The 2013/2014 winter has been brutal. The weather pattern
has been delivering storms nearly back to back. Coupled with extended bouts of
bitter cold, it seems the only way to cope with the conditions are to give it a name(Polar Vortex), so we can really
get mad at it!
The conditions don’t just test our patience, they challenge
the machines that contractors and homeowners use to manage all the snow. Increased use and heavier snow will cause
snowblowers to fail. When snowstorms span the entire country, from Texas to
Bangor, Maine, the number of people using snowblowers is insane! Belts and bolts give way on the machines driving
demand on replacement parts.
Again, consider the size of the storms – cities in the
southern half of the country don’t have a fleet of snowplows to handle the
snow. The locations that do have snow removal equipment probably haven’t used
or serviced the machine in over a year, so a major snow event is when issues
first arise.
When the entire country needs a new auger housing on a
random Tuesday following a 4 day storm, it’s easy to see how parts quickly
become unavailable or backordered. Manufacturers who build the parts have
nothing to provide small engine shops to sell to customers. Back to back storms slow everything from airline
travel to parts deliveries.
It’s frustrating to tell a customer a part is on “national
backorder.” National backorder means there is no estimate when a part will be
available and that stores nationwide can’t access the item. A $10 snowblower
belt in July is practically an afterthought. However, in February, that belt is
absolutely critical to clearing snow and keeping walkways safe.
TIP: In most cases it
is more effective to keep your original order with your parts vendor than
cancel and check elsewhere! Parts
vendors all pick from the same inventory. Think of it like standing in line and
deciding to leave your spot; if you change your mind and return, you go to the
back of the line.
The ProParts Advantage allows our company to be in the top
tier for all major suppliers. This means we are the first to receive
backordered parts.
In the era of Amazon providing next day service – and
exploring “drone” deliveries, it’s frustrating that the nature of our industry
can’t even come close to that speed. We offset the demand by keeping a massive
inventory of fast moving parts like belts, sheer pins, and bearings. – but when it rains, it pours….or snows in
this case.
While it’s impossible to predict when or what will break on
your machine, it’s a good practice to keep the usual suspects on hand. Having an
extra belt or sheer bolt on hand is invaluable.
