Why Will a Shop Not Install Customer Provided Parts?

Parts Are Not Just Parts

Would you bring your own steak to a steak house and ask the chef to cook it for you? The answer is most likely “no”. Then why would you supply your own parts to your local mechanic and ask them to install your parts?

You Get What You Paid For

These days there are so many different ways to purchase auto parts. There is also such a range in pricing that it seems like just the thing to do. Most customers want to supply their own parts because of the perception that they are cheaper. That isn’t necessarily the case. There is a huge difference between less expensive and cheaper. More importantly, not all parts are manufactured to the same tolerances, not to mention the extra time required in trying to fit an inferior, poorly fitting part.

Experience has taught that chasing the lowest price often leaves you chasing your tail. The longevity of the repair goes hand-in-hand with the quality of the part and the quality of the install.

Performance of the Part – Gauranteed?

The most important reason shops will not install customer supplied parts is the lack of warranty. Even though the parts retailer will gaurantee the part to the retail buyer, it is just that – a “retail buyer”. What this means is that in the event the part fails immediately after the installation, the Retail Parts house will exchange the part, but who pays for the labor to replace it again? The repair shop is responsible for any part that they install, and a customer may unknowingly try to push a shop to use a part that is inferior. If a shop installs a part, and that part fails, it could create a liability issue for the installer where the shop would be held legally liable. Courts will almost always rule against an auto-repair business based on legal precedent. The judge may something like “you shouldn’t have installed a customer-supplied part whose origin and performance could not be guaranteed.” That matters to shop owners whose reputations and livelihoods ae on the line. For many shops, that is reason enough to decline installing customer provided parts.

If the part is damaged in the box before install, or fails shortly after, it will be a warranty issue. A shop’s regular parts supplier can easily and quickly replace defective parts under warranty. The marginal mark-up on the parts will be well-worth the investment. If a part fails that the customer provided, the customer is then responsible to submit a warranty claim, or find a replacement part. This will slow down the repair process while leaving a car in the shop taking up valuable workspace and creating additional expenses to the shop for storing and moving a disabled vehicle around. Most retail parts houses do not warranty replacements on a regular basis which further complicates the process. In most cases, repair facilities can get warranty replacement parts the same day.

Rely on the Experts

Automotive repair businesses invest a great deal of time and money into their technicians’ education and equipment. If there’s a sound coming from some unknown location, or if your check engine light is on, please rely on the experts to properly diagnose and repair your vehicle. Contrary to popular opinion, the auto parts store scanner does not diagnose or pinpoint any issue. They merely offer vague suggestions that may end up costing you more time and money. The experts at A & M Auto Repair Bellevue are qualified to perform tests on the individual components within a system to find the actual point of failure, which leads to a more accurate diagnosis. Call us today at 425-641-9455 to schedule an appointment!