Jobbers lost a slight bit of ground to WDs in the motor oil category this past year. That’s according to respondents to Counterman magazine’s annual P.A.R.T.S. (Professional Automotive Repair Technician) survey. Twenty-six percent of shops said jobbers were their primary source for motor oil in 2010, down from 30 percent in 2009; 34 percent of shops said WDs were their primary source in 2010, up from 31 percent in 2009. Fast delivery and the quality of the sales reps were factors of increasing importance in the past year.

Brand continues to be very important when technicians choose motor oil, with 66 percent saying they will only use a brand they trust.


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.