More GM Madne$$...

Here's the story...


I broke the little plastic tabs that hold the light socket in the right front turn signal housing so now it wont lock in tight to the housing so I get major condensation in that light fixture... Other than that it works like a charm!


So I goto Canadian Tire to pick up a new one. No biggy, I see one on the shelf $7 (SEVEN DOLLARS CANADIAN) so I grab it and head home to install it.


When I get home I realize it's not the right one !

It looks identical... same locking tabs... same 90 degree angle... BUT...

It excepts a socket type bulb where the GM is a slot type bulb!


So once again... No problemO. Bring it back to CTC get my money back and head on over to the local GM dealer....


Now I knew this was gonna hurt a little more than CTC BUT! what I didn't notice was the guy hiding behind counter waiting to plunge a stake right into my chest!


Hi. how are you today... fine.. that's mighty fine indeed.

I'll take one front turn signal light socket for a 98 trans sport please.

Sure thing... Let me get that for you.


(throws it on the counter)...


Yep that's it... just like the one i just brought back to CTC (for SEVEN DOLLARS)... Identical except one excepts 'socket type' and the other 'slotted type' bulbs.


Just ring that up for me there mr. GOODwrench and I'll be on my merry way.


Sure thing MR.SUCKER that'll be just only $95.00 + tax... ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN KICKS IN THE TEETH and you can leave your arm as a tip if you like.... Would like that wrapped?


Suffice to say...

The front of the van is going back to socket type bulbs all for less than 20 bucks !!


HERE ME NOW.

I WILL GAFFER THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VAN BEFORE gm Gets TO RIP ME OFF ONE SINGLE CENT !!!


Right now I'm quite happy with the van... looks and runs GREAT!


But GM parts pricing makes me sick to my stomach. Ridiculous


All those peeps out there paying hundreds of dollars for parts that cost pennies to make !


This ain't no win win situation... More like everybody looses, including GM !

You should be in the UK. The official GM dealer charges top dollar prices for spares then converts the dollars into pounds.

A new van built from spare parts, even Rockafella could not afford one.

BMW and Mercedes both reduce the price of spare parts for old vehicles in the belief that this will enable the cars to be kept on the road.

With regard to your light fitting , you can get a few 100 made in the far east for $95.00.

I had just got a brand new EGR valve on EBay (exact copy of my mine by ROchester even marked Made in Mexico like the original etc..) for less than 110$ Canadian handling and freight included but hen needed the graphite gasket..went to GM and that was 9$...affordable through really worth about 1$....but I risked to ask what would have been their price for the EGR valve....turned out to be more than $400 + 15% tax....told them they were crazy......
Aftermarket here is around $270.+tx

I hear you, $105 for a side marker lense for 1995 Transport a bit steep. But GM not the only guilty party, own a 1989 motorhome on Ford Chassis..$174 for the drivers mirror ( no brackets), $72 for a thin W shaped heat sheild on the maiifold..and $1400+ for just one manifold..all CDN dollars..and all left in the Ford warehouse somewhere