The Value of My Jobber Partner
Looking back over the 31 years since I opened my own shop, it’s not hard to see that a positive and productive jobber/shop relationship is the primary ingredient for the success of any jobber or any shop operating in the independent market. On the one hand, many shop operators look at their local jobbers as
Wake Up to the Computer Age
I’m a 32-year veteran of the auto parts business and am ASE certified in eight areas. While it’s good to have paper catalogs at a backup, in some instances, an e-cat is better. At NAPA, we have an e-cat system that shows exhaust diagrams. It’s very useful and faster to look up online than on
A New Look for Counterman.com
They say change is inevitable and with the New Year just around the corner, it’s only fitting that visitors to Counterman.com see a change we hope you not only like but will find functional. If you’d been to Counterman.com before, you know that while it was a solid, multi-faceted Web site, like anything, there was
Keep the Technical Info Coming
I just love the technical features in Counterman magazine. They are chock full of useful information. That knowledge brings power! Keep the articles coming. Your articles are a powerful tool and are very useful when speaking to customers. If a person acts like he knows what he’s talking about, people will buy! Robert E. Lee
Pontiac Vibe CAF Replacement Procedure
Should you see a 2003-’06 Pontiac Vibe in your shop that is in need of a Cabin Air Filter (CAF) replacement, adhere to the following steps to provide this service. The CAF on this vehicle is located behind the glove box door inside the filter housing. 1. Open the glove box door. 2. Remove the
I Know Why, Mitch
Mitch Schneider wants to know why, and how in his article “Why is it in Vogue?”(Counterman, June 2008) that people crucify aftermarket manufacturers. Unfortunately for us in the retail side, the answer can be traced back to the late 1980s, when shops and DIY customers stopped asking the most important question and started asking the
Think Twice Before Getting Rid of Paper
Setting a course to abolish the paper catalog is something manufacturers should really think twice about. As I have worked through the years in the parts business, I have found nothing more resourceful than the print catalog. I understand the argument for eliminating paper catalogs from a cost standpoint, but when you eliminate this reference
High Voltage
Hybrid vehicles of all types and sizes are all in high demand but in short supply.
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
‘Bored’ With Your Job?
How can you be bored when there is ALWAYS a challenge of the hour? Here’s my take on just some of the challenges we face every day.