Don’t Judge Luggage by its Tag
I am a self-professed luggage addict. I love any piece of well-made, sturdy luggage that I can throw things into and take off on a weekend trip with my family. In fact, for nearly every special occasion over the past two years or so, my wife has helped feed my addiction by buying me what
You Get Out Of It What You Put Into It
December seems like a long way off, but it’s not really, especially if you have to sift through hundreds of applications for Counterman’s annual Counter Professional of the Year award, which is presented by Affinia. Each year, the staff of Counterman magazine and aftermarketNews carefully study a myriad of entries to select the CPOTY (that’s
Let’s Make Delivery Free
I just read Jon Owens’ article on ending free delivery (April 2008). I thought it was great. No one ever wants to talk about this and I know the technicians say they refuse to pay for delivery. But as your article points out, do those same installers ever get a UPS shipment at home or
Why is it in Vogue?
I don’t know where or when it became fashionable to crucify the aftermarket companies that have trained, serviced and supported the repair community for more than four generations.
Open Exchange is Best
In this, our annual Program Group Overview issue, it is appropriate to consider what the future holds for the Program Group model and how effective or ineffective this model may be for the members who have aligned themselves with these groups. Throughout their emergence and subsequent evolution, one could argue that the Program Group concept
Computers Aren’t Always Best
I applaud Jon Owens for wanting to rid the world of the scourge of paper catalogs (“Let’s Make A Deal, December 2007). They are cumbersome and time consuming, and are also one of the things that actually differentiate me from the other guys. I detest them as they only help in look-up 10 to 15
Slicing Those Warranty Returns
An oft-cited statistic in the automotive aftermarket pegs warranty returns at 25 percent. Upon joining this industry, I heard that figure is an improvement over the past. While it may be better, no one should be comfortable with the notion that a full one-fourth of the products they send out come back as warranty returns.
The View from 37,000 Feet
It doesn’t seem to matter which side of the parts counter you are on. As an industry, we tend to focus on the “immediate” — the problems we face day-to-day, minute by minute. We lose track of the critically important role we play ensuring the free movement of people, goods and services across our nation’s roads and highways or the contribution each of us makes to an industry that has steadily grown every year for the past six years.
Making the Case for “Unreasonable” Ideas
Since penning the column “Let’s Make a Deal” in the December issue, which attempted to set a course for the abolition of paper catalogs in our market, some interesting twists and turns have occurred and I want to update you. It’s important to note that I didn’t really expect the industry to meet the suggested deadline of Jan. 1, 2009 for never having to print another paper catalog. But, I did expect to cause an eruption of productive dialogue with regard to this subject; a dialogue that I hoped would lead to an actual plan for phasing out the printing of catalogs over time.
Finding Use for Paper Catalogs
Getting rid of paper catalogs is a bad idea. Many times, cataloging is incomplete in the computer. Being able to review a paper catalog is essential. With production dates and model years sometimes hard to discern, it is great to be able to consult a paper catalog and be able to see many years at
Right-Hand Turn Beauty
Planning and technology will make your delivery operation more efficient. So, too, will making sure drivers make as many right-hand turns as possible.
The Problem is Not the Stool
In response to your article in the March issue, “Get Off Your Duff” (by Gary Garberg): Out of the hundreds of autoparts stores I have visited and the 25-30 stores I have worked at in over the last 10 years, I’ve found none of what you experienced in your visit. Gary, it’s my belief that