Discount Carrying Recycled Parts

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--Discount Auto Parts Inc. will be stocking recycled parts at selected stores through a pilot program. International Parts Inc. is the primary source for the recycled and rebuilt parts, which Discount generally does not carry. The pilot will launch in 34 stores throughout the Jacksonville market at the end of January.

“We’re enthusiastic about the pilot program with International Parts as our associate in supplying customers with reliable, quality recycled parts,” said Tom Merk, Discount’s vice president of sales and marketing. “We anticipate the program will enable us to fill orders that we would typically have to refer to another supplier.”

According to Merk, trends show that Americans are keeping their cars longer, with 9.1 years being the average age of vehicles on the road today. Auto parts retailers are seeing increased demand for replacement parts for older models. The trend is expected to continue as car mileage accumulates, now averaging 14,000 miles per year.

“Our alliance with Discount Auto Parts will enable International Parts to expand its product distribution and will enable Discount Auto Parts to provide its customers with products it doesn’t traditionally stock,” said Lonnie Margol, International’s president.

International, established in Jacksonville in 1992, has developed a proprietary database of more than 3,000 auto recyclers, parts rebuilders and aftermarket manufacturers with an inventory of more than 6 million parts. The company operates a call center to take customer orders and uses its database to locate and facilitate delivery of parts.

“As our business grows, we continue to explore new ways to adapt our core business model to work in other business channels,” said Margol.

The Discount Auto Parts Team Members will be able to offer their customers a higher level of service by utilizing the call center to source recycled parts, he added. International’s e-commerce business channel was launched in August of last year, taking orders via the Internet at ezfindparts.com. Through the Internet site, customers can search the database, compare available parts and order online.

Discount operates a chain of more than 650 retail stores throughout Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina.

International is billed as the world’s largest parts locating service specializing in locating recycled, rebuilt and new parts for both foreign and domestic cars and light trucks.

For more information, contact www.discountautoparts.com and www.ezfindparts.com.