What is with [edit] Tisher parts?

[QS -]

I wanted to buy two power window switches, was quoted $45 per...when I said "woah! I got a different price quote on May 22" - she backs off and asks if 28.99 was the price I got...
I am going down to buy them both at $29.

Am I missing something?

[absolutcq20v]

Unless you talked to one of the parts counter guys (no sexism there, just a fact), then you need to call back and do so. HTH.

[QS -]

[Roger @ CA]

They are 5 prices that a dealer's parts department work off of... Lets use a switch (3D0 947 561 B) for example.

The first price is the Dealer Cost, this is what the dealer pays Audi for the part. In this case, it's $14.67.

The next price is the suggested Retail Cost, also known as list price. This price is set by Audi to be the same across the board at any dealership. This price is also the one published for part stores, body shops, and in regular catalogs. The MSRP for the switch is $24.45.

The next price is the dealer Warranty price. This is an internal price set by Audi as the price that it pays to dealers for warranty repairs. If this window switch is replaced under warranty, Audi would pay the dealer $20.54.

The next two prices are set by the dealership, so they range by a bit from dealer to dealer and region to region. These prices are based off the MSRP.

First is the Trade price. This is usually 20% off MSRP, and is a wholesale price given to independent shops, gas stations, general body shops, etc. So that they can mark up the price back to MSRP to make some profit off the parts. Some big customers, like loyal body shops will negotiate with a dealer to get a higher percentage in return for more business... this is usually 25% off MSRP, and in some extreme cases 27% off. With those type of accounts a dealer has to make sure that the MSRP is more than 25% over cost, or else the price would have to be modified manually to split the difference. This happens on expensive, low mark-up parts like airbags, engines, trannies, etc. An Indy shop would pay $19.56 for the switch.

The final price is the most controversial, but also the most important. When Audi announces their parts pricing (the MSRP), it comes with a disclaimer saying that "these prices are for your convenience only and are not intended to be determinative of the prices you may charge your customers on resale. You may charge whatever prices you deem proper."

This price is called the Bump Cost, and its what the dealership charges to regular customers who walk in to buy parts or get their cars serviced there, unless theres some special pricing offered, like oil change specials, etc. The Bump can be anywhere between 20-30%, so that window switch can end up costing $31.79.

Hope this explains some of the price variations people see. None of this info is in any way proprietary, its just the way the industry works. Hope I was able to clear up some questions people had.
R.

[QS -]