Bendpak lift cost rant

[ezzzzzzz]

I'm going to purchase a HD-9STX for my new garage by year's end. After E-mailing Bendpak, I was contacted by Best Buy Auto Equipment. I quick search over there showed a selling price of $2950. I then did a web search of various Bendpak dealers looking for the elusive deal. Well, that has proven to be a waste of time. Every one of them listed at a MSRP between $4100 and $3100 (?) but their sell price is $2950. Sounds like Bendpak has a price fix in the market place to prevent a re-seller from undercutting a competitor. In my not-so-humble opinion that *****. When you add in the RJ-45, casters, drip pans and possibly aluminum ramps the combo price goes up to approximately $4465. Add the costs of terminal delivery of $50 to $60 and the results is mind numbing.
I've looked at other lifts on the market. They are either too wide for my application (Rotary, Challenger, BB, etc) or of questionable quality (all other brands). For example, I've worked with a $2300 chinese lift (sold under a number of names) with the manual rod-operated safety releases and exposed cabling. Besides the occasional catch not releasing (very damn scary) and wobbly rails, the piss poor undersized sheaves have worn severely and nearly cut the shafts in half despite regular lubrication. The cylinder rail was replaced because shaft holes elongated due to a **** design and materials. The reservoir has stress cracked twice. It has taken six months each time to get those parts replaced under warranty. I'm not dropping names but the dealer has the initials AAE. Slow to respond and have sent out the wrong replacement parts too! I am always leary while working around or under that lift.
So I'm relegated to pay what BP wants with no 'great' deal out there apparently. When it's over and I'm working under the lift the pain will have subsided a little bit.
I just had to get that off my chest.... rant off.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Make sure to ask for some touch up paint when you place the order to touch up the shipping damage. That's my beef with them. I'd pay more to get one that does not have war wounds from the shipping.

 

[Al Bundy]

So you're mad because you can't buy the lift you want cheaper? OK.

 

[Matt M PA]

Bend Pak may indeed have MAP pricing. Lots of companies do this. My best example is guitars. Many of the "better" makers, Martin, Gibson, Gretsch, etc have a minimum advertised price. The dealers can sell cheaper....but they cannot advertise lower than MAP. That's why some sites suggest you "add to cart" to see their price.

I bought my HD9 from ASE Deals. I did not order any other options other than the longer approach ramps. You're right, the Rj45 isn't cheap...and I didn't buy it. I wound up also buying a mid-rise from Greg Smith.

My experience with BendPak has been nothing but positive. While I have yet to order parts, my tech support calls were taken immediately. Mine came with touch-up paint, which was helpful. That being said, with the way these things are shipped...and what they weigh....I wasn't surprised to see some scrapes on mine when it arrived.

According to ASE Deals, the MSRP is $4000. If indeed this is the case, the sales price of $2900 seems fairly discounted to me.

 

[JKJavelin]

I've been doing some research on dealers by looking them up on their state's Better Business Bureau websites. It sure weeds some of them out! Some manufacturers (that have an office in the US) can be looked up also.
JK

 

[lt1driver]

bottom line is shop elsewhere if price offends you

 

[ford33]

Many manufacturers have a MAP (minimum advertised price) requirement for their distributors. That only means they cannot advertise at a lower price. Some distributors will sell below MAP. You just have to ask the sales person or put the item in an online shopping cart to see the actual selling price.

I find it interesting that you compared other lifts to the Bendpak and found them to be less than what you want and would have in the Bendpak. You place a high value on the features and quality construction of the bendpak.

Purchase the Bendpak and enjoy the lift. You will never regret spending the extra money every time you use the lift. It is what you want and need and the extra money is insignificant compared to the value received.

People don't buy items based on price. They buy the perceived benefits the item would provide to them and then justify the price paid.

 

[James E]

Workshop Depot has free shipping. Call and talk to Dave.

If you have an accessible street and driveway, the truck will deliver right to your garage.

I shopped around. I looked at alot of lifts and settled on the BendPak because of obvious quality versus other, similarly priced lifts. Then I started shopping for price. I found everyone's prices to be comparable so then it came down to service. I'm glad I bought where I did.

 

[2001RedCoupeBandit]

BendPak is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes it is slightly More Expensive, but hell, if your buying a lift, your keeping it a long time and spending an extra grand over the life of the lift isn't going to be missed. I mean of your poor (I am somewhat poor so not saying it in a negative way) your not going to buy a lift for your HOUSE anyway.

I was close to getting a PP8!!!!!!!!!!!! Very Close. BendPak cost MORE as you need an air compressor (well you don't but you Do), doesn't come with Casters, drip trays. There is NO FEE for a terminal delivery that I was aware of. Mine is in route NOW! Shipped 12-05-2012 going to Texas.

Anyway BendPak SOLD me, their company is kick ***!!! I was like, who gives a darn, after I buy it I will never talk to them again. But, the head fo the company called me and helped me chose the right lift and they actually custom built me one! Not many companies woudl do that. When I physically went to the dealer of the Pro Park (YES it was close to me so I dropped by) the lady that worked there was great, but the main guy wasn't very customer oriented and I felt I KNEW more than he did. Left a Bad tatse in my mouth. By comparison, the treatment I got from bendPak was Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hell, I don't even have my lift yet, but I KNOW I am going to love it, PLUS I knwo this is silly, but I LOVE the Blue Color and look of the Bedpak!!!

I DO understand your pain and I was there with you, but might as well get what you want the 1st time! I was going to settle for a PP* because it was a Better VALUE, but I ALWAYS wanted the bendPak and I am Glad it worked out. you have to look at it for a long time!!

My 2 cents!

 

[c39er]

Bendpak custom built my lift too. They imediately cleared up a couple issues I had. The service was absolutely excellent! The price was a bit pricey but with fast excellent and friendly service I would have paid even more! Good things cost more! I'll pay it.

 

[sc105b]

I bought my HD-14 from Best buy an had a good experience and got a good deal.

Bend Pak will back up what they sell.

 

[Aberdale]

I don't understand the rant. You did your homework and found that the best price out there is $2950. And the price is consistent from other sources. If you really want the Bend Pak, then buy it. If you don't like the price, then don't.

This sounds more like a whine than a rant.

 

[Big-Foot]

This is the rule of business - like it or not:
PRICE
PERFORMANCE
QUALITY
Pick any two...

Additionally - in spite of what ads or other people may tell you - NOTHING is free not shipping, not accessories.. Nothing.

Companies are in business to ((((GASP!)))) make a PROFIT so they can employ people that have families to feed..

Part of what has driven so many products to be built in China is the very fact that people are placing PRICE over QUALITY or PERFORMANCE
AND
They simply can't fathom why any company should profit off of them - let the next guy pay, I should get mine for FREE..

Comeon guy - get realistic...

 

[ezzzzzzz]

Okay already. I've taken a beating here and probably justified. My point (during a bad day at work) is not that I want price over quality. I buy good and **** depending on the end use. Miller, Bridgeport, Saylor-Beall, Rockwell, Powermatic, etc at one end of the spectrum and Central Tools at the other. In days not too long ago you could do a quick search and find a lower price right up front. Not so today. On Ebay you could actually find items up for auction. Now, it's mostly storefronts with buy-it-now pricing. It seems that every new purchase must be preempted with long reseach and phone calls. It gets tiring when I've already got a full plate to deal with. I'll be purchasing a Bendpak lift, in no small part, because I need a narrow unit to move in/out of my garage. I'll be calling every dealer with my laundry list and asking for their best offer. Someone will eventually get my business. Of course, it will take a lot of phone calls and time to attempt to save maybe $100(?). When you're a single dad with a modest income you do everything you can to save a buck. There are a bunch of guys (and girls) here in similar situations that probably feel as I do. Yes, it would be wonderful to have the financial resources some of the membership has here but it isn't likely to happen in this lifetime. I'm not envious by any means, I'm glad some can follow dreams with less monetary stress. I'm just looking for that deal.

 

[nosnerd]

buy local........

 

[Bob C]

Rotary makes lifts that can be configured for narrow bays. You should call them.

 

[Neuswede]

Rant, whine, piss, moan; it doesn't really matter what you call it. We have all been frustrated by the nonsense caused by internet pricing.

Some manufacturers are beginning to fix the internet pricing problem. One of my manufacturers sent a letter last week as follows: "No ebay, amazon or internet sales of our products. Period. If we find our product for sale on-line, we will buy it, trace the serial number and terminated the distributor who sold it." I expect that many other manufacturers will watch this closely and follow along.

Some manufacturers are beginning to understand that prostituting their products with on-line cut throat pricing undermines the dealer network and the perceived value of the product.

One manufacturer I spoke with in June (RTI) about internet pricing confirmed that there were several channels on the net advertising their products "as so called dealers" when in fact they weren't. Thankfully, I also found out that if I provided them with a serial number, they could validate who the correct dealer should be and if it was in fact a new product. Seems there still is some bait and switch being played with model numbers, features, etc.

Most recently, I was searching for a specific Lisle part number that had been discontinued. Funny how it was available everywhere I looked. A simple phone call and I found that the ads were old, pricing was old but the sellers were certain they could drop-ship it from the manufacturer for me. "Oh really? How will you do that when the manufacturer has no available stock on a discontinued item?" No answer. Seems they didn't know there products very well. Found another similar problem this week, but directly on the manufacturer's website. No stock on a discontinued item, with an old price. But their website has the item, so it must be true, right?

 

[mrobins297aaa]

Workshop Depot has free shipping. Call and talk to Dave.

If you have an accessible street and driveway, the truck will deliver right to your garage.

I shopped around. I looked at alot of lifts and settled on the BendPak because of obvious quality versus other, similarly priced lifts. Then I started shopping for price. I found everyone's prices to be comparable so then it came down to service. I'm glad I bought where I did.

+1 I bought my Bendpak from Dave at Workshop Depot also.