When it comes to wiper blades, it’s all about brand, brand, brand. That’s according to respondents to Counterman magazine’s annual P.A.R.T.S. (Professional Automotive Repair Technician) survey. Repair shops that responded to the survey say they perform roughly 13.5 jobs a month replacing wiper blades and 79 percent keep this product in stock.

Shops use, on average, two sources for stocking wiper blades, and as the chart below illustrates, jobbers hold a commanding lead as a shop's first call for the part.

These and other statistics can be found in P.A.R.T.S., produced annually by Counterman magazine. Ten years ago, Counterman began surveying repair shops annually to determine when, how and why they source specific automotive parts and products. The resulting data, published every fall, offers perspective on how sourcing and brand-loyalty trends have changed.