DealersEdge Professional Forums

I was wondering how many of you are the only person in your Parts Dept. It is impossible to do without long hours everyday.

I did it for 6 months at a Hyundai dealer. 14 hour days 6 days a week and some 7 day weeks.. It's not easy.. The only positive from it is you know what is going on with the dept. there are no questions of your employees trying to find out what went on when you have a day off. I will say this though, try to get yourself a counterperson as soon as you can because you will burn out faster then a candle. I know I did. After 6 months, I didn't know whether I was coming or going, and your numbers will reflect it.. Good luck to you..

Oh yeah, have been doing it for 2 years now. Chevy Dealership .

why would anyone want to do that?...seems like torture...

It is, I did it for 2 years and hired a guy last month.

Did it for six years back in the nineties. Just me, Service Mgr., and three techs. It was a Chrysler dealership. It was not so busy that I had to put in many extra hours. We were a very tight knit group and we all needed each other, to make things click. Customers loved us (had great techs and Service Mgr. was the best). We worked hard and we had a lot of fun too. Great memories. It was a blast!!!

In my experience over the decades, less than 5% of the stores have only one parts employee; usually works unless someone gets sick or can't make it to work; then you pray the substitute has an inkling of what is going on so as not to screw up the place beyond recovery. It's always a good idea to have a designated back-up "just in case" who has some training in proper procedures and policies.

I have been thru that also, it's a good place to start as a new manager. You have to learn the ropes quickly.

Did it with SAAB for a few years. It does get old. Went over 3 years without a vacation

i did it from 1996 to 2005 at a chev/olds dealership thats now out of business, it was not fun at all