If you are in need of an auto part for your vehicle and are considering a self-service auto salvage yard such as Pick and Pull, there are several steps to go through and consider before visiting a location.
In this guide, we will go through all of these steps and walk you through the entire process of visiting a Pick and Pull yard.
Pick and Pull or self service auto parts stores have become popular over the last decade, mainly due to several benefits such as the low pricing, variety of parts and locations throughout the country. This allows those seeking auto parts to find parts quickly and at a low price compared to other options. The process of getting a part from a Pick and Pull location however is not for everyone. We’ll dig into all of the aspects of getting these parts from a Pick and Pull store below.
No, you do not need any special license or paperwork to visit a Pick and Pull location. In fact, anyone that is 16 years and older are able to visit a Pick and Pull store.
Yes, Pick and Pull is open on Sundays. The business hours are:
Monday – Friday: 9:00a.m – 6:00p.m
Saturday & Sundays: 8:00a.m – 6:00p.m
Please visit the locations pages to see special holiday hours.
There are 3 to 4 fees in total. The admission fee, a core charge (on some parts), taxes and an environmental fee.
Pick and Pull locations charge a $3.00 admission fee to enter plus the cost of any parts you pull.
In addition, there is a core charge for certain parts. The core fee is roughly 10% of the part price and is a deposit that is returned to you when you return the old part to Pick and Pull.
For example, if you purchase an AC compressor, you are charged a core fee. If you return the old AC compressor from your car that you are replacing to Pick and Pull, you will be returned the core fee charge. If you have the old part with you when purchasing a new part, you will not be charged a core fee. This fee helps encourage customers to return their old part so it can be recycled rather than just throwing it away.
Pick and Pull offers a cash refund on the core deposit up to 30 days from the original purchase date.
In addition to the admission and core charge, there are taxes and a small environmental fee for every part. The environmental cost is to help offset some of the costs of handling and legally disposing hazardous materials commonly found in automobiles and other vehicles.
Yes, you need to sign a waiver before entering any Pick and Pull location. This is to absolve Pick and Pull from any responsibility in the event of any injury or even death at any of their locations. Picking parts from vehicles does come with risk and danger as it involves taking apart vehicles.
To find a part for your vehicle, you can visit the Pick and Pull site and choose the Year, Make, Model and zip code for the part you’re in search of. This tool will give you all the available parts within a certain distance from your zip code.
Alternatively, you can visit a location and receive assistance at the local yard in locating the part. They’ll also assist you to find which parts are interchangeable with the one you’re looking for.
You can also receive notifications when new vehicles arrive. You can setup this alert through Pick and Pulls row52 site which gives you the ability to receive an alert via text or email when a specific vehicle you are looking for arrives at a yard near you.
Yes, you can bring in your own part to compare to the new one you’re looking for. The team at Pick and Pull will mark your part so that there is no confusion as to which part you brought in versus a part you pulled from one of their vehicles.
Bringing in your own part is helpful so that you can make sure you got the right part by comparing it the one you’re looking to pull. It’ll save you time and money.
First set of tools you should take with you are handtools. Common tools to take with you are basic set of wrenches, screwdrivers, cross-cutting pliers, adjustable pliers, needle nose pliers, socket sets, ratchets, allen key set, extensions, snap ring pliers, trim tools, picks, drifts, chisels, hammer, hacksaw, different sets of adapters, penetrating oil and more.
Power tools are definitely recommended as they make life easier at a self service junkyard like Pick and Pull. Some tools to take are cordless ½ inch impact guns, cordless sawzall, grinder, etc.
Some other good to have items with you are: Water, rags, gloves, safety glasses, sun screen, good boots.
Wheel Barrow – this allows the transport of your tools and parts easy. It also allows you to transport any of the parts you pull from vehicles back to to your car. The yards all have gravel so in order to avoid any mud and allows the water to drain.
Table – A table is provided so that you can disassemble any smaller parts from a part you pulled.
Wash Station allows you to wash your hands or tools if needed.
A Frame – If you are removing an engine or transmission, A-frames are provided to assist with this.
Forklift/machinery are also available on request once you remove a large part like an engine they can assist in transporting it to your vehicle if needed.
Maps of the yard are provided at all locations so you can easily locate the part or vehicle you’re looking for. This speeds up the process as you don’t need to search through hundreds of vehicles.
You can remove the part you’re replacing from your car in order to know exactly which tools you’ll need to take with you to the Pick and Pull location.
Cars are lifted and setup on tires/wheels, high and easy to get to and under to pull the necessary parts out as shown below:
Removing parts safely from a car can vary in difficulty depending on the part you are trying to remove. Some parts are easy to remove with basic tools and others need specialized tools and expertise. Stuff like interior components, seats, trim panels, etc, are easy using hand tools. However, more complex parts like engine components, transmission, suspension, etc require advanced mechanical skills and special tools to remove.
It’s best to consult a professional before attempting to remove any parts.
Generally, cars are at yards for a period of 60-90 days. Pick and Pull is constantly replenishing inventory at all of the locations to give customers more parts to choose from. Inventory management is one of the challenges many self-service businesses such as Pick and Pull face as sourcing fresh inventory is important to keep customers coming back.
The checkout process after you pulled the necessary parts is easy, all you do is take the part to the checkout counter, pay the fees and take the part home. It’s as easy as that.
You can return any purchased item to Pick and Pull within 30 days of the original purchase date with the receipt. Items will not be eligible to be returned without a receipt. Items are to be exchanged for a matching part or returned for store credit that can be used at any location. Cash refunds are not available.
Tires can be returned and exchanged only for replacement tires if the tires have not been driven and are returned within 3 days from the date of purchase.
There is also a WarrantyPlus program which you can purchase and gives you a 12 month warranty on parts if they start to fail or not perform properly. Within the 12 month period you can exchange the part without an additional charge.
Yes, Pick and Pull offers a toolkit rewards loyalty program. You earn 1 point for every $1 spent. For every 350 points, you get a free $20 reward certificate via email. Points are earn from any auto parts purchase, services, thrift store purchases and admissions. There is a login portal to toolkit rewards to see how many points you’ve earned so far.
The short answer is, it depends. If the repairs will cost more than 50% of the value of the vehicle, then, yes it makes more sense to sell it and buy a new one. For more info to help you make a decision on whether you should sell or fix your car, see our article here. The age of the car and the recent history of issues also play an important factor. If the car you have has given you a lot of problems lately and you find yourself at the repair shop quite often, then it’s time to consider a new car. Repairs on older or high mileage cars add up and before you know it, you’re spending thousands of dollars which can be put towards a new, headacheless car.
On the other hand, if the repairs are minor and won’t burn a hole through your pocket, then it makes sense to hold onto the car for longer.
If you do decide to sell your car, give us a call or fill out instant online offer form to see how much your car is worth. We buy all types of cars, from non-running, damaged cars to great condition cars that can be used as a daily driver.
Hopefully we’ve answered all of the questions you had about how the process works when visiting a Pick and Pull location. Overall it’s an easy process as long as you have some experience removing parts from cars. It’s a cheap and effective way to find and replace parts on your vehicle. If you’re looking for some tips on how to get the most out of your shopping experience at Pick and Pull, be sure to visit our guide that takes your through 5 of our top tips.
