I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again: Walk in the door, explain that you spend x number of dollars on parts in a year, and you would like to spend it with them. Let them make you the offer.
I did that in 1996 at MB of Tampa and they took me up on it and gave me a commercial discount. I don’t have an account, I can’t charge anything there, I’m just in their system with that discount assigned to my name/phone number. It’s been a great relationship and a good deal for both of us. Some years they do well, others are slower. But in the grand scheme of things we’ve both benefitted from it, and it takes a sharp business to realize that value. -D > On Sep 1, 2022, at 9:44 AM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > Maybe I need to approach my dealer about some sort of price deal if I steer a > lot of my parts business to them. I have dealt with them for many years. > Last time I was in there I had not been in for years but the old timers > remembered me. > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Sep 1, 2022, at 11:12 AM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes >> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >> Depending on what the part is, the discount model that MB of Covington uses >> usually makes it a wash or slightly less than my local dealer due to sales >> taxes. However, I discussed this with my dealer a few weeks ago and they >> said they would match Covington’s price for me, so in the future I’ll price >> check using Covington and then go to my local dealer. >> >> Maybe it’s an anomaly, but my dealer empowers their employees to make the >> deal to get a sale. That’s really great for both of us, because they get the >> business and I get the best price. >> >> -D >> >>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 9:00 AM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes >>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>> >>> I would probably buy a lot more dealer parts if my dealer was not a rip >>> off. The shipping from the online places usually ends up being too much. >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 10:22 AM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes >>>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> I think the point is, “How many of those parts are you buying from the >>>> dealer?” OEM won’t make a difference. >>>> >>>> I mean, I even buy my soft parts such as filters and such for the dealer >>>> in most cases. They’re maybe 10% more, but it’s an OE part, which >>>> certainly has value. >>>> >>>> -D >>>> >>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 8:04 AM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes >>>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> My goal is not to keep a beater on the road as cheap as possible although >>>>> some cars that come they might fit that description. All of my drivers >>>>> are properly maintained with OE or OEM parts. >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>> >>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 9:15 AM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes >>>>>>> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Is not that they "don't care about" them, its simply a matter of >>>>>> suppliers >>>>>> no longer willing to make the parts and not finding a cost effective >>>>>> replacement. If there is a demand, they will try to find a solution. >>>>>> They're a business, not a parts charity. >>>>>> >>>>>> Next complaint will be that reworked replacement parts are too expensive. >>>>>> It takes significant resources to manufacture any parts for any car, new >>>>>> or >>>>>> old. Engineers, purchasing, business cases, testing, quality control, >>>>>> raw >>>>>> materials sourcing, tooling, etc. They don't just walk up to a machine >>>>>> and >>>>>> push the "make me door seals for a 123" button. >>>>>> >>>>>> Think about how you buy your parts...are you supporting the system by >>>>>> buying from MB genuine? Or are you looking for the cheapest possible >>>>>> source regardless of quality? Then complaining when MB support is >>>>>> gone... >>>>>> >>>>>> Owners of the 60s cars are happy to pay for parts as the value of their >>>>>> cars are increasing. MB responds by making parts available. (Like 4.5 >>>>>> engine mounts, NLA for a few years, now available again with a new >>>>>> supplier). >>>>>> >>>>>> 90s car support brings up another issue: electronics. If the chips >>>>>> don't >>>>>> exist to buy anymore, its simply impossible to make the parts. Period. >>>>>> But as the value and demand for these cars increases on the collector >>>>>> market, you will see more solutions appear. If your goal is to keep your >>>>>> beater on the road as long as possible and cheap as possible, you're not >>>>>> the target market for these solutions. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 10:03 AM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> How long ago was that? Now days you can’t even get door seals for 123 >>>>>>> coupes. A lot of 124 parts are now unavailable. Many of the ACC vacuum >>>>>>> pods >>>>>>> are NLA. As previously mentioned you can no longer get 123 oil coolers >>>>>>> or >>>>>>> 126 SDL radiators. Vin coded ignition tumblers for 123 124 and 126 are >>>>>>> NLA. >>>>>>> Perhaps they want to support very old cars or very new cars, but middle >>>>>>> aged 123-126 they don’t care about. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 7:57 AM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes < >>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Very true. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> When I was “restoring” the 65 220SEb I was constantly amazed at the >>>>>>> parts I could still get from Mercedes, and in most cases, how relatively >>>>>>> inexpensive they were. For instance, I could still get a lot of rubber >>>>>>> parts, both seals and suspension. A full set of bushings for the rear >>>>>>> swing >>>>>>> arms were less than $100. New front/rear springs, $110/each. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The left front spring was really bad on that car, so bad that corner of >>>>>>> the car was a good 2” low. Dealer checks on them and none in stock, but >>>>>>> not >>>>>>> NLA. Turns out, they had run out of inventory and were waiting on a new >>>>>>> order. So they were still sourcing these things over 50 year after the >>>>>>> car >>>>>>> was built! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -D >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2022, at 4:27 AM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes < >>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Try getting parts for 50s and 60s cars. You'd be amazed how easy it >>>>>>>>> is. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> You have to be creative in this business to find parts, but having a >>>>>>> source >>>>>>>>> like the classic center is pretty amazing overall. It's pretty >>>>>>> remarkable >>>>>>>>> what they do have. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> For example, I just bought a vacuum pod for the distributor of a >>>>>>>>> 300SEL >>>>>>>>> 3.5. Pretty obscure part, still available, under $100. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Is it perfect, no of course not, but be thankful they put so much >>>>>>>>> effort >>>>>>>>> into it, its still pretty special. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Jaime >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 7:31 PM David Bruckmann via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I agree re; NLA parts. And not just obscure stuff, but for example >>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>> window regulator kit (the little nylon disc and clip) is NLA. Which >>>>>>>>>> is >>>>>>>>>> nuts. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Kaleb Striplin wrote: >>>>>>>>>> But they do not have anything that a normal dealer could not order? >>>>>>>>>> Correct? The number of common parts that are becoming NLA is >>>>>>>>>> alarming. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 31, 2022, at 4:32 PM, Jaime Kopchinski via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> ?The classic center is alive and well, and even just moved into a >>>>>>>>>>> new >>>>>>>>>> (much >>>>>>>>>>> larger) facility inside the Long Beach VPC. Tom retired months ago, >>>>>>> but >>>>>>>>>>> hes still active online. I get parts deliveries all the time from >>>>>>> them, >>>>>>>>>>> still excellent service and loads of parts in stock. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Jaime >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 4:16 PM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> I have not heard that. I don?t think the classic center really does >>>>>>> much >>>>>>>>>>>> anymore anyway does it? They only have the same parts any other >>>>>>> dealer >>>>>>>>>> has >>>>>>>>>>>> as far as I know. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 31, 2022, at 3:14 PM, David Bruckmann via Mercedes < >>>>>>>>>>>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> ?I may be late to the party, but I recently learned that Tom >>>>>>>>>>>>> Hanson >>>>>>> has >>>>>>>>>>>>> retired from the MB Classic Center. >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> Jaime Kopchinski >>>>>>>>> http://www.jaimekop.com/ >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Jaime Kopchinski >>>>>> http://www.jaimekop.com/ >>>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>>> >>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>>> >>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>> >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com