The problem with this industry is that the manufacturers set the bar so low with profit margins on new trucks that when we can make 35% on a part we think that the customer is getting gouged.
When you consider that there may be only one place to get a part for a particular forklift truck within a 60 mile radius there should be a huge mark up.
I live in a town of 15,000 people and I can probably get a mufller for my car at 18 different places within a 10 mile radius and my guess is the average mark up is above 200%.
If we need a part today and have to buy it from a local parts store we pay big time. How about a set of Chevy points for $16 or a simple 4 cylinder distributor cap for $35. Not only are the ridiculously priced but the quality is bad.
Meanwhile, us forklift dealers think the better deal (meaning the least profit) we give our customers the more business they will give us. There's a saying for businesses that work on no profit: If you had a bigger truck you could make more money.
On another note, we are so proud of the brands that we represent and take a special pride that a particular customer uses our trucks, but you know what, if someone out of the blue asked the average business what brand of forklift(s) they use not only wouldn't they know, they don't even know what color it is. Some proud owners, heh!