Why Does This Gear Cost So Much?

Why does this gear cost so much…….

We often get this question. No, we are not trying gouge people. We are providing a unique service. Let me say first, it is not for everyone. I’ll explain the answer to this question.

First, it is the policy of nearly every manufacturer of paper shredders for the consumer market to create a machine that is designed to fail. This is planned and the manufacturing model is for a planned life after which the consumer is expected to buy a new one, and throw the old one away. Typically, no parts or service is available for the machine in these cases. Please note that the company we represent (HSM) does support every machine they have made in Germany with full parts availability (for over 30 years), and is the notable exception – there is no one else who can make this claim. Some have better support than others (Ideal-Werk/Destroyit/MBM/SEM/Dahle/and a few others), but no other has the full catalog of parts available.

The next thing to understand is all the major marketers of paper shredders for the consumer market do not make shredders. Fellowes, GBC, Ativa, Staples, Amazon – take your pick – they do not build shredders. They sell shredders that they contract for manufactur in China from a generic manufacturer with zero parts support. Now, some that they market are made in Germany (Ativa/Fellowes/GBC) and may have parts support from that manufacturer (we do have parts for most German made machines). But, the made in China machines typically do not (there are some exceptions).

So, what we do is acquire machines, test them and disassemble the machine for parts. All parts are documented and given a part number (there are no part numbers for machines with no parts support). We count teeth on gears and document gear position and machine family as it is known. We picture the part(s) from all important angles. We do this for the person who likes their machine otherwise and is just trying to repair it properly. Due to the extensive work we do, the part can be matched, absolutely.

Now, what we do is not cheap. We have USA based labor, benefits and taxes to pay – as well as a facility. It can take a man-hour of labor, per part, to do the work of disassembly, qualification as OK, pictures, and listing process. We do not know which part is most likely to be required, so we must do them all – this means that one part must pay for the entire process in most cases. So, in order to stay in business, we must charge what you see. It may be a small gear that came from a $100 machine (when new), but we are not able to buy the gear from a China manufacturer – they don’t exist.

Our service is not for everybody. But, we do have a market for what we are doing, and we want you to understand what is behind what we are doing. We also provide one on one service for folks who are trying to service machines for which there is no support. GetThatPart.com is proud to lend a hand to folks who have nowhere else to go for support. Please remember you are supporting that service when you buy from us.

Finally, we have been in business for over 20 years now. You are buying all those experiences when you talk to us. All of us at GTP thank you for your support and hope you come back to talk to us again!