Jobbers hold a commanding lead as a source for rotors, with 53 percent of those responding to Counterman magazine’s annual P.A.R.T.S. survey. WD direct (19 percent) and retailers (14 percent) were the second and third choice, respectively. Availability is the leading reason shops rely on their “first call” for rotors, according to the survey.
Shops responding to the P.A.R.T.S. survey perform an average of 10 jobs per month requiring rotors and 19 percent keep the part in stock. When it’s time to re-order, shops buy from an average of 3.1 sources.
Brand trust is the most important factor respondents consider when choosing a brand of rotors, as seen in the chart below.
These and other statistics can be found in P.A.R.T.S., produced annually by Counterman magazine. Nine 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.