Why shops won’t install customer supplied parts

Over the years we have observed that people who have time to spend will price parts online and buy the cheapest auto parts they can find. That’s fine, if you’re a DIY fan. However, problems arise when they cannot install the parts themselves and need to locate a repair facility or mobile mechanic. For some, this can be a heated issue, and some may even be offended to learn that most shops will not install customer-supplied parts.

Obviously, a shop or mobile mechanic makes some profit when they supply the parts, just like any other business. When you source your own parts, the shop or mobile mechanic provides us with that revenue that makes the profitability diminish on that repair. Most shops that agree to install a customer-supplied part usually haven’t built a solid customer base. Therefore, they may be slower and look for work, regardless of profitability. It’s a vicious cycle that results in new and loyal customers being turned away because a shop or mechanic is busy doing discounted work.

Another obvious reason is the warranty. We personally offer a 2-year warranty when we repair and supply the parts. If we install your part and it fails, possibly causing a catastrophic failure, a court considers the owner of the repair shop to be the expert in the industry. They may then determine that the repair shop should have known better and refused to install the parts provided, therefore the shop is held liable. Why would any shop or mechanic want to be legally responsible for a part they did not supply?

Liability insurance also varies. A stores policy may exclude customer supplied parts. So, like the warranty issue mentioned above, if a vehicle burns to the ground after a customer-supplied part fails, the shop owners liability insurance may not cover it. Again, the store owner should have known better in the eyes of the legal system.

Incorrect or incompatible parts. Everyone has a friend or family member who works at an auto parts store. Most don’t care if you get the right part, and many may not even know for sure if it’s the right part. They go according to what the computer system tells them. but when we have your vehicle disassembled and find the customer has the wrong part, our productivity plummets. While you’re driving around to get the right part, waiting for it to be available and in stock, we’re waiting to finish the job, unable to move forward with any other projects for the day.

Don’t get mad at repair shops or mobile mechanics who refuse to install customer-supplied parts. All of the above reasons make it a no-go for any reputable shop or mechanic.