This week, we continue The Pulse with a look at sourcing for wiper blades, this week focusing on domestic nameplate vehicles.

WDs are usually the first phone call from an independent repair shop when they are looking to buy wiper blades for domestic nameplate vehicles, according to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. More than 60 percent of independent repair shops said the WD was their first choice for wiper blades, while 37.7 percent of shops said they went to a retailer. Car dealers are not getting any wiper blade business for domestic nameplate vehicles, as less than one percent (0.8 percent) of shops said they went to the dealer for wiper blades.

“We are finding that for most products like wiper blades, lighting, brakes and filtration parts, over 60 percent of independent repair shops make the WD their primary choice for replacement parts for domestic vehicles,” said Bill Thompson, president and CEO of IMR Inc. “For wiper blades, shops are calling the retailer a little more than they are for lighting (37 percent) and brakes (37.5 percent). The IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study also reveals that over 99 percent of shops do not even consider going to the dealer for a part like wiper blades.”

For more than 40 years, IMR Inc. has been an industry leader in automotive research and conducts syndicated and proprietary market research studies that focus on automotive parts and services, repair shops, technicians, accessories and vehicle technology trends. To find out how IMR research can help your business, call 800-654-1079, e-mail [email protected] or visit AutomotiveResearch.com.