I guess I read things a bit differently. Some are vehement about [negative] commentary about vendors. I didn't quite see it that way, but that's just me. I never like the words RIP OFF however unless they are really, truly accurate--high prices in and unto themselves are not "rip offs".
Abe was quite right in surmising that Palo Alto or North Hollywood could come close to the price of Mr. Linquist. They can't. But they are commercial operations, which will nearly always be higher in price. It sounds like Mr. Linquist is more of a hobbyist who does this on the side, and that kind of operation--a cottage industry as it were--will nearly always be lower in price. He charges what he wants. Doesn't make the commercial operations a rip off, however. One of my local MBCA members makes a business repairing all manner of old radios. My guess is he's somewhat less costly than Becker. Does not make Becker a rip off.
I cringe when I hear those words RIP OFF because they are so often misused. Here's a summary of just one of many phone calls I receive--
"You the car wash owner?"
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Yeah--your f*&^%$ change machine RIPPED ME OFF...I put a $5 bill in and NOTHING CAME OUT"
"Well, I'm sorry you have been inconvenienced. The change machine is just a machine--it doesn't think and can't rip you off. Something about that bill prevented acceptance, and because of that it didn't dispense change."
Also, however, there are sometimes very real reasons for vast price increases. Years ago, when my car was being restored, there was a plethora of old 190SL's in the same shop. I found this puzzling. Turns out they were all waiting for the same fender. Mercedes doesn't make them every day, but in batches and the batch ran out. The old, long-amortized and long-paid off tooling, was stamping out new fenders at what amounted to marginal cost. Well, as it turns out, the die broke, and MB had to get it repaired. (You can see where this is going, the most astute financiers amoung you) Well the repair or replacement of the die now had to be amortized, and the fenders coming out were priced somewhat higher than the old ones. It also peculiarly made the left fender considerably higher in price than the right! Some call this a "rip off" or "price gouging". Call it what you want but sometimes there's an explanation. Similarly, every once in a while you'll find seemingly identical parts--a left this or a right that, that have vastly different prices for similar reasons. Doesn't make immediate sense until you uncover why.
Also, everything that a car manufacturer offers for their cars has to be tested a bit more extensively than an aftermarket product--which may not be tested at all. Something as seemingly innocuous as a bolt-on fender flare, when offered by a manufacturer, must go through extensive crash or other testing which is ungodly expensive. Joe's Speed Shop which makes essentially the same fender flare, need not go through any testing, doesn't pay the liability insurance, etc. and thus can offer it less costly. Does that make the more expensive Mercedes parts a "rip off" or "price gouging" compared to aftermarket? You be the judge, but just understand some of the components of manufacturer pricing.
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America
