Repco or Super Cheap?

[Slingshot]

They didn't have a monopoly before they went retail - they were just the biggest and the best....hard to compete with that.But BNT (Brake and Trans back then) and Autostop must of been happy,and it allowed others like Partmaster in to fill the gap.The others also got to pick up all the well trained staff,who actually knew about cars....Repco trained automotive parts staff back then,for the whole industry.The trade dropped them almost overnight.The only workshops who still use them do so because they have no other option....the place I work at uses Repco because they have a branch in town.But if stuff has to be freighted in,it doesn't come from Repco.I don't think Supercheap supplies the trade,and I've only been to Supercheap a couple of times just for a look around.I still hold a Repco trade account....nice to go in on a weekend and book stuff up.

My dad's an engineer and as a young fullar I'd go with him to the workshop on Saturday mornings, I remember going into Repco back in those days and most of the shop was shelving behind the counter. Dad knew the staff well, even considered some of them friends.

Then it went retail, I remember him being pissed because joe-public could walk in off the street and buy an oil filter & oil combo for cheaper than he could buy it on the trade account.

Crazy...but they're still in business and with the way the engineering trade has gone they may have been out of business if they hadn't gone down teh retail path.

[Motu]

I'm trying to give you young fullas some kinda of idea how important Repco used to be,before they abandoned the automotive trade for the high money of retail.In my library I have a well used book called the ''Repco Engine Service Manual'',this is a technical manual for engine reconditioning,very comprehensive and up to date for it's time (the '70's).I have reproduce the introduction I scanned,so sorry about quality.As you can see they were engineers,not marketing experts like today.

The Repco-Brabham engine was designed with the help of Phil Irving - I hope I don't have to tell you who he is! And won a couple of World F1 Championships.I just want to impress on you the magnitude of their sell out.

[MaxB]

Super Chimp for fluids and easy stuff. I was on a job on the Shore a few weekends ago and didn't have the tools I needed and my hosts workshop was unexpectedly shut. A quick trip to SCA and $50 later I had what I needed. When finished I left them on the job site because frankly the tools were not worth the space in my tool box.

Repco were always the quality end of retail but my God they are bad now. AFAIK Appco are owned by Repco and they always try to help. Now I go trade whenever I can.

[rachprice]

If you are buying a "brand" like NGK spark plugs for instance, then the best choice is the cheapest choice retailer. Or Supercheap if its on the firm as they hire chicks with big tits.

But if you are not sure what you need, and advice would be handy, or you need good quality, IMHO your local specialist shop will be the best, then Repco, then the chick with the big hooters.

Here in Levin we have Repco, Supercheap, BNT and HK.

The guys in HK know everything - all hired from the trade, give you lots of helpful info. Got an oil expert, a ford-holden parts guy and an auto-electrician at the counter.

BNT are next best, but don't really have trade staff, just experienced parts guys.

Repco next, a mixture of experienced staff, and younger learners.

And Supercheap, my favorite, I don't know how she almost gets those tits in that T shirt.

P.S. Did I mention the girl at Supercheap with the big hooters ?

Hey I used to work in the Levin one, was a while ago though so thats not me.

But the staff at Super Cheap are young pretty girls with nice breasts?

Yeah they hire young people because they are cheaper generally and I have to admit that there are quite a few girls and I would say most are attractive. Guess it brings in the guys.
Maybe its like Lone Star where they have an unwritten rule that they hire hot people. Seriously, everyone who works there is attractive!

[sAsLEX]

Seriously, everyone who works there is attractive!

And the ribs are fantastic and the portions large........ the problem is?

[Ixion]

I go to to Supacrap for crap stuff. Partmaster or BNT or such like if I need something serious for a cage (not common). Neither Ripco nor Supacrap stock much in the way of bike bits. I buy spark plugs from Repco cos they have a better range . i buy a LOT of spark plugs.

I've observed that Repco seem to be abandoning the parts trade , moving into being bling merchants for boi-racers. Place is full of stereos and car seats and such like crap nowdays.

I've also observed that every Ripco branch seems to ahve one, and ONLY one older dude who actually knows his stuff. And a bunch of pimply Waynes who know nothing. Trick is to grab the guy who knows. The old Indian guy with the beard at Mt Wellington is the full deal, he's good.

Yeah, I remember when Motor Specs was the real deal, used to cadge MTA order forms so I could buy from them.

When I worked in the auto trade Repco were the opposition , that was after they went retail and they were pretty much despised for it.

[Ixion]

And the ribs are fantastic and the portions large........ the problem is?

They're not topless!

[Robert Taylor]

I'm trying to give you young fullas some kinda of idea how important Repco used to be,before they abandoned the automotive trade for the high money of retail.In my library I have a well used book called the ''Repco Engine Service Manual'',this is a technical manual for engine reconditioning,very comprehensive and up to date for it's time (the '70's).I have reproduce the introduction I scanned,so sorry about quality.As you can see they were engineers,not marketing experts like today.

The Repco-Brabham engine was designed with the help of Phil Irving - I hope I don't have to tell you who he is! And won a couple of World F1 Championships.I just want to impress on you the magnitude of their sell out.

And of course the Repco built engines that Frank Matich used in his F5000 cars, the only guy who could drive at the same pace as Graham McRae.

[Deano]

Supa Cheap - they have much hotter staff.

[jonbuoy]

You can't blame them for "selling out", its moving with the times. How often do people bother doing head gaskets/lapping valves/de-cokes these days? When a motor drops it guts most people go get a second one and chuck it in or scrap the car. You don't need engineers to sell spark plugs and oil filters.

[rachprice]

And the ribs are fantastic and the portions large........ the problem is?

Haha nothing just an observation, in fact plenty of observing