robroy wrote:Good morning Tim!
It must be because people who have great attitudes and some experience nearly always graduate to positions of greater responsibility that pay more.
I've often wondered how successful an auto parts could be if they'd take care to hire experienced guys for the counter, and pay them appropriately. That cost would have to be passed on with a premium on the parts, yet if the premium were relatively small, wouldn't you attend such an auto parts despite that? Especially for hard-to-find, unusual parts? What if they were unusually friendly, remembered your name, and had a genuine interest in what you were working on?
Could it be that the free, wide availability of automotive information (on the Web) has decreased the need for experienced auto parts counter guys?
Robroy
Not a bad idea, but in todays walmart minded economy, it just ain't gonna happen. I finally got out of the retail parts business a number of years ago, because i couldn't find anybody that knew what they were doing, for the amount of money corporate wanted to pay. The whole computer/internet thng is a double edged sword here. Most of the "counter" perple you find now have no experience with the catalog system, and i will argue to the death with anyone that says you can find it all on a computer catalog. Like one of my good friends says... "All the answers AINT on the web". As far as a "premium" for parts, some folks don't have a problem with that, most do. Once again, teh wally world philosophy rears it's ugly head.
I have an oreilly, a pep boys , and a auto zone within 5 min of the shop. If i hit something i need in a hurry, oreilly gets the call, simply most of the crew there knows me & will let me look up my own parts. Saves both them and me time & aggravation. Thankfully, i have the luxury of planning out any of the jobs that come in & time is not a huge factor. Which is why i still drive to the Napa i used to run & get parts there.
I have a store lined out, in my head, that would be a killer. I know enough of the olds parts dogs around here to staff it, guys that actually give a damn, and will crack a catalog at a moments notice to find something. Unfortunatly, it'll take winning the lottery to do it
