How many of you CQ Independent owners have an exit strategy from AAP? Could be from retirement, health issues, or that Advance dumps you. I am weighing my options and have wondered what other owners may be doing. I was approached by another supplier that offered a guaranteed value to buy my business at a future date if I change over in 2018. They would also purchase my building at FMV should I desire not to continue with a lease to them. Has anyone done this or know of this program? Thanks!
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It’s 2018 and my divorce is final from AAP as of today. Went to an independent WD group due to the instability at Advance. Thanks to all of the CQ team for the growth of my business and the many friendships. Unfortunately I had to leave the CQ family as things continued to decline. Best wishes to all. M.
AAP offers exit strategies to CQ independents all the time. Anyone considering NAPA should do their homework and realize the way NAPA sells to their independents is a real problem. Drop ships are the only way they can even attempt to make enough GP, and those crush cash flow, and bloat inventory. Their fees are ridiculous as well. And while they’ve eliminated some MI programs, those aren’t worth the effort either. Be careful out there!
Talked to NAPA marketing rep today. Holding off until January as the are rolling out a new changeover incentive. ($$$!!!)
Any independent who does not already have a NAPA in their market should be talking to them about changing flags. One of these days AAP is going to make an announcement.
I’ve about had it with AAP store people soliciting my customers. I had a protected area with GPI and we worked with the company CQ stores well on a daily basis. My customers now have become targets and I’m treated like a competitor instead of a partner. I’m switching my stores to NAPA early in 2018. I’ve had enough.
We have 9 stores in NJ we were napa a few years ago but switched to CQ. All was fine until this year when aap started to undercut our prices and steal our tech-nets. We are now talking to napa about switching back.