DealersEdge Professional Forums

to all the subscribers and customers over the past 40 years: I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the business, friendship and association with so many parts managers and dealers worldwide. Nobody has been more fortunate than I to have been a part of so many dealerships, both individual and multi-ownership, than I have. I have made the decision to stop traveling and stay at home and work from my desk using email, the phone and zoom for whatever training needs you might have. But the on-site classes are gone. So if I can be of help, remotely, please feel free to contact me at miknik@aol.com. My office phone is 503-705-7490 (Pacific Time). The costs for the past consulting and training have been drastically discounted because the travel time (usually two days) no longer exists.

Success and profit to all of you as our marketplace for parts, both retail and wholesale are changing.
Mike Nicholes :

Congrats on the decision (read: ability) to slow down and enjoy a less hectic pace. (About spelled that PASE)

Too bad your career has been so stagnate and boring - what with little changing in the automotive field over the years.

I realize you are not stopping. But if you could select one (or two) thing(s), what would be the biggest change in the business you have experienced? (Hopefully, you won't select computerization)

Thanks for the kind words and comments. I think the biggest change was going from "Letting the parts manager buy what he/she wants" to Automatic Stock Reordering. None of the factories, despite any intentions, never did do what the parts manager wanted themselves; it disintegrated into a sales program by the factory, with little, and eventually, no recourse but to accept what the factory shipped. I could have been different, but we all know who "thinks" they are calling the shots.

Mike, I've had the pleasure of meeting you at a former dealership I worked at, your wisdom has carried me for many years. long time lurker on these forums but I felt compelled to reply to this thread.

YOU SHOULD HAVE RETIRED YEARS AGO MIKE. HAVING SEEN IT ALL . ESPECIALLY THE NEW "I AM FOR PROFIT TODAY NOT TOMMOROW GM"