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J

James Holler

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I've worked at a Ford dealership in the Parts Department for the past 10 years or so. It wasn't too long ago that the only thing people brought their cars to the dealer for was warranty work. Ford Motor Company (beleive it or not) must have actually been paying attention because we can finally compete with your NAPAs and Autozones on most of your tune and mantenance items. Here's a couple of examples:



Front rotors at Autozone: p/n 54097 $77.99 each

Ford rotors: p/n BRR-107 $53.40 each



Serp belt at Autozone: p/n 4060865 $24.99

Ford belt: p/n JK6-873-EA $30.38 (not cheaper, but competitive for OEM quality)



Rear shocks at NAPA: p/n 911035 $51.99 each

Ford shocks: p/n AT-717 $45.95 each



I could go on, but my point is why not put OEM quality components in your rig when it's only a couple bucks more or even cheaper? Plus, I gotta eat too!!

:)
 
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Oops....

You mentioned Ford shocks.

I would send you my almost new shocks for the price of shipping, but instead I gave them up to the garbage man. Ford needs to make their shocks landfill friendly because that's where the majority end up.:p
 
The only reason I go to other places is mainly because of avaliabilty. Most time the dealerships around here don't seem to keep alot of the stuff I need for the ST and my 92 T-Bird in stock when I need it.
 
I'm with Chops!



Ford shocks are very low quality. I bet those Napa shocks are a lot better. And, at 53.40 each those are more expensive than Rancho 5000s.



I know your listing a few samples.



I don't mind paying more for parts but I won't buy them from Ford and have them installed due to poor service.



SST
 
I thought this was a rant about Chevy engines in Duece Coupes and '34 Rods...



OEM is fine and dandy for most people, but I'm the sort that feels that for most items, OEM simply isn't good enough, and the aftermarket can do better. Not nessicarily cheaper, but better. I'll pay a little more for a part that'll work, and preform better then stock.
 
You forgot something. A Motorcraft belt from rockauto.com is MOTORCRAFT Part # JK6873EA $17.44.



The dealer is not priced that well.



As for the Motorcraft shocks, I would prefer to run with no shocks then run with Motorcraft ones.



As Ape would say...



'nuff said



Caymen Out
 
Wow, thanks to everybody for totally flaming my post! I thought I was in a pro-Ford environment. I guess Tiger's right, though. OEM is crap. In fact, after I pulled the P.O.S Ford motor, Ford tranny, Ford doors, Ford fenders, Ford frame, Ford gas tank, Ford fuel lines, Ford exhaust, Ford dashboard, Ford seats, Ford carpet, Ford headlights, Ford wheels and Ford glass off my car and replaced it with all NAPA stuff, it runs like a wet dream!



What do I know, I'm just an ape apparently.

 
I don't think anyone said Ford is junk. There are only a few people on this earth that is more Pro-Ford then I am. My blood is so blue it scares people.



With that being said, not everything Ford makes is the best.



Spark Plugs, belt, hoses, fuel filter, and thermostat are some of the things I will always use that is Motorcraft. Wires, brakes, and batteries are something that I can get elsewhere that has a better warranty, lasts longer, and is cheaper then a Motorcraft.



Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Ford makes junk, just not everything they make is the best it could be.



Then to top it off, you can get Motorcraft parts from other places for less then you can get it at the dealer.





Tom



p.s. there is a member here that goes by the alias of "The Ape" I was quoting one of his famous lines. It was not directed at you.
 
meispizza, they weren't calling you an ape. There is a member here who's nickname is "ape" and Caymen was just quoting him.



The mention oem shocks is what turned everyone off. Most of us feel the the shocks are terrible and when replaced we go with Rancho, Monroe, KYB, etc. Some parts I replace with oem but when it comes to rotors I don't because I now have performance drilled and slotted, and my shocks were replaced by Ranchos.



I see what the dealer can compete with the pricing of oem parts. Don't take the other posts too hard.



George
 
We are pro-Ford as long as it makes sense. Why would you think we would eat, sleep, and breathe Ford, no matter what? Ford is a company that produces cars and trucks. Some things they make are pretty good, but others (like the SportTrac shocks) are pure crap.



I also agree that many aftermarket parts provide better performance or service, and many times they are much cheaper than Ford OEM. Why would you think we would feel it is important to pay more for less?



I think you need to... never mind. I won't say it.



Have a nice day.
 
meispizza-

Notice I said "OEM", not Ford OEM. I don't care if it's Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, BMW, Jag, whatever...an OEM part is ALWAYS a sacrifice. It has to be cheap to make, or buy from someone else who makes it, which many times means a sacrifice in performance. It has to preform so that the majority of people are happy. There's a reason why not all motors are all aluminum and magnesium, or why not all brakes are carbon discs with carbon pads with 6-pot calipers....because cars would be too expensive to buy then, brakes would be too dusty and noisy, etc, in short, a car not many people would want to buy and a car thats too expensive to even make.



BTW, I've got a Ford sitting in the shop, and the only things that'll be Ford left on it will be suspension, even then it'll be modified, body shell (modified), motor (modified), and transmission. The dash will be different, the seats will be different, the glass will be different, even the floorboards will be different after the OEM rusted through....shoot, the headlights will be aftermarket for a Harley, and tail lights will be one-offs. I'd like to replace the suspension in the front with non-Ford stuff, although modeled after a Ford, and popping in a Chevy motor/tranny isn't that big of a deal either....Why? Stock sucks.
 
Thank you for your clarifying responses, I see I got the juices flowing! My blood too pumps Ford Blue but I gotta say it turned boiling Chevy Red when I first read the responses to my (what I intitially considered to be) fairly benign post. I can agree with you that not everything Ford puts their little oval stamp on is of the finest quality. Beleive me, I see it day in and day out at my job! My original point was just to kinda get the word out that you don't have to avoid the dealer's parts departments like a trip to the Mad Scientist/Proctologist's office anymore.



I don't mean to get all Hallmark Card on everybody here, but I'm glad we're all on the same page. Just don't be hatin' the dealers, man! I get to go to work every day surrounded by one of the things I love most in this world!



:):):):)
 
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/beretta-babe/Explorer%20Sport%20Trac/JustAFordSymbol.gif" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">:D
 
Meispizza, are those prices you quoted the same at all dealership parts departments? Did Ford just recently drop prices on certain items (or even all of them)?



Thanks for the head's-up. I've been avoiding the parts department since they wanted $1 for a dang body bolt I misplaced, which I would have to buy a ten pack for $10. I'm partial to OEM stuff because sometimes I think they provide the best fit and finish especially when the parts are Sport Trac specific; they tend to be pricey is all. But I'm with everybody else as far as the shocks go. LOL.



Again, thanks for posting at our website. It's nice to see Ford employees chiming in.



 
meispizza,



It is Ford Blue, Chevy Orange, never Chevy Red.



JapCrap is applicable though. (Ducks and hides)





Tom
 
Those are Ford's suggested retail prices which are the same at all the dealers across the country. As for the price drop, it is fairly recent. Ford knew they couldn't sell $150 Escort rotors forever so they've adjusted their prices in the Motorcraft line accordingly. I can remember selling serp belts for first-gen Explorers for upwards of $60 ten years ago, now they can be had for around $30. Where else was the last time you actually saw the price of anything go down? I hear what you all are saying about the dealer's lack of inventory, quality of shock absorbers, etc. and I'm with you. It's tough for us too. All I'm saying is when it's time for that new serp belt or fuel filter, keep us in mind!



Beleive me, those 10-pack bolts you mentioned are the bane of my existance. Ford makes us (the dealers) buy all the little s**t in packs of up to 100 (!) on some stuff, then we have to try to get out of it by selling them all to the customer. The only ones who really win on that deal is Ford Corporate, us dealers take it in the shorts too!



PS ...Notice how I said "suggested" prices. Ford dealers can (and often do) charge whatever their particular market conditions dictate.

:cool:
 
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Or you could buy Motorcraft parts from many parts suppliers like rockauto.com and buy it for even less then the dealer.



I don't have a problem with a dealer making money, but at the same time, why should I pay $30.38 from a dealer when I can buy it elsewhere for $17.44. That is a savings of $12.94. It is roughly 1 hour of time at work AFTER tax's.





Tom
 
I just went to your rockauto.com and looked at that belt. Don't forget about the $5.90 shipping! That brings it to $23.34, not $17.44. And you have to wait 7-10 days to get it. True, seven bucks is seven bucks, but let's compare apples to apples here.



To address your other point, that belt you're buying from the dealer for $30.38 cost him somewhere around $22.00 so don't get too carried away with the whole "dealer makes a buncha money" theme here either. Trust me, I get it all the time from customers. It really sucks for us that Ford wholesales their parts to aftermarket suppliers for cheaper than their own dealers but I guess money makes the world go 'round, huh.



BTW, Tom. Why are you on my a** about this whole thing?? Why are you making it your personal mission to dispute everything I say? It's a free country, buy your parts wherever you want. At this point I'm sorry I brought this whole topic up!



:wacko:
 
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Why should we penalize ourselves by paying higher prices just because Ford screws their own dealers by charging them more?



I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have attempted to do business with my local dealership. However, because I do not have a money tree growing in my back yard, I have had to go elsewhere for the same product at a 25% to 30% less money.



David
 

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