Anyone heard of a company called LKQ?
- Thread starter Sumariner
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LKQ is one of the largest suppliers of recycled automotive parts. A few years ago they started selling rebuildable cars to the general public. Before you had to be a body shop or dealer to purchase.
http://www.lkqcorp.com/index.aspx
http://www.lkqcorp.com/index.aspx
LKQ is huge. They bought out a bunch of yards in the PDX area. Closed the smaller ones. Once they had a monopoly they raised prices in the larger ones. Then sold them to an even greedier corporation. I don't have any love for LKQ. I guess if they have a sweet deal you should take advantage.
goliath company
For used auto parts, LKQ seems like they have cornered the market so-to-speak. Giant national corporation. They charge huge core charges on engines which is what turned me off. I try to go to mom and pop type junkyards.
For used auto parts, LKQ seems like they have cornered the market so-to-speak. Giant national corporation. They charge huge core charges on engines which is what turned me off. I try to go to mom and pop type junkyards.
They are the company that owns the Pick Your Part yards. My friends father started the company years ago and has since sold it. When he started it it was just trucks and heavy equipment, The new owners included the car yards.
They also bought Keystone...formerly Keystone plating. As in junk aftermarket sheetmetal and "recycled" bumpers that are never available after quoting them to ins cos. 
The problem with them is they are too big and no one knows anything about cars there. They only know what it says in the book...Not all cars and parts interchange, but if it says so in the book that is what they will give you. Just my experience.
Ribbedroof said:They also bought Keystone...formerly Keystone plating. As in junk aftermarket sheetmetal and "recycled" bumpers that are never available after quoting them to ins cos.
Here are some examples of so called Junk sheetmetal that I personally have procured and mfg'd myself. Yes, I work for LKQ as a Product Manager and have made some pretty damn good products. I am the one that is out there getting these parts MFG'd for our good. Damn those LKQ guys huh? Look at our crappy chrome plating in the picture below that we do in the USA!!!
Truth is most yards and body panel distributors can no longer stay in business so they come to LKQ begging to be bought. I was one of the employees on that side of the business. If it wasnt for the Aftermarket as a whole the damn OEM would have the monopoly and charge stupid prices (even more than they do now) Then people would really complain about insurance premiums. Aftermarket is good for the industry. You talk to an honest body man and he will tell you that oem parts get returned just as much as aftermarket. And dont get me started on where much of the OEM lighting is MFG'd.....one clue.....same factories!
You ever research the CAPA certifications and the NSF certifications that match the oem in structural integrity and fit and finish between the two programs? You should research. I bet you work at a dealership don't you? And I bet at a bodyshop as well.
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