November 2019

suddenly go 'Oh look they are running a promotion, let's put everything through them'. "As nice as it would be for us to get some money back on something, I am a great believer in loyalty as well. I wouldn't suddenly take a swerve away from the small company just because they don't do rebates. As I said though, we do try to use it as much to our advantage as possible, while being fair with the other suppliers." Karl added: "As for buying genuine parts, we have to buy those from whoever the relevant local franchised dealer is. Where we are starting to do more VAG, TPS is always going to have the biggest spend. For one, they cover four brands. Secondly, these are the vehicles we predominantly work on." Motivation Top Garage 2019 finalist St Andrews Services is based in Whetstone, Leicestershire. We asked co-owner Kevin Porter if getting rebates influences their parts buying patterns: "There are a couple of places where in the past we have certainly used rebates. We use the rebates against training as well, which I think is a really good idea. We are getting something back from buying something with a company, which gives you motivation to spend with that company. We can pursue and move our business forward with training for us as well as our up-and- coming apprentices, moving them onto the more modern technology as well." We asked who they used: "The three main factors I use on a day-to- day basis are Euro Car Parts, Andrew Page, and a local business as well – Blaby Motor Spares. I think it is important for smaller businesses to support each other. " Would they change factor if a particular factor was doing very good rebates? Or is it more of a case of if it comes their way, they are pleased? "In the past," observed Kevin, "Andrew Page used to run a promotional push running up to Christmas usually – a points-win- prizes scenario. That's nice around Christmas as it gives the guys a bit of an incentive and a reward for what they have done, and again it has no financial impact on me other than the fact that I have to buy the parts anyway. That is another area that is a bonus for me and a positive situation." Kevin added: "It is a brilliant add-on and obviously it works well because there are elements that through certain times of the year I wouldn't purchase, but if there is an incentive to buy, then we put them in stock." In the loop Huddersfield-based Five-Star Auto Centre was also a finalist in Top Garage 2019. Commenting on rebates and how they balance their various suppliers, owner Asif Ali said: "We use a number of different factors. We use Euro Car Parts, TPS, GSF, and our local factor, A-Z Motor Spares. "The rebate is pretty good for us in terms of what we buy TPS. In hindsight, just recently, we had a pretty big rebate, in cash. With that rebate, we bought some tooling. That was pretty good for us. It was very good because we specialise in the VAG range ourselves To be honest with you, the rebate in that situation was worth its weight in gold." We asked Asif whether the rebate was a must for them, or just an extra: "It is a pleasant add-on for us. The main issue for us is making sure that the part is right first time. A rebate is pretty good though as it keeps you in the loop. It is an added bonus. So, if a factor we don't normally use was doing a really good rebate we wouldn't change over." Apart from cash that could be spent on tooling, we asked if the garage had gotten any other really good rebates: "In terms of Euro Car Parts, there was one good one a few years ago where we got tickets to the 2017 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. That included hotels over the weekend as well. It was brilliant!" We have to say, this really was worth having. Euro Car Parts took the press to that too, but on the Friday when there's no actual racing. Don't get us wrong, Aftermarket had a great time, but ECP's actual customers got to see the actual race. This was clearly an example of where the hard power of the spend and the resulting rebate trumps the soft power of the supposed Fourth Estate. That is the press to you and me. Investment MOT City is based in Winnersh just outside Wokingham in Berkshire. Commenting on where the business buys parts, and this view on rebates, owner Sean Bradbury said: "We mainly use Euro Car Parts. There used to be an Andrew Page branch but that's been shut down. So it is either ECP or the dealer. Now and again we have got some back-up, when Euro Car Parts haven't got it. "We are the best customer at our local Euro Car Parts branch, we are spending a significant amount each month with them. The rebate does 10 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2019 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net It is a pleasant add- odd. The main issue for us is making sure that the part is right ”

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