2002-2005 Thunderbird Accessories – Price or Cost? When you buy accessories and aftermarket products for your 2002, 2003, 2004, or 2005 Thunderbird, is the price the same as the cost?
Well-known author and motivational speaker, the late Zig Ziglar, told the story of the bicycle he bought for his son many years ago. Zig and his son shopped around and finally settled on an ‘off-brand’ bike instead of the more expensive Schwinn bicycle. Both bikes looked good but the price of the off-brand was $ 30 less than the name-brand Schwinn.
Within 60 days the handlebars on the cheaper bike broke and had to be replaced at a cost of $ 14.00. About a month later the sprocket assembly fell apart. That cost $ 6.95 to replace. A few weeks later the front wheel bearings failed … another $ 6.00. At that point, Zig threw in the towel and went back to the Schwinn bike shop and bought the $ 64.95 bike. The ‘cost’ of the cheaper bike, including the repairs, worked out to $ 9.00 per month of use. Zig’s son rode the Schwinn bicycle for nearly ten years, replacing only the tires. Even though the price of the Schwinn was $ 30 more than the cheaper bike, the ‘cost’ of the Schwinn bike worked out to only $ 6.00 PER YEAR! That’s the difference between ‘price’ and ‘cost.’
Back to accessories for the 2002-2005 Thunderbird. If you’ve shopped around for aftermarket accessories for your Thunderbird, you know that what appears to be the same part is often advertised for a wide range of prices. Well, the parts look the same, the description is the same, but one is a lot cheaper than others. So why not just buy the cheapest one and save money, right? Not necessarily. Like the bicycle in Zig’s example, the lowest price isn’t necessarily the lowest cost.
So how do you know which product to buy? It can be a challenge, especially if you’re buying online, where there’s no way to see or touch the actual product. Sometimes photos and descriptions are all you have. One tip is to ask questions. Call the company and speak to a sales representative. Does the product have a guarantee against defects? How long is the warranty? Where is the product manufactured? The U.S., China, another foreign country? Foreign products often cost less, but may be of lesser-quality, or constructed of cheaper materials. If you’re buying a product with a trademarked emblem or logo, is the product licensed by the trademark holder? Online stores are notorious for offering unlicensed, bootlegged and counterfeit merchandise. Some sellers tell you their products are ‘knockoffs,’ others don’t.
When buying a ‘name brand’ product, find out if the company you’re buying from is an authorized dealer for that product. Dealers have to meet the standards and abide by the policies of the manufacturer whose products they sell. Products bought from unauthorized resellers and retailers may not be backed by manufacturer’s warranties. Authorized dealers must also abide by manufacturers MAP or ‘Minimum Advertised Price’ policies. If you see a national brand product being offered at a lower price than other retailers, you may be getting factory ‘seconds,’ defective, or even stolen merchandise.
Ebay has become one of the most popular shopping sites in the world. You can find almost anything you’re looking for, even obscure, hard-to-find items. Ebay does a good job of enforcing their policies and protecting both buyers and sellers. But Ebay has its limitations. You can ask a seller a question, but only through e-mail that’s monitored by Ebay. You can’t pick up the phone, talk to the seller directly and ask questions. And many Ebay sellers have a ‘no return’ policy. “What you see is what you get.” You may get a refund for a product that’s not ‘as advertised,’ but there’s no compensation for your time, trouble and disappointment.
Quality matters. Especially if you’re buying replacement parts or accessories for use on your Thunderbird. Cheap, aftermarket replacement parts can be dangerous and lead to accidents and injuries. Buyers need to be particularly careful when buying products like tires, wheels and mechanical components. Is saving a few dollars on a part that might cause injury to you or damage to your prized and pampered Thunderbird worth the savings? Even non-mechanical accessories like stainless steel or chrome-plated trim can create frustration and cost more than you intended. Decorative trim that chips, fades, or corrodes and doesn’t last, costs more over time than high-quality products built to last for years with proper care.
Everyone likes to save money, and everyone loves a true bargain, but when you purchase parts and accessories for your 2002-2005 Thunderbird, shop wisely. Don’t assume that the lowest price is the best deal. The old saying that “you get what you pay for,” applies here too. If the product you’re considering is priced lower than other retailers charge, ask yourself why. It may be that you’re getting a good deal. Or you may be getting an inferior product, manufactured to lower standards than other similar-looking products.
Do your homework. Ask questions. When buying name-brand products, make sure the company you’re buying from is an authorized dealer and that the product is backed by the manufacturer. ‘Generic’ products that look alike, may vary in quality from name-brand products.
Thunderbird accessories can be expensive. It’s not like buying a can of ‘plain wrap’ pasta sauce or baked beans, where the price may be under a dollar. When you spend your hard-earned money, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Make sure the product you’re buying is the best quality you can afford even if it costs a little more than a lesser-quality ‘lookalike.’ Remember the difference between ‘price’ and ‘cost.’
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
