Perhaps just a little heavy handed?

Posted by Jay Faubion On 2010/4/5 18:30:48

I found last weekend that I needed to get my carburetor rebuilt. Here in Indianapolis we have a good rebuilder, Van's Carburetor and Electric.

I thought, "Let me try and give my business first to one of our Packard parts vendors. They deserve first place."

I checked one online catalog, and found a carburetor listed for $210, rebuilt. I checked the other (nearer) one, and no price was listed. So I emailed, and inquired. Their rebuilt carburetor was $470. Hmmmm.

On the way to work this morning, I took the carburetor to Van's, where the estimate is in the $170 range.

When I got to work I emailed the second ($470) vendor about what I considered to be a rather outrageous price. His reply was that the difference between him and the other guy was that

(A) if my fuel system was perfectly clean they would stand behind their carburetor. Wow, thank you!

Further, he said that

(B) everyone who bought carburetors from the $210 vendor wound up buying them again from him.

Do I look like some kind of idiot? I hope not, at least not online where you can't see me

However... Has everyone noticed how nice I was to not name the vendors? I truly am glad that they're there, and I am not trying to go after them. But having said that, I really resent the kind of attitude that came from my $470 friend. From whom, I might mention, I have purchased shocks, a fuel pump, overdrive solenoid, headlight doors, and myriad other parts. They are within driving distance from me. It's the last time I give them first shot at anything, though. I'll look everywhere else first.

I'm just glad there are still some places around, like Van's, that will take an old carburetor in, do a professional job of rebuilding it, and not hit you with a high-handed attitude and an exhorbitant price tag.

Jay