On average, shops surveyed by Babcox Research reported that they perform about four jobs a month requiring gaskets. A relatively small number of shops about 15.6 percent actually keep gaskets in stock.
When it comes time to place an order, the majority of shops surveyed (61 percent) said they go to the jobber as their primary source, as has consistently been the case over the past few years. With price becoming less of an issue than in years past, 69 percent of technicians said using a brand they trust is the most important factor when selecting a gasket brand.
These and other statistics can be found in the Professional Automotive Repair Technician Survey (P.A.R.T.S.), produced annually by Counterman magazine. Eight 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.