Each week, The Pulse provides insight into the buying, sourcing and brand-loyalty habits of counter professionals and professional technicians. This week, we look at technicians’ sourcing habits for Engine Parts.
On average, engine parts are used for about two repairs each month at repair shops (the same level reported in 2007), and 14.3 percent of shops keep engine parts in stock.
When they have to make the call, 52 percent of shops turn to a jobber as their primary source for engine parts. Using a trusted brand is paramount, say 72 percent of shops surveyed, and 45 percent of shops say they rely on their first call for engine parts because of the knowledgeable sales reps.
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.