Topic: Took online parts prices to local Honda dealer

[motorhead55]

I had been putting off ordering the OE parts I needed for my '76 550F from hondaparts direct and then found out they closed their doors. I then went online and found the same parts at cycle nation for close to the same price. I went to check out and they wanted $19.00 to ship maybe 1 pound of parts from Michigan to Calif. I checked several other sites and found shipping as much as $25.00!! For $100. dollars worth of parts, they wanted an extra 18-25% for shipping. Today I went to my local Honda dealer and gave the parts guy the printout from Cycle nation. It had the part numbers and their price. I just asked, "Can you match these prices?" The guy immediately answered YES. A good for instance is I needed a fuel tap strainer kit. It was $20.49 on Cycle nation. I saw the screen at my local Honda dealer and the same part was marked up to $33. and change. He sold it to me for $20.49. I saved about $12.00 by buying local as I did have to pay some sales tax but not the exorbitant shipping price. Places are seemingly willing to deal these days!

[jaknight]

Good Idea Motor,

Glad that worked out for you.

Here in Arizona the Honda places I've been to have outrageous prices.

~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[Johnie]

My dealer gives me a flat 20% discount on everything.  No shipping even on a set of HM300's...used to be 30% but my parts friend has left.  So I guess I better be thankful for the discount I get here.

[mark]

Good Idea Motor,

Glad that worked out for you....

+1



Unfortunately, I would have to go to the dealer, haggle over the list($19.21 for that screen at DSS - almost ordered one), probably be told that half of the list is NLA, maybe even explain that there was indeed such a thing as a CB550 made by Honda in 1976(ask your grandpa about 'em, kid), pay for the order..... Then go back for whatever actually shows up - about 125 miles for those 2 round trips.

For $100 worth of parts, I'd kill at least five hours and probably burn $20 in gas.

bah.

[tlbranth]

I ran into the same online shipping outrage at powersedge and cyclepartsnation. The problem is, they ship everything via UPS and UPS is not the way to send small packages. USPS flat-rate boxes are dirt cheap. I ordered some parts that fit in the palm of my hand and paid $15 shipping. I emailed both companies about using flat-rate and they say it's just easier for them to do this way.  You should let them know your concerns. Maybe if enough people say something, they'll change.

[motorhead55]

When I worked at UPS, I often did rewraps at a back counter we had. This was when a box came through and got torn up, ect. Anyway, I would rewrap an occasional Honda M/C parts box and would look at the tags on the parts that we don't see when we buy parts. The tags showed what the dealer paid and at 100% mark-up what John Q Public pays. Every part I ever saw the markup was at least 100%!
43 years ago when I was 13, I had (still have the frame) a C110 sport 50 Honda. I could go to Honda and buy a complete crank with rod, Piston, rings and gaskets for about $30.00. Yeah I'm OLD but I feel good