anyone else buying up parts before tariffs hit?

[Malibu795]

Just checked my online shopping carts and nearly half of the items are either unavailable or the price shot up tremendously. A dang vacuum tank tripled in price and is now $109, a set of control arms went up $150, and most just say "No longer available". Fun.

Who's the vendors?

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

Who's the vendors?

These particular parts are on Amazon and eBay. The unavailable items are Vevor air bags, Auto Dynasty bed rails, tons of tools (Astro, Proto, Gear Wrench), and small things such as an overflow tank hose for a '93-'02 Camaro. I've noticed that some prices have gone up marginally ($10-$20) in the past few months while roughly 50% remain unchanged. If I had more $$ I'd buy more parts immediately and hate that I'll now have to pay more for the control arms when the time comes. The vacuum tank is a Chinese piece and the control arms are from DeMotor (also Chinese).

 

[78Delta88]

What control arms are you needing?

 

[86LK]

I'm probably going to make a purchase to upgrade my scan tool with a newer Chinesium one. The one I got is only good to 2010 as far as the updates. It's an old Actron. Works great on the older vehicles, but the newer GMC and Cadillac? I can read codes, but it has trouble clearing them if need be.

Been fighting a common ailment on the truck as the fuel pump controller module doesn't want to talk to the ECU sometimes as it says it loses communication, and tosses up a CEL. It takes a minute to clear it with the Actron, but regardless, it eventually it comes back. Can clear the CEL, and sometimes the code itself, but it comes back randomly. Truck doesn't run stupid or any other problems (yet), but I only get that ONE code....U18A2. That's it. No other DTC codes. I have a new module that's supposedely plug n play, but we shall see.

So......I'm probably going to plunge and get a newer scanner. Nothing too fancy, but right now it's on sale for about $200 off and I'm worried if I wait, it may get hit with tariffs. Not sure. But I'm getting while the getting's hot.

It's a Launch Tech USA CRP 919 Max scanner tablet. Thought about an Autel, but this one I've seen work down at the Firestone shop, and it seems pretty decent for an entry level bidirectional tablet with bluetooth so you can move the tablet around and under the car without a cable. And seems easy to use. Free ship and $617 (normal $812).

The strange thing is, they ALL come from China, but they make a global Launch, a UK Launch, and a Launch Tech USA with different software and support systems. One umbrella company, but several divisions. Kinda like GM. And just like GM, NONE of them talk to each other mostly. So if you buy one from one division, don't expect any support from the other. And you have to make sure you get the right one to support your territory. For us, obviously it would be Launch Tech USA. So you got to be careful.

and you've checked your grounds?

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

What control arms are you needing?

They're tubular ones for the C10, necessary with the amount I'm dropping the suspension.

 

[69hurstolds]

and you've checked your grounds?

Grounds were fine. Got my new scan tool soon after. Replaced module, went to read/clear codes and it reported back there was nothing to clear. Scan results showed all systems in the green. No more codes since. I believe that issue is behind me. (Crosses fingers)

 

[paradigm]

Dakota Digital seems to have raised their prices too. I wanted a set of gauges for the Grand National.