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Hi,
I need a good indy shop in Seattle that will install the parts I bought from FCP Groton for a tune-up and 140k timing service on my '94 850. Any recommendations other than Daisywagon and Larry's, who both refused?
More details:
My '94 850 with 140k that is due for a tune-up and timing belt. I don't have access to a garage or even a driveway at the moment and thus need to go to a shop in Seattle to get this work done for me. Stupid me thought I'd save a bunch of money and bought the parts from FCP Groton. They've been shipped and will be delivered Friday.
I had assumed that Daisywagon would do this for me, but I didn't think ahead and check with them before purchasing the parts. I just called them and they said they won't do it.
Larry's Volvo in Beacon Hill, another good local shop, refused as well. What surprised me about Larry's is that a couple months ago they were willing to install a used ABS pump I bought personally from a junkyard in Tacoma (Larry's quoted me $700 for a used one, I bought it for $150), they aren't willing to install brand new genuine Volvo parts.
I understand these shops make money on their parts and want to be sure that they can back up the parts they install, but I'm stuck in a jam with a few hundred dollars worth of parts that will be here Friday and no way to get them installed. Please help!
Thanks!
-P
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The timing belt and tensioner require a flat driveway and dry cardboard at a minimum, so send them back to FCP. The plugs, wires, rotor, and cap can be done on the street, quite easily.
Then call back a shop to get the timing belt changed. Make sure they use the Gates (OEM) belt and not the Continental(FCP) belt. Tensioner will be OEM anyway.
I know you wanted a list of shops, but even in the Twin Cities, there aren't any "reputable" shops who will use non-oem parts purchased by the customer.
Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)
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Thanks for the thoughts. I seem to have received two very different opinions about this.
Personally I do think businesses should go ahead and set their own business policies, whether that means installing new, quality parts I've purchased or refusing to do so. Whatever works for them and their business model.
But what I'm looking for now is a shop that will do this. They are the shop that's going to get my business now and quite possibly in the future, and I hope they exist.
Anyone have any advice about specific shops in the Seattle area?
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Well, if you want to add any weight to the opinions you've received...
I am a business owner, sixteen years now independent appliance repair. I give prompt expert service. I am not the cheapest. I will not install the customers part. I guarantee my parts and service. I have a liability insurance policy.
Here's the kicker. I recently met a Volvo indie who moved here. This guy knows more about Volvos than I have ever dreamed of knowing. He is a successful business owner and he will not install your FCP part either. He will give you prompt expert service but if you screw with his profit, like trying to get him to install your FCP part, he is going to call you asshole behind your back and you will be on the list of people who get the inflated charge next time around.
Yeah, sounds harsh huh? But 100% true if you have ever run a business. Either DIY or butch up and pay the man, there is no middle ground.
--
Volvo Farmer. 24 Volvos, '58-'97, all RWD, except the 850 t5
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Completely untrue - that you have to do it yourself or "pay the man". I have lived in several cities and have always found a good shop that would install parts that I buy, and recall no difficulty in finding such a shop. And again what I have found is that these have been great, honest shops. They are shops that mark up their parts prices very reasonably and are not traumatized by the thought of losing the profit margin on a parts sale, especially when it's so easy and efficient to just take the part out of the trunk. Standard labor hours estimates generally include time for both diagnostics and parts procurement.
There is actually an antitrust concept here - tying. When a monopolist forces its customer to buy one product in order to gain access to another it's known as tying and it's quite unlawful. I'm not suggesting that every shop that ties parts and labor is going to get prosecuted (although once they get your car taken apart they are effectively a monopolist) but it is a practice that surpresses price competition on parts and anything that surpresses competition in our economic system is a bad thing. And by the way you can call them an asshole behind their backs too.
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You are not in a good position, and I know you are aware of that. The fellow below who suggested you send the parts back wasn't far off IMO. My private shop wouldn't be happy doing it, and they might refuse. Unlike what the other fellow said, I wouldn't think of going anywhere else. The guy does excellent work, and only replaces what he needs to.
I do my own work with parts I buy (FCP mostly). When I want the indy to do the work (more rare) I give him the profit. I can well imagine fighting with him over whether I bought decent parts, and that is an argument I'd rather not have. Also, what was written below regarding labor rates and profit rings true to me. It is a little hard to accept, with rates what they are.
I wish you luck in finding what you seek. There may not be anyone here who has done what you are suggesting in the Seattle area, since it is somewhat rare. Also, it sounds like you have hit two good shops who refused. Good luck.
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My shop seems glad when I have parts. I'm sure he makes up the margin elsewhere, and it seems to save him some trouble. All shops are different. I hate the ones that won't let you into the work area to see your car, or fails to show the old parts. I'm sure that what you are looking for is out there. Good Luck.
Bill
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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's
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A shop has every right to take the position that they will not install your parts, and you should never, ever do business with any shop that takes that position. Keep looking - you will find a shop that will install your parts, and when you do you most likely will have a found a great, honest shop. The idea that a shop is entitled to earn a big markup on parts is common but perfectly bogus. They are not performing ANY of the functions that a middleman would typically perform to earn a profit margin. If you were bringing in inferior parts and asking them to warranty the part and labor it would be a different matter. This is just pure profit mongering - their right, and it's your right to avoid them like the plague.
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So you do understand that the shop wants their profit on parts, especially on a gravy job like scheduled maintenance. Offer to pay the markup on their parts on top of their labor, using your parts and I bet they would do it. Of course it would end up costing the same or more as if you had never ordered the parts in the first place, but mechanics don't just make their living off the labor. If they weren't allowed to make a profit on parts, the labor rate would be much higher.
Either that or send the whole box back to FCP, get a refund and hope the mechanic doesn't remember that you're the guy who asked them to install your FCP parts. Final repair bills can be subjective you know :-)
--
Volvo Farmer. 24 Volvos, '58-'97, all RWD, except the 850 t5
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