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Automotive industry insights, tips, and guides

How Should a Parts Counter Rep Handle Cycle-Counting the Parts Bin?

A parts counter rep should cycle-count the parts bin by picking a small section each shift, scanning or manually verifying part numbers and quantities against y...

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How Parts Counter Reps Should Handle Back-Ordered Parts Communication

A parts counter rep should communicate back-ordered parts status within 24 hours of learning about the delay, provide a realistic ETA based on supplier data, of...

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How Should a Parts Counter Rep Handle Managing Special-Order Parts?

A parts counter rep managing special-order parts should establish a clear tracking system from order placement through customer pickup, maintain regular communi...

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How Should a Parts Counter Rep Look Up a Part by VIN? Step-by-Step Guide

Looking up a part by VIN as a parts counter rep means entering the vehicle's 17-character identification number into your DMS or parts catalog system, then cros...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle a Key Technician Resignation? Step-by-Step Guide

When a key technician resigns, your parts manager needs to immediately stabilize parts flow to the remaining techs, communicate transparently with the service t...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle Recruiting and Keeping A-Level Technicians?

A parts manager can recruit and keep A-level technicians by offering competitive pay scaled to their skill level, creating clear advancement paths with measurab...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle Running a Monthly Service Advisor One-on-One?

A parts manager running a monthly service advisor one-on-one should focus on three things: reviewing the advisor's parts-ordering accuracy and speed, discussing...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle Closing the Gap on Service Absorption?

Service absorption happens when the cost of parts and labor exceeds what you charge the customer—and the gap comes straight out of your dealership's gross profi...

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How Parts Managers Should Raise Labor Rates Without Losing Customers

Raising your effective labor rate without losing customers requires three moves: transparent communication about the value you're delivering, strategic timing a...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle Improving Hours-Per-RO in the Service Drive

A parts manager improves hours-per-RO by reducing parts-wait time through better forecasting, staging parts before technicians need them, communicating ETAs cle...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle Following Up on a Delayed Parts ETA?

When a parts ETA slips, your parts manager should notify affected technicians and service advisors within an hour, confirm the new arrival date with the supplie...

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How Should a Parts Manager Handle Setting Daily Ordering Cutoffs?

A parts manager should set daily ordering cutoffs 24–48 hours before the supplier's next available delivery window, aligned with your service schedule's peak de...

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