I know what your thinking asking for the old parts back is my solution to this
auto repair problem. Yes it is but I have a twist up my sleeve and I want to
talk about asking for the old parts back in more depth.
The problems
with asking for the old parts back from your auto repair are many. Number one
what you are really saying is I don’t trust you, right to your shops face.
Another problem is if you ask for the old parts back from lets say a tune up you
may get six old spark plugs and a smelly fuel soaked fuel filter. You do not
want to carry around a wet fuel filter, and when it comes to the old spark plugs
they could be out of anybody’s vehicle. Some times the part numbers on the old
spark plugs is hard to read on very old plugs. If you can read the part number
you can call a parts store to verify the spark plug part number belongs in your
vehicle. When you are talking about getting the old parts back when the auto
repair is brake job, trust me you do not want the old brake pads back. They are
in most cases unidentifiable and very dirty and dusty. Plus there is no readable
part Number to verify if they are off of your vehicle. So again they could be
from someone else’s car repair.
Ok here is my twist on this ask for the
old parts problem.
Don’t ask for the old parts from the auto repair but
instead ask for the boxes from the new parts that were installed. Now confirming
part numbers with a third party parts store is easy. You will not have to deal
with dirty smelly old parts. You still have the trust issue to get around but
you can be creative on this subject. We can tell the repair shop we collect
automotive boxes for your box collection.
Yes they will think your weird
but they will not think that you don’t trust them. Or tell them you want the new
boxes so when you need those parts again you know the correct part numbers. Its
funny when even a known felon will get mad at you when you do not trust him.
When it comes to larger more expensive parts you can tell the shop you want to
save the box for warranty purposes just in case the new auto parts fail. This
will make it easier for both you and the shop to receive credit should there be
a parts warranty issue in the future.
Let me give you an example of this.
Lets say you have a few year old Chevrolet and it needs a fuel pump. A new Delco
fuel pump is around $400.00 because it comes as a one-piece unit along with the
fuel tank sending unit. It is not uncommon to have a new fuel pump fail shortly
after replacement. This is called infant mortality in the parts world. If you
saved the box it came in a credit from the parts house is a snap.
If you
don’t care what the auto repair shop thinks of you, which is ok because you’re
the one paying the bill. Ask for both the old parts back inside the new boxes.
This is the most effective way of confirming the parts were actually installed
on your vehicle. Just to make this very clear it is your right as a consumer to
ask for your old parts back. This is true in all 50 states in the U.S. The only
time this plan will not work is if there is a core charge on the old part. As I
explained earlier some parts are returned to the parts supplier for
re-manufacturing purposes. When cores are returned to the parts vendor for
rebuilding they are returned in the new boxes
It is still your right to
receive the old parts back from your auto repair but you will have to pay the
core charge. The core charge can be a very small fee. It can also go in the
other direction costing almost as much as the new part. So ask your shop what
the core charges are up front before you request all the old parts and new
boxes.
Mark Gittelman is an ASE Certified Master Technician With more
than 23 years experience in the automotive repair business. For more free
automotive mechanics secrets revealed visit the insiders guide to auto
repair. Or to post a car question visit Mark's auto repair help and
answers page.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
organization.
