small engine repair shop parts stocking .

[fordf150]

buying genuine carb kits is at worst a 10% premium over what your currently paying for the stens kits so getting set up with RBI or Gardner is worthwhile investment.

as far as carb kits to stock....good luck because you'll always need that one kit you dont stock. This is my tillotson, walbro, and zama drawers.....For the most part I only stock full kits because for the price difference i think its foolish to install just the GnD kit. Only reason I even have any GnD kits is that they are leftovers from the first couple years in business when I valued cost over quality

 

[Fish]

Not as easy to sign as you think. I couldn't even get their rep to come out as said they needed to see my operation and he only 15 miles away. On top of that they wanted me to -buy even more stock than I already have which is currently at nearly 20K.

At least I am in with Sunbelt Outdoors as they didn't require a huge inventory buy in but they do require a credit card and for you to a business license. With level of purchases I probably could get a charge account with them but I prefer to pay as I buy. They do carry the Walbro and Zama carburetor kits and parts plus Briggs parts. Now it does takes 2 day for deliveries but that is because where I am in the UPS delivery system. I used to have 1 day before I moved.

As for what to stock will depend what your most repair purchases and only experience will teach you this one. Every business setup is different depending the local clients.

For common repairs another one is deck repairs and belt replacements for me.

Yeah, the area reps can be a real pain. I have dealt with 2 different ones here in Ky, as I live right on the border of the 2 areas that they both cover. One is a real prick, the other is pretty good.
But that goes for all of them.
Sunbelt had a moron that worked at the main office, and wouldn't even put me in touch with the area sales rep. I wanted to set up an account. I requested a catalog and line card, he said that I couldn't get those without a $250 minimum order. I asked him, "How can I make an order? I don't even know what you are selling??"
A few months later, the Sunbelt rep dropped by the shop to introduce himself, on a random "cold call".
We had an interesting conversation....

 

[kkemp]

buying genuine carb kits is at worst a 10% premium over what your currently paying for the stens kits so getting set up with RBI or Gardner is worthwhile investment.

as far as carb kits to stock....good luck because you'll always need that one kit you dont stock. This is my tillotson, walbro, and zama drawers.....For the most part I only stock full kits because for the price difference i think its foolish to install just the GnD kit. Only reason I even have any GnD kits is that they are leftovers from the first couple years in business when I valued cost over quality

View attachment 65153 View attachment 65154

wow . That's a lot of carb kits lol . Wish I had half of em .

 

[AVB]

Yeah, the area reps can be a real pain. I have dealt with 2 different ones here in Ky, as I live right on the border of the 2 areas that they both cover. One is a real prick, the other is pretty good.
But that goes for all of them.
Sunbelt had a moron that worked at the main office, and wouldn't even put me in touch with the area sales rep. I wanted to set up an account. I requested a catalog and line card, he said that I couldn't get those without a $250 minimum order. I asked him, "How can I make an order? I don't even know what you are selling??"
A few months later, the Sunbelt rep dropped by the shop to introduce himself, on a random "cold call".
We had an interesting conversation....

Have been there done that with reps over the years too.

I was kinda lucky as I found Sunbelt via a google search and signed up to buy parts. In 8 yrs I only seen my Sunbelt rep once. I still send and get emails from him on questions I have. I could stand with access the MTD and Husqvarna parts instead having buy them online but that is one working on. Boy I hate Jack's long back orders of my Husqvarna chainsaw parts. I got one order in on 3/27 that isn't schedule until late April. It holding a 390 repair. I had to quit ordering Homelite parts thru them as it was taking up to 2 months; now I usually get them in a week usually something has to backordered.

I recently changed my Kohler parts source to the West Coast and still have about 3 day delivery with better pricing.

 

[kkemp]

How big are you guys shops'?

 

[Fish]

Mine was small, now I am old and don't use it anymore, so I can talk about it.....

 

[AVB]

How big are you guys shops'?

Personally mine is a baby at 24 x 24 plus one 15 x 15 secured storage area in my barn and the office is at 300 sq ft. Of the main workshop covers 6 acres; it is an outdoor one. Plenty of grass to test on and it does get away from me at times. I was mowing waist high grass last fall with my personal mower. Kinda small when compared to my last place which was 28 x 28 shop plus a 24 x 48 storage on 14 acres.

I am however planning on a new shop expansion.; just depends on how quickly I can lay blocks for 24 x 36 expansion building but I got to get the footers and floor poured.

 

[kkemp]

Mine is about 40x40 ft on 6 acres about half of that is wooded.

 

[backhoelover]

mine is a 2 bay garage

 

[fordf150]

 

[jmester]

Looks like it is coming along pretty good Nate.

 

[fordf150]

Looks like it is coming along pretty good Nate.

Those are old pictures. It now has the entire ceiling is drywalled and 75% of the walls are now studded