ntly opened up “U-Pull A Part” yard in their salvage yard located at 1277 Commercial Way in Penticton.
“We were finding that no one was coming in for parts for older cars,” said General Manager Ken Rodocker, “but that has changed since we opened the U-pull.”
The salvage yard changed ownership last May, and as a result all the inventory was cleared out of the yard. Since that time, 350 vehicles have been brought into the do it yourself portion of the yard, which opened up two and a half months ago,
U-Pull A Part is based on the business model used by the Pick ‘N Pull yard in West Kelowna, which is widely used by backyard mechanics in the region.
“We looked at the do it yourself yards in Chilliwack and West Kelowna, and based the operation of this yard on those,” Rodocker said. He studied all aspects of the business, including price lists, which he says are competitive with the u-pull operation in West Kelowna.
A one dollar fee, good for the day, is charged to enter the yard. Customers need to bring their own tools, but the yard provides such items as engine hoists, carry carts and wheelbarrows. No cutting torches or grinding tools are allowed. The salvage yard drains all fluids from the vehicles prior to setting them up on supports in the yard.
“We semi-test the engines,” Rodocker added, “to the point that we can say they are running or not.”
The yard is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., including holidays. Phone number is:250-493-3232.
The website:
WWW.PENTICTONUPULLAPART.COM
has a price sheet on it, with a vehicle inventory list still to come.