I had to replace a few parts on my 99 Wolverine this month and when I found out the price of my parts, my jaw just dropped! I couldn't believe it! $423.97 for a starter and $110.19 for the gear 2. I know in the states the starter goes for 2 something but I don't know if I got ripped from my dealer here in NB, Canada. I did call another dealer from NS and he quoted the exact same prices.. I just can't understand why in the hell Yamaha charges so much for there parts? Honestly, I'm thinking of selling my Wolverine, 1. for the fact that I'm planning on buying a house soon, and secondly because I don't plan on spending close to $1000.00 on parts and labor if something else goes on my machine! If I do sell and get something else, I'm probably going to go with another brand just because of the rediculous prices.. I'm just wondering what you guys would do if you were in my position, you have to admit that those prices are really stiff. Take into consideration that I do maintain my machine and the part that went on the starter was just wear and tear. The gears stripped on it.. No way to replace it, had to buy the hole starter and gear inside the engine. Don't get me wrong, its a great machine and I like Yamahas a lot but way to much for parts.. I'm thinking of writing Yamaha about this, what do you think??

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Yamaha isn't the one who gives the final say as to how much a part costs to the customer. There is a cost that the dealer pays for the part that is set by Yamaha, and then there is the cost that YOU pay for the part that is set by the dealer. Dealers ARE NOT required to sell parts at Yamaha's sugg. list price. The dealer has, at his option, to sell for the sugg. list or raise it higher.[or lower].

Yamaha's sugg, list price is almost always 100% above what the dealer pays. So if you bought a part from a dealer costing you $100, the dealer paid a minimum of $50 for it. Some dealers run as much as a 150% markup on parts, and that is fine because you have to realize that MOST dealers have well trained employees that they send to schooling that costs a bundle of dough. The manufacturers cover SOME of these costs but not nearly enough. An average dealer with two salemen,two parts guys,two mechanics,one parts manager,one sales manager,and one service manager can spend as much as $100,000 on training seminars and such. In most cases, the dealer is required to send it's employees to these schools.[As they should]

That's why labor rates and parts prices are so high in this market. This ain't cars we are talking about, and as popular as a market as this is, and I know some of you are going to mention all the units that are sold, you guys really have no idea at what kind of costs are involved in running a dealership. I know that some dealers are hacks and some are better than others, but the point of this long statement is to emphasize the fact that if we didn't pay these ridiculous prices, then there would be no dealers.[None with anyone on staff but min.wage flunkys anyway].

A letter to Yamaha will not get you anything but a sore hand and a wasted stamp.

KNOWSALOT