The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Auto dealers yesterday said opening their parts departments for one day per week is "not a big business boost" - especially since they are still unable to service clients' vehicles.

Fred Albury, the Auto Mall's principal, told Tribune Business he will re-open today between 8am and 5pm "for the customer" given the numerous inquiries received for vehicle parts in the month since the COVID-19 lockdown was first implemented.

Emphasising that "safety is paramount" for both staff and customers, he admitted he "would not be opening" were it not for other Bahamas Motor Dealers Association (DMDA) members pushing for at least a partial easing of the restrictions imposed on the sector.

The government is permitting auto parts shops and dealers to open on Tuesdays only at present, as it seeks to loosen the nationwide economic shutdown enacted to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus in The Bahamas.

Mr Albury said allowing the service departments at Auto Mall and other dealerships to open would have given the industry a more significant boost, noting that 50-60 percent of Auto Mall's parts sales were conducted through this part of its business.

"By tomorrow [this] afternoon we'll have a better gauge of what the demand looks like," he added. "We have to factor in that people are not driving their cars as much, so the people that want or need parts will probably be the essential workers that are driving out there. We've had a number of inquiries through our website and Facebook page.

"It would be nice to have the service department opened up because people sometimes buy parts and say they need to be installed, but it is what it is. We'll do our part to supply the customers, and they'll have to do what they need to do to get them installed."

With service departments shut down, Mr Albury voiced concern that some motorists may have to turn to "fly-by-night" or so-called bush mechanics to work on their vehicles - a development he warned could lead to other problems.

"Safety is paramount," he added of today's re-opening. "My parts manager is in preparing, with signs such as 'no mask, no admission' and organising the social distancing, as well as getting the team together. Our people will rotate, so there will be a new team next week.

"To be honest with you, I would not be opening but other BMDA members have really advocated to open. I'm going to give it a go. It's not a big boost for the business. I'm doing it for the customers out there. Probably 50-60 percent of our parts sales are done through the service department, so the over-the-counter sales will not be so great for us."

The public transportation shutdown will also impact parts demand, Mr Albury said, who added that a reduction or levelling out of the number of new COVID-19 cases could see a gradual re-opening of more of the Bahamian economy.

Mr Albury's position was backed by Rick Lowe, Nassau Motor Company's (NMC) operations manager/director, who revealed that several clients had been unable to retrieve their vehicles from the company's service department due to the national lockdown.

"He's [the prime minister] allowed us to open up the parts department, not services, so for us it's not a great deal," Mr Lowe added. "We need services open. I understand the pressure they're under but it's weird.

"It's not a major part of our business but there are some customers that have been calling and e-mailing. We've been closed since mid-March, and I think that we have cars in service that customers cannot get. They were brought in a day or two beforehand and got locked in.

"We would like to get some idea of what they're [the government] thinking, but they go from week to week. You don't get a gut feeling for what they're attempting to do."

The auto parts re-opening is likely to benefit specialist parts stores, such as AID and WHIM. AID will receive a further boost due to the government allowing hardware and home stores to open from 8am to 8pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, as it specialises in this sector too.