posted on August 17, 2006 07:22:57 AM new
I do very little body work, but I do it every once in a while at my shop. I probably do more on my own vintage vehicles then I do for customers. I buy all my supplies from a local distributor called ACS (Auto Color Specialist) in Westminster, MD.
Probably the easiest way to find a good trustworthy and fairly priced supplier in your area is to stop by a couple of your local body shops and ask the manager who their supplier is. You will probably find most of them use the same one.
If he's going in business he should set up a business account with the supplier as he will get a drastic discount compared to the price Joe Shmoe off the street would pay.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
posted on August 17, 2006 07:46:55 AM new
No offense to NAPA but they are geared towards the Joe Shmoe off the street kind of person and not a business. He should be looking for a supplier that sells to mainly other business's.
NAPA's fine when you need a tube of hardner or a roll of tape Saturday afternoon and have to have it. They would not be my main supplier though.
Internet sales are fine for some body shop supplies but there are alot of HAZMAT items used in the business. Shipping these get's rather expensive with the surcharge for shipping hazardous items. It's best to find a local company.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
posted on August 18, 2006 10:47:35 AM newNo offense to NAPA but they are geared towards the Joe Shmoe off the street kind of person and not a business.
What? You have it backwards. NAPA is gear towards selling wholesale to shops. If Joe Shmoe walks in, he is going to pay through the nose. But if he opens a wholesale account, even a cash account, the discounts will bring the price down. Then the more you buy, the deeper the discounts. NAPA is easily the largest supplier of wholesale parts to the automotive industry. NOT THE ONLY, JUST THE LARGEST.
That said, if he is going back into autobody, it would be in his best interest to shop around for auto body supply outlets in addition to NAPA. No matter where he goes however, make sure he is opening wholesale accounts so he will receive the discounts.
posted on August 18, 2006 01:20:12 PM new
I have a wholesale account with NAPA, have had it for years and I can still buy supplies for much less from real wholesale distributors. NAPA is a auto parts store just like any other and not a wholesale distributor.
NAPA is easily the largest supplier of wholesale parts to the automotive industry.
Not by a long shot. They are nowhere close to the largest supplier. www.ryderfleetproducts.com has no "store front" but even it is bigger then NAPA in the scheme of things. How about AC Delco, way bigger then NAPA can even imagine being.
I'm not trying to put NAPA down or anything. I buy from them and have a very good business relationship with the local store. It's just that better prices are out there and a true distributor is the one to get it from. I have been in the auto and heavy truck/tractor repair business for many years and have spent my fair share of time finding a reliable and economically priced supply chain.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
posted on August 19, 2006 11:43:01 AM new
www.ryderfleetproducts.com
Never heard of them. Clearly small time.
AC delco is also small time and dropping fast. And always more spendy than NAPA.
I have been in the auto and heavy truck/tractor repair business for many years and have spent my fair share of time finding a reliable and economically priced supply chain.
Clearly not as long as you imply. I have been around this business my whole life. Grew up in it. Still in it. Yes, there are others out there, but to say NAPA is designed for retail is completely off base.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS