Parts of a Whole - Getting the stuff you need for your old cars, locally - Part 1

We've all been in that situation - you need a part for your old car, and the mail-order vendor is 3000 miles away. Next-day shipping costs ten times more than the part you need, and you're not sure if you'll get it in time, even if you spend the extra to make the UPS jets fly. What to do?

The obvious answer is to look at your local parts store. Automotive parts stores have available an unbelievable line of supplies and components, but many people are unaware and unable to tap these resources because they just don't know - or the parts people themselves don't know.

In this series, I'll give you the keys to finding knowledgeable people in the parts business. In future installments, I'll discuss how to be a good customer and how to make the most of your good parts people - and maintain relationships that will save your old cars, again and again.

Your average auto parts store can be one of many types. Let's start off with the most common types and work towards the least:

1. A big-box retailer. These stores typically expect customers to find their own items in a large, open, supermarket-type space. They typically sell an extensive line of accessories for modern cars and draw the volume of their business from accessories, tire sales, and quite often an oil-change facility attached. (Example: Sears Auto, Pep Boys)

2. A company store. Major auto parts chains often operate a number of stores that do not offer any mechanical services - no tires and oil changes - but still offer expansive floor plans where customers are expected to find their own accessories and common items (filters, etc.) using either books or, more commonly today, computer interfaces. Parts counter people are available for help, but usually are working at a checkout station. (Example: Advanced Auto, AutoZone)

3. A hybrid company-independent store: These stores carry a major parts brand name, but are independently owned. The owner(s) are considered "jobbers," and as such are required to maintain a certain amount of company inventory, but the rest is up to them - they can organize their store however they please and staff it with as many counter people as they please. (Example: Carquest, Napa)

4. An independent. These parts stores are completely free to buy whatever they want from whoever they want, whenever they want. The same applies to their sales - they can sell in any manner they wish. They may deal with manufacturers directly, or sometimes through specialized distributing companies that cater to them. Their stores can be very large or very small, and can have many or few counter people.

Of course, each of these formats carries advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at it in a more specialized way, for the restorer:

1. Big box stores: These are the least useful to the restorer. While their prices on general supplies - fluids, chemicals, common filters, etc., may be the lowest, they typically have little customer service. Some maintain a counter specifically dedicated to commercial sales (for shops), but while these countermen may be available to walk-in customers, they typically are dedicated to commercial sales, typically transacted via telephone. Special orders for odd/rare parts may take weeks and are seldom reliable.

2. Company stores: These stores have an advantage over any other type of store in that they have direct access to company warehousing and pricing. Most large auto parts companies have a trucking service that delivers between warehouses and stores on a daily basis. As such, these stores typically have a wide variety of parts available on short order (usually a day or two), and very competitive pricing since they eliminate the middlemen. However, the counter help are often underpaid and/or part time, and many times have little experience in the field. This may not always be true, but is a general observation of mine. I must say that I have experienced many "company men" that have a significant knowledge of the parts business, but they seem to be in the minority.

3. Company-independents: These stores are by far my favorites. Since they are typically run by a small crew of intimately familiar employees, they tend to have the most experienced personnel. They also have access to a company warehousing system, which means that they can access parts very quickly. However, their pricing is usually not up to par with a company store, simply because they are middlemen and must make a profit to stay in business. They also have an advantage over company stores in that they can access outside suppliers - if they know of someone locally who has your part who isn't in the company chain, they'll be happy to supply your part, albeit at a markup, but the convenience is often well worth it.

4. Independents: Because these stores are completely independent in who they buy from, who they hire from and whom they deal with, they are best rated individually. Because they are typically exempt from "company" pricing, they tend to be more expensive - but they may make up for that price difference in both service and in the depth of their lines. However, many independents manage to negotiate excellent pricing from manufacturers, and may be particularly attractive if they deal with a central warehouse that serves a number of independent stores. I've often found that a local independent can meet or beat a "company store" on oddball items because they're used to dealing in small volumes - perfect for the restorer. But it all varies - one independent may be great, and the next may not be. This is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of dealing with the independent - there is no consistent return.

In the next segment, we'll look at how you choose a specific parts store, and how you can maintain a special relationship as a restorer that regular customers cannot.