You local motor factor - Use them or lose them:
Discussion
I have this morning just visited my local motor factor. The proprietor was telling me the effect internet sales are having on his business. Clearly the internet is a big factor in modern day life and is used by many to sell cheaply produced items at prices not always commensurate with their manufacturing costs. Consumers are obviously looking for a good deal, but is that cheap item really cheap? I find it hard to understand why consumers complain about "Chinese rubbish” whilst continuing to ignore their local motor factors in favour of an unknown individual on the internet, who is only too willing to sell them even more, cheap, inferior rubbish.
The reason I use the smaller motor factors when I need car parts is because I know the items will be fit for purpose. The pricing I have found to often be comparable to the internet and to the well-known national chain on the local business park, especially when the old maxim, buy cheap, buy twice comes into play. Items not in stock can very often be ordered for later the same day; the proprietor has a wealth of knowledge and operates in an ethical manner. I was in his shop one day, when a young girl came in and asked to buy 5 litres of oil for her car. The proprietor asked her why she needed that amount. She replied the oil level was low. He asked the make and model of her car and how low was the oil. Once this was ascertained, he suggested she purchase 1 litre of oil and then a second, only if the first was insufficient He explained how to check the oil and even offered her a cloth to wipe the dipstick. The result was one happy young girl on her way with a few more pounds in her pocket than if she had visited the large national outlet just down the road, where customer service is an alien concept. She could have chosen to visit one of the Car Parts franchises, where the staff lose interest the moment your vehicle registration number fails to appear on their computer. This is a particular bug-bear of mine; I drive an old TVR, a vehicle that is made from many manufacturers parts; it confuses the hell out of the assistants who seem unable to think outside of the confines of their registration number driven, computerised stocking system, even though I know the make and model of the donor vehicle.
My local town has already lost one small motor factor; a business that delivered a personal, knowledgable service, and I fear other smaller motor factor businesses will go the same way. So if you want a knowledgeable service, good quality parts at competitive prices, and you would rather the pound in your pocket benefited a small family business rather than buying another holiday home for a corporate CEO, support your local motor factor before they go the same way as other small businesses.
If, like me, you discover a gem, make sure they get your custom, tell your friends and lets ensure these vital businesses are there to support us in the future.
The reason I use the smaller motor factors when I need car parts is because I know the items will be fit for purpose. The pricing I have found to often be comparable to the internet and to the well-known national chain on the local business park, especially when the old maxim, buy cheap, buy twice comes into play. Items not in stock can very often be ordered for later the same day; the proprietor has a wealth of knowledge and operates in an ethical manner. I was in his shop one day, when a young girl came in and asked to buy 5 litres of oil for her car. The proprietor asked her why she needed that amount. She replied the oil level was low. He asked the make and model of her car and how low was the oil. Once this was ascertained, he suggested she purchase 1 litre of oil and then a second, only if the first was insufficient He explained how to check the oil and even offered her a cloth to wipe the dipstick. The result was one happy young girl on her way with a few more pounds in her pocket than if she had visited the large national outlet just down the road, where customer service is an alien concept. She could have chosen to visit one of the Car Parts franchises, where the staff lose interest the moment your vehicle registration number fails to appear on their computer. This is a particular bug-bear of mine; I drive an old TVR, a vehicle that is made from many manufacturers parts; it confuses the hell out of the assistants who seem unable to think outside of the confines of their registration number driven, computerised stocking system, even though I know the make and model of the donor vehicle.
My local town has already lost one small motor factor; a business that delivered a personal, knowledgable service, and I fear other smaller motor factor businesses will go the same way. So if you want a knowledgeable service, good quality parts at competitive prices, and you would rather the pound in your pocket benefited a small family business rather than buying another holiday home for a corporate CEO, support your local motor factor before they go the same way as other small businesses.
If, like me, you discover a gem, make sure they get your custom, tell your friends and lets ensure these vital businesses are there to support us in the future.
Just to show the other side of the coin, the staff at my local independent motor factors are rude and unhelpful and the products are hugely overpriced, whereas the guy on the desk at my local ECP always goes out of his way to help, and is always happy to chat about cars - he owns a mint CLS 55.
Geekman said:
Just to show the other side of the coin, the staff at my local independent motor factors are rude and unhelpful and the products are hugely overpriced, whereas the guy on the desk at my local ECP always goes out of his way to help, and is always happy to chat about cars - he owns a mint CLS 55.
What this guy said. Local motor factors are going the way of most other local businesses, because of the same problem - poor service and inconsistent product availability.I use ECP and GSF, and have no issues with their service, parts or pricing - with the added bonus that I can reserve online and collect in-store. If I wanted to buy poor quality tools, overpriced oil or naff alloy wheels, I'd be going to the motor factors in a heartbeat.
I see where you're coming from but the advice doesn't have to go away - the service just changes.
I helped a online motor factors. They seemed a good bunch and had spent years in bricks and mortar premises. Now most sales are online with a customer service phone number for advice.
Much better than going to shop, finding they don't have the part and then needing to return to pick it up. Instead order online/phone and you have the part the next day.
I helped a online motor factors. They seemed a good bunch and had spent years in bricks and mortar premises. Now most sales are online with a customer service phone number for advice.
Much better than going to shop, finding they don't have the part and then needing to return to pick it up. Instead order online/phone and you have the part the next day.
My motor factors has changed hands 4 times since I moved back to my home town 25 years ago .
The manager these days I have known ever since she was a van driver at the same branch .
Although I am no longer in the trade I still get all the trade privileges, even down to them delivering a new battery to me in the car park of the local supermarket when mine failed .
It helps that she is a petrolhead ,keen on classic cars ,a biker and quite scrummy .
The manager these days I have known ever since she was a van driver at the same branch .
Although I am no longer in the trade I still get all the trade privileges, even down to them delivering a new battery to me in the car park of the local supermarket when mine failed .
It helps that she is a petrolhead ,keen on classic cars ,a biker and quite scrummy .
I'm with the original poster on this, though my 'local' is a twenty minute drive away as the closer ones have already gone. But a big shout out for Kippax auto spares, brilliant shop, will get practically anything and often cheaper than on line. They will go the extra mile to make sure it is the right part but are perfectly happy to swap it if it isn't.
Interesting thread.
I restored a car over two years plus replacing every consumable on the chassis and most engine ancilleries . about 50 % was sourced via the internet ,maybe 30% from club sources and the remainder from two local factors. All in all I spent circa €5K on parts .
The internet sourced parts were mostly good but several were atrocious and not fit for purpose.Due to type and model of the car some of these 'net sourced parts came from further afield than UK. When contacted the suppliers of these all said to return them for inspection and possible / probable refund.
Now here is where the problem lies , I live in deepest SW Ireland and the cost to return these items by post or courier was significantly greater than it cost me in P&P from the seller. Where the items were sent back the initial lower cost advantage was wiped out due to the return shipping cost thus making it non cost effective . Some items I just scrapped and took the hit on them BUT still had to purchase again locally.
Of the items I purchased from the two Factors I mentioned, pro rata ,much fewer had to be returned and where they were they were immediately replaced.
On top of that down here due to the distances from these factors they actually deliver free that day to a place of your choice for you to collect at your leisure . Both have a couple of vans that carry out this delivery to all the local garages and repair shops and gladly do the same for non trade customers too. I'm also very fortunate that the staff are all friendly , knowledgeable and keen to help.
So after a recent new MAF was found to be no better than the old faulty one it was to replace I have decided to focus more on purchasing locally albeit a higher cost but with the advantages that internet purchases just don't have .
I still use the internet extensively but no longer for heavy , bulky expensive(ish ) vehicle parts .
I restored a car over two years plus replacing every consumable on the chassis and most engine ancilleries . about 50 % was sourced via the internet ,maybe 30% from club sources and the remainder from two local factors. All in all I spent circa €5K on parts .
The internet sourced parts were mostly good but several were atrocious and not fit for purpose.Due to type and model of the car some of these 'net sourced parts came from further afield than UK. When contacted the suppliers of these all said to return them for inspection and possible / probable refund.
Now here is where the problem lies , I live in deepest SW Ireland and the cost to return these items by post or courier was significantly greater than it cost me in P&P from the seller. Where the items were sent back the initial lower cost advantage was wiped out due to the return shipping cost thus making it non cost effective . Some items I just scrapped and took the hit on them BUT still had to purchase again locally.
Of the items I purchased from the two Factors I mentioned, pro rata ,much fewer had to be returned and where they were they were immediately replaced.
On top of that down here due to the distances from these factors they actually deliver free that day to a place of your choice for you to collect at your leisure . Both have a couple of vans that carry out this delivery to all the local garages and repair shops and gladly do the same for non trade customers too. I'm also very fortunate that the staff are all friendly , knowledgeable and keen to help.
So after a recent new MAF was found to be no better than the old faulty one it was to replace I have decided to focus more on purchasing locally albeit a higher cost but with the advantages that internet purchases just don't have .
I still use the internet extensively but no longer for heavy , bulky expensive(ish ) vehicle parts .
I think it depends upon the attitude of the guys at the Motor Factors. The local one I use does stuff like fit wipers and bulbs for free and their prices are 10% cheaper than Halfords. They also have a few huge "tomes" in which they cross reference parts for customers, you know the type, dark brown in the middle where they've been opened too many times with dirty fingers.
Sometimes they'll sell stuff off cheap like Spanners or nearly out of date Swarfega.
Despite being well up against it on internet pricing, I tend to head to them for my consumeables like degreaser, coolant and screenwash. I look at it as supporting local business and where else can I get my brake lines made up to order for a few quid or a small pot of red grease for a quid rather than a huge tub for a tenner.
I'm definitely in the "use them" camp.
Eastern Auto Spares of Ipswich, I'm championing your cause.
Sometimes they'll sell stuff off cheap like Spanners or nearly out of date Swarfega.
Despite being well up against it on internet pricing, I tend to head to them for my consumeables like degreaser, coolant and screenwash. I look at it as supporting local business and where else can I get my brake lines made up to order for a few quid or a small pot of red grease for a quid rather than a huge tub for a tenner.
I'm definitely in the "use them" camp.
Eastern Auto Spares of Ipswich, I'm championing your cause.
My local factors are a bit crap really - they are a 2 minute walk from my workshop so use them when I've run out of rubber gloves/oil or need a set of pads. But they're not always very helpful. I bought a pair of KYB front dampers for an E34 525td a few years back and they were just complexly wrong. No refund because 'they're listed as right and thus correctly supplied', so had a credit note that was a pain in the arse. Many a time I've stood there like a lemon whilst two of them stand there and chat about football.
So when an ECP opened up locally, I started using them. Add a trade card with Halfords (very worthwhile) and I'm sorted now.
The worst ever service was FB Components in Oxford back in my Jaguar days. You'd stand there for 10 minutes whilst various po faced blokes in those brown workshop coats walked by completely ignoring you. So I started using the main dealer instead and FB went down the pan.
So when an ECP opened up locally, I started using them. Add a trade card with Halfords (very worthwhile) and I'm sorted now.
The worst ever service was FB Components in Oxford back in my Jaguar days. You'd stand there for 10 minutes whilst various po faced blokes in those brown workshop coats walked by completely ignoring you. So I started using the main dealer instead and FB went down the pan.
velocemitch said:
I'm with the original poster on this, though my 'local' is a twenty minute drive away as the closer ones have already gone. But a big shout out for Kippax auto spares, brilliant shop, will get practically anything and often cheaper than on line. They will go the extra mile to make sure it is the right part but are perfectly happy to swap it if it isn't.
Another satisfied ASK customer here, been using them since I got my first car 26 years ago, and before that went in with my dad for stuff.The problem with any retail outlet these days is opening hours, it doesn't always suit me to get in my car and drive down there during working hours. So unless I'm in a rush for something I'll probably just shop online at a time that suits me. It also gives me an opportunity to compare prices to make sure I'm not being ripped off. Plus its very rare I cannot find what I'm looking for online, but the motor factors will often have to order what I'm after and then I have to come back to collect it. If I buy online I can have my stuff delivered to my desk at work. Oh and another thing, they are often chatting to their mate at the counter when I go in so I'm roundly ignored for about ten minutes while on my lunch break.
I like the idea of supporting my local motor factors but in reality its just not convenient enough for me to always do that. I guess like many physical retail businesses they will eventually dwindle and die because they are using an outdated business model.
I like the idea of supporting my local motor factors but in reality its just not convenient enough for me to always do that. I guess like many physical retail businesses they will eventually dwindle and die because they are using an outdated business model.
My local one (well 20 minute drive) is brilliant, I always call first to check price and stock, if it is within a couple of quid of the internet price I'll pop over and collect. Half the time if they don't have it on the shelf they'll be able to get it by the time I have driven over and had a McDonalds on route.
The place is always busy and they must have about 25 guys working there, they're open 8-8 during the week and even 9 - 5.30 on a Sunday!
So heads up to Millfield Autos in Peterborough
The place is always busy and they must have about 25 guys working there, they're open 8-8 during the week and even 9 - 5.30 on a Sunday!
So heads up to Millfield Autos in Peterborough
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