Teddy

The wall street journal posted this article, good read... Latest U.S. Tariffs Could Make Auto Parts Pricier The U.S. imports about $10 billion a year in auto parts from Chinese manufacturers, leaving few alternative suppliers after new tariffs take effect SHANGHAI—The Trump administration’s latest tariffs will hammer Chinese auto-parts makers, likely raising prices for their U.S. customers, who have few options to buy key parts elsewhere, manufacturers and industry experts say. The new tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese-made goods, announced Monday and set to take effect next week, are expected to hit a range of auto-related imports—from crankshafts and spark plugs to windshield-wiper blades—and reverberate through the supply chain, potentially impacting the prices of new and used cars alike. The automotive industry has become so globalized, and Chinese suppliers so dominant at certain points in the supply chain, that there are few immediate and affordable alternatives to China for some materials and parts, industry experts say. More than 1,000 Chinese companies export auto parts to the U.S., shipping axles, fog lamps, brake rotors and more to U.S. auto companies and parts stores. The U.S. imports about $10 billion in parts from China annually, second only to Mexico’s $23 billion, according to a recent Boston Consulting Group study. The latest round of tariffs will impose a 10% duty effective Sept. 24 and then increase it to 25% by the end of the year. Those tariffs could increase prices for car owners looking to replace worn-out components—some of which, such as brake rotors, are built mostly in China. A 25% tariff would likely increase the average cost of replacing a set of four brake rotors from $280 currently to nearly $400, which could dissuade some car owners from making needed repairs, according to the Auto Care Association, a lobbying group for independent parts manufacturers, distributors and retailers. For Chinese companies already anxious about tariffs, this week’s announcement could add to worries that U.S. customers might take their business elsewhere. Orders halved at Jiangsu Pomlead Co., a Chinese manufacturer of aluminum wheels based in the eastern city of Lianyungang, after the Trump administration first proposed the tariffs in July, said international trade manager Song Chengcheng. Mr. Song said he was looking into shipping products via South Korea to skirt the tariffs. Even so, Pomlead has assured its 300-worker staff that there won’t be layoffs. U.S. buyers have no choice but to stick with the company, Mr. Song said, because few other global suppliers can produce parts of the quality American auto makers require. There is already a 2.5% U.S. tariff on imported Chinese auto parts. Adding even a 5% tariff on top would seriously harm businesses that already existing on wafer-thin margins, said Andy Zhou, foreign trade manager at Zhejiang Huagong Automobile Parts Co., before the latest round of tariffs were announced. But Mr. Zhou said his business, which makes pumps for oil and coolant systems, operates on relatively long-term contracts, as is common in the auto supply chain, meaning his customers need to give 12 months’ notice to negotiate price changes. While Huagong is insulated from the impact of tariffs until mid-2019, Mr. Zhou said his U.S. customers will see costs rise immediately. Oil Shocks Changed the Auto Industry; Tariffs Could Change It Again To understand why auto tariffs are such a contentious issue today, it helps to go back to the 1970s—with U.S. car makers dominating the country’s auto market, Japan’s export growth on the horizon, and impending conflict in the Middle East. Photo: AP The levies will hit not only Chinese manufacturers but also companies with manufacturing operations in the U.S. that depend on those parts makers or that build parts in China themselves. Columbus, Ind.–based engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. builds engines exclusively in China to meet local demand and because it is the only place where some specialized parts can be sourced. More than 10,000 of its Chinese-built engines are exported to the U.S. each year, out of some 250,000 engines produced at the plant annually, the company says. Cummins estimates that, altogether, the tariffs the Trump administration has imposed so far will cost the company $100 million in direct and indirect expenses this year. “We understand there are issues we need to address with China to create a level playing field, but we don’t think unilateral tariffs or a trade war are the right way,” said Jon Mills, a Cummins spokesman. China accounted for more than a quarter of the company’s $20.4 billion in sales last year. Trade Tensions Spike Between the U.S. and China.... Following another round of tariffs between China and the U.S., the business community is pushing back. The WSJ’s Gerald F. Seib explains. Photo: AP U.S. parts suppliers are especially vulnerable to tariffs because they typically buy components from China to supply U.S. auto makers, which won’t easily accept price increases, said Catherine Karol, an attorney who represents suppliers for Detroit-based law firm Butzel Long. “Auto suppliers are caught in the middle. They’re whipsawed by this,” Ms. Karol said. Lobbyists for auto-parts manufacturers in the U.S. have opposed the broad-brush tariffs, urging the Trump administration to take a much more targeted approach by using anti-dumping duties instead. “This overall blanket approach is going to cost consumers” in the form of higher prices, said Ann Wilson, senior vice president at the Washington-based Motor Equipment & Manufacturers Association. Steel and aluminum tariffs are already squeezing suppliers, and the latest levies on Chinese-made goods will only exacerbate profit pressures in the industry, she said. —Lin Zhu contributed to this article. Write to Trefor Moss at [email protected] and Chester Dawson at [email protected] Corrections & Amplifications Cummins estimates tariffs implemented by the Trump administration will cost the company $100 million in direct and indirect expenses this calendar year. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said it would cost the company $200 million. (Sept. 19, 2018) Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/latest-u-s-tariffs-could-make-auto-parts-pricier-1537349403

I agree with @MCT about Rockauto and I always check amazon as well although rockauto has the best pricing but you need to factor in the shipping to see if its still the best after that because retailers like Advance, Autozone, and O'Reilly will offer you free shipping and discount codes but the parts are higher priced. So check around and net it down to final costs after shipping and tax. The plus about going to a retailer is that if you need to exchange or return, it's easier.

Looks like a seat or seat belt bolt. Look to see if you have a bolt missing.

Probably a restocking fee. Read the fine print.

It'll be interesting to see how this takes shape. Online sales are huge and a missed revenue source for some states.

I'm the same, really depends but I always check Amazon. Lately, Rock Auto has been the best price on high quality parts even with shipping. I prefer to go with higher quality to not do the job again. If I can get a better price on the same part, I go for it. Nowadays it's really all about getting the best price and with the internet, you can shop around in the comfort of your house or on mobile when on the move.

Tire rack has some good deals but you have to really look around I find when it comes to tires. You may find the same deal or better going to a tire retailer when they run promos..

The online market for after-market car parts, by some estimates expected to top $10 billion in the next few years, represents an interesting opportunity both for established retailers that could grab market share as consumers move online—and companies like Amazon, that will look to grab those same shoppers. Investors have been sensitive to the threat Amazon presents for a while now. Early last year, when news broke that the company was targeting the market, sector stocks took a tumble. Is it useless to resist the oncoming behemoth? Perhaps not. In a Friday report, Raymond James analysts reviewed some of the major players’ sites, comparing those of Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Amazon and privately-owned RockAuto. By their measures, Advance holds up best. ILLUSTRATION: RAYMOND JAMES “Advance’s and O’Reilly’s websites offer a slightly more attractive alternative to Amazon’s,” the analysts wrote, “particularly for DIY customers that are either 1) looking for useful browsing features, 2) seeking information on parts, or 3) wanting to buy online and pick up in store.” More generally, investors seem to like the business. Earlier this month, Credit Suisse predicted improved sales in 2018 and a boost from tax reform. And on Friday, JPMorgan called it “one of the best sectors in retail,” adding Advance to its “Focus List” with a $138 price target on the shares, about 12% above current levels.

Check it this guy Arthur Tussik repairing cars after accidents. https://www.youtube.com/user/tussik01/videos

Wow, that's pretty good considering how the last years has been for Autozone, Advance, and O'Reilly, They should get a stock boost from this today and the rest of the players in this segment.

Check out his video vault http://www.bsfautoparts.com/bsf-video-vault/ funny guy and obviously did something right to sell and secure a position with a corporation.

Thanks for posting this. I don't get a chance to go to AAPEX so it's nice to see a little of it like this. A few videos posted on youtube...

Funny video for cabin filters!

That's a great price actually, amazing that a dealer which is usually more expensive has the lube centers beat on this!

I've been thinking of getting a magnetic one myself. This one looks pretty good.

That's a generic under other brands as well. Check this one from walmart for $13.95. https://www.walmart.com/ip/OxGord-CAN-OBD-II-MS300-obd2-Scanner-Tool-for-Check-Engine-Light-Diagnostics-Direct-Scan-and-Read-Out/150731313?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=693&adid=22222222227046941441&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=146934810922&wl4=pla-257964074393&wl5=9004212&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112354462&wl11=online&wl12=150731313&wl13=&veh=sem

Has anyone been buying tires at tirerack or other online tire seller? If so, do you have them shipped to the installer or to your house and then bring them somewhere... Or, do you go to a place like sears, firestone, NTB, etc...

Now that is innovation!

I would be curious to find out what the best rated impact guns and wrenches are. Are they IR?

Yes, Advance took a big hit today on the stock market.

Two of those big companies will consolidate at one point to grow bigger or be bought by an amazon or walmart, just a guess.

Interesting article: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/japanese-auto-parts-could-soon-be-made-out-of-wood.html Japanese auto suppliers such as Denso, Toyota's biggest supplier, and DaikyoNishikawa are working to manufacture auto parts from wood pulp Material made from wood pulp weighs just one fifth of steel and can be five times stronger, researchers said The global push among carmakers to make ever lighter vehicles is leading some auto suppliers in Japan to turn to what seems like an unlikely substitute for steel: wood. Japanese researchers and auto component makers say a material made from wood pulp weighs just one fifth of steel and can be five times stronger. The material, cellulose nanofibres, could become a viable alternative to steel in the decades ahead, they say, although it faces competition from carbon-based materials, and remains a long way from being commercially viable. Reducing the weight of a vehicle will be critical as manufacturers move to bring electric cars into the mainstream. Batteries are an expensive but vital component, so a reduction in car weight will mean fewer batteries will be needed to power the vehicle, saving on costs. "Lightweighting is a constant issue for us," said Masanori Matsushiro, a project manager overseeing body design at Toyota. "But we also have to resolve the issue of high manufacturing costs before we see an increased use of new, lighter-weight materials in mass-volume cars." Researchers at Kyoto University and major parts suppliers such as Denso, Toyota's biggest supplier, and DaikyoNishikawa, are working with plastics incorporated with cellulose nanofibres - made by breaking down wood pulp fibres into several hundredths of a micron (one thousandth of a millimetre). Cellulose nanofibres have been used in a variety of products ranging from ink to transparent displays, but their potential use in cars has been enabled by the "Kyoto Process", under which chemically treated wood fibres are kneaded into plastics while simultaneously being broken down into nanofibres, slashing the cost of production to roughly one-fifth that of other processes. Reuters Staff | Reuters Wood chips and fibers are chemically treated before bring converted into cellulose nanofibers at a laboratory in Tokyo, Japan July 25, 2017.

Has anyone used and can recommend the best R134 freon in a can to use? Does it make much of a difference really? These are the ones that I am looking at: EZ Chill Refill Refrigerant Arctic Freeze Ready-To-Use AC Pro Professional Formula Refrigerant

https://www.autopartintl.com/aboutus/ Headquartered in Norton, MA, Autopart International Inc., is a leading provider of premium auto parts for the Professional Service Provider. Since our inception in 1957 as Foreign Autopart, an import part specialist, our commitment to be the Best Local Parts Partner to the Professional Service Provider remains a pillar of our Company Culture. Autopart International has over 180 stores in 16 states, spanning the eastern seaboard and as far west as Ohio. Today AI has more than 3,100 team members dedicated to serving Professional Service Providers. So in a nutshell, no retail.

Wouldn't that be something! I still think there is some sort of consolidation that's going to happen between Autozone, Advance, O'reilly, and Napa. There are just too many parts stores and when you add all the other mom and pops and distribution centers, parts everywhere...More and more people buy online and that has to hurt parts sales at these locations unless they are capturing it online, but they still have brick and mortar costs to pay for.