The value of "just around the corner".
Since it has become more likely to find children's diapers or a computer charging cable at gas stations than spark plugs or brake fluid, I have become accustomed to buying my workshop consumables and wear parts in some dreary suburban industrial zone. Unfortunately, however, the stocks at the big dealerships are so, well, large and digitized that it is often almost impossible to put an old part on the counter and compare it with various new ones in order to get the right windscreen wiper blade, for example. Or even the meter of fuel hose or something else cannot be retrieved if the vehicle registration document with the correct chassis number is not to hand. Of course, uniqueness always helps, but sometimes I just need "some" bracket, some screw or a connection that just fits - the devil knows.
I think the "desolation" of the "do-it-yourself and gas-station-around-the-corner culture" is becoming a problem. And it inevitably leads to people being inclined to order small parts assortments from the Far East from colorful and well-stocked online retailers. You know the one, the one where a complete fire of the entire stock results in material damage of just 50 euros...
A car parts store in the middle of Zurich, no mechanic can go past it!
Well, the other day I took a different route than usual to work in Zurich and what did I see in the middle of the residential area? An owner-managed, small car spare parts store - a feeling like seeing an oasis in the middle of the desert! The great thing about it is that it doesn't just smell like the old petrol station store, you can actually find all the tools and small items, lubricants, cleaners, even a brushwood broom if you want to mop up the oil binder that has been spread (they have that too). And of course, there are many more real car spare parts for professionals here, but I hadn't even looked for them.
I am once again encouraged that there is still hope for the mechanic - even in the not very car-friendly city of Zurich. However, it seems to be the same with places like this as with houseplants: You have to take some care of them in order to preserve them. So it certainly wasn't the last time I was there, because as I'm writing these lines, I can smell the rubber from the new fuel lines on the desk next to me. No, there was no discount, why would there be? And it was about time after 34 years - more sensible people than me would even say: It was high time for new fuel lines in the T1!
Auto Teile Zürich AG, owner André Bless with a tiny part of his huge range - the mechanic's weekend is saved!
