18 replies to this topic

[PoolGuy]

I agree with everything that red81 has written, but I'd add that the buyers are to blame too, they're forever wanting to pay less for parts. This is what fuels the need for crap to be sold for peanuts. I had the same issue with some brake drums, the supplier offered two options, pattern and best quality, sadly the 'best quality' were still poor quality and not round. They went back!

 

I want quality parts and I'm prepared to pay for them as I rely on the van every day.

[sonscar]

I agree RE the price point but qualify it with something a self made millionaire told me,once apon a time you paid more and got better quality.Now you just pay more.Once a rouge sees part X is twice his price then he matches it and the buyer cannot use price as an indicator of quality.I suspect he was mostly right.Steve..

[E23TFD]

As ever two points price and value. Each of us have different ideas on what is value to us and therefore what we pay.

Companies need to make a margin and as more moves to online and eBay market place etc then it’s price of part verses what extra the vendor offers - support, advice, fitting.

We all want the best price but as said above these are hobby cars, some people happy to spend anything on the hobby some just entering so a cheap do I want to do this.

As you say rubber parts seem prone to this, cheap from far away (rubber / chemical products have increased) and the blends are not as per what would be used on a modern vehicle.

It would be down to us collectively asking / demanding parts that last. Clearly from supplier stand point yes we may moan but if MOT inspector says no then we need more of said same rubbish item to get mobile.

With what’s happening this won’t get any better as weekend toys will be the luxury so keeping the cost down will be the driving factor.

[red81]

Well Red 81 is my everyday use car because I do lots of short journeys and I need it on the road not in my garage.  Lets not confuse the issue with hobby cars or lowest price parts, I say lets concentrate on "fit for Purpose"  and our own safety, surely we should expect brake drums to be round, and rubber components to last longer than 12 months. Why should we have to pay for all the additional time spent replacing faulty parts, with new cheap parts that the supplier is happy to send because there cheap? I can replace drive shaft boots now, quicker than the mechanics of the day (1980's).  I don't believe that every Mini Parts supplier out there has a different rubber boot or brake drum manufacturer supplier,  but I do believe that one of the larger parts suppliers should show some leadership and become 'the market leader' in driving quality standards, (may be a quality mark) for the good of us all and to ensure we can drive our cars safely.