Junk/salvage yard pricing...

[dlphnfn]

I've been rebuilding my rear suspension with ES bushings and found out I was doing it all wrong (after I burned out irreplaceable bushings). So I had to find a new set of knuckles and a new set of forward control arms.
I searched car-part.com for the yards in my area (Des Moines, Iowa). Knuckles at the yard about 10 minutes from my house - $75 each!! I drove 120 miles one way to get some for $35 each. Those were the cheapest WITH gas money!
Now I need a new set of control arms. I just called the yard closest to work. They used to let me walk around and do whatever I wanted. Now you have to call in, they pull the part, you inspect and buy it. They wanted $35 for each control arm. The place that wanted $75 for the knuckles wants $25 for control arms. They are pretty good about letting me go out into the yard, but they won't pull parts until you pay. So since it's by my house, I have to go to the yard today to pay for the parts, they will pull them tomorrow, I have to make another trip tomorrow to go pick them up.
I know you can charge whatever you want (what people are willing to pay) for parts like this. It's not Walmart... but damn, it kills me that the yards close to me are getting more strict about being in the yards and that prepay BS...
Just venting. Anyone else feel the same?
Erick --

 

[blackzilla]

not anything like that around here, they still let you go in pull whatever parts you want and come to an agreement on prices, maybe check for different junkyards?

 

[blu_fuz]

Get some new rear control arms - they are not that expensive. PS, they will barter with you so don't be afraid to make an offer after you have the part in your hand.

 

[IRingTwyce]

The yard local to me in Graham has closed to the walkers/scroungers. Now it's all 'they pull, you pay.' And you pay DEARLY. When I needed a driver's door mirror, they wanted $40 for the cheap-o unpainted plastic one. Greedy ••••ers. I told them hell no, why would I do do that when I can get TWO, PAINTED for less than they wanted for the one??? So now I drive to New Orleans when I'm in Houma, and go to the Pull-A-Part. Super cheap there. But their inventory of Contours is usually quite picked over. It's all a matter of timing at that place.

 

[blu_fuz]

dtour and I just went to this yard 1.5hrs from our house http://bdorner.services.officelive.com/pricing.aspx - prices are pretty damn good for big stuff but there selection isn't that big. Only 3 contours there. Another u-pull that we go to 1.25 hrs away is about 3x as big as the Grandpa John's and is considerably cheaper on the smaller items and easier to barter with. They have 10+ contours and had a SVT once.

 

[dlphnfn]

I agree on the bartering a little... I'm not a barter-er though. :blush:

I did find a nice looking pre98 dash at that cheapo yard 2 hours from my place. Looked at the price when I got home - $100. They'd pull it for me too! The local yard - $250!! •••••es!!
Erick --

Forgot to reply...

Get some new rear control arms - they are not that expensive. PS, they will barter with you so don't be afraid to make an offer after you have the part in your hand.

I need the bigger of the 2 though (the squarish one). They're like $126 from Ford and RockAuto doesn't show one.

 

[alwayssideways]

My local PNP jy got more strict. I think a lot of it has to do with insurance and the fact they the yard was getting ripped off. I like the bartering you can do with these places. Pretty much any money they make is all profit since they get cars dirt cheap from the auction. My yard is finally fixing itself. They are starting to using paving stone as the ground instead of mud and oil saturated unlevel dirt. They are also starting to prop the car up on racks to keep people from trying to jack the car up them selves. There is a bad A## yard in Pa. I think its called Harry's u- pull it. They have monthly and daily specials. Like any trans or engine you can drag out of there for like 70-75 bucks. They also have other deals as well. They are suppose to have a great selection. Im hoping to go there in October. when I venture down for a car meet in the area. I just hope I actually have the "needs" to venture in there and get some parts

 

[svttour]

Ive got 12 junkyards within 30 mins of me. Some u pulls some they pulls. All the u pulls have great prices.

 

[BrApple]

My local PNP jy got more strict. I think a lot of it has to do with insurance and the fact they the yard was getting ripped off. I like the bartering you can do with these places. Pretty much any money they make is all profit since they get cars dirt cheap from the auction. My yard is finally fixing itself. They are starting to using paving stone as the ground instead of mud and oil saturated unlevel dirt. They are also starting to prop the car up on racks to keep people from trying to jack the car up them selves.

chuck and eddies in southington or somewhere else?

 

[alwayssideways]

Chuck n Eddies. They started cleaning the place up

 

[Scorpion8]

My yard is finally fixing itself.

They ain't doing it to be swell folks, they're doing it because EPA regs and State/local regs are coming down on them for oil leaking into ground-water and a multitude of other regulatory issues. Sadly the insurance one is probably going to come to the fore-front sooner than later also.

 

[bgrogan01]

I have a couple of jy near me. One of them is rather high (owned by a non-U.S citizen) and the other has good prices. The only problem I have is there inventory of contours hasn't changed in the past 8 months and they have no svt's. I have been able to get a few good items at both places. Between the 2 yards there are approx. 12 contours of all yrs and models. I have been looking out for a focus or cougar shift knob but it seems like all the wrecked ones are auto's.

 

[a2fast4u2c]

I have a couple of Pull-a-Parts near me that have a few Contours, no SVT's, but 1 SE. I was able to find a few parts I needed and they have really good prices. I have also checked 2 other yards that pull the parts for you and they only have a few Contours but no SVT's.