What started as one book has grown into something much bigger.
Surviving the Parts Counter is a project built around the people who keep the motor trade moving - Parts Advisors, Parts Managers, Motor Factors, Dealerships and industry professionals.
It's about the reality of the job. The mistakes, the laughs, the frustrations and honest experiences, practical advice and stories from people who have actually lived it.
The project began with Surviving the Parts Counter: A Real Guide for New Parts Advisors. But the more people got involved, the more obvious it became that there were thousands of stories, opinions and experiences worth sharing.
That's where Voices of the Trade comes in Featuring contributions from people working across the motor trade, the book explores what life is really like in the industry today.
Surviving the Parts Counter with Dan Wiggins is a new monthly column in Professional Motor Factor Magazine, looking at the people, challenges, frustrations and realities of working in the motor trade Expect honest opinions, real experiences and the occasional rant about something that probably happened behind a parts counter somewhere this week.
What Readers Are Saying
(via Amazon reviews)
"What stands out is how relatable it is. It doesn’t try to dress the job up or make it overly technical. It simply explains the realities in a way that new starters (and even experienced advisors) will recognise immediately."
"This should be given to anyone starting in dealership parts."
"Excellent book and very relatable to the industry!"
"It has helped me with my parts knowledge and helped me gain more insights into the way the trade works! Totally a 5 star read!!"
"Great overview and introduction on how to be a parts counterperson. But also on how to really handle jobs in many other industries"
"An excellent analysis of the mindset and skills required to work in the parts trade."
"The book can easily be read in an evening. It should be required reading for anyone considering entering the field."
"This book is exactly what the industry needs. It gives a detailed and directed indication of what is involved in the day to day life of a parts advisor. Although it is aimed towards the motor industry it could easily be used for many industries with a similar protocol. From aircraft to medical machinery, if it has replaced parts someone will be going through the same process in the supply chain. Excellent, thank you."
"This should be something all newbies should read as they start their journey in the parts advisor sector"
"As someone with nearly 30yrs in and around the industry in various roles, who also trains new staff at a main dealer, this is one of those books that I'm reading, nodding away at, smiling and wondering which kind of person I am from his list of characters he's met in industry"
"I've already handed my copy to someone who's just a year into his role as a parts advisor....."
"Surviving The Parts Counter by Dan Wiggins is a straightforward, experience-driven look at a job that rarely gets explained properly, even to the people doing it."
"Excellent book that describes the ups and downs of working on a parts counter. Reading it brought me back to the days I spent doing the same job 30 years ago"
Surviving the Parts Counter
Lays Bare a Hilarious and Brutal Reality
Garage Matters Verdict
Surviving the Parts Counter is an authentic, battle-scarred look at the motor trade. It is packed with actionable advice for apprentices finding their feet, and plenty of shared trauma for the veterans who already know the pain of a phantom backorder. Highly recommended.
Samantha Harbon
fmr. Aftersales & Business Development Lead
(Mercedes-Benz UK)
I'd go as far as saying this should be recommended reading for every new Parts Advisor entering the automotive industry. In fact, I think manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and dealer groups across the UK should be looking at it as part of their onboarding and training. It gives a genuine insight into the role, the mindset needed to succeed, and the challenges that no classroom can truly prepare you for. Congratulations, Danny. You've created something that genuinely adds value to our industry.
The next chapter is coming…
Available in both Paperback & Hardback editions from 1st December 2026.