IAP pricing vs. everyone else

jhoffmanjr1968 · Post by **jhoffmanjr1968** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:23 pm

just for the record, I have purchased quite a bit from IAP.......but it seems their pricing is going through the roof. I just made my first purchase through Vicks on some trailing arms. I inquired on pricing of sway bars while talking to them. 159.00 compared to IAP's 219.00.
maybe I'm stating the obvious but IAP is going to price themselves out of the market. I have purchased from Bruce's in the past. priced very well and shipped immediately.
anyone else have any parts places they have used?
pricing and availability being factors?

manoa matt · Post by **manoa matt** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:29 pm

A lot of prices jumped in their most recent catalogue. A radiatior went from $289 to $355.

I found an old 1995 vicks catalogue when I went home for Christmass last year. The prices were still the same as current.

You think IAP's prices are crazy take a look at daytona spider on ebay

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:54 pm

the problem is the weak dollar vs the euro. As the dollars' value keeps falling, these imported parts are skyrocketing. The vendors can sell old stock at the cheap prices, but it's impossible to replace the stuff at the same cost these days.

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:17 pm

manoa matt wrote:A lot of prices jumped in their most recent catalogue. A radiatior went from $289 to $355.

I found an old 1995 vicks catalogue when I went home for Christmass last year. The prices were still the same as current.

You think IAP's prices are crazy take a look at daytona spider on ebay

Not ot mention that Daytona Spyder will rip you off if they get a chance!! Thank you MasterCard for getting my money back!!

Joe Clemente · Post by **Joe Clemente** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:46 pm

As much as I like IAP it isn't always easy to give them your business. The biggest concern I have with IAP is not so much the price of the parts but the $25 minimum for shipping. That was two years ago. Not sure if it has gone up recently with other pricing as I've not seen their latest info but I was left nearly speechless when I needed a set of valve seals for my Alfa and they hit me with that. And it all tends to come shrinkwrapped with the standard IAP "take it or leave it" mantra.

HOLLYWOODSPIDER · Post by **HOLLYWOODSPIDER** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:09 pm

I don't like the fact that IAP is so heavily slanted towards Alfas. When I read their catalog, I always feel that they carry Fiat parts as an afterthought.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:08 am

I've bought from all of them: IAP, Vicks, Bayless, Bruce's....etc. I have found IAP to be a tad more expensive on some things and parts availability is sometimes an issue, but they've been very helpful with my questions. Vicks has also been very helpful and hope they continue to be (where did I read they've changed hands?). I haven't tried Bayless since they went completely online. I prefer talking to real people who can answer my silly questions but haven't disregarded them completely.

jhoffmanjr1968 · Post by **jhoffmanjr1968** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:08 am

Joe,
I would have to agree with you on the shipping. I purchased a exhaust manifold gasket recently. I was pretty stunned at the total price. I tried to find one around Cincinnati parts stores but no luck. I love IAP's book but at this point, thats about all they have goiong for them.

manoa matt · Post by **manoa matt** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:17 pm

Before we all start bashing IAP, we must realize that they are a company dedicated to providing us with parts to keep our 30+ year old Italian cars on the road and running right. Besides all those color pictures and glossy paper catalogues cost a lot of money to print, advertising costs money.

Yeah shipping is expensive, I think we've all got use to the cheap USPS priority or flat rates, and forgot how expensive UPS or FED EX is. Mainlanders be glad you only have to pay ground service. Every order I place from Hawaii has to go by 2nd day air no matter how small.

Oh, the internet is a glorious thing. You can find anything you want for 1/2 the price of retail, but it may take a few weeks to get to you, and the sellers idea of good condition is probably not your idea of good condition.

I think its great that I can pick up an IAP or Vics catalogue and in a few minutes I can find exactly what I want, order and pay for it in one phone call to a real person, and have a brand new part arrive in a few days.
Sure it costs a little extra ,but thats the service you are paying for.

I think IAP has more Alfa parts simply because there are many different models of Alfas, and Alfas tend to have more parts than a Fiat. Thats why we drive and work on Fiats. The parts are cheaper and the cars are easy to work on. You have to applaude the Fiat engineers for keeping it simple and not over engineering parts or systems.

Jhoffmanjr: Have you heard of Bertone motors? They are in the Natty area. I see them selling on Ebay every now and then. I think when I had my first Fiat back in 96 I had my head done by them. They know their Fiats.

kristoj · Post by **kristoj** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:36 pm

So Cal Mark wrote:the problem is the weak dollar vs the euro. As the dollars' value keeps falling, these imported parts are skyrocketing. The vendors can sell old stock at the cheap prices, but it's impossible to replace the stuff at the same cost these days.

I agree with Mark. The U.S. dollar has plummeted and is now worth less than the Canadian dollar! This will eventually catch up with all of the suppliers. Also, IAP has the best, easiest to navigate web site -- bar none. I have done business with all of the suppliers, but I usually begin my search at IAP because I can actually easily find the part I'm looking for. Vick's user interface isn't the greatest.

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:10 pm

thats the second car that ive seen with a smaller front license plate frame. where do you get these.

jhoffmanjr1968 · Post by **jhoffmanjr1968** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:57 am

I have seen bertone motors on ebay as well. I have owned five fiats and have purchased parts locally but I had never used them before. I don't believe that they are a parts store with a store front. As for bashing IAP. I made the statement because of the increase in the past year. they have the best magazine out there and yes they provide a service to our Italian cars.....but it's no different then owning a old mustang or beetle. If there is money to be made by offering the parts...someone will be there to do so. I would be curious to see if all of our parts suppliers prices go up as well or if IAP thinks they are the only supplier out here.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:48 am

1. Stick with the reputable suppliers (does not include evil bay)
2. have a wide enough supplier base, and USE that supplier base regularly. knowing the quality of the product to be delivered allows you to price shop (see #1 above).
3. talk to your suppliers regularly about things other than price.

reputable suppliers will not be hosing you on freight expense. they have too much competition, and better things to do to get into that game.

i have five suppliers that i use EVERY year. i expect quality parts from each of them, and use price as only ONE factor...availability plays a part as well. even if i don't needa part this year, i make sure they see my name on an order form at least once....buy a t-shirt now and then!!!

be glad that your suppliers are making a profit worth their return to work tomorrow. that is what puts food on their table, and why they aren't selling Miata parts instead. Until you can speaka-de-language, be glad there is someone else willing to volume buy directly from Italy, so you don't have to. Be glad there are folks willing to fork out good money for inventory that may not sell for a year or two-three.

Joe Clemente · Post by **Joe Clemente** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:13 am

Discussing pricing is useful. Not so sure anyone is really bashing IAP here or any other supplier for that matter. I certainly appreciate the fact we have an IAP or a Vicks or Bayless or whatever other part vendor is available to us as enthusiasts and I certainly wouldn't challenge their right to make a living or a profit. Higher part prices due to a weakened U.S. dollar is also perfectly understandable.

But those are separate issues. Let's be careful not to confuse, or indeed use as justification, the notion of their availability, helpfulness, convenience, distance or right to profit with profiteering. I have to agree that our established vendors are not specifically in the business to gouge because they obviously would not be in business for very long if they did. But let's put this into perspective; charging $25 for shipping, regardless who the vendor may be, on a part that may cost perhaps one third that amount is not only excessive but frankly, unreasonable, especially when that cost is not even negotiable. In my particular case, I ended up buying more than just valve stem seals. A lot more. Wouldn't do it otherwise for just seals.

Celebrate your part vendors by all means but get your money's worth as well guys.

Cheers!

Joe

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:57 am

I think I'm misunderstanding your post, Joe. Are you saying your minimum order has to be $25 to get it shipped or they charge a minimum of $25 for shipping expense?
I just ordered 4 sets of axle nuts and shipping was $6.75 but the order was just over $25 so it must be the first scenerio. I have run into this business practice with several other companies and since my orders to IAP usually cost more than $25, I didn't realize they had this rule, but I don't think it's that unreasonable.