In medieval times, when a severe punishment was handed out, the convicted party was often sentenced to time in the dungeon. One such prison was known as an “oubliette” which comes from the French term to forget. It was solitary and frightening and often prisoners would starve to death as their captors paid no attention to their wellbeing.
In the automotive industry, we could refer to the parts department as the dungeon.
There’s little glamour in working in the parts department. Every role, from dealing with irate customers at the front counter to placing orders for ornery technicians at the back counter – there’s nothing about the job that doesn’t seem like a harsh punishment.
Those working in parts departments across the country know what I mean. It’s like the rest of the dealership looks at you with little regard, because after all, how hard is it to pick parts off a shelf? If only they knew…
Parts personnel, you are not forgotten. Your role is more important than anyone else knows, and probably more important than even you know.
Holding it all together
The parts department is the linchpin at your dealership. They are a fundamental tie between departments no matter which way you slice it.
Without parts, your sales team could not do what they do. There would be no license plate brackets, no wheel locks, no block heater cords, and definitely no accessories. Good luck finding the right floor mats for your recent sale, by the way.
Without parts, your service department would literally be at a standstill. There would be no oil or filters for basic services, no tire patches for tire repairs, no one to tell you which additional gaskets you need for your head gasket job, and no one to price out those laundry-list estimates you’re trying to sell.
Without parts, your body shop would be twiddling their thumbs. They wouldn’t be able to price out amendments to insurance claims, locate aftermarket parts for those fender-benders, or determine the paint code for virtually every car they are working on.
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