Rapidly changing OPC prices

idwoodvale · Mar 28, 2009

Is my experience seen across the board?

I recently bought some items from my local OPC. At the time of ordering, the price was around £178. By the time they were at the dealer and ready for me to collect the price I was asked to pay was £196. Amongst the reasons stated were exchange rates, courrier rates and the price the OPC is charged by Porsche. On that occasion the chaps were willing to honour the price I was initially quoted. I did get the impression that they felt they were doing me a favour.

Today I went to pick up a new set of tailgate pins and all the bolts, rubber grommets etc. The price 2 weeks ago when I ordered was £68. I offered to pay at the time but was told I could wait until collection. Today I was asked for £79. Unfortunately the guys from parts were not around to discuss this so I have left the bits for now.

Am I alone in this or has anyone else had the same experience?
Should I not be offered the price quoted at ordering?
Surely this does not happen on a £70k car ordered months in advance?

Neil Haughey · Mar 28, 2009

I have had a similar experience although oddly some parts have got cheaper, the throttle peddle for my 968 cost £4.80 and ISTR they used to cost 10 or 12 quid. Some big things that you must have, have got very expensive. Front and rear shocks being a good example, circa £900 now for a complete set on the latter cars like my 968.

idwoodvale · Mar 28, 2009

I can understand prices changing. But to be charged a higher price on collection (16% in this case) after placing an order at a lower price seems wrong.

Peter Empson · Mar 28, 2009

The prices on everything we're importing at the moment are all over the place, it's a nightmare to keep on top of it all. So I can see why the prices would be changing so rapidly, but in my opinion this doesn't excuse the way they've dealt with you. I would expect to pay the price quoted at the point of order, and not whatever it may be by the time they get around to supplying you at the delivery time. To be honest I'm surprised to hear they would try to do anything else, and I think you're 100% right to have left the pins with them.

Interstingly a few small bits and bobs I've ordered from an OPC recently have all been sourced from Germany, so I suspect there's now minimal UK stocks for our cars, understandable perhaps given the small demand but it does make rapid repairs/servicing difficult (for example I needed some 944 front discs recently and was quoted a week to get them) and means we're really going to be exposed to the exchange rate fluctuations.

idwoodvale · Mar 28, 2009

Glad to hear I'm not just being naive. I'll still use them as they are convenient enough. I'll just ensure I get a printed price at the time of ordering and either hold them to it or let them keep the part in question. Was a little surprised myself that they did not automatically log the price quoted along with the order and then charge me accordingly.

911sse · Mar 28, 2009

I just paid £112 for a pair of front coils for my car. Not sure what price they have been before but I thought that was very cheap for OPC prices.

idwoodvale · Apr 15, 2009

Clarification needed.[

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I must retract my previous statement (in part only). My foolish error on the second of the above occasions was that the c.15% difference was.... VAT. I feel a bit of a berk and for this mistake I apologise.

However I did speak with OPC Chester face to face again today to try to clarify if prices should change from the point of order. It was explained to me at length (and somewhat irately) that prices change from day to day. Usually this is a matter of pence only and that the change is generally absorbed by the OPC. My situation was apparently one of only a few he could remember where the price change was significant. I had to concede that they did (as they put it) 'on this occasion' honour the price quoted. He agreed that in that instance they had been prepared to do just that but that prices will continue to vary day to day. I had however left him 'quite upset' at questioning the price the second time. I was still left believing that I could be asked to pay a higher price at collection after ordering.

...so I phoned OPC Exeter.

general gist...
Me: "Could I be asked to pay a higher price on collection of a part ordered a week or so earlier due to daily price changes?"
Them: "No. Prices are guaranteed for 30 days."

When I put this to OPC Chester they told me that they had been talking about 'cost' prices not 'retail' prices in our previous conversations and confirmed that this is indeed the the case. Why oh why was this so hard to establish?! I would like to think that I am fairly eloquent and able to convey my thoughts clearly. On this occasion seemingly not.

Upshot..
OPC Exeter - cheaper for the same parts, free postage, polite simple conversation - new customer me.

rant over.[

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Neil Haughey · Apr 15, 2009

They are good guys and are my local OPC, albeit 30 miles away or so. However even Exeter don't have all the mega deals they used to do and tbh I am not sure how they used to do it.

pauljmcnulty · Apr 16, 2009

However even Exeter don't have all the mega deals they used to do and tbh I am not sure how they used to do it.

Even Exeter are subject to parts prices and availability. As I understand it Chris was always on the lookout for batches of 944 parts and would keep a better stock than some other PCs. Having someone in the parts dept. who is enthusiastic about the model must make it more likely they will continue to be one of the more useful PCs for us.