Where are you guys getting your parts?

[Craftsman Garage]

Me and my dad are running a repair business. I fix the riding mowers, he fixes mostly JD 300 series(316, 318), 400 series(425, 445,455), and JD gators. Where are you repair guys getting your parts? It sets him back a while waiting for JD OEM parts to ship, etc. (Not to mention how outrageous JD parts cost) That's why I don't do JD lol.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

I'm not big enough to get on with Stens, Rotary etc.. unfortunately, but I order alot through parts tree with their advantage program, and they're in Austin which is only 4 hours from me. They start off at 10% discount and the more you purchase the more of a discount you will receive.
They aren't a JD dealer though.
I get JD parts from my local JD dealer

 

[StarTech]

For JD parts I use mostly Green Farm Parts as they are lower than the local dealer. On top the local dealer's parts counter is too stupid to understand that only have a landline that can't accept text messages. Like this weekend they have free shipping on orders of $50 or more this weekend.

Scrub depending what kinda annual purchases Stens and Rotary are not hard to get an account as long as you have a tax exemption and a business license.

For me I have only brought $680 from Stens and $2200 from Rotary so far this year. Now of course I have only brought around $12,000 in parts this year from various vendors.

 

[hlw49]

I am just a retiree that has been doing this for 49 years. Buy a lot of parts from where I used to work that is a hardware store that sells Stihl. and Dixie Chopper. I buy a lot of JD parts off Ebay and Amazon. MTD and Husqvarna parts as well. When CC wants $129.95 for one spindle and you can get 3 for $59.95. Have had a few issues with them but sellers have always made them good. We would buy them off eBay or Amazon and sell all three for $159.95. Do a google search for the part you need and someone will have it on Ebay or Amazon.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

For JD parts I use mostly Green Farm Parts as they are lower than the local dealer. On top the local dealer's parts counter is too stupid to understand that only have a landline that can't accept text messages. Like this weekend they have free shipping on orders of $50 or more this weekend.

Scrub depending what kinda annual purchases Stens and Rotary are not hard to get an account as long as you have a tax exemption and a business license.

For me I have only brought $680 from Stens and $2200 from Rotary so far this year. Now of course I have only brought around $12,000 in parts this year from various vendors.

Hmm, i was told you had to have like 2 or 3K initial order... was i lied too?

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Me and my dad are running a repair business. I fix the riding mowers, he fixes mostly JD 300 series(316, 318), 400 series(425, 445,455), and JD gators. Where are you repair guys getting your parts? It sets him back a while waiting for JD OEM parts to ship, etc. (Not to mention how outrageous JD parts cost) That's why I don't do JD lol.

I buy parts from Amazon, EBay, and local Hardware store that is also a Scag, Bad Boy, and Stihl dealer. For me, quality of part, selection, service, picking rate accuracy, and how quickly I can get the parts are more important than saving 10-20%. Customers never complain about my parts prices.

Hlw49-So you are buying 3 spindles and marking them up 165%!!! That is one healthy mark up.

Rotary, Stens, and Oregon usually require around a $200 minimum order for free shipping. I rarely order enough at one time to meet this minimum. Also, these companies don’t even seem eager to help out small shops. In other words, initially act like they want your business. I do about $7000 in parts purchases per year in a one man shop. I realize they normally have tiered prices based on volume. I don’t expect the best price. I do however, want someone to hustle for my business like I used to in outside wholesale sales for 8 years.

Don’t forget about smaller suppliers like 8ten and Hipa. Going to the Equipment Expo in Louisville, Kentucky next week. Getting hooked up with a new alternative supplier(s) is one of my goals for the trade show.

 

[StarTech]

Hmm, i was told you had to have like 2 or 3K initial order... was i lied too?

I sent you a PM.

 

[hlw49]

I buy parts from Amazon, EBay, and local Hardware store that is also a Scag, Bad Boy, and Stihl dealer. For me, quality of part, selection, service, picking rate accuracy, and how quickly I can get the parts are more important than saving 10-20%. Customers never complain about my parts prices.

Hlw49-So you are buying 3 spindles and marking them up 165%!!! That is one healthy mark up.

Rotary, Stens, and Oregon usually require around a $200 minimum order for free shipping. I rarely order enough at one time to meet this minimum. Also, these companies don’t even seem eager to help out small shops. In other words, initially act like they want your business. I do about $7000 in parts purchases per year in a one man shop. I realize they normally have tiered prices based on volume. I don’t expect the best price. I do however, want someone to hustle for my business like I used to in outside wholesale sales for 8 years.

Don’t forget about smaller suppliers like 8ten and Hipa. Going to the Equipment Expo in Louisville, Kentucky next week. Getting hooked up with a new alternative supplier(s) is one of my goals for the trade show.

Makes up for where I can't get a good discount. I guess if you look at it like that but instead of charging him $389.95, I saved him $230.00. All in the way you look at it.

 

[Oddjob]

Hmm, i was told you had to have like 2 or 3K initial order... was i lied too?

I buy parts from them and never had an order over $100.

 

[StarTech]

Stihl parts are a dealer only items but you can shop around for the best local dealer. Seldom need Scag oem parts as most items or either their respective oem or are available in aftermarket for me. Now Bad Boy is a new line for me to work on but even those engines and transaxle that are not Bad Boy items. Even the spindles and pulleys are becoming available in after market.

As for resale pricing most parts here that are oem I have suggested list price files for. For part purchase outside normal sources it is 20% GPM on items with free shipping or 35% GPM when shipping is involve. Either I got to stay halfway competitive with the locals.

But on some oem parts I can find better pricing outside the distributor network at times. On those parts I usually make a little extra.

And I never sell aftermarket as OEM parts; it can come back and bite you in the tail feathers. You also got to be careful ordering aftermarket parts as some are not even made to spec.

Like the Bad Boy pulleys I got off Amazon. They would have been better pulley except that I had to shave off 1/8" the pulley hub height. Otherwords the manufacture did not allow for the extra thickness of the pulley. Without me modifying the pulleys they would rub on the safety covers.