This is the season of parts runs. Country folks know that term but, for you townies it’s when machinery breaks down in the field and someone is given the order to head for the implement dealer, get the part needed, and HURRY back. Generally, it will be the wife, or a kid that’s old enough to have a driver’s license, who is sent. Instructions are explicit, no stopping to get ice cream, groceries, or check out the sale on stuff at the corner boutique. Just HURRY!
Back before cell phones, I often arrived at the parts counter with insufficient information. “Does he want fine thread on those bolts? Male or female ends?” “Didn’t say. Just give me some of each and I’ll raise my own.” Experience had taught me that arriving home with the wrong thing meant another trip to town, and double on the HURRY. I soon learned to make the boss call in and say exactly what was needed. Saved on speeding tickets too.
Times have changed. Now, the operator can just take a picture with his or her phone and send it to the parts person. I almost said parts man but equal opportunity has arrived, and some of the most competent parts people are women. But that job description requires the employee to be bi-lingual. If a customer comes in asking for the sprocket that sits under the spring by the cotter key that goes into such and such, the parts person will likely have a different name for that particular thing, and needs to be able to translate.
One thing that hasn’t changed is excellent customer service. Years ago, we just called Ray at Mathis Implement and, if it was closing time, he put it in a sack and set it by the door with our name on it. Call him at home on Sunday and he might still go down and set it out. The upgrade to that is bins sitting outside the implement dealer, or perhaps a quick stop, with the dealer’s name on it and, inside, the labeled sack with parts. I suppose tourists who see these bins in towns along their route wonder what that’s about, but locals know.
You know, there are a lot of unsung heroes. We recognize emergency personnel, the police, health care workers, and a lot of other deserving folks. I just thought it was time to honor the parts people. Oh, and the ones who, even with the upgrades, are still sternly told to HURRY!
Meet me here next week and meanwhile do your best. Somebody might like it.