Is High Cost of Volvo Parts Justified?

[Walt Bilofsky]

In a recent post in rec.boats.cruising about buying a reconditioned
Volvo diesel engine, all six replies complained about the cost of
Volvo parts, using terms like "astronomical", "ridiculously high",
"extremely expensive". (Parts were not mentioned in the original
post.) OTOH, two posters said that not many parts were needed.

A year ago, I wrote to Volvo on this issue, and received a reply
saying essentially that their prices were high because their quality
was better.

What do people think? Are Volvo spare parts better than aftermarket
parts? Are they worth the difference?

- Walt Bilofsky

(posted to rec.boats, rec.boats.cruising)
____________________________

To start off the discussion, here's Volvo's opinion:

"Dear Mr. Bilofsky:

"I am sorry to read of your dissatisfaction with Volvo Penta Parts and
Accessories pricing. Our company works hard at maintaining
competitive price positioning versus after-market products, but
unfortunately the price of quality, reliability and dependability is
high, especially if you consider the relatively low volumes associated
with marine applications.

"In addition to our one-year limited parts and labor warranty and our
15-year commitment to providing parts for a particular engine model,
Volvo Penta has developed exacting standards for parts like those
noted in your letter. For example, Volvo Penta pencil's zincs and
anodes must meet extremely high levels of zinc purity and we have
found no after-market zincs meeting our purity standards. Oil filters
and particularly the oil filter medium are designed to provide added
protection for the marine environment. We actually have oil filter
cutaway displays in many of our dealerships that show the quality
difference between our filter's internal construction and typical
after-market filters. Another example is Instrument Panels where we
specify top of the line VDO gauges with double glass to minimize the
direct effects of sunlight on gauge operation.

"In closing, we believe our parts and accessories meet the price to
quality equation and are correctly priced. We are also sometimes
frustrated that we cannot always convince dealers to sell Genuine
parts in place of after-market products that can shorten the life of
your engine.

"William D. Nichtern
Vice President - Parts and Accessories"

[Jim Swist]

Any manufacturer will tell you the only way to make a decent bottom line is
on parts and service. If the parts in question are in low enough demand
there is no justification for aftermarket suppliers to make them and
the manufacturer is thus holding a monopoly and can charge what they want.

I just replaced the air cleaner housing in my Ford - a part unavailable
from other sources - and was charged $200 for a simple piece of plastic with
a sensor and a couple of fittings on it.

You are also a victim of the "marine uplift". As much as some people would
like to say otherwise, there are many people buying marine parts who are
not sensitive to their cost. I'll bet my air cleaner housing would be $300
in a marine application.

The only way a marine manufacturer can get hurt by raising (sole source) parts
cost too much is if it deters people from buying the engine to begin with, but
in how many cases do you (a) have a choice, or (b) rate parts costs higher
than such things as reliability and performance?

As far as the statement from Volvo, I would take it with a grain or salt.
Do you expect them to say they raise the parts prices because it's what the
market will bear? Of course they use the better-quality argument. I think
it's probably more like a case-by-case basis - I've seen aftermarket parts
better than the originals as well as far worse.

[cuem...@televar.com]

I have never owned a Volvo marine product, but I owned 2 Volvo cars and
have some input about parts prices. They are VERY high and not justifiably
so, IMHO. My attraction to Volvo was that the earlier ones were very easy to
work on, but this was flawed thinking. I didn't know just how many
opportunities I would have to work on the damn things. It was like having a
second job. I'll never buy another Volvo.