November 2019

“If I'm honest. These bonus schemes, where you can buy a new home appliance, would not make any difference to me.” On his favourite factor, Sean said: "Euro Car Parts, on the whole, are a brilliant company. You have to keep your eye on them, but generally they are good. They've got it sewn up, they deal with the big manufacturers, generally they are the market leader. "With regards to the monthly spend target, some months you will be thinking 'are we going to get there?' not really affect our buying. It is a bonus. We achieve our spend every month and suddenly you have a major reward in the form of the rebate." Investment is the name of the game for Sean: "We have used the rebate on diagnostic equipment. We bought an Autologic device from it for example. They keep changing it though. I think now you can buy televisions and microwaves and go on holiday, and all that nonsense, but I am not interested in any of that. I will buy something that earns me money, like diagnostic equipment. If there is a particular tool we want we will get it. We just bought a tool by Launch, another piece of diagnostic equipment. Here is some money – we buy the tool and that's it. "I'll use the money to invest. I'm obsessed with investing. If I go on holiday, that's nothing to do with work." If another factor was offering a better rebate, would that influence Sean? "No," he replied emphatically. Then it gets nearer to the end of the month, and if we are a mile away I will say 'don't worry about it'. If we are on the last day, and just short of the target spend, the minimum bonus is actually worth a lot, so I will buy a barrel of oil or something else I am going to need. I won't chase it unless it is there and I need to buy something. I believe TPS are doing a similar thing. It does not sway me though. I need parts, good quality, as quickly as possible, end of story. That is all we are worried about.“ Sean added: "Rebates are a good add-on. If another factor was operating a rebate similar to the Euro Car Parts one, but their service was rubbish, I'm not interested. I tell them so as well. If you've got a car on a ramp and you've got a mechanic standing around waiting for bits, that's not the way to run a business. If I have to wait an extra hour for parts, but I get extra points towards buying something pointless, that's not for me." www.aftermarketonline.net 12 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2019 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net Do rebates affect where you buy parts and consumables? Do you chase the best offers? Or is it just a handy bonus for you? Tell us your views – email the Editor: alex@aftermarket.co.uk Above: Is it the rebate or the reliability of the service from the factor that counts?