Sears Imported Autos, Inc

Roland Chartier. “Then we extended credit from net 30 to net 60 for our large customers.

“The only change we made to our delivery service was to give all drivers face masks, gloves and supplies to sanitize their vans. Customers were no longer required to sign for delivered parts. The drivers asked for names and noted them on the route/ delivery sheets. We had some of our larger accounts order large stock orders just in case the supply chain was interrupted,” Chartier continued. “When other dealers cut staff or service to customers, we would have our outside sales people work those areas extra hard calling shops and letting them know we were servicing the area. We were able to pick up a few new shops with this tactic. It was hard work and a little luck.”

In March, April and May, was your wholesale mechanical business (primarily mechanical repair parts sold to tune-up shops, brake shops and general repair shops) up or down and by what percent?

Once again, all except three dealers noted their wholesale mechanical business was down. The smallest decline was 5% and the largest 80%, with an average decline of 39%.

One of the three “up” dealers was, again, Richmond Ford Lincoln. The other two were unavailable for comment.

Have you had to furlough any parts department personnel and if so, who?

Sixty-six percent of respondents said they had to furlough at least one person in their parts department. Some had to let multiple people go. This included 13% who furloughed road sales people and 31% who furloughed stock clerks.

Those hit the hardest were delivery drivers, with a 47% furlough rate, and counter people, with a 53% furlough rate; 38% of respondents dismissed both a driver and a counter person. One parts manager noted they cut hours but kept the same number of drivers.

Have you altered your parts delivery service and if so, how?

This was fairly evenly divided, with 49% saying yes and 51% saywere necessary at the dealer level.

One Honda parts manager said that because the shops were operating at reduced capacity, they did not deliver after 2 p.m., and most shops manager at a California Acura dealer other OEs may have had trouble fulticular part or type of part that may have been temporarily unavailable.

Assuming your business has been slow, how have you used the

ing no. Fortunately, for body shops, extra time? the changes we made during the pannone of our respondents said they Parts department personnel have demic and there will be a ‘new norcompletely stopped delivering. been using the time to clean up their mal.’”

Seventy-eight percent of those physical department, check bin counts ▪ 22% said: “My parts business who made a change chose to limit the to ensure inventory accuracy, painthas changed little over the past few number of delivery runs made per day. ing, erecting new shelves and general months. I expect to continue on busiA few chose to limit deliveries only to reor ganizing. Some used the time for ness as usual.” select accounts, one limited delivery training. Some updated account in▪ 18% said: “It will return to its pre-viby mileage and one limited delivery formation. And some parts managers rus levels in a fairly short amount of by dollar value of the order. said with furloughed employees, there time. I expect to rehire my furloughed

One VW dealer in northern Calwas no free time—those that remained people fairly soon.” ifornia noted, “We were allotted one were just as busy as before. One GM dealer in Michigan said,

“We took our outside salespeople off the road and “We are already back to normal. All had them working the phones five or six hours a employees have already returned.” Do you foresee any long-term day contacting customers to see who was open and negative effects from the pandemic who was not and if there was anything we could do and if so, what? Twenty-seven percent of reto help them out,” — Roland Chartier spondents said yes, while 73% said driver and told to make do.” Several Already, people have started drivsaid it will take a long time for peodealers said customers were picking ing again and business have started ple who have been out of work to up parts at the dealerships in lieu of r eopening. In view of the events of the recover. a reduced delivery capacity. Some past few months, how do you view the A parts manager at a West Coast dealers used Uber or a taxi service. future of your parts dept? Mercedes-Bens dealer noted, “I think

How have your customers re▪ 33% said: “It will return to its pre-vithis will be an ongoing, seasonal issue sponded to changes in delivery policies? rus levels but will take several months. for a few seasons/years. The collision

Overall, respondents noted shops I expect to rehire my furloughed people business will take on the majority of understood the situation and were eventually.” the decline each time.” very accepting that business changes ▪ 27% said: “I plan to retain some of See Serve Through Pandemic, Page 34

seemed to be OK with that. A parts Your Trusted Source for Mercedes-Benz and Sprinter Parts in the Upper Midwest said the shops were just happy the • Only Mercedes-Benz Parts Pro dealership was still open and they were able to pick up parts as needed. How much trouble have you • Approved Dealer in the 5 State Area Highly Knowledgeable and Dedicated Wholesale Parts had getting parts from your primary Staff Ready to Help You OE brand during the height of the • Free Daily Deliveries and pandemic? Same Day Hot Shot Deliveries

Respondents said those OEs with in the Metro Area the best fill rate during this time were, in no particular order, Honda, Toyota, • Extensive Inventory of Genuine OEM Mercedes-Benz and Sprinter Parts Updated Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Daily and BMW. • Compeˆˆve Pricing

However , the degree to which and Discounts Always filling dealer orders may or may not have been caused by the pandemic. Civil unrest or other factors outside 866-821-6014 WHOLESALE HOTLINE 13500 Wayzata Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55305 Sears Imported Autos the control of the OE may have played a factor. Also, parts manager answers may have been influenced M-F 7:00am - 6:00pm HOURS 952-512-6555 PARTS DIRECT 952-512-6623 24 Hour Parts Fax www.searsimports.com mbparts@searsimports.com by a particular order or two or a parSat 8:00am - 4:00pm

no. Several of those that said yes