Car parts prices... do we get ripped off or what?

Cheeper on 10/07/2014 - 23:02
Last edited 10/07/2014 - 23:13

I recently have been shopping around for some prices on a consumable replacement part for a Toyota car…

Price in USA $4.05 (genuine Toyota)
Price from dealer in Australia $32.50 !! (genuine Toyota)
Price from Repco for aftermarket brand $68 !!!

I know the fact that the US has a larger market but sometimes the price difference is just a joke. We are being taken to the cleaners big time.

Thankfully with the internet we can compare these things today where before we just floated merrily along none the wiser.

The difference in cost continues when you look at lubricating oil, filters, etc.. massively cheaper.

Have you found any parts you were after that had such a large difference in price?

Automotive

Comments

  • juventino on 11/07/2014 - 02:37
    +2

    old news….we get screwed every way imaginable.

    I found Australian made jeans sold significantly cheaper in US than here, so go figure.

    • mini2 on 11/07/2014 - 10:00
      +1

      On a car related note, Australian made ARB parts are often cheaper in the states even when factoring in freight.

  • Geewhizz on 11/07/2014 - 05:49
    +3

    Lawn mower part - here $96. US $14, less than $40 posted. Makes it awefully hard to support local business.

    • Rashed on 11/07/2014 - 06:52

      Support local small business, not money hungry large corporations..

      • juventino on 11/07/2014 - 16:34
        +2

        I would but then I'll be hungry all the time

      • Geewhizz on 13/07/2014 - 06:30

        Support local small business, not money hungry large corporations..

        For what it's worth it was a small business we bought it from.

        And the closest 'local' business that could get it is a 4 hour drive from us. The 'real' locals told us no such part exists and we'd have to get a whole new motor.

  • eatwell365 on 11/07/2014 - 07:17
    +2

    How I see "Australian" price" - a highest amount whatever a customer would pay, not the cost + certain % profit margin.
    eg. same bottle, same brand of water. one shop is $3.50, next door is $1.00.
    my windscreen wiper - autoone $120 a pair, $20 included delivery on ozbargain deal.

    My choice is to avoid buying things full price, shop online/ozbargain, support local IGA/Aldi//fruit market (avoid buying from Woolies/Coles) when possible).

  • Cheeper on 11/07/2014 - 10:24

    I suppose the point I am making is why are we charged so much? Even double the price elsewhere would be ok.

    I know we have a smaller population and a bit isolated from the rest of the world but that does not justify getting hit with 10 times or even more the price.

    Maybe we just do not have enough consumers that are price savvy and just hand over whatever is asked?

    When Repco gave me their price I showed above, the first thing I said was.. noo, I only want one…!

  • thepigs on 11/07/2014 - 11:29
    +1

    repco is ridiculous… autopro and supercheap arent too bad. eBay is the best even with shipping, not sure how that works.

  • anthony t on 11/07/2014 - 13:53

    I've just started a topic in automotive to see if any of our car-wise brethren can tell us how we get 'hooked in' to a site wreckers etc. are checking so we can source and buy cheaper second-hand car parts. Surely there's somewhere in Australia that provides such a service? Ebay, Gumtree etc. just don't work for a lot of stuff like this. I only need an outside left mirror glass for a VW polo 1999 6n1. Just the piece of glass? $75 new! I can buy overseas a lot cheaper, but the postage is impossible.

  • mini2 on 11/07/2014 - 17:42
    +2

    Had a bit of a surprise yesterday, the pink slip guy (think RWC for non-NSW folks) failed the inspection because the brake pedal has worn through with metal exposed. Ok, went to the Subaru stealership and had a bit of a nasty surprise…only $5. I was expecting $30-50.

    • Cheeper on 11/07/2014 - 22:18
      +2

      Good grief… !! That would have been a shock.. Sounds almost reasonable..
      An old trick some car yards use is to remove the pedal rubber and refit it the other way around.

  • rhino015 on 16/07/2014 - 12:49

    It varies a lot. Superpro bushes are no more expensive here than in the US. Same with a lot of stuff that's made here. Some stuff is cheaper there even though it's made here unfortunately. General tools are generally more pricey here tho, but still a LOT cheaper than they used to be 15 years ago here thanks to supercheap and bunnings etc.

    It's actually surprising the amount of aftermarket car things that are Australian. Whiteline, superpro, hardrace, ARB, DBA, RDA, QFM, and various brake and clutch companies and the majority of aftermarket ECUs are actually developed by Australian companies. There's plenty others but my mind is blank atm. Nolathane might be Aussie too?

    Now that we're losing our manufacturing industry, I reckon the government should do all it can to support the aftermarket parts industry that is already quite strong in Australia. The laws that govern what can legally be modified are so strict here compared to everywhere else and that surely must hinder our development in this area. It's amazing that we have such an industry in this area despite the government actively discouraging the car modification scene.

    • mini2 on 16/07/2014 - 22:12

      Yeah Nolathane is Australian, owned by the same owner as Whiteline.

      IIRC Nolathane makes the Whiteline stuff albeit in a different colour (and more often than not, cheaper).

      Haltech, Vi-Pec and Motec all make world class (probably world leading) ECU's.

      • rhino015 on 17/07/2014 - 14:12

        That's right. The vast majority of aftermarket ECUs are Aussie. Which is interesting since it's basically illegal to have an aftermarket ECU in Australia.

        I prefer SuperPro over Nolathane btw

  • Azn310 on 18/07/2014 - 01:08

    Never had problems with Amayama, although it would be great if there postage was a bit lower

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