Parts pricing for Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, etc.

[Timan]

I apologize up front if this posting is in incorrect forum. I should explain my previous 35-40 years of riding has been on old BMW Airheads. Last 6-7 years I have grown to appreciate other brands and really enjoy the performance and friendliness and helpful nature of the riders. Recently I have gone through and replaced quite a few parts on a Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki. Now to the question; why do the price of parts vary so much? I live in city with 3-4 major dealers of most any brand so comparison is easy. Not giving the holier-than-thou rant but with the exception of 1-2 dealers; BMW part prices are within pennies anywhere in the US. Can these other brands set their own prices? As an example: one of the rear sprocket bolts for a Suzuki, at one dealer $7.82 for the bolt; the other dealer $1.75 for bolt and nut. Both OEM part. Yesterday I checked on clutch reservoir cover for FJR: mail order $3.62, dealer A=$7.00; dealer B=almost $10.00. I realize I must pay shipping but why so much variance. I also realize I'm free to buy from whatever source I see fit; but why should I have to shop for every piece and part?

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

While Yamaha NA (Cypress) may have MSRPs for their parts, many dealers use computerized mark-up programs for parts pricing. Thus, for instance, anything they pay under, say?, $2 for gets, say?, 200% mark-up (it can be any way they want it). And, businesses in the U.S. are free to charge any price they want for their goods and services.

So, I guess you will need to continually search for the cheapest part -- since competition exists?

One thing you didn't have to deal with when wrenching on Beemers, eh? :huh:

 

[Timan]

I still have (2) /6's and a GS oilhead so I stay calibrated. On a good day I can do a BMW spline job in about 4 hours. I just did the splines on my new to me '05 FJR in about 30 minutes. To be fair valve adjustment on Air/oil head is minutes; haven't done the FJR yet, but I'll bet I'm looking hours. In the end it all probably balances out.

 

[mattster31]

I apologize up front if this posting is in incorrect forum. I should explain my previous 35-40 years of riding has been on old BMW Airheads. Last 6-7 years I have grown to appreciate other brands and really enjoy the performance and friendliness and helpful nature of the riders. Recently I have gone through and replaced quite a few parts on a Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki. Now to the question; why do the price of parts vary so much? I live in city with 3-4 major dealers of most any brand so comparison is easy. Not giving the holier-than-thou rant but with the exception of 1-2 dealers; BMW part prices are within pennies anywhere in the US. Can these other brands set their own prices? As an example: one of the rear sprocket bolts for a Suzuki, at one dealer $7.82 for the bolt; the other dealer $1.75 for bolt and nut. Both OEM part. Yesterday I checked on clutch reservoir cover for FJR: mail order $3.62, dealer A=$7.00; dealer B=almost $10.00. I realize I must pay shipping but why so much variance. I also realize I'm free to buy from whatever source I see fit; but why should I have to shop for every piece and part?

Try buying parts in Canada!!!!! That 50 amp main fuse???? $4.50 online from the USA..........$16.00 at my dealer in Burlington,Ontario...........$4.22 at the local Canadian tire. I no longer buy any parts in Canada. I will always buy online and pay the duty fees. It's still a third the cost!!!!