How do Garages get parts so fast?

[manlymatt83]

Went in for an oil change today, and the guy called me an hour later to tell me I need a new front left axle and new brakes on my 98 Honda Civic. I said "OK". Two hours later, it was done.

How do these places get the parts so fast? Surely they don't have them stuffed in the dumpster around back...

 

[Howard]

Overnight from Japan.

</FatF>

 

[DeadByDawn]

Parts runners from either the local parts stores or a stealership.

 

[evident]

well if it's in a metropolitan area, there's always a parts store (napa, etc) where they can get their parts

 

[OS]

maybe they didn't change the axle at all and still charged you for it

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Parts runners from either the local parts stores or a stealership.

yep

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

There's a job known as "parts runner" in most shops. The runner goes to the local parts store to pick up the needed items for the mechanics.

 

[ballmode]

part runners from local stores... napa... etc.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Parts runners from either the local parts stores or a stealership.

Bingo. Napa and Carquest are the big players in this market.

 

[LeiZaK]

I was a parts runner once.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
There's a job known as "parts runner" in most shops. The runner goes to the local parts store to pick up the needed items for the mechanics.

When I worked in the industry, most of the parts runners worked for the shops that supplied the parts. If I needed a CV joint, I'd call and they'd have a guy drop one off.

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Parts runners from either the local parts stores or a stealership.

Bingo. Napa and Carquest are the big players in this market.

Yep, I used to work at Carquest a few years ago as a runner. Pretty cool job, in a truck all day driving around, hardly ever saw the boss and rarely had to deal with the walk in customers. The mechanics were all pretty cool. The pay wasn't that great, but it was better than nothing.

 

[waggy]

yeap part runner. my nephew (he is 16) does it for a local place. but also the old guy who runs it is teaching him how to work on cars

 

[Rastus]

Most towns have large warehouses filled with popular auto parts. The parts runners that work for the parts houses go to these warehouses and get the parts and deliver them. When the part isn't available locally, they are networked with regional warehouses that might have the part. Large cities usually have enough warehouses that almost anything is available close byl

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Parts runners from either the local parts stores or a stealership.

QFT.

Lordco does delivieries to autoparts stores.

 

[jupiter57]

Originally posted by: OS
maybe they didn't change the axle at all and still charged you for it

Quite likely.
Auto mechanics are only a step below PC Techs when it comes to dishonesty.
(Like (some) PC Techs, Mechanics figure that if you aren't smart enough to fix it yourself, you're not smart enough to know if what they tell you is true.)
Did he turn over the old part to you?
Does the "new" part look new?
Most of the other posters are correct, though, parts stores/dealerships nearby.

 

[OS]

lol i was just being a smartass, but yeah it does happen.

 

[spaceman]

network of local parts stores.