Parts Prices, WTF?!
Probably gonna offend some people, but here it is...
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO RETIRE OFF SELLING MOPAR PARTS!!!
Look, I'm a really laid back guy. Like, really calm and accepting of most people. But I gotta say, I just don't get some of the posts that I'm seeing where a member is asking OUTRAGEOUS money for a car part (usually a new member, but I digress).
$400 for a grill, $500 for an air cleaner, $1000 for seats, $1500 for fenders.
There are probably 2 or 3 guys on FABO that have enough parts, that if they sold everything, they'd make $80-$100K. But, guess what, that's still not retirement level cash.
There is ZERO sense in letting these parts waste away in your garage/shop/barn/attic, when they could be used on a running & driving car.
Now, I'm not staying to give your stuff away for nothing. I'm just saying charge a reasonable price, let the buyer get the part on his/her car, and you go grab a nice steak dinner.
Yeah, yeah, I know... "these are original MOPAR parts" & "you can't find this stuff anywhere". But that just proves my point. Ma MOPAR did not produce these parts to sit on a shelf somewhere and not be on the road.
We're supposed to be a community of MOPAR lovers that help each other out, not gouge one and other over a piece of 50 year old tin. And there are some great members who sell stuff cheap. A HUGE shout out to them!
Before you roll your eyes/shake your head, I do practice what I preach. Take a look at my sales ads. I never ask a ridiculous amount for anything. As a matter of fact, I've sent out parts and only asked the buyer to cover the shipping. And when I'm done my build, I'll be hooking up members with whatever I have left over.
Listen, 2020 sucked! Let's make 2021 a great year for FABO members and get them the parts they need to get their rides on the road.
I'm getting tired of this debate, so, let me tell it to you from my prospective. For over 30 years I traveled all over California scouting wrecking yards and yards that would let you pull your own parts. Long before Pickndrule started buying out all these little yards. The parts I collected were for Dodge pickups all years, but mostly the 61-71's and the 72-93. I didn't do all this work because I knew I was going to retire off it. I did it because I wasn't rich and knew how expensive and hard to find the parts I was collecting were.
When my 79 long bed crew cab broke it's hub, I found only one parts house that had one. $150.00 plus tax!!! The man behind the counter told me that if it were a Ford or Chevy it would be less than fifty dollars. I ended up purchasing a used one from Subway Truck for $85.00!!! WHO'S RIPPING OFF WHO!?
When I had a contracting business, I would have my taxes done every year by one accountant and every year the price went up and it started around $350.00 for a couple of hours work. When I asked him about it he replied, "Whatever the market will bare." Again, whose ripping off who?! And my tax returns weren't that difficult. I probably could have done them myself if I wanted to spend the time. I only contracted to fill the rough times when there was no work for a carpenter elsewhere.
Anyway, I am now disabled and have been trying to survive on less than $15,000 per year since 2013. I started selling off some of my saved parts just to help make ends meet. Not anywhere near enough to retire on. LOL!!
There are some guys out there that give their parts away, and for only a couple of reasons. Either ignorant as to how rare the part they are giving away is, and they just want to clean up, OR, they have good paying jobs and a wonderous retirement ahead of them, or they just want to clean up!
If you are a MOPAR fan, as I am, you should know that you are involved in a hobby where in many instances the car, truck or part you are interested in was produced in very limited numbers. Thereby, making it harder to find and more expensive when you do find it. When was the last time you tried to purchase a part from one of the other big time wrecking yards? Ha! Again, Who's ripping off who?
The best possible advice I can give to you is, GET AWAY FROM MOPAR AND GO BUY YOURSELF A FORD OR CHEVY AND QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PRICES. You folks don't even take into consideration of 1. The hard work that went into pulling that part. And the weather conditions. I worked in the hottest heat of the year to the rain and the mud. 2. The monies spent storing said part or vehicle. Even if they were able to keep said item at their home, a percentage of that mortgage or rent is a cost. 3. What if they have to pay to store it somewhere. 4. What about how many times they had to handle said item, moving it from one place to another. I had parts that I probably handled five or six times and maybe more.
