Lansing likes to clump similar stores together. For example, in one block they have a Burger King, a McDonalds and an Arby’s with a Rally Burger and an A&W across the street. So, if you are hungry and want fast food, you head for this area. You can decide what you want once you get there.

This clumping seems to also hold true for auto parts stores. There are two auto parts store right next to each other and a third across the street. Talk about competition.

Now I can understand this closeness with fast food places. You have a choice between a Whooper, a Big Mac or a roast beef but not so with auto parts.  Delco, Champion, AC, all of the stores are going to carry them.  And if they are going to be competitive, they are all going to be about the same price.  I can’t see a shopper saying “5.95?  I think Ill check next door.”

Furthermore, they are all going to carry a similar inventory.  Oil filters for late model cars? No problem.    However, a water pump for a 68 Buick might be a little harder to find.  And, if they haven’t got the part that you need, they are going to order it for you.  None of them  are going to say “Sorry, we don’t have that part in stock.  Why don’t you try next door.”  Of course, chances are slim that the store next door will have the part that you need so you might as well just order the part and be done with it.

So, why are there so many auto parts stores so close to each other?  Location, location, location.  Since these stores are all fairly new and since they are all in an old industrial neighborhood, I am going to guess that land was cheap and zoned right.  But, I’ll bet that when they were looking at the land, they didn’t know that two other auto parts stores were also looking at that area.   And I doubt that the owner of the land pointed that fact out to them.

Unless there is a real run on auto parts, I am going to guess that one if not all of the stores, will close in the next 6 months.  Sad.  More unemployment for an already poor economy.