r/partscounter

Good Morning Parts Managers!

I was wondering if any of you have a 1 on 1 template that you could share? I have 2 younger parts people that have been in it for a couple years and I’m having an issue keeping them on task and motivated. My 3rd has been in it for the same 18 years as me and crushes it consistently. I try to have conversations and offer ideas to help but they keep reverting to wandering around and on their phone etc. Open to any other suggestions but I want to have 1 on 1’s consistently each month just to formally check in , address issues and get feedback on myself as well. ** Pay plans are being reviewed as well with myself and the GM**

Thank you!

Stuck here the full day today, shop is working on the owner's monster (off-brand) motor home. Managed to locate calipers, brake hose, and some unicorn piss DOT 5.1 fluid, felt like a hero for half a second... even got an "atta boy" from the owner...

well, one of the calipers was junk out of the box, and that supplier can't get another until after the holiday weekend.... found another one in-stock from our third-call parts store, placed my order online.... and then slowly realized that they have already closed up early for the 4th.

I have a rock and a flashlight, and I know the part number I'm looking for once I gain entry into the building... I wonder if my owner wants this rig done badly enough to post bail...

Happy birthday, America!

https://partsadvisortools.com/

I got a few useful tools on there I use daily!

- VIN decoder for basic vehicle info (Click Nato to get the last 8 of the VIN showing)

-Margin calculator, always useful when trying to adjust prices
- Tire resizing tool (My favorite, helps me know if sizes are compatible safely, most websites out there make it so hard to read)

-Nato Alphabet converter

And then just a general unit converter.

Any other tools I should add?

With all the aftermarket programs , RepairLink, collision link, etc, then LKQ, insurance companies lowballing or just flat out sending their own parts…

What percentage do you try and hold on wholesale nowadays, has it dropped? Or try and keep the same ?

GM. Where and when do you see your reimbursements.

Hey guys without giving up ur store info obviously what's ur parts dept gp for the month on average? Owners always want more but I'm curious what the real range looks like ​

These trailers are jam packed with a narrow walkway though each. I have no idea where to even begin with this. I've listed some parts on eBay, but my assistant was laid off about a month after I started and I no longer have time to do that. Most of these are collision parts. I don't have any way to inventory these parts that's more involved than a Google spreadsheet, as my department has no budget beyond payroll - I had to buy my own barcode scanner.

What would you do?

Why is this oil change so expensive?

I dont make the prices, I dont pay attention to the prices half the time unless its for the sales department.

If you want special pricing on another brand oil change, you (service) need to make a special op code or tell us what to sell the shit at.

Rant over. Im sorry for the disruption.

Hey, so for some context I'm 21 and have been working in the parts department at a GM dealership for about 7 months. I was hired as a parts helper. but over time my responsibilities have grown a lot. (I do estimates, phone calls, deal with techs, deal with advisers, take calls from customers, receive our daily special order parts, I'm in charge of warranty parts. im on the counter all day) From what I can tell, I'm doing essentially everything the salary/commission counter guys do, while also handling my own daily responsibilities. The only real difference is my title and pay. I'm making $15/hour with no commission. I'm still learning and 100% ask questions when I don't know something. If I'm not 100% confident on an estimate, I'll have one of the senior guys doublecheck it because I'd rather be right than guess., I can run pretty independently. I genuinely love this job and want to build a career in dealership parts. i just feel so discouraged because I don't feel compensated. that might sounds entitled 🤷‍♂️ I'm not looking to leave by any means becsuse I actually enjoy coming to work. I also work a second job at O'rielys, so I'm putting in about 13+ hour days most weekdays. because I want to build this into a sustainable career and get experience. I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been in the industry for a while. Thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/4ic5rdsnqmah1.png?width=651&format=png&auto=webp&s=f30c1d1db764e6dabd6404262c8355bd15b2a9f4

Jesus, bought a compressor from Audi today, list price $1538, our price $1500 👀

What boots or shoes do you guys like? I wear some beat up Nikes. Thinking I should rock something a little more professional looking.

I've got an interview tomorrow with a Ford dealership. Currently working at a semi dealership parts counter and making $70(ish)k. Is it even worth my trouble to go talk to the Ford dealership? Is the car dealership parts jobs base plus commission? What's a realistic money number for a car dealership parts counter? All my heavy duty parts jobs have just be a hourly rate. Any help would be great. Thank you.

I have been working at the back parts counter for some time now, and since the first day, the technicians and service advisors have been getting cranky with me over how long estimates are taking, even though they aren't giving me the R.O., VIN, or detailed descriptions (left or right side part needed). Getting frustrated with me over supplier delivery times and prices. On top of that, the manager is getting upset because they feel I am not helping retail customers quickly or efficiently enough. How hard is it to understand if im not given the right information, I can't provide the quick part.

Does anyone have experience with upper management eliminating job positions? Wondering if someone can shed some insight on a similar situation's outcome 6 months or a year into it. We have fired several people and used it as an opportunity to permanently eliminate that job position and give its responsibility to other people. This has happened like 3-4 times for one service and parts team with no promises of hiring again. We are so stressed out that people are walking away for a few minutes just so they don't crash out in front of a customer what do we do? This seems so unsustainable like the whole thing is just going to collapse if someone calls out sick. I even mentioned this and they are sickeningly optimistic like people will never call out or have health issues ever.

What’s everyone’s schedule. I’m doing 50-60 hours a week. I feel it’s unnecessary and could easily be modified for less work. Is this an industry wide thing?

We've been having trouble getting Dexron ULV. Any ULV we do get, we have been saving for Warranty work.

In a bid to continue offering highly lucrative pan-off transmission services, the BG rep convinced my boss to bring in a 30 gallon drum of...what we were told was BG ULV. Well, this morning, I was getting the drum ready to use when I notice the label (PN315) reads "Low Viscosity".

I checked online, and BG claims the LV is compatible with both Mercon ULV and Dexron ULV (among others).

Anybody else have experience with this? I don't trust it, TBH.