Other Stuff > Misc / Open
Petition
MCTID:
I remember having a conversation about this 'issue' before June 2016 with my Son in Law who owns a Garage employing about 20 peeps in Manchester. He specialises in German Cars and his 'claim to fame' is his hourly rate which is a fraction of the relevant Main Dealer prices.....he also gets a lot of Kudos because he only fits OEM parts and all his Technicians are Factory Trained, the Manufacturers warranty is valid. He also knocks 10% off the price of OEM parts and he will also tell you if a VW badged part will fit your Audi or Porsche and the price difference.....i.e. a Brake Caliper in a VW box will cost 1/3 of the same part in a Porsche box. It's the same part but if your car is out of Warranty, do you really need to spend a lot more dosh than you need to.....or Porsche want you to ?
His business also handles a lot of Fleet Cars and Vans, and again, he will offer Owners an alternative part if there is a significant saving as many parts for Citroens, Renaults, Peugeots and Vauxhalls are basically the same, but the price difference may be significant. Another factor is who can supply the part today or will you have to wait 48 hours for it to be delivered from the Main Dealer/ Motor Factor - a vital factor when you have a vehicle stripped down on the ramp taking up workshop space awaiting parts to get it back on the road....think Fleet Vehicles here folks !
He tells me that other Independent Garages like his will also offer alternative parts just like he does, and for a large Fleet, the annual savings can be substantial. Fleet Owners expect him to be proactive and to add value wherever possible and repeat business is often won by passing on these savings.
The conversation we had back in June 2016 was about an EU initiative to prevent the use of non OEM parts on vehicles....which would have had a major impact upon his business without adding any real benefit or ensuring Customers had a choice. Although we all accept that Emissions should be tightly controlled, is it really a good thing that a mild steel exhaust system provided (not made by the Vehicle Manufacturer but outsourced) retailing at £250 might be outlawed and instead the Customer has no choice but to buy the Manufacturers Stamped exhaust system at £750 ! It's made from the same material, made to the same specifications and made by the same Factory, but you will only be able to buy it from the Manufacturer and you will have to pay the asking price they want ! So much for choice, value and the 'free market' ! Similarly, should a Headlight or a Door Mirror which you can buy as a Pattern part be available for £100 or £50 or should you be forced to pay 4 or 5 times that price because legally, you can only buy it from the Main Dealer ?
Back in 2026, my SIL was aghast that such an initiative was being considered and felt it was a negative proposal........and although many thought it had bit the dust since then, it's obvious that somebody somewhere has refused to let it drop and is trying to introduce it again !
I signed this petition and also responded to the call for comments that the BMF asked for - despite it being a PITA to complete and return the formal Response Form......in my experience, when any Civil Service Department deliberately makes it difficult to air your views, then there's usually a very 'dodgy' reason behind their subterfuge and sleight of hand........i.e. they don't actually want people to comment because they have no interest in what Joe Public wants as they have already made their minds up.
Let's hope that common sense prevails in this matter, but if it doesn't then we may all need to badger our local MP's or we will once again be stuck with it !
Moorey:
Signed but a waste of time as nothing has ever come of any of these petitions All 100,000 sigs does is mean it will be considered
for debate not debated.
allankelly1:
When you think about it, if it’s just to do mainly with emissions, I see it as back door tactics by the government to force use over to electric as cost of OEM parts for a 5year old ICE vehicle will be stupid
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Athame57:
Signed.
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
Reading MCTID's post does make one ponder why the government came up with the idea that it was legislation that was remotely a priority - I suspect the hidden power of money & vested interests at work with some clever lobbying.
We haven't changed the legislation that covers most assaults since 1861 (Ye Olde "Offences Against the Persons Act 1861") so why even consider it - the usual route is a Statutory Instrument to add the offence to existing Construction & Use Regulations without the need of new legislation !
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version