This strikes me as one of the reasons Chrysler is going down.
I went looking for a steering damper first at a Chrysler dealer then at a Dodge dealer.Thinking that I should support the local parts supply.
Now the reason I did this was that I thought the $10.77 shipping charge was a lot from JoeTLC for a $19.95 part for a total of $30.77.
The kicker is that both dealers quoted the price for that same lil shock at $615.00!!! with free shipping to boot. Hot dam! I think $584.23 was way to large of a mark-up for a company that was just bailed out with the help of my tax money.

 

First, they did not bail (well okay, maybe they did) the company, they loaned them the money. They have to pay it back.

Secondly, it sounds like they were looking, or you were looking, at the wrong part.

 

I did a search on this damper last summer as i needed one
I went to the Chrysler dealer and they quoted me 415.00 no way was i paying that. So i went to a Mercedes Dealer and asked for a Damper for a 04 SLK and low and behold it was actually cheaper at 65.00 it even has a snazzy Mercedes Hologram on it.This goes to show how much of a markup Chrysler puts on our parts as a lot of the time they will just order the parts from the local mercedes dealer. I caught my Chrysler dealer doing this to me on some Engine bolts.

 

HAHA This is not the first time for this, as I came across something very similar.

I needed a cabin filter and wanted to replace it when I changed the oil so I was going to buy one locally. I knew the part should be between roughly $20-$40 depending on if it is carbon or OEM. Chrysler quoted me $118 and Mercedes quoted me $104... Autozone (where I purchased) was roughly $30. And they wonder why no one goes to the stealership.... Damn.

 

The part was the right one. Saw the parts file at both dealers. At those prices dealers are sealing their own demise.I refuse to deal with any company that thinks they can charge whatever they want. Hardley Ablesome is a another RIPOFF company.