'It's crazy': Shipping costs exceed repair bills as auto part shortage continues
As the average price of a new vehicle continues to climb with a possible recession looming, many people are choosing to get their vehicles fixed instead of replacing them.
But a backlogged global supply chain is causing a delay for some auto parts to come in and in some cases, parts are taking more than a year-and-a-half to arrive.
“Never in 42 years I've been here, I've never seen this,” said Marc Marier, owner of Marcel’s Collision. “If we can't get the part, we can't put it on your car.”
Marier said in many cases, the cost to have parts shipped exceeds the price to make the repair and forces a lengthy waiting period for the vehicle owner.
“The parts sometimes are extremely hard to get. It started with COVID, especially computer chips and stuff like that, electrical equipment,” he explained. “We have one car that the job was here 127 days waiting for one part, like the rental bill exceeded the car repair.”
Marier told CTV News Windsor there have been occasions where it’s easier to have a part shipped from Germany than it is the United States, but that comes with a price on top of a car rental fee.
“Oh yeah, like I said that one job I had 127 days rental, the rental was $10,500 and the car repair was $6,000. It's crazy.”
Marc Marier, owner of Marcel’s Collision on Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, Ont. is seen on Jan. 20, 2023. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)
Marier continued, “Chips, stuff like that. That's where it's the electrical problem. That's where the delays come in, and the dealerships can't even give us an exact date. And then when that date comes in, they say, ‘Well, no, it's backordered again,’ so they're guessing again too and when it comes in the door, we'll call you.”
Other auto repair shops in Windsor, Ont. are also contending with part delays or shortages.
“They say ‘Oh, it's going to be about a month, a month or two,’ you know, but then it shows up two weeks later type thing,” said Marc Thibert, manager at Kipping Tire and Automotive.
“It all depends on the part,” Thibert explained. “There are some parts that are backordered for a while but most of the time it's because cars are kind of obsolete through the dealer or the parts are hard to find because they're older vehicles.”
Thibert said some customers are coming in for repairs after trying to take matters into their own hands.
“I've seen some people try to do it on their own and some things they can do and some things it's like, ‘Wow, you should have let us do it,’” Thibert said.
Thibert suggested with advanced technology and electric components, it’s best to let professionals make automotive repairs.
“Bring it to a garage to get it done because it's a little more advanced than back in the day because now a lot of things they have to get reprogrammed, or they have to get the engine light cleared or the code cleared out of the system before they can actually make it work,” he explained.
“The older the vehicle the harder it starts taking to get to get the parts. It's not as easy as it used to be when it was carbureted vehicles or the early stages of the fuel injection,” he added. “The sensors, computers, everything's all electronic now, and they all kind of coincide all different things. You wouldn't think that that would affect this but it does.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.