As the chart below illustrates, the rate of returns by professional repair shops, dealers and technicians, as a total percent of sales, is nearly equal for both retailers and jobbers.
According to the Counterman magazine 2009 Reader Profile, jobbers report returns as 15.1 percent of total sales, while retailers report returns as 14.4 percent of total sales. In both instances, this is an aggregate of returns, regardless of reason, and does not include cores.
Methodology:
In September 2009, Babcox Research mailed 4,499 questionnaires to jobber and retail subscribers of Counterman magazine. More than 450 surveys were completed and returned for a 10 percent response rate. Both audiences, jobbers and retailers, were sent the same questionnaire. Babcox Research also asks similar questions of independent repair shops in its annual P.A.R.T.S. (Professional Automotive Repair Technician Survey).
For more information about Babcox Research, visit http://www.babcox.com/marketing_research.html.