If there is one thing experience can teach us in running a
landscape business it is the importance of time. It doesn’t matter if you run a multi truck
operation or you are just a one Truck one trailer kind of guy. Your time is worth money. If you’re the one truck one trailer I would think your time
is even more valuable as you do not have the same resources a large scale
operation would have. In most cases landscaping is a part time job for you so
the days you are out mowing you cannot be dealing with down machines or
something breaking on the job.
If you are the mid to large scale operation every time your
crews are spending more time hanging out at the dealership versus on the job
site the money you are billing for is going right out the window.
Think about this for a second. You are on a lawn and break a
belt or recoil. If you are lucky it
happens as you are putting the machine back on the truck but if it happens when
you get there or in the middle of the job your whole day just changed, causing
you to lose time which equals money. A trip to the dealer to pick up the repair
part could be 30 minutes, because as you know when you have to be somewhere you
will get stuck behind someone who hasn’t figured out yet how to push the gas
pedal. So now you are at the dealership, it could take another 15 to 20 minutes
to get the part provided it is in stock. Then another 30 minutes back to the
job. So if you are lucky you only wasted and hour and a half getting the part
never mind installing it.
So where does that Hour and a half maybe two go? Well, you either need to hustle to make it up
or it is lost forever. What do you bill an hour? Does throwing out $60 maybe $75 dollars sound
good?
Now imagine if you had kept a few repair parts on your
trailer. In the case of a belt breaking
simply walking to the trailer and putting on a new one just saved you an
hour. Not only did you save time and
money by not leaving the job you also maintained a level of professionalism
that does not go unnoticed by your customers that could lead to future
business. So Not only did you save that
$60 dollars in waste travel but you may have also preserved future income.
This just scratches the surface of the other hidden little
costs that you saved on just by having a few parts in stock. Wear and tear on
the truck, traffic, gas, professionalism and your own sanity for the long haul
are just some things to mention.
Take a small inventory of your machines, Look at the stuff
that could break, items you always replace and keep and extra one or two. In most cases if you buy in bulk you will
save a few extra cents here and there. Most big companies think like this and
make great profits, No reason you can’t do the same.
As the saying goes. Time is money. Corny but seems to make
sense here.
It seems like just yesterday that we were digging out from – and preparing for – yet another snowstorm.
Buffalo saw historic levels of snow before December 1st and the Northeast experienced a February with more days with snow than without. Our dealerships
sold more snow blowers in three weeks than would normally be sold in an entire season! Demand for replacement parts quickly depleted stock in manufacturer’s warehouses and backordered parts – backed up.
Telling a frustrated snow blower owner, mid-February, that they should have completed the preventative maintenance in the fall isn't the most productive solution. That’s why we are taking the time to tell you now – now is the best time of year to tune up your snow blower! Here is why:
- Demand for replacement snow blower parts in September is low. The most common belts, bolts, and cables are in stock making for quick shipping and fast repair. Once snow is in the forecast, people enter panic mode. Grocery stores sell bread, water and batteries; hardware stores sell out of shovels and salt; and power equipment stores become the epicenter of frustrated snow blower owners who wish they had not waited to service the machine!
- Why work in the cold if you don’t have to? Unless you have a garage to perform service, chances are that you will be outside on the cold pavement. If you wait long enough, you (and everyone else) will be trying to complete the work before the first snow. No fun. Get the parts and complete the work now.
- Ordering Ariens Sno-Thro parts using Ariens Quick Part Finder is easier than ever! Just find the model and serial number tag on the back of the snow blower and begin your search. Once you find the tag, it’s a great idea to snap a photo to make ordering parts quick and easy in the future!
If you are looking to add hand warmers, overhaul the engine, or buy a new machine all together – our
Ariens Quick Part Finder is a great place to start,
click here to give it a try! As always, our parts team is available to assist at
800-305-9255.
We receive questions about lawnmower parts constantly. Landscapers and homeowners use our website to look-up parts diagrams and repair equipment. Our experienced lawnmower specialists receive texts, emails, and calls from customers in the field who need help. It's a great feeling to know our customers turn to us when they need the right answer.
Not every call or email leads to a sale and that's okay. In fact, that's great! Selling deck belts, mower blades, or snow blower parts isn't a complicated task. Gaining and retaining the trust of a great customer base is hard work and a job we take seriously.
With that said, it's important to recognize that when we suggest a part or advocate for a particular brand, it's a well thought out decision.
Oregon has been a leader in outdoor products like mower blades, chains, and forestry accessories. Oregon manufactures aftermarket parts that meet and often exceed the standards of OEM brands. Quality products and quality customer service are the cornerstone of ProParts Direct's operation. The product offering from Oregon is rock solid with quality control we trust will keep our customers equipment running.
Over the years, we have witnessed brands and manufacturers fail to innovate or adapt to the concerns of their customers. Oregon continues to step up their game offering parts that we trust and recommend to our customers. As the Product Manager for ProPartsDirect, I personally handle hundreds of parts each week. Oregon aftermarket parts have the feel of quality and top-notch performance. I take pride in offering our customers great parts. Oregon is a brand we trust and a brand you can trust too.
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