When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I enjoy buying new parts, but lately I have been hindered doing so because of LMC's high shipping costs. When shipping (slow over-land) equals more than 1/3rd of the cost of your parts, it can be startling.
Are there others who feel the same way?
I've found a local to me shop with a large inventory and online ordering: Truck shop, in Orange, CA. I haven't tried them yet, but am about to. I am in no way affiliated with them. I'm just a truck enthusiast trying to get an honest good price and save a buck. I think that if we all chime in LMC might listen????
Auto Krafters is in Broadway, Va. and is maybe a 1hr-20min hour drive one way, and after using LMC and others ... makes for a really nice drive up Rt.42 through a beautiful valley known as "The Breadbasket of the Confederacy" ... besides there are 7-11s along the way and some nice resturaunts not far from there. Really nice folk, lady in office is huge hepl, free catalogs, I can inspect items, If I can't find it there ... well then maybe others. Then take 211 to New Market for dinner at "The Southern Kichen" (an old very favorite option)..
Drive to where ever you have to, to get parts. Use who ever you have to get parts and save $. Pretty sure LMC does not care about what it costs YOU (let alone anyone else) to get the parts shipped. I can not ever see them changing their shipping costs or procedures to help the masses. Also pretty sure they can manage without your business because there are a lot of other people that think LMC is the only place out there to shop. And with the online world and the covid stuff causing the mail order way of doing things to boom, they are just taking online orders and racking in the $$$. It is all about marketing I guess. I can drive to LMC in Lenexa KS and even did it once and never again to get their repop parts. I will go buy a complete parts truck to get what I need.
I also do a lot of shopping on CJ pony parts for larger items. They offer free shipping and on some of the larger pieces this saved me a ton even if the price was slightly higher through them.
Rock auto has a lot of replacement hard parts, but the shipping is bad. Nice to get the Motorcraft parts though. Heavier parts like brakes, I just pay a little more at the local stores so if I have to return it's 10 minutes away and an actual live person on other side of counter.
I don't have an issue with their shipping prices at all.
I've been happy everything that I have bought from them.
Their customer service and quick shipping keeps me coming back.
I agree. All you can do is shop around. Be sure to factor in shipping costs and consider the total price. If you are buying parts locally, it’s worth considering the price of gas as you drive around town looking for everything. It might just be worth $30 - $50 for the convenience of having it brought to you; especially if you drive around all day and end up empty handed anyway.
The cost of transport will find a way to your door either up front as shipping charges or baked into the price. It is a cost of doing business and has to be dealt with by every vendor. The formula for profit is: total revenue minus total cost. Those vendors who don't make a profit eventually disappear. If there is competition, the more efficient vendor will contain costs and prevail. Our job, as customers, is to reward the efficient and punish the inefficient. In other words be a smart shopper, consider alternatives such as used parts and refurbishing what we already have.
As the old time racers would say, "Horsepower costs money. How fast do you want to go?" The same goes for convenience.
Bought some stuff from LMC years ago.... since then I've found what I need from other vendors whom I feel do a better job with shipping. I won't deal with LMC anymore. Just my preference.
Shipping is not what it used to be, don't know whether to blame UPS USPS or what. The USPS mail "person" has destroyed everything imaginable. Managed to cram a window sticker from Ford packed in cardboard after creasing into my mailbox, with do not bend on the outside. But yet free shipping of a 117 # box from Amazon Prime and an Amazon truck delivered, the video came up on pc as he delivered. The original style wiper blade for my truck somehow ended up in the hands of the USPS and yes, she crammed them in the box and tried to shut the door. Anyway, shipping is a crap shoot. Returns you're on your own.
The cost of transport will find a way to your door either up front as shipping charges or baked into the price. It is a cost of doing business and has to be dealt with by every vendor. The formula for profit is: total revenue minus total cost. Those vendors who don't make a profit eventually disappear. If there is competition, the more efficient vendor will contain costs and prevail. Our job, as customers, is to reward the efficient and punish the inefficient. In other words be a smart shopper, consider alternatives such as used parts and refurbishing what we already have.
As the old time racers would say, "Horsepower costs money. How fast do you want to go?" The same goes for convenience.
flowney,
I don't disagree with anything you wrote. However, some companies genuinely try and keep their shipping costs low, while others treat them as a profit center. I really resent the latter. I understand they're in business to make money, and I don't have a problem with that.
However, when I do business with a company I want to feel like a valued customer. Making additional profit on shipping costs leaves me with the impression the company views me as a resource to be exploited.
Years ago I was in the USAF and stationed in South Georgia. I regularly heard the phrase "Sir, I'd like the opportunity to earn your business". I haven't heard it in other parts of the country, but those simple words hit home. A business that wants to increase their profit with shipping charges never earns my long-term business.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
