Parts Supplier Relationship

7 Responses...

1. J Larry Bloodworth says

   January 15, 2019 at 3:15 pm

   I didn’t check any boxes because there wasn’t one for free parts. 🙂 LOL!
   Seriously, for me, price doesn’t even enter into the equation. It’s service, service, and more service. Part stores know what they need to charge to be profitable just I know what I need to charge to do the same. Who’s kidding who?

   At 64 years of age, it’s about conservation of time & energy. I spend a heck of a lot more time & energy calling around that I ever do when I simply sell the job at the correct price in the first place.

   EXAMPLE: You add a heck of a lot more to the bottom line charging say, 10% more than you do shopping around and finding parts 10% cheaper. In the customer’s view, a $330 repair is the same as a $300 repair they never knew about. And the parts guy is happy, you get better service, etc.

   Age is a heavy price to pay for experience.

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2. Richard Blackwell says

   December 21, 2018 at 8:30 am

   As someone who has spent 20 years in the parts business I see the comments above. They sound very familiar to me. However, when I would ask why did you but that from someone the answer was almost always “ they had it cheaper”. The industry has to decide is it service, brand, price…what is going to drive the decision?’ If a suppliers going to win on price, then something has to give in the other areas.

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3. Paul says

   December 18, 2018 at 2:00 pm

   Gotta have the right quality parts in stock and all the parts it takes for that job. RL Polk data is available for registered units in your area. Know who your customer is and what they want. You need to be at least competitive on price for like items. You have to be able to get it to me sooner than later. It should be in the warehouse and delivered tomorrow. It should be someone I want to do business with and you should stand behind it. I’ve seen a lot of times when the shop orders the wrong parts then blames the store. Use the VIN to get it right and stop ordering electrical parts to troubleshoot your cars.

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4. Randall Lucyk says

   December 11, 2018 at 10:07 am

   Their is a difference between “name brand parts” and quality parts. If we as an industry don’t understand that, then our suppliers never will. Open up a Gates timing belt kit and look at the country of origin on the parts included. How much confidence does that give you on a 16valve dohc vvt engine?

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5. Cory says

   December 6, 2018 at 8:05 pm

   Quit selling safety related parts at our cost to off the street beats. If you dont have a licence then should be able to buy parts or even at our cost. It’s getting more and more frustrated when customer says they can buy at our cost. I always say to customer bringing parts do you take your own steak to a restaurant as well??? They get the hint quick

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   • John says

     December 18, 2018 at 9:51 am

     Agreed!

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6. Brian says

   December 3, 2018 at 7:36 pm

   proper part inventory and cataloging SHOULD be number 1 for part suppliers but always falls short to 5th or 6th on there list. stop making excuses!

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