So when did motor factors start adding surcharges onto parts?

I've just been shopping for a new starter motor for an old golf, and practically all of them are asking the part price (£100ish) plus typically 60-70 surcharge.
If i return my old unit i get this back.

I must admit i haven't bought anything like this for a while, but never heard of this before!

Regards,
ANdy

That'll most likely be because your new starter motor will be a reconditioned one, so obviously the £100 is effectively for the reconditioning of a unit that's worth £70 (the knackered one).

It's been going on for quite a while - basically they want your old unit back to recon/overhaul and sell on an exchange basis.

There are 4 ways around this;

i) Take old unit in with you when ordering new one, save forking out the surcharge and a double journey
ii) Make good friends with the local motor factors, and they'll let you off paying the charge and assume you'll bring the old unit back at some point
iii) Look on eBay or online for a unit to purchase outright
iv) Find an old-school electrical motor engineer and get him to overhaul/recon/exchange it for you!

Ive never known it to be any different for remanufacturered parts.
Starters, alternators, steering racks etc... have all carried surcharges as long as ive been dealing with cars.

Shop around your likely to find someone who produces and brand new item that doesnt require an exchange part.

Try this ebay shop, no surcharge, only sell new units. Link

Standard practice since I was a sprog - expensive parts remanufactured get a surcharge added. You can buy new if you prefer.

Andy

As said above, pretty standard for starters/alternators etc and has been ever since ive been tinkering with cars
Another point to think of is, if you take the knackered starter with you, you are more likely to get the new one right first time



Steve

So really this is like getting the 10p back for returning your bottle, only they put it on to begin with...

Could be put in a more "cost effective way" like "£170, or £100 if you bring your broken part for us to recycle"

The calipers I was buying for the Locost from Brakes International in about 2003 all had a surcharge on them.