September 25, 2004
SCAM Continues
Last month we told you about a scam where a phone caller would request a large order of fuel pumps to be shipped out of state and paid for with a credit card. A to Z Auto Parts, Decatur Texas has received 2 such calls since then. The credit card checks good, because its a real card that has been stolen and not yet reported. The scammer is betting that you will ship the merchandise before the credit card IS reported stolen and the store is charged back. One caller even tried a new twist: claiming to be a "braille user" which requires operator assistance and adds credibility.
Your defense is to CALL the credit card issuer for verification for any sale that smells funny.
Specialty Products Company is known for making innovation problem solvers for alignment shops. Starting in 2002 they also are making items that cater to the performance handling enthusiast. Newest addition is a camber plate kit for 1994-up Mustang. This kit allows additional camber adjustment up to -1.5 degrees.
Dont be bashful pricing these at over $300 retail. Comparable kits sell for that much and more. The quality of the SPC units is first-rate. SPC #72060.
Timken Wheel Bearing Grease
Who knows better how to lubricate their bearings? Premium quality, hi-temp, and red.
GR224TUB 1-lb tub
GR224C 14-oz Cartridge
LIBERTY ENGINES NOW IN STOCK A few months ago we did a special buy on a new line of scale-model engines from Liberty Classics. Response was excellent, inquiries continued long after the order was shipped. With so many of you wanting to book additional orders, we decided to make them a stocking line. Liberty scale model engines are now in stock, at the same price as our initial booking order. You can order them along with any stock order. Put one of each in stock and watch the reactions of your customers. Quite a few of these will be sold for Christmas presents. Line code is LIB
84021 Chevrolet Small-block
84022 Corvette 327 Fuel Inj.
84023 Dodge 426 Street Hemi
84024 Dodge 426 Racing Hemi
84025 Ford 427 SOHC
October Sale is in-store. Flyers and order forms should be in your hands about the time you see this. Early copies of the flyer and the order form have been emailed. The flyer is also posted on the WM/Parts Plus eForum. Remember the posters are the reverse side of the September posters. Your poster kit also contains all the support materials for the October sale except the Valvoline coupons, which are sent separately from WM.
4th Quarter Tool & Equipment flyers should also be on hand by now. Lots of new items, and premium and sweepstakes offers.
Parts Plus Jobber Advisory Council meetings have been one of the best tools we have for constructive dialogue with our customers. Your Jobber Council next meets in mid-November. Please contact your designated jobber rep if there is anything you would like to be added to the agenda, or any message you would like to convey to the group with regard to anything WM or Parts Plus. These meetings chart the future for the 120 stores that make up our Parts Plus group.
2005 Convention is just 5 months away. You must register by October 31 to take advantage of the rebates and earnbacks. Those incentives are retroactive to Jan 1, 2004 if you register by the October deadline. You can register after that, if there are openings, but you do not get the incentives. Sign up now for a good time in New Orleans with your Significant Other.
Calendars last reminder. After October you can still order, but the style choices get fewer the longer you wait.
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New Brute Power Catalog is completly re-designed for easier lookups on clutch kits, and new flywheels. Be sure to check out the tech bulletin section lots of good information on issues with specific vehicles.
Flywheels are getting to be like brake rotors: The price is now down to the point that it often makes more sense to replace than to resurface. Brute Power (Perfection American) keeps adding numbers, and sales keep growing.
BWD Electronic Components catalog lists 7 new product categories, including Air Bag Modules, power supply modules, dashboard display modules, and various other control units. Availability to be announced.
PBE
"Spray Like the Best for a whole lot less!
FINEX By Sharpe is now in stock at PBE. For someone in the market for an inexpensive spray gun, this is the only good choice. For only a little more than the cost of a Chinese knockoff, you can get a fine tool from one of the top names in the business.
SHA 248752 Mini HVLP
SHA 248755 1.3mm HVLP
SHA 248756 1.4mm HVLP
SHA 248757 1.5mm HVLP
SHA 248758 1.8mm HVLP
ALL of these will retail under $100
J-CON
September Sale Reports Please remember to print a copy of the 11.8.3 Promo Pricing Evaluation Report and send it in to Rex at WM Corp. We really need this information to help us figure out what is working and what needs to be changed. Please feel free to make any additional notations you like.
XST second-line oil seals are being combined with the XBE bearings. All the seals and bearings are under XBE line code.
To change this in your JCON, simply run Option 3.16. Follow the prompts and it will roll everything into XBE for you.
Remember to also set it up in your PartExpert cataloging.
AconneX internet-connected stores in our group now number 7, with 2 using IAP PartsLink to take electronic inquiries & orders from their customers. Falls Farm & Auto is on a wireless internet connection and seems to be working fine.
Battery Rotation April 04 and older should be replaced in October 2004
Central Inventory JCON Stock Adjustments for October include
Wix Filters
ATP
XFI Parts Plus Filters
XFI Fuel & Breather
ETC..
Two years ago Raybestos primary competitor came out with a premium ceramic brake pad that immediately won acceptance among professional installers. This cost Raybestos market share and prestige in some markets. Raybestos went back to the drawing board and produced the ideal solution: Professional Grade PG Plus Ceramic. And its working. The pros are choosing PG Plus Ceramic, and the public is catching on too good friction quality, low dust, long wearing. With over 150 PG Ceramic SKUs available, you should at least keep the top numbers. This category may be your biggest volume brake pad line before long.
STS Pads are for the import driver with a lead foot. Judging by initial sales, there are quite a few of them out there. Get the top 5 and display them.
Catalogs & Price Sheets
A-1 Power Brake ps (WM) 8-30-04
A-1 Master Cyl ps (WM) 8-27-04
A-1 Auto Electronics cat 2004
BW Reman Electronics cat Mar 04
Brute Power Clutch catalog 2004
Brute Power ps (WM) 9-03-04
Coleman Cable ps (WM) 8-31-04
Doan Mounts ps (WM) 9-03-04
Fel-Pro Gaskets ps (WM) 9-14-04
Hydraulic Oils ps (WM) 9-13-04
Klean-Strip ps (PBE) 9-08-04
Littelfuse ps (WM) 9-16-04
Moog ps (WM) 9-14-04
Pennzoil & QS ps (WM) 8-17-04
Precision ps (WM) 9-14-04
Prime Line ps 8-31-04
Trico ps (WM) 9-09-04
Valvoline ps (WM) 8-10-04
Wix Interchange 2004
Rex Burkheimer
Parts Plus Marketing Director WM Automotive
