You could say belts and hose are on “heavy rotation” in today’s repair shops, with shops surveyed by Counterman magazine reporting an average of 10 jobs per month that require these parts. Yet only 35 percent of shops say they keep belts and hose in stock. When it’s time to re-order, shops rely on an average of 2.9 sources.
As the chart below illustrates, jobbers continue to maintain their commanding lead as a primary source for belts and hoses, with fast delivery, great sales reps and availability as the leading reasons shops go to their first call.
Shops that responded to the Counterman survey overwhelmingly agreed (83%) that using a trusted brand is the leading factor when selecting parts in this category.
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.
