At least with ballet there is a future, parts guy is going nowhere. The big guys somehow sell enough wax to make a profit.
Guy running a shop told me yesterday O Reilly's gets his parts wrong 6 out of 10 times. They won't pay, so high school kids is what runs it. They bought out all the independents around here except one.
I sold $388k last year at a 20,000 sq ft store, by myself. Walk into autozone across the street with a part in your hand, all 4 guys there will point to my store.
I got drawers and drawers of Dorman stuff, but it is running out-china doesn't build what we used to build, so I can't get some stuff to restock. Springs, grommets, clevis pins, etc. Dorman just doesn't supply as much as they once supplied or,my warehouses don't buy it..
I was amazed at difficult it was to buy an item at NAPA when I had the part number....
When the 70 y/o owner dies my store will be gone for good. Guys tell me I should buy it but there's no way, only way it is still profitable is that it was paid for in the 80s. Not enough profit to run it AND pay for it. It will be a shame as it is the only place in town to get bolts, studs, hydraulic hoses made right, reasonably priced mower stuff, etc.-weird stuff you need.
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