On several occasions when I asked to see/ or have the old part of a repair returned, I was told the part needs to be turned back in to the parts maker because they refurbish it or something like that or I have to pay an extra fee. Recent parts were
a water pump, and catalytic converter.
Is this true? The garage usually complied to save the part and showed it to me.
Many parts are sent back to the parts store so they can be rebuilt or refurbished and then sold again. This is no reason why you can’t inspect the old parts when you pick up the car and pay the bill. The mechanic can hold the parts and send the old one’s back to the parts store later. You need to tell the shop in advance that you want to see the old parts otherwise they may give them to the parts store driver when the new parts are delivered.
What you’re referring to is called a “core charge”. The parts are returned to the supplier for rebuild (reprocessing in the case of the converter), and your final cost is reduced by the return value of the parts. That’s a normal practice. If you choose to keep the parts, you’ll need to pay teh total amount including that “core charge” amount.
Honest shops will be happy to show you the part before returning it. In some states it’s required.
I am in agreement with the others. If you want to keep the old parts, you will need to add the core charge to the bill and pay extra. If you want to see the old failing parts, you should either ask the mechanic to show them to you before they are removed, or ask in advance to see them before they are sent off to be recycled.
And some of these core charges are OUTRAGEOUS. I replaced the caliper on my 4-runner…Core charge was $100. The cost of the caliper was only $80.
thanks for the replies, none of the shops ever have shown the details on the bill
cost of new part minus the bonus for turning in the old part - I would like to see more details- including the “core charge” - on my bill. Next time I will ask.
Recently, I have noticed fewer parts sold at the store have a core charge. There are still core charges for batteries, but not for things like brake pads. Still, they might be recycled, and it certainly isn’t realistic to ask a mechanic to dig through the scrap pile and identify your part after the fact. Don’t be surprised if there is no core charge and the mechanic still can’t produce the old part after the fact.
There are still core charges for batteries, but not for things like brake pads.
I’ve NEVER seen a core charge for pads…Shoes - YES…but never pads.
Still, they might be recycled, and it certainly isn’t realistic to ask a mechanic to dig through the scrap pile and identify your part after the fact.
In some states is LAW to reproduce the old parts if asked for prior to the mechanic working on your car.
The core charge for the catalytic converter is a new one for me. It’s against the law in most states to sell a rebuilt or used catalytic converter.
My right side cat went out on my 06 Charger. $430 for the cat $200 core charge.
transman
The key words being “prior to the mechanic working on your car.”
The last time I did a brake job on drum brakes, there was no core charge for the brake shoes.
That doesn’t mean they can’t recycle the materials used to make them, which, if memory serves, can be quite valuable. Just because they can’t rebuild them or sell them used doesn’t mean the old ones don’t have value.