Dealing with Auto Wreckers

LCheemeister on 22/03/2017 - 13:27
Last edited 22/03/2017 - 14:02 by 1 other user

Hi all!

Do you have any tips on how to buy parts from car wreckers, and how that part of the industry works?

I get the feeling wreckers mostly deal with other people in their industry, and aren't too happy having to deal with noobs. Besides having your make / model / year / variant and a clear description of the part(s) you're after, is there any other etiquette to know about when calling them on the phone? Is it normal to get quotes over the phone then call around to other wreckers for a better price?

Also, do those websites (like find-a-part) work?

And finally - are those pick-it-yourself places any good? Apart from only having really old cars, and having to pay to enter to search for the car you're after, and never knowing how much you're going to pay until you arrive at the counter with your part - is it worth it?

Thanks :)

• 

  altomic on 22/03/2017 - 13:42

  +2

  I used to love pick-a-part outside melb. Mainly best for older model cars. They are usually cheaper and some have a rough price guide at the entrance (though I haven't been to one for years)

  When I deal with wreckers I usually list everything I need and then ring them and in a rough voice say what I need. Totally down to business. Sometimes i might message a photo of the part if there are many similar models eg, break light assembly for a late 90s magna. I find using eBay and Gumtree pretty good as well as it is written communication so you find the car you want parts from and then send them a list and get a price. Sometimes I will negotiate the price ,I.e. cash in hand. Or if I have an eBay voucher use that.

  Wreckers just want any transaction to be as straightforward as possible as it saves them problems.

  I've never used a third party to find parts. That would be an added cost.

  What are you looking for?

  • 

    Wampus on 22/03/2017 - 14:37

    +7

    The 'rough voice' bit made me laugh out loud :)

    "Let's see what those delightful chaps at the wreckers say" Ring ring "Orrr yeeeahhh hahsitgarrnn"

  • 

    Cheemeister on 22/03/2017 - 23:52

    At the moment I'm looking for a bunch of front-end parts for an '09 Golf - Radiator mount, the first section of the exhaust, washer bottle, headlight units (both), battery tray, part of the air intake (I might need to go and point to clarify exactly what), various under-the-engine and inner guard plastic covers.

• 

  k-rokfm on 22/03/2017 - 13:44

  +1

  If you know what part you are after, place an add on find-a-part and see if anyone has what youre after available. I have posted up there previously (but never gone through with a sale) and normally get a handful of places emailing me with parts they have and how much they are.

• 

  R-Man on 22/03/2017 - 13:50

  +2

  Hi mate,

  Noob here, only been to a pick-it-yourself wrecker once last month (Imlachs Auto Parts, Springvale VIC). Just like you said, I called them up and quoted make/model/year/variant and they said "Yep we have a few of those cars". They also quoted me an approximate price for the part which was close enough to the price I paid on checkout.

  A couple of wreckers in this area at least are all noob-friendly based on a few phone conversations, so I'd say go for it and definitely get a few quotes.

  It was a bit of effort bringing your own tools (and then improvising when the tools you brought don't suit…) but worth it as I saved about $70 compared to buying a new part.

  • 

    altomic on 22/03/2017 - 14:00

    +1

    Yes, phone a few places and get quotes. I was after a Mazda tail light and was quoted by 3 different wreckers- $105, $95 and $45

  • 

    tre180 on 22/03/2017 - 14:16

    +2

    Every time I've been there the parts I needed were already gone, Jolly Roger scrapyard in Dandenong has every car itemised online and lists the parts already removed, wish more scrapyards did that!

• 

  outlander on 22/03/2017 - 14:32

  Yeah, that's not going to work. The reason you might think your being treated strangely is because rarely do mechanics call ahead. Its too unpredictable. The part you want might be damaged in the smash, taken by someone else or just worn out. They will tell you if they have the car, but the rest is up to you

• 

  blonky on 22/03/2017 - 14:45

  +2

  Pick a part is great, but you need to remove the parts yourself from the wrecks and miss any warranty (other wreckers tend to have a DOA policy)

  Best place I find are individuals who are breaking down a car on gumtree/ebay where you can make a good offer rather than buying from a parts list price

• 

  Mumbles on 22/03/2017 - 17:15

  +5

  Two things you need to know:
  1) Half the wreckers do not answer their telephones.
  2) The yards that are run by individual owner/operators have quirky personalities (can be good or can add to frustration!)

  I've telephoned over a dozen wreckers in my area (cars + motorcycle). This industry is very unique in that half of the wreckers won't pick up the telephone. So adjust your expectations and don't expect to obtain a quote from every wrecker in your area. An alternative is to drop by in person to get quotes but I only need to do that when the part I'm looking for is scarce (eg. from a recent new car).

  Smaller wreckers are run by the actual owner. They usually price an item from experience or from the top of their head. Its the small wreckers where quotes can vary from telephone call to telephone call.
  Eg. I telephoned my local wrecker for a quote on 1 Honda CRV wheel rim. My favourite wrecker quoted $60 over the telephone. 2hrs later I went out to pick up the wheel and the owner forgot which caller I was and asked me to remind him the price. Nice personality, I got a free set wheel nuts and they inflated the tyre.

  The large wreckers often computerise their inventory. Its usually harder to negotiate on price as its in the system. Sometimes they are coy about letting you know the item is out of stock, instead shipped from a Sydney wrecker (+ overnight delivery charge). These guys are like office workers in a telephone call centre, responding to emails, posting parts to eBay.

  The industry is indifferent to noobs. Be as detailed with your part description (make, model, year, sedan/hatch, right/left side, etc) as it saves them time. List all of the parts you are looking for and ask if you can get a discount on the lot.

• 

  Findo on 22/03/2017 - 22:28

  +1

  Make sure you negotiate the price first before they go and source the part from wrecked cars. I killed my air conditioning control unit in my car so I went to the wreckers. They quoted me $50 and I haggled it down to $40. 45 min after the guy went off to get the part he came back all red-faced and extremely pissed off, he then said it was a good move on my part to lock in the price because he forgot how much effort it took to remove the air conditioning control unit. Had I not done that, he said he would've definitely increased the price.

• 

  JOCKz on 23/03/2017 - 21:31

  +1

  Self serve auto wreckers are generally cheaper. They have set price on all parts old or new. But will usually stock older cars. Manufacturer specific wreckers will charge more, for everything.

  Dont bother calling self serve wreckers, they don't have someone running around all day checking. Manufacturer specific wrecker are ok to call. Just have a good idea of what your asking for.

  I.E. Manufacturers will use the same body style throughout a number of years (92-95, 96-00, 00-05), and will call it NM or NP etc, they will ask you these things if your looking for interior/exterior trim. And engine codes, Its good to know what the engine is called if your asking for a specific part. I'll put it into example.

  "Hi, Im looking for an alternator for a NM Pajero"

  "3 liter or 3.5"

  "3.5, its the 6G74 engine"

  It gets a little trickier if manufacturer changed body style and engine in the same year, but you get the idea.