuse