With an average of six jobs per week that require starters and alternators, technicians are looking for a source that can deliver the parts, and the brands, they need — quickly. Shops have, on average, about 2.6 sources for this category and jobbers remain the primary source for 50 percent of those surveyed. Retailers gained a slighter bigger slice of the pie in 2008 at 20 percent, while WDs and car dealerships lost a bit of market share with this category in 2008.
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.