Counterman Staff, Author at Counterman Magazine - Page 547 of 556
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Finding the Right Answer

Sometimes all it takes is the right questions. Other times, though, you have to do a little field work.

Young Guns

I hate to break it to you, Mike Demers, but your generalizations of people age 25 and younger in your column What’s Wrong With Customer Service? portrayed a very poor example of the majority of working young people today. I happen to be in the demographic of people whom you described as “lacking in customer

Bah Humbug & Happy New Year!

“Closed for the holidays,” must be nice. We parts guys at the bottom of the totem pole can’t afford to close for a full week like some manufacturers. Our customers need us all year round — and we’ll be there for them.

Production vs. Custom Engines

The article “Crate Engines: A Smart Solution” by Larry Carley (September) presented a one-sided opinion of the repowering business. I believe the more than 7,000 custom machine shops in the US would take great exception to many things Mr. Carley espoused in his article. He paints a sorry picture of the custom engine rebuilding industry

Face-to-Face Selling

I really enjoyed Editor Brian Cruickshank’s The Formula column. Great article. I liked the way he juxtaposed Advance’s $1 billion in commercial sales milestone against the simplicity of the guy at the counter being the cornerstone of a great wholesale business for 40 years! So many senior managers in the aftermarket overlook the value of

Let Them Flip Burgers

I’ve been in the auto parts business for the last 10 years. In that time, I have worked for an independent, a national retailer and now, a smaller program-group affiliated chain. The trend of getting rid of knowledgeable people and replacing them with “Joe Blow Computer Geek” is really bad. What’s worse is the management

Offended Reader

I feel very offended about the name of your magazine. There are so many counterwomen who do the very same job! Elizabeth Burney Parts Specialist Seminole, OK Counterman Responds… Thanks for your letter, Elizabeth. We get letters like yours every so often, and do appreciate your comments. Over the years, we have considered changing the

Around the World

Multi Parts Supply (MPS) employs more than 60 people around the world exactly because, as Jon Owens stated in his column Made in China, “there’s more to (sourcing directly from China) than just finding a low-cost  supplier and letting the increased margins roll in.” Not one of these 60 people is actually fabricating or distributing

Technician Automotive Behavior Study

Using Industrial Marketing Research (IMR) data, Counterman magazine presents the Technician Automotive Behavior Study, which reveals technician branding preferences on various product categories. This IMR survey develops insightful understanding of product branding preferences at various types of automotive repair shops, both in the aftermarket and OE sides of the service industry.

With Thanks

Thank you Gary Garberg for finally saying in print what I’ve been trying to convey for years! Delivery drivers and outside sales reps don’t get the credit they deserve. Way too often they end up being the “punching bag” for someone else’s mistakes. I liked the article so much that I made copies and forwarded

Surfin’ Parts USA

Now more than ever, we’re hearing about Internet part stores that tout great prices and same-day or next-day delivery. Will these virtual stores eventually replace real parts pros?

Picked Pockets!

Read this month’s letters to the editor.