Is this the new normal for parts.....ie Vortec dist. cap

[Kudzupatch]

Originally Posted by hatzie

....I've recently opened a Delco box and found a Dorman part inside. .

I worked at a Wagner plant in a previous life. We made master and wheel cylinders and a few other odd brake parts.

One thing I learned was that say NAPA was buying brake parts from Bendix, our competitor. Our salesman convinced them to buy Wagner brakes. They sent in a team to remove all the Bendix parts on the shelf and replace then with Wagner parts.

The Bendix parts that were pulled were repacked in Wagner boxes and eventually end up back in the supply chain.

We bought parts from Bendix we didn't make and packaged them in our boxes. They did the same thing and not just them. It was quite common and I assume that hasn't changed.

On lower volume items it was cheaper to buy them from our competitor than spend thousands and thousands of dollars in tooling to make them.

While I strongly prefer American made products, what matters is the quality of the part. I would rather have a well made Chinese part than a cheap made American. Unfortunately made in America doesn't mean it is well made.