Do Dealers Really Use Gm Parts?

[jro909]

after seeing the ac delco brake pad commercial plastered all over tv about "genuine gm parts" and seeing the dealer parts mobile cruising over to napa every hour...it brings up the question, do dealers really use genuine gm parts or are people paying the extra for cheapo parts? i know i bought a bulb once from the dealer in an ac delco box and the bulb itself was a frickin sylvania, which is about the quarter of the price at the local parts place...wtf?

[Jsdirt]

One thing I've learned in buying my very first new vehicle, is that car companies will stop at nothing to make a buck. Not that I'm one of those loonies against anyone making money, but $600 for a pair of drums is a bit excessive, don't you think?

 

I wouldn't put it past GM to buy what they could from NAPA ( at a substantial discount from what you and I pay ), and mark it up 500%. What more can you expect from a company that charges nearly $5 for each bumper rivet?

 

Sad times we live in. What used to be the greatest American company on the planet, has turned into a government run greed fest. I could rant all day about this, but I'll spare

everyone ...

[Matt_]

there are certain things, like bulbs, that make no sense to be "genuine GM" since they are so widely used that a 3rd company product will always be better and more cost effecient.

 

do you go to the dealer to get "genuine GM tires"?

[Z45]

No, they all do not. You had better ask as there is nothing that says they have to sell GM parts exclusively. Some dealers will not keep a large inventory of parts so they have to call NAPA if they need brake pads, rotors, u-joint etc. Having to order parts for every vehicle in for repairs when a phone call will have the part there in 5 min. Common sense, why stock parts the local parts stores have and tie up $$ in inventory. +, they can often get the part for less than from GM and who knows, charge the customer GM prices and make a bigger profit on the parts.

[redvett]

On warranty repairs they must use GM parts.

[jro909]

in a way it makes sense, but its also quite crooked business....if i'm paying for gm parts i expect gm parts...tires,bulbs and all that yeah sure whatever, the bulb issue i mentioned was disheartening because i payed for one brand and ended up with another, but oh well shit happens i guess....this as a whole makes me question if taking my business to the dealer is even worth it, if i'm getting ripped off

[dlstewart01]

in a way it makes sense, but its also quite crooked business....if i'm paying for gm parts i expect gm parts...tires,bulbs and all that yeah sure whatever, the bulb issue i mentioned was disheartening because i payed for one brand and ended up with another, but oh well shit happens i guess....this as a whole makes me question if taking my business to the dealer is even worth it, if i'm getting ripped off

 

How do you know that Sylvania doesn't make that bulb for GM. They outsource parts from many manufacturers.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

Maybe the dealers realize what a few of us already know, that NAPA makes a better part then GM does. GM does not make lightbulbs, those are outsourced. I can also guaranatee that NAPA's brake pads are superior than those of AC/DELCO. Some have stated on here that the AC/DELCO spark plugs are actually made by NGK out of Japan... AC/DELCO now a days is what Kirkland is for Costco, a product made by another company but badged for the seller as the seller's name. Yes there are still a few genuine made AC/Delco parts out there. Batteries are not one of them, those are mostly made by Johnson Controls now, the same folks who make Optima, Interstate, and a few other automotive batteries.

[dlstewart01]

Maybe the dealers realize what a few of us already know, that NAPA makes a better part then GM does. GM does not make lightbulbs, those are outsourced. I can also guaranatee that NAPA's brake pads are superior than those of AC/DELCO. Some have stated on here that the AC/DELCO spark plugs are actually made by NGK out of Japan... AC/DELCO now a days is what Kirkland is for Costco, a product made by another company but badged for the seller as the seller's name. Yes there are still a few genuine made AC/Delco parts out there. Batteries are not one of them, those are mostly made by Johnson Controls now, the same folks who make Optima, Interstate, and a few other automotive batteries.

 

 

Ehh, Napa does not manufacturer any thing either. They out source all their parts.

 

I once was a packaging supervisor for Beck/Arnley world parts. We had 7 very large warehouses in the US. I believe at the time Beck/Arnley was the largest importer of autoparts in the US. WE imported parts from all over the world in huge quantities. My dept repackaged those parts in individual boxes with whose ever name on them they were going to and yes we had an account with Napa. We packaged those parts from around the world in Napa boxes and shipped them to individual Napa stores.......

 

I was surrounded by 56 million dollars worth of autoparts in the warehouse I worked in. That was a fun job.

[redvett]

The GM,AC Delco or any parts registered by GM are made to GM specifications and are just sourced to different vender's no any different than when GM owned everything they manufactured them self. All auto MFR's do this.

[leg7228]

I'm thinking they must be a supplier. The OEM headlight bulbs in my truck were a base level Sylvania bulb. I found this out when I changed them over to the Sylvania Silverstar bulbs.

[redvett]

Back in the day when GM owned the Guide division they made light bulbs, light housings for all 5 car divisions. Now there all sourced out.

[5829BMG]

The GM,AC Delco or any parts registered by GM are made to GM specifications and are just sourced to different vender's no any different than when GM owned everything they manufactured them self. All auto MFR's do this.

 

 

This is true. You should be very specific and ask if they are Oem replacement parts. If not you need to make it clear weather or not you want them on your vehicle. If you were traveling and had a problem with that repair and at another Dealer you would have no warranty on it due to non-oem parts.