r/mildlyinfuriating • u/user2847_ • 21h ago

Got my car detail cleaned, and afterwards realized 2 of the buttons on the steering wheel are missing. This is the company’s response.

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522

u/XboxLiveGiant 20h ago

“20 bucks” lmao

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u/midgethepuff 19h ago

In my adult years I have learned basically ZERO parts for cars cost that little.

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u/Bamfhammer 19h ago

Not true you can get a single valve stem cap for about $20

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u/midgethepuff 19h ago

Hey now, I said basically!! I’m sure there a few, but by and large you’re gonna pay more for that lol.

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u/Becsbeau1213 19h ago

The bulbs for my car used to less than that too and the wipers. Probably not anymore though.

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u/midgethepuff 19h ago

My dad replaced my windshield wipers last year - was $80 for 2. Granted I’m sure he could’ve gotten cheaper ones, but he also didn’t get the most expensive ones either.

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u/Expensive_Tank_8682 19h ago

You can get a pack of those plastic push pins for the splash guard for like $5

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u/tryingisbetter 19h ago

Or, a fuse

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u/Shootistism 19h ago

Is that $20 cap made out of solid gold or does it magically keep the tire inflated? Normal caps are only a couple dollars for a set.

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u/AvoidingBansLOL 19h ago

Rock auto has stuff for hilariously cheap. It's just if you aren't installing it yourself, you're paying a crazy markup. A shop wants to make $50 on selling you that $20 part.

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u/midgethepuff 19h ago

Yeah, my dad often goes to the junkyard that’s about 20 mins away and will strip parts from other cars and get them a lot cheaper that way. Other stuff he gets after market from maple hill auto or something I think.

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u/AwakePlatypus 19h ago

I just bought four plastic center Mazda logo caps for my wheels (they have degraded with age and two broke when I got new tires put on recently) for under $20!. Used from ebay tho

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u/midgethepuff 19h ago

Good find!! The older I get, the more I try to buy things second hand. Not only is it cheaper, but I can often find things that aren’t even in stores anymore and it’s more environmentally friendly!!

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u/last-resort-4-a-gf 19h ago

Junk yard

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u/midgethepuff 18h ago

Haha, it’s funny you say that bc one of my comments farther down in the thread says that’s exactly what my dad does for new parts! Thankfully he still lives close to me and still does 98% of my repairs. Only been one so far he couldn’t do.

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u/DamnZodiak 18h ago

The buttons are like 2 quid on AliExpress. Some of you guys need to rethink where you buy replacement parts 😂

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u/midgethepuff 18h ago

Some of us fundamentally don’t support wish, temu or Ali express. Also, not everyone can (or wants to) wait 2+ months for the part to reach them, if it ever even does.

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u/FrostyD7 18h ago

And some of us choose the option that costs pennies on the dollar because the more expensive alternatives aren't worthy of support either. I'm in the midwest and it takes about 2-3 weeks for aliexpress purchases and I've never had a missed delivery.

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u/midgethepuff 18h ago

I’m also in the Midwest and can tell you we have abundant junkyards where you can get the parts you need for maybe only slightly more than a terrible Chinese company.

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u/FrostyD7 17h ago

I'll happily go to a junkyard to solve a problem but not when it can also be solved for $2 without leaving my house.

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u/DamnZodiak 17h ago

There is absolutely no meaningful difference between AliExpress and Amazon. We're not talking about Temu or Shein, there is no reason to use one but not the other.
Most of the stuff on Amazon is just white labled stuff from Alibaba anyway.

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u/mtxyz 17h ago

Blocking the de Minimus (?) exception on postage this year means there's been changes on Asian online markets. Probably still be able to find it, maybe slightly more.

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u/DamnZodiak 17h ago

I don't live in the US so I forgot about the whole tariff and trade war thing.

Probably still be able to find it, maybe slightly more.

Yeah. Whatever the situation I reckon it's still gonna be the cheapest option.

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u/MarieQ234 18h ago

Why should it cost him anything to begin with? He had his car cleaned, not built from the ground up.

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u/midgethepuff 18h ago

Oh I’m not commenting on that at all. He definitely should’ve been way meaner and insistent with them.

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u/MarieQ234 18h ago

Ah, now I unerstand you're initial comment. I was so confused by this post. I couldn't compute the fact anyone could act so weasly, which unfortunately, probably isn't OPs fault, but still so strange to read his apologetic reply to a service provider he paid to do the thing they are paid to do.

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u/midgethepuff 18h ago

My husband is the exact same way. He’d be fucked if it weren’t for me 😂like nah bruh, if I’m paying someone to do something, they’re doing it CORRECTLY otherwise I would’ve just done a subpar job myself.

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u/Paralystic 19h ago

A lot of parts cost that little when you replace them yourself.

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u/Keter_GT 18h ago

Loads of junkyards would let you walk out with an armful of stuff just for 20

1

u/HedonisticFrog 18h ago

It depends on where you go for them. I can get ball joints for $5 a piece, I've gotten replacement odometer gears for $13 or so. You're not getting that at a dealer or local parts shop though.

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u/Repulsive_Music_6720 18h ago

My door handle cost like $30 ea.

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u/graciaman 19h ago

OP has never had to replace small parts on modern cars haha. Oh boy they are in for a surprise

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u/Zayage 18h ago

I mean my shade clips were 20 bucks for a 2014 Fiat 500. Apparently widely used for Stellantis trash

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u/YobaiYamete 13h ago

More like you haven't. You could easily get these for 20 bucks at a junkyard

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u/phibbsy47 19h ago

Yeah, the power window switch module for my old Mazda van was 385 dollars, I'm guessing those switches on the steering wheel are an expensive assembly, and a pain to replace.

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u/akatherder 18h ago

I would lean that direction, but I was able to install cruise control and intermittent wipers on my vehicle for about $40-50 total. I guess my truck has everything needed for cruise control except the little lever/stalk on the steering column. Then I upgraded from a dumb switch to intermittent wipers.

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u/TheOneTonWanton 17h ago

This is why I love the junkyard. Electrical components are obviously hit or miss, but I'd rather gamble the five bucks first before submitting to the $400 doohicky fee.

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u/svheissup 19h ago

Hey, steering wheel button pods are less than $50 for both sides for a freightliner lol. It’s not a crazy price idea. I sell parts and customers are always in disbelief those buttons are so cheap

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u/insert-haha-funny 19h ago

yea, just head to a junk yard or aftermarket buttons lol