There's a few accessories at the Ford Accessory website that I want... but I'm from the eBay generation. Is there any place that I can buy these parts for less than the SRP that they give you on the website? I asked my dealer and they just gave me the same SRP prices.

The items I want to get are the soft folding tonneau cover, headrest dvd players and bi-directional remote start.

 

Try TascaParts.com

 

OP, are you looking for "FORD" logos on those items?
The reason I ask is that 90% of the time you can find the exact item from Ford through the orginal manufacturer for significantly less. For instance, the soft folding cover is likely made by BakFlip for Ford.
Also, a good car audio installer can sell and install the headrest TVs and the remote start and they will back their work, usually for at least a year.
If you have a smartphone you can also get remote start apps for the phone that integrate with the starter. Pretty cool setup.

 

I'll have to look into the dvd system and remote start more. The thing about the remote start is that the ford one integrates with the factory alarm. I had 250 with the aftermarket 2way alarm w/ remote start, but it was separate from the factory alarm. It worked, but it's not what I'm really looking for now. But, you piqued my interest with the App comment! The dvd headrests, I need to find out more about that. The ford ones I'm sure would have a factory look... I worry about that when looking into aftermarket types. The tanneau cover... I feel ya. I just saw someone else on here with it and it looks pretty good. I looked at the truxedo site and for the price, I'd rather have the ford one.

Thx for the info! Keep coming with the ideas folks!

 

FTE sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM (Ed Olson, parts manager of Horizon Ford in Seattle WA).

Ed has an EZ to use online parts catalog that will give the actual MSRP and FTE member discount prices.

And...be aware that most dealers jack up the MSRP's, so if a local dealer gives you a discount, you may actually be paying MSRP plus! I kid you not.

On some parts invoices, these is a box which sez: Customer type. If 00 = MSRP plus, if 01 = MSRP, if 02 = discount off the MSRP.

And...if anyone of y'all did buy a part and are wonderin' how much you paid, type the part number into Ed's webpage. Be prepared for an eye opening!

Coupla years ago, a member was looking for a new 351W valve cover. A (snake of a) dealer quoted him 225 bucks, while the actual MSRP was 90 bucks.

Dealer net cost was 54 bucks (40% markup). After getting that 225 buck price quote, the member then went to a boneyard, bought a user for 20 bucks.

btw: Ford does not manufacture their tonneau cover, they buy it from an outside supplier. In fact, most of the 10,000 or so parts a vehicle has are purchased from outside parts makers.

Manufactured by FoMoCo: Some mechanical parts and the sheet metal...and that's about it. And this applies to all the automakers, not just FoMoCo.

 

I like using Ed as well for parts. Unfortunately shipping out here to the East Coast isn't always cost effective for me.
For instance, I needed washer fluid nozzles today (still not sure how they got clogged) and on Ed's site they are about $8 a piece. Locally, $11 a piece, but with shipping it was actually about $5 less expensive for me to run down the street. Bummer too, cause I like supporting our sponsors here.

 

Something to consider: Since you're buying the parts in WA and having them shipped to you, you aren't paying WA sales tax or the sales tax in the state you live in.

Compare what the sales tax would be vs the shipping charges.

If you aren't using distilled water in your w/shield washer bottle, expect the nozzles to become clogged. Remove, soak 'em in white vinegar.

Wax is another cause for clogged nozzles.

 

Good point Bill. Even with my local sales tax of 5% I was $5 below what I could get them for from Ed. Plus, I have them today, rather than 5-7 business days waiting for ground shipping.

The nozzles on the other hand are giving me fits. At first I thought the line was blocked...it's not. I soaked the nozzles in hot water...then hit them with a bit of compressed air in the opposite direction of flow. Nothing.
I was able to remove some black substance from the inlet on the nozzle and it looked like decaying debris. So I tried some bleach/mildew remover. Still nada.
With the weather here in VA being as unpredictable as it has been lately (85 early last week, then snows yesterday morning, WTF?) I cannot be on the road without working nozzles. Additionally distilled water scares the daylights out of me b/c of freezing temps. But thank you for the suggestion!
Anyway, I have completely this at this point.

OP, I'm not sure on where you're located, but seriously give Ed Olson a try. He's a good guy and an even better sponsor that is always willing to help out.

 

Decaying black substance...time to replace your rubber washer hoses.

 

Tasca, PARTSGUYED, and even Titus Will (https://www.tituswillfordparts.com/index.php/cPath/31) all offer similar discounts on most items.

As much as I like to support forum sponsors, I also like to support my local dealer (and economy) when ever I can.

I will typically find the best price on line (from one of the three I listed) and then e-mail my dealer asking how close he can come to matching the price (I'll even give him the link). 9/10 times, he will match and the tax is usually less than the shipping. If the total cost is within 1-5%, I'll stick with the local dealer.

IMHO, it never hurts to have a good relationship with your dealer (if it's possible and if they deserve it).

 

Just remember what I just typed...type the part number into Ed's site to see what the actual prices are, cuz most dealers jack 'em up.

And if you're still wondering, I can give you the MSRP and dealer net costs for EVERY available FoMoCo part.

How many dealers do you think will pass along their actual net cost. Not too many.

btw: See my signature...At 66 years old with 35 years of Ford parts experience, I didn't start doing this jazz yesterday.

 

I must be misunderstanding your post. If Ed, Tasca, Titus Will, and your local dealer are all within 1-5% (total cost), why not support your local dealer (providing he deserves it)?

And I am not questioning your expertise - after 35 years in the business I bet you've got fantastic insight and some great stories to tell...

 

If you're going on line to compare prices, that's one thing.

But...if you waltz into a dealer, buy something and you get one of those 00 invoices where it shows an inflated MSRP (that you are unaware of), then a discount price, you just took it in the shorts.

And, this is exactly what happens to most walk in customers...especially when they say they're a friend of the owner, or know someone at a garage down the street.

A smartazzed cluck used to come in to Stockton Quincy Ford (in Westwood, south of UCLA), said he was a friend of Mr. Stockton.

Uh huh, there was no such person cuz Stockton was Quincy's first name, and besides...he died in 1961!

No computers back then (1965/67), all invoices were handwritten and this cluck paid MSRP plus...every time.

 

Chandler and Charlie bring up good points. I know for a fact that Ed will never fault you for buying stuff local due to shipping costs, etc. I've had him tell me to go to the local dealer and get stuff before.