Tire dealers say quality, warranty are most important aftermarket part characteristics
Quality and warranty are the two most important items tire dealers consider when purchasing non-tire aftermarket parts and products, according to the 2017 Aftermarket Business World Tire Dealer Study. Those two items each gathered 31 percent of responses in the survey.
Finishing a distant third were price and OEM form, fit and function, which each garnered 14 percent of respondents.
Quality was the run-away winner to this question in last year’s Tire Dealer Study, as it drew 39 percent of responses. In last year’s study, OEM form, fit and function finished second with 15 percent and warranty garnered only 6 percent of responses.
Warehouse distributors are clearly the preferred supplier of tire dealers as they drew 35 percent of responses in this year’s survey. Auto parts retailers received 23 percent of responses and jobbers finished a close third at 20 percent.
When asked why these suppliers were their preferred suppliers, 30 percent of tire dealers in this year’s study cited a long-standing relationship with suppliers, while 28 percent said it was due to the parts availability provided by these suppliers, and 26 percent said it was due to the quality products that they offer.
Some 39 percent of respondents to this year’s study said they expect to increase their ordering of aftermarket parts in 2017, while 57 percent said they expect their ordering to be about the same this year as last year.
When comparing their gross margins on parts this year to last year, 37 percent said they expect them to increase while 59 percent expect their gross margins to hold steady.
When asked about their efforts to boost sales of aftermarket parts this year, 39 percent said they have tried to bundle parts with related products. Some 18 percent offer unadvertised specials, another 18 percent offer a price break to loyal customers, 15 percent run advertised specials and 14 percent provide special training to their service advisors.
Methodology: The Aftermarket Business World Tire Dealer Product Study was fielded to readers of sister publication Motor Age who sell tires in the aftermarket. The study results are intended to show general market trends, not statistical certainties.
