16:19 Well let’s see, at one point 30 thousand cars were repoed daily. That’s people’s personal credit being dinged, now lay off’s. From Where are these consumers coming? How was it said- “we will own nothing and be happy” However, that won’t be Me.

No alcohol is also no solution, cheers.

I believe that the time for electric vehicles is being forced upon us by the US government. I do not want one, the car companies have stopped offering the full size sedans that we wanted. My 4 door sedan is 10 years old since that car is no longer offered I have to take exceptional care to ensure that it will last for many more years.

There are several issues plaguing the parts business today. Advance Auto Parts, with just as many stores as AutoZone, is led by a CEO-like many others in this sector-who has little to no experience in the automotive parts industry. This lack of expertise is evident in decisions such as selling off a strong company like Worldpac and failing to fully capitalize on the potential of Carquest-a brand acquired decades ago but never effectively understood or utilized. In some regions, as many as six jobbers compete for the same installer’s business, creating intense market pressure. To stay competitive, it often becomes necessary to shave margins, which compresses profitability and underscores the importance of building strong customer relationships and offering value-added services. While competitive pricing is crucial, the ongoing race to the bottom risks undermining long-term sustainability and the quality of service. Success in this environment requires balancing cost competitiveness with reliable parts, exceptional customer support, and innovative solutions tailored to client needs. Meanwhile, the company’s focus on DIY, DIFM (Do-It-For-Me), and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives appears to take precedence over addressing critical operational challenges. The current economic climate is further shifting customer behavior, with more DIYers attempting repairs themselves to save money. This often leads to patchwork fixes, such as replacing just one spark plug and coil to address a misfire, hoping it resolves the issue. Similarly, when doing brake jobs, DIYers may only purchase a set of pads and replace a single bad rotor instead of investing in a complete set. In contrast, an independent garage would replace all the spark plugs and coils, and install a pair of rotors, ensuring a more complete and reliable repair. While the DIY approach might save a few bucks upfront, it often results in incomplete repairs and recurring issues, ultimately costing more in the long run. These private-label parts, while often priced lower, do come with an increase in margins over higher-quality parts. However, this increased margin can come at the cost of reliability and performance. When it comes to new parts, it's important to remember that just because a part is new doesn't necessarily mean it's a good part. Since these parts are typically reverse-engineered to minimize production costs, they may not undergo the same level of testing, quality control, or R&D as their premium counterparts. As a result, while they may provide short-term financial benefits, they can lead to long-term issues, such as higher failure rates and more frequent replacements. For shops that prioritize customer satisfaction and long-term relationships, relying too heavily on these lower-cost options can undermine service quality and lead to reputational risks. Adding to the complexity, online competitors like RockAuto are disrupting the market by offering parts at 15%-25% over jobber pricing, plus shipping. In some cases, this represents a substantial savings over installer pricing. This pricing advantage entices many shop owners to order from RockAuto to stay competitive when it comes to the cost of repair. However, ordering online comes with significant downsides, such as the risk of ordering the wrong part or dealing with defective products. Without a direct point of contact for resolution, customers must reorder, return incorrect or defective items, and wait for a credit to their card-delays that can hinder essential repairs and create frustration. As RockAuto is only a data center, they buy their products from multiple warehouse distributors across the United States. They own no warehouse or inventory, leaving no one to directly manage the stock. This is how they can offer the same part at a substantially lower price with a no-hassle return policy. Navigating these challenges requires leadership with a deep understanding of the industry, a commitment to operational excellence, and a focus on cultivating sustainable relationships with customers to differentiate from the competition

The wild thing is advance throws all the parts away from the closed stores.

The Advances they’re closing are probably down the street from Auto Zone, O’Riellys, Pep Boys, or some other parts place. I live in a suburb and we have them all in town.

Owning a new vehicle used to be a status symbol. Now its a "stupid" flag.

I'll just make it illegal to have those cars in the city streets. And I don't need that El Camino cyber truck.

Reason I stop buying their #1 I purchased a coil for a 2005 Grand Prix price 140.00 it never worked after 5 days I carried it back . They refused refund . The one near me does no bussiness Hartley at all . Auto Zone is the best,

Why aren’t dealers renting a mall parking lot and auctioning off all their 2022 and 2023’s?

The independence are struggling with costs of diagnostic computers and training. There are less shade tree mechanics that generation is senures and pay someone

U 2 guys need to be more smart u need to understand business model are changing all business going online

Don’t complicate to much Amazon online stores are killing the business much shipped buying online plus many retails stores are closing and going online business more profit

Bingo, These companies buying top heavy assets have taken their toll on the companies. Not getting the return on their investment is hurting them financially and that is a huge part of it.

He made the point that many folks are opting to have repairs done by shops, That is very true. I’ve also seen an uptick in that as well. And yes, You are very correct, Brick and mortar stores have a difficult time competing with online retailers and that’s in just about any commodity.

I worked for a major auto parts retailer for years and have seen a steady decline in sales, Particularly in the last few years. A large percentage of those sales have gone to the many online stores. The brick and mortar retailers are dying off. Another reason is technology that isn’t available to the typical DIY customers, Many don’t have the resources to afford the tools needed to effect the repairs. I’ve personally seen this play out many times. There are many other factors that come into play as well.

Online you go direct to the source,out the middle man selling bad cheap parts.Summit anyone!!!

On line is the answer

Ford F150, jeep, Silverado, would have lowered their prices by now if they were ever going to do so. Prices will never come down just forget about these brands. Label them as an American and move on to Honda Toyota and Hyundai.

A $50k to 100k car and drivers still need these stupid subscription. Count me out.

autozone & advanced? haa. why dont u flush your money down the toilet

Advance did it to themselves!! They denied my a claim on a warranty on a month old gas cap. I bought ball joints a few weeks before the store closure announcement,the manager at Advance told me that the sale was AS-IS!

the auto parts stores (Advance, AutoZone, Pep Boys, NAPA, O'Reillys, etc) serve local repair shops as their bread and butter, that's it. that's the only reason why they are in business, they don't care about the regular customer anymore coming in for parts for their old truck. they don't care about us anymore. they only care about the parts gravy train to repair shops in the area.

Easy. Internet!!!!!!

I would say it was the Internet

Amazon, eBay, rock auto, salvage yards, and etc.

Ridiculous prices, my first house was $30,000, and I had 30 years to pay for it! Now $100,000 truck with only 6 or 7 years to pay !!!

I FIND A LACK OF PARTS IN STOCK SO I JUST GO ON-LINE AND THE OTHER NO PARTS IS JUST STICKERS AND JUNK STUFF

I love the organic format of this show!!! Thank you guys 👍🏻

Only go to parts stores when I need it now. Otherwise it's online or junk yard.

I think the Government wants us to start buying New Cars, and trying to retire older cars.

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Regulation = consumer protection.

It is my understanding that Tavares was paid a $40,000,000 signing bonus to be the CEO of Stellantis. How can any human being be worth that kind of money?

The last time I went into an auto zone, I asked for anti- seize, and the three guys behind the counter looked at me like I had three heads.

you guys think millennials are dumb? we are dumb. (the Gen Z), and I am one myself. I am so embarrassed to be part of this generation. I am also a very early 2000s kid and our years V.S. like past 2005 ish or past 2007 I hate to say it but are just stupid. Unfortunately, Parents these days just don't care. I know when I was going up, My parents were very involved. Parents these days don't care. Also, once again, Tesla does not need the Tax Credit. Tesla is profitable. the others like Ford and GM are not profitable. so if they can get $7,500 of their cost off setter, you know damn well thats going to help. P.S. the Christmas Tree should be put up after Thanksgiving 🤣🤪

The problem is Chinese made, not fit for purpose parts. The Chinese are even couterfeiting the packaging of OEM parts. You just cannot trust that a part will work, especially an electrical part like a cam/ crank sensor. Watch Ivan on Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics. You cannot even diagnose most problems today without thousands of dollars in diagnostic equipment.

I told you that you were a mug to by a used Tesla from hertz, but what’s even more stupid you bought 2 😂😂😂😂

In his opening statement, he lost all credibility. Aftermarket parts have become junk and they ain't cheap. Second, there are too many aftermarket part stores. Online sales is another one and many times you can get the OE part online for a better price. The days of part stores buying a truck load of brake pads for $5 each and selling them for $35 is a thing of the past. The only aftermarket parts that actually cheap are pure garbage.

Or people aren't getting their cars fixed. I haven't fixed my fuel gauge .

People need to realize vehicles are tools. Go, stop, heat, cool and keep the weather out. That is all a car needs to do. It won't put a hot women in the passenger seat or transport you to a mountain top like the ads pretend.

When you're driving and you see a ball roll across the road, you instinctively slow down because you know a kid will be going after the ball. A Tesla will never have those instincts unless it is programmed in. This is just one scenario.

Its amazon...and some ford dealership parts depts have figured out if they lower the prices they get more business..lower the markup on dealer parts..and you get oem parts with no surprises..advance used to sell some motorcraft parts..now advance auto is all generic auto parts..when i saw that i knew they were going to get into trouble..i stopped going..and there prices for generic parts where very high..

couple of reasons auto parts executives are no different than the drug store executives no real experience in the business they went to mb schools. both drug and auto parts built stores not were there were not any but next door or across street from another store some places in sw fl have all 3 of the main competitor if 1 didn't have part just walk to the other one . but areas wher no stores were still have no stores . 2 i saw with the great recession i was in one and could not believe through store evey item was price increased . and when i needed a part i go on line checked local price then hit amazon i aware theres china parts but there in auto stores too. Even under name brands . example 07 accent needed a coil pac. i got 4 from amazon for less than 1 at the big 3 lasted until i totaled the car when a brake failure happened 2 yrs later on another the alternator on 04 explorer was 50 lower . you should interview rock auto and several of the other online . the Sothern guy mentioned older cars owners are keeping them running but not adding any extras keeping a 10 yr old car on road there not buying new floor mats seat covers except damage seat i skipped things on my 04 explorer since it was showing age i just kept it going until timing section died . btw sick of new dealers around here and there crazy prices and fees i bout off lease van from enterprise i cannot wate with happyness when some of the dealers go bankrupt especially the fl supposably family run 70 store chain goes and his 3 to 5 k add ones he has 6-8 stores here

The dealer parts are often less costly than the aftermarket AND you know you are putting parts on that are the correct spec. I have diagnosed vehicles for over 40 years and in today's market you are often better off with junkyard parts than Chinese aftermarket. Buying good parts has always been an issue but in today's world my time(150/hr) is often worth a lot more than saving 10% off the dealer price buying aftermarket parts with 25-50% defect rates