Domestic auto parts shouldnt be hard to find, but the reality is that the mechanics and dealerships seem to have a lock on this enormous market. If youve ever gone in for routine repairs only to be told it will take over a thousand dollars to get your vehicle going again, you know the particular anguish that comes with the price of replacement auto parts. Was it always this way, or has the bottom line on domestic auto parts in general spun out of control?
In fact it has indeed, propelled in so small part by the peculiar situation of an industry controlled almost entirely by resellers. The bug automakers werent quite so bold with pricing at the dawn of the repair boom when they still feared competition from less expensive, homespun alternatives to their parts. But when their fears were met with a resounding vacuum in the marketplace, they began seeing this industry as the potential goldmine it has become.
Domestic Auto Parts Dont Need to Be Expensive
Go to any factory in the United States and you will likely notice that overall production flies along pretty quickly. The truth is that auto parts are not the expensive parts, cars are, which is why we all pay hefty price tags to cover the cost of assembly. What is expensive is asking independent engineers to create knock-off versions for every make and model in the world, which is why the automakers roll along confident their hegemony will never be challenged.
The good news is that the Internet has created a huge secondary market for these very same domestic auto parts, and today the car manufacturers are finally getting the message. When they cut prices and post great deals on the Web, people respond with massive volume and warmer customer reviews. Because the name of the game is bringing that driver back after 100,000 miles for a new car, every little bit helps.
