should have used the internet dooh!

[orkboss]

Just bought two front shocks and brake shoes from my local motor spares retailer costing me Ԛ£123.00

Then talking to my friend at work with a 5 series he said to goto eurocarparts.com, thats where he gets his BMW parts. I looked and was gutted I could have saved myself Ԛ£30 in all. The days of the local motor spares retailer look doomed with the rise of the internet.

[m1key]

take them back ???

[Jos]

ECP have motorfactor type outlets too ya know! They just use the web as a form of advertising, the reason they are cheaper is because they are simply bigger.

[Jesus325iTouring]

The days of the local motor spares retailer look doomed with the rise of the internet.

Not down my way they haven't.
My local factor,Camberly Auto Factors so far have always managed to either match or better Euro Parts prices.
I find them a great help,plus theres often no waiting for parts to arrive.
Don't be fooled into thinking ECP and GSF are always the cheapest,they used to be certainly,but not any more.
I think a lot of it is they have gotten to big for their boots,at one time they used to have tiny set up's on grubby industrial estates keeping their prices cheap,now they have HUGE centres all over the country which also means HUGE bills they have to cover.
So whatever parts you want,check your local factors price,then check ECP or GSF,not forgetting to add P&P if your buying over the net and see what the difference is,for me,it's always been cheaper locally.
Local parts for local people,we have no expensive parts here!!!

[Brianmoooore]

Check your local BMW dealer prices as well. On some things they're cheaper than GSF or Eurocarparts.

[smithy318i]

On the other hand, you can check ECP's price. Then phone your local shop.
Wait for the price they quote, then say to them 'can you beat Ԛ£.pp ?'
and mention you can go somewhere else for cheaper. And see what they say!
My local usually says 'can i phone you back? Ill have to check with my suplier'
Then they phone with a lower price.

It works quite often for me!

[Jesus325iTouring]

On the other hand, you can check ECP's price. Then phone your local shop.
Wait for the price they quote, then say to them 'can you beat Ԛ£.pp ?'
and mention you can go somewhere else for cheaper. And see what they say!
My local usually says 'can i phone you back? Ill have to check with my suplier'
Then they phone with a lower price.

It works quite often for me!

Yer right,this worked for my front wheel bearing,guy quoted me Ԛ£70 ish quid,I said thats a shame,I can get one in Swindon's ECP for Ԛ£45ish + VAT,plus a tenners worth of petrol,so i may as well do that,"Hang on,he said,lets see what I can do"
Came back 30 secs later with Ԛ£46 inc Vat,cool

[orkboss]

I did initial tell my local retailer the shocks are going for Ԛ£30 on th einternet. But I did not know at the time a reputable internet retailer to use and the one I did find took ages to get back with a quote, by which time I had ordered the parts. I figured the P&P would be Ԛ£15 for a heavy item but with ecp the postage was free for over Ԛ£50.

In future I will look up prices on the internet then get a quote from my local retailer and if it is significantly higher then purchase off the internet. I do like my local motor retailer and have known him for years so if anyone was to get my cash I would rather it be him but obviously I dont want to throw money away.