Are auto part core deposits a total loving scam?

[Soukuw]

Like think about it: You give extra money to the store so they can then ransom that loving money to you so you bring them scrap metal for free.

Like no matter what you do you always lose money to the core charge, you either don't return the old part and lose your deposit or you return the part and only get back the money you gave them while also losing money by giving them the scrap/travel expense.

This also leads to situations where you can't fix your old parts. I wanted to fix my old starter as it appeared the only issue was that the very accessible copper wire split but I couldn't because I wanted my core deposit back.
I've heard it keeps prices lower. -> I personally doubt this as they charge what people will pay for. This is just another variation of trickle down economics.

I've heard at least for batteries it's good as then they get disposed of properly. -> I think in that case it should be state run like bottle deposits are.

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[Rigel]

What's a core deposit? I'm not gonna look it up so you have to explain it to me.

[Conan]

seems like its when you buy a part you get an extra charge called a core charge. its returned when you return the part after its broken.

the reasoning is 1) incentivize ppl to return stuff for remanufacturing/refurbishing 2) lowers the price of the part since the manufacturer can rely on a influx of old parts they can repair and resell for cheaper vs making a completely new part


whether or not its a reasonable idea/done properly aside, if you can repair the part and get more lifetime out of it, that should still be eligible for core refund when you do finally return it, no? i dont see how a core charge refund disincentivizes you from repairing the part when you have to get a replacement one anyways if you dont repair it.

[Soukuw]

What's a core deposit? I'm not gonna look it up so you have to explain it to me.

seems like its when you buy a part you get an extra charge called a core charge. its returned when you return the part after its broken.

the reasoning is 1) incentivize ppl to return stuff for remanufacturing/refurbishing 2) lowers the price of the part since the manufacturer can rely on a influx of old parts they can repair and resell for cheaper vs making a completely new part


whether or not its a reasonable idea/done properly aside, if you can repair the part and get more lifetime out of it, that should still be eligible for core refund when you do finally return it, no? i dont see how a core charge refund disincentivizes you from repairing the part when you have to get a replacement one anyways if you dont repair it.

You're misunderstanding one very important part (harhar): When you buy a part with a core charge you have to pay it and if you don't bring in your old part even if it's not fully broken you still lose that core charge. You don't bring back the part you bought you bring back your old part.

E.g. Imagine buying a GPU and getting charged $300 extra for a core charge, then when you give them your old GPU you get that $300 back. It's insane and everyone just accepts it.

[Ceist]

i've only experienced this with car batteries. what other parts does this apply to?

[Goth77]

i've only experienced this with car batteries. what other parts does this apply to?

there are some places around my area that do it with rims/tires, the alternator is another common one

at the end of the day it's just another hoop to jump through for nothing. I would consider it a scam because they are betting on people never returning the old product and they get to pocket the extra cash...

[Soukuw]

there are some places around my area that do it with rims/tires, the alternator is another common one

at the end of the day it's just another hoop to jump through for nothing. I would consider it a scam because they are betting on people never returning the old product and they get to pocket the extra cash...

Even if they do return the part the store benefits that's what's most blowing my mind. There's absolutely no benefit to the consumer beyond the "Oh it will keep parts cheaper.".

[Goth77]

Even if they do return the part the store benefits that's what's most blowing my mind. There's absolutely no benefit to the consumer beyond the "Oh it will keep parts cheaper.".

yep, and u still have to spend your time and money to go there and return it too so no matter what it's at a loss for the consumer

[blockguy™]

yeah idk i'm shopping for GM power steering pumps right now (there's only about a billion of them, GM has hardly changed them since the 80's) and it's odd that you'll get $30 back for a certain pump, while for other reman'd pumps you'll get like $9, or they won't even have a core deposit at all. i get it in the sense that the companies that reman these things use core charges as a way to keep supply in. i suppose another way for the consumer to look at it is "ight, if i return the $30 core, this pump is $60 instead of the full $90." but you get less lifetime out of a reman part anyways. it IS a scam but most people nowadays (myself included) just replace stuff instead of ACTUALLY fixing it

like i bought the cheapest power steering pump rockauto had ($75) for my $500 yukon today, knowing full well i'll be replacing it in a year or two because the case will split.

 not giving my old one back either #getforgeted

[Goth77]

i suppose another way for the consumer to look at it is "ight, if i return the $30 core, this pump is $60 instead of the full $90."

and that's exactly how they get people "oh come get your money back" and by the time they do, that part has already probably increased in price so the core deposit wasnt even worth it. and as I mentioned previously you still have to spend your time and money to remove the old part and take it in. legit, at this point you would be better off scrapping the old part and actually getting money out of it than to just get your own money back and get a replacement part for a "discount"   << notice "discount" is in quotes because it's not actually a discount if you already paid money for it to begin with lol

[Kore]

Mechanic here btw. It's not that its a scam, but it can be abused as such like many things. If you're looking into selling your used auto parts because you think you can get some money for it. Avoid the brand shops like Autozone and O'reillys, or for some god forsaken reason if a dealership is doing it, lol stay away. I like to sell my used parts if I think they can get any use on FBmarket, or sometimes i'll do the core charge thru something like rockauto because I've never had a problem with them as a customer, but its usage is quite rare. In general I prefer to keep the middle man out and support local if I can, and you should too.
edit add: Also junkyards are a decent to throw your stuff if they'll let you, or find your local public landfill/hazardous waste center, I go to mine to dump used oils and stuffty broken parts.

[Goth77]

Mechanic here btw. It's not that its a scam, but it can be abused as such like many things. If you're looking into selling your used auto parts because you think you can get some money for it. Avoid the brand shops like Autozone and O'reillys, or for some god forsaken reason if a dealership is doing it, lol stay away. I like to sell my used parts if I think they can get any use on FBmarket, or sometimes i'll do the core charge thru something like rockauto because I've never had a problem with them as a customer, but its usage is quite rare. In general I prefer to keep the middle man out and support local if I can, and you should too.
edit add: Also junkyards are a decent to throw your stuff if they'll let you, or find your local public landfill/hazardous waste center, I go to mine to dump used oils and stuffty broken parts.

u bring up a great point the fb market or even ebay are also great outlets for selling those old parts, at least your still getting something out of it instead of simply getting your own money back - and supporting local if you can is for sure a bonus imo

speaking of junk yards they can be a great place to salvage parts from too for a great price if they allow it. a number of years ago my father was able to get a transmission for a plymouth voyager that had been totaled in a front end collision. that was a lucky find on his part, and that sort of thing isn't exactly very common, but even for smaller stuff like side mirrors, door panels, switches, fuses, etc you can get a rlly good deal vs brand new in tht aspect. my brother got a replacement exhaust manifold in good shape for his truck a few years ago from tht same junkyard and they only charged him like 30 bucks for it (2002 f150)