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FCP vs. IPD vast pricing differences 700 1991

posted by  chris herbst on  Fri Jun 28 16:12 CST 2002
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last visit: Mon Oct 20 20:32 CST 2014
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Sadly I've seen a lot of IPD-bashing on this site. Fortunately not much recently.

I think that IPD and FCP (which I haven't used) fill certain niche markets, respectively. FCP is obviously the price point leader and IPD has a fantastic catalog, great service, product support, and undoubtedly quite a big overhead. They do a lot of R&D, and I can say I've never been disappointed by their service. I really dig their catalog. If FCP has a catalog, I haven't seen it. And if *I* haven't started getting it, something is wrong with their marketing...

I had only one MINOR issue with IPD, some time ago. It was a questionable fit on a part, and they not only sent a new part express delivery service, but additionally offered to have work done at a shop (at the time I was not actually a shop tech) at their expense. You pay for the support, but I was blown away by the offer itself. Fortunately it turned out to be an unusual circumstance, but either way IPD stood behind the product. That is something that you don't see very much.

And of course subsequent orders have been equally as satisfying.

In the past couple of years, I've had access to wholesale distribution for parts. I can usually at least match, if not beat, FCP's prices, even for things like radiator hoses straight from the local Carquest branch office. I'm in an unusual situation, as I get around some of the middlemen. But that doesn't mean that I still haven't identified certain "wants" in the IPD catalog. They have some very specialized parts that you can't find just anywhere.

I don't want to have it said that FCP doesn't have good prices/service/whatever. I'm sure they do, and I'll probably use them at some point. But you do have to be fair when you consider the overhead and the niche.
--
1992 940 wagon, 72k





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