This started as a reply to the Amazon thread, but I quickly got carried away and long winded, so here goes.
Well I am in the auto parts business, and I have some things to say about this.
ON HAND STOCK
First of all, if you can plan a week ahead of time to order online, you could certainly plan a day or so ahead of time for your local store to get the parts you need. HOWEVER - not having "per car" quantities on hand for something common is definitely a bad thing. Any parts store anywhere should have 16 or more UR5's, along with similar quantities of other brands of the same plug.
Also remember that "common" means we sell lots. 2 points to take from this: 1) Don't be surprised if they're out of stock, because IT IS common, after all. Of course if you're finding that a store is continuously out of stock on something common, obviously there's an issue on the stores part, and they need to keep more of said part. 2) "Common" these days is decided by a computer recording sales over a period of time, usually for each individual store. This means that a store is more likely to have larger quantities of dodge diesel ball joints than gbody ones.
In my store, I have about 15 stores and 1 warehouse I can pull parts from for same day delivery. So we don't usually run into a no stock issue.
KNOWLEDGE BEHIND THE COUNTER
K, this one I'm going to mostly agree on... there really isn't much anymore. NUMBER ONE REASON: Pay. Parts people (at least in an auto parts store) do not get paid well. Period. You end up having to hire anyone with a pulse because you just don't get the car guys much anymore. If they are a car guy, they're usually smarter than me and go on to be a mechanic instead of staying.
In saying that, I will reiterate something I've posted in other places. If the guy asks you a question that seems redundant, just answer the damn question. Sometimes it's just the weed out all the other parts listed in the same category. He's just asking you what the computer is telling him to ask you. AND SOMETIMES it actually does make a difference. Like how a Sebring convertible shares very few parts with a coupe or sedan, or how 88-99 chevy pickups use a different oil filter for a 4x4. I have looked out the window to see what he was driving, and purposely sold guys the wrong one for being dickheads about me asking a question. Remember: saying "yes" or "4x4" or "1972" is easier and faster than saying "it doesn't matter." If you insist on frustrating the parts guy, he's not going to do a good job.
There was a guy on here (or maybe it was bcgbody back in the day,) that used to go into the parts store, find the youngest/newest guy there, and start asking for parts for his 1980 malibu 454. He would let the kid struggle and struggle trying to find a 454 listed, then GET MAD WHEN HE GOT THE WRONG PART. Remember, this kid may be a car guy, but doesn't have interest in old cars. THIS DOES NOT MAKE HIM STUPID. Don't be a dick and you'll have better luck.
One other thing to consider: Back in the ma+pa days, there were only 30 different oil filters, spark plugs, whatever. These days we have thousands. Some people can still walk to the shelf and grab the right one without even looking it up, but those days are pretty much gone with all the new technology and parts.
PRICING
This is a good one. I'll start by asking, what is the number one reason to shop online? PRICING. I often tell customers that get all bent out of shape at our price, if it weren't cheaper online, nobody would shop online. And if you're not being a dick about it, I'll do what I can price-wise. Now this doesn't mean that brick and mortar shops are all-the-time outrageous, but sometimes they are. Just don't think for a second that I can match an amazon price of 20 bucks on an ignition module that is $250 retail. And please, for the love of god, don't tell me it's the same quality. It isn't. If it were, Echlin/Bluestreak would just buy up all the 20 dollar ones.
I would say our biggest hurdle with hard parts pricing is keeping our wholesale clients happy by not giving everyone off the street their price. If we did, they would have to charge more labour to recoup costs. Shops don't want you bringing your own parts for 2 reasons - 1 is as stated, they need to make some money. 2 is they don't want to waste their time and tie up a hoist if you bring them the wrong parts.
Another thing I'm curious of is when you do in fact find the same part, same brand, online for cheaper than my store pays for it, is it really the same part? There's not a ton of evidence of this, but take tial wastegates for example. A genuine tial 50mm gate is, say $500. I can get one on amazon for $80. It says tial, has a serial number, and looks identical. We all know these are knockoffs, but because they're made somewhere with much more loose laws, they are able to market it as something it isn't. Moog on rock auto is a great example that I cannot explain. How they can sell actual moog stuff soooooo cheap just boggles my mind. I know what my company pays for these parts, before any markup, and I'm telling you that if it weren't a conflict of interest, we'd be better off buying all our moog from rock auto to stock our shelves.
As for performance parts, I've been watching and comparing, and just about everything we carry in common with summitracing we are right on par, sometimes even cheaper. The exception for us is MSD. Summit must be in bed with them, cuz I cant touch their MSD prices.
Also keep in mind that we need to pay more employees, property tax, insurance for our delivery cars and freight trucks, insurance for the building, insurance for the contents of the building, fuel... We also have to make up for, what I'm gonna call, "good faith" returns. Like defective parts that actually aren't, but we do the refund to keep the customer happy.
One last thing about pricing - markup at any parts store I've worked at is DISMAL in comparison. You pay way more markup on that bottle of pepsi, or your Bench jacket, than any car part.
I have one guy that comes off as a loyal customer. I searched, and searched, and searched, for a body mount set for his 65 GTO because the one in the energy suspension book had 2 wrong bushings. Can't remember how I found the right one, but eventually I did, pretty sure it was listed for different car. He comes to the store, buys the kit. Goes home, calls mopac (performance parts store about 4 hours away) and gives them the part number off of his receipt. On $120 (or whatever it was) they came in 14 dollars cheaper. HE ****ING RETURNED IT AND BOUGHT THEIRS. My employer paid me more than 14 dollars in the time it took to find this. This was the VERY LAST TIME I did more than lift a finger for this ********. Now when he comes in, if he requests something that requires any more than normal research, I just tell him no. I pride myself on being able to find difficult stuff, it makes me feel good. Never again will I do more than what I am paid to do for someone like this.
Today I found a valve cover gasket set for a guy that ordered his online and got the wrong one. 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L. This car was purchased in September of 09, so obviously an early model. Well, I guess hyundai decided to throw the 2.4 intake on some of these, or something similar, because the gasket he needed was for 2011 and up hyundai 2.4L. He searched and searched online before coming to see me at the store. I've found calipers to fit rear disc conversions by SSBC, who will never tell you what the original application is, just by having the caliper right in front of me. This is not something easily done online. Pictures only go so far.
Today's world is all about penny pinching. A lot of people don't know where to draw the line though, and put ZERO thought into quality and potential lifespan of what we purchase. Most of my customers around here just want the car back on the road. They don't care if they have to put another set of 20 dollar brake pads in after 6 months. And if they do care, it's the parts fault, not their tight-*ss purchasing mentality.
So, as far as the idea that "they're doing this to themselves," I somewhat disagree. Customers are shopping online way more, which is making the physical stores lose money. Physical stores aren't willing to pay to keep good, knowledgeable employees under their roof. Does one affect the other? Absolutely. Is one solely to blame for the other? No.
Do I think brick and mortar parts stores are dying? No, not really, but definitely losing market share. Until amazon and the like can get you your part within the hour, we'll still be here.
Well I am in the auto parts business, and I have some things to say about this.
ON HAND STOCK
First of all, if you can plan a week ahead of time to order online, you could certainly plan a day or so ahead of time for your local store to get the parts you need. HOWEVER - not having "per car" quantities on hand for something common is definitely a bad thing. Any parts store anywhere should have 16 or more UR5's, along with similar quantities of other brands of the same plug.
Also remember that "common" means we sell lots. 2 points to take from this: 1) Don't be surprised if they're out of stock, because IT IS common, after all. Of course if you're finding that a store is continuously out of stock on something common, obviously there's an issue on the stores part, and they need to keep more of said part. 2) "Common" these days is decided by a computer recording sales over a period of time, usually for each individual store. This means that a store is more likely to have larger quantities of dodge diesel ball joints than gbody ones.
In my store, I have about 15 stores and 1 warehouse I can pull parts from for same day delivery. So we don't usually run into a no stock issue.
KNOWLEDGE BEHIND THE COUNTER
K, this one I'm going to mostly agree on... there really isn't much anymore. NUMBER ONE REASON: Pay. Parts people (at least in an auto parts store) do not get paid well. Period. You end up having to hire anyone with a pulse because you just don't get the car guys much anymore. If they are a car guy, they're usually smarter than me and go on to be a mechanic instead of staying.
In saying that, I will reiterate something I've posted in other places. If the guy asks you a question that seems redundant, just answer the damn question. Sometimes it's just the weed out all the other parts listed in the same category. He's just asking you what the computer is telling him to ask you. AND SOMETIMES it actually does make a difference. Like how a Sebring convertible shares very few parts with a coupe or sedan, or how 88-99 chevy pickups use a different oil filter for a 4x4. I have looked out the window to see what he was driving, and purposely sold guys the wrong one for being dickheads about me asking a question. Remember: saying "yes" or "4x4" or "1972" is easier and faster than saying "it doesn't matter." If you insist on frustrating the parts guy, he's not going to do a good job.
There was a guy on here (or maybe it was bcgbody back in the day,) that used to go into the parts store, find the youngest/newest guy there, and start asking for parts for his 1980 malibu 454. He would let the kid struggle and struggle trying to find a 454 listed, then GET MAD WHEN HE GOT THE WRONG PART. Remember, this kid may be a car guy, but doesn't have interest in old cars. THIS DOES NOT MAKE HIM STUPID. Don't be a dick and you'll have better luck.
One other thing to consider: Back in the ma+pa days, there were only 30 different oil filters, spark plugs, whatever. These days we have thousands. Some people can still walk to the shelf and grab the right one without even looking it up, but those days are pretty much gone with all the new technology and parts.
PRICING
This is a good one. I'll start by asking, what is the number one reason to shop online? PRICING. I often tell customers that get all bent out of shape at our price, if it weren't cheaper online, nobody would shop online. And if you're not being a dick about it, I'll do what I can price-wise. Now this doesn't mean that brick and mortar shops are all-the-time outrageous, but sometimes they are. Just don't think for a second that I can match an amazon price of 20 bucks on an ignition module that is $250 retail. And please, for the love of god, don't tell me it's the same quality. It isn't. If it were, Echlin/Bluestreak would just buy up all the 20 dollar ones.
I would say our biggest hurdle with hard parts pricing is keeping our wholesale clients happy by not giving everyone off the street their price. If we did, they would have to charge more labour to recoup costs. Shops don't want you bringing your own parts for 2 reasons - 1 is as stated, they need to make some money. 2 is they don't want to waste their time and tie up a hoist if you bring them the wrong parts.
Another thing I'm curious of is when you do in fact find the same part, same brand, online for cheaper than my store pays for it, is it really the same part? There's not a ton of evidence of this, but take tial wastegates for example. A genuine tial 50mm gate is, say $500. I can get one on amazon for $80. It says tial, has a serial number, and looks identical. We all know these are knockoffs, but because they're made somewhere with much more loose laws, they are able to market it as something it isn't. Moog on rock auto is a great example that I cannot explain. How they can sell actual moog stuff soooooo cheap just boggles my mind. I know what my company pays for these parts, before any markup, and I'm telling you that if it weren't a conflict of interest, we'd be better off buying all our moog from rock auto to stock our shelves.
As for performance parts, I've been watching and comparing, and just about everything we carry in common with summitracing we are right on par, sometimes even cheaper. The exception for us is MSD. Summit must be in bed with them, cuz I cant touch their MSD prices.
Also keep in mind that we need to pay more employees, property tax, insurance for our delivery cars and freight trucks, insurance for the building, insurance for the contents of the building, fuel... We also have to make up for, what I'm gonna call, "good faith" returns. Like defective parts that actually aren't, but we do the refund to keep the customer happy.
One last thing about pricing - markup at any parts store I've worked at is DISMAL in comparison. You pay way more markup on that bottle of pepsi, or your Bench jacket, than any car part.
I have one guy that comes off as a loyal customer. I searched, and searched, and searched, for a body mount set for his 65 GTO because the one in the energy suspension book had 2 wrong bushings. Can't remember how I found the right one, but eventually I did, pretty sure it was listed for different car. He comes to the store, buys the kit. Goes home, calls mopac (performance parts store about 4 hours away) and gives them the part number off of his receipt. On $120 (or whatever it was) they came in 14 dollars cheaper. HE ****ING RETURNED IT AND BOUGHT THEIRS. My employer paid me more than 14 dollars in the time it took to find this. This was the VERY LAST TIME I did more than lift a finger for this ********. Now when he comes in, if he requests something that requires any more than normal research, I just tell him no. I pride myself on being able to find difficult stuff, it makes me feel good. Never again will I do more than what I am paid to do for someone like this.
Today I found a valve cover gasket set for a guy that ordered his online and got the wrong one. 2010 Kia Forte 2.0L. This car was purchased in September of 09, so obviously an early model. Well, I guess hyundai decided to throw the 2.4 intake on some of these, or something similar, because the gasket he needed was for 2011 and up hyundai 2.4L. He searched and searched online before coming to see me at the store. I've found calipers to fit rear disc conversions by SSBC, who will never tell you what the original application is, just by having the caliper right in front of me. This is not something easily done online. Pictures only go so far.
Today's world is all about penny pinching. A lot of people don't know where to draw the line though, and put ZERO thought into quality and potential lifespan of what we purchase. Most of my customers around here just want the car back on the road. They don't care if they have to put another set of 20 dollar brake pads in after 6 months. And if they do care, it's the parts fault, not their tight-*ss purchasing mentality.
So, as far as the idea that "they're doing this to themselves," I somewhat disagree. Customers are shopping online way more, which is making the physical stores lose money. Physical stores aren't willing to pay to keep good, knowledgeable employees under their roof. Does one affect the other? Absolutely. Is one solely to blame for the other? No.
Do I think brick and mortar parts stores are dying? No, not really, but definitely losing market share. Until amazon and the like can get you your part within the hour, we'll still be here.
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