New hire at the auto parts store:
let them quote from the first day
A new salesperson takes time to learn the parts, the part numbers and what mechanics call everything. While they learn, they ask about everything and the customer waits. They aren't bad: nobody is born knowing what a "cacahuate" is. Here is what they have to learn and how to get them quoting well from the first day. This applies to companies in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru.
How long does a new salesperson take to learn auto parts?
There is no honest number that fits everyone, because every store sells different things. What is the same everywhere is what the new hire has to learn, and while they learn, every quote takes them longer:
- The parts and their names: what each thing is and what it's for.
- The part numbers and their cross-references.
- What mechanics call things: the slang that isn't in any manual.
- What each vehicle takes, trim by trim.
What the customer asks for and what a rookie doesn't know
| The customer says | The rookie needs to know |
|---|---|
| "Un cacahuate" | That it's the stabilizer bar bolt |
| "Plumas tipo plátano" | That the catalog calls them "tipo banana" |
| "El interruptor de las luces" | That you do carry it, even if it shows up under another name |
| "Chevy c2" | What to ask to find out which car and which trim it is |
There are more words in the auto parts slang guide.
The median customer message is 18 characters, based on 57,681 inquiries at one auto parts store over 20 months. With so little information, whoever quotes has to know a lot or ask a lot. A new hire does the second, and the customer waits.
Every country has its own words. In Mexico "galleta" is the brake pad and "cacahuate" is the stabilizer bar bolt; in Colombia "cloche" is the clutch and "bombín" the wheel cylinder; in Argentina "rulemán" is the bearing and "espiral" the coil spring; in Chile "broche" is the brake pad and "cruceta" the universal joint; in Peru "faja" is the belt and, depending on the case, "arandela" is the seal.
See a real quote live. Message us on WhatsApp and book a meeting.
Message us on WhatsApp →What changes when Suplifai already knows your catalog
- It understands the part number and the shop slang and matches them to the SKU in your catalog.
- It sends the price in seconds, no matter who is serving.
- The new hire doesn't have to ask about everything. They see the part already identified and can focus on serving the customer.
- They learn from quotes that already went well, not by guessing.
A plan for a new salesperson's first week
- Have them read recent conversations for the parts that are asked for most.
- Have them learn the 10 best-selling parts and their slang names first, not the whole catalog.
- Have them quote with Suplifai alongside, checking each identified part before it goes out.
- Have them pass the odd cases to whoever knows most, and write down what they learned.
Frequently asked questions
How do I shorten a new salesperson's learning curve at an auto parts store?
By handing them the part already identified instead of making them search from scratch. Suplifai knows your catalog, understands the part number and the shop slang, and sends the price in seconds.
What does a new auto parts salesperson have to learn?
The parts and their names, the part numbers and their cross-references, what mechanics call things, and what each vehicle takes.
Does Suplifai replace the new hire?
No. Your team closes the sale and Suplifai quotes. The new hire spends time serving customers and learning.
Does it understand what the customer asks for even if it isn't the catalog name?
Yes. It understands the shop name for a part, such as "cacahuate" for the stabilizer bar bolt, and matches it to the SKU in your catalog.
See a real quote live
Let your new hire quote from the first day
Suplifai already knows your catalog. Message us and see a real quote live.