What should I look for in a garage’s parts return and core charge records?

Cores and returns are small items that add up. When a garage sells a part with a core charge, it expects to send the old part back for credit. Ask to see how that is tracked: a log, the invoicing system, or a shelf of old parts nobody has looked at. Request the supplier statements and compare them with the shop’s own records. Differences point to unclaimed credits or unreturned items. Look at age and pattern. Old open returns, cores stacked in a corner or a supplier who regularly disputes claims suggest the process is loose. Ask who does the returns, how often, and what happens when a supplier refuses a credit. Also ask whether customers were charged a core fee and whether it was refunded when appropriate.

Think about what it means for you. Unreturned cores may be minor or may be a liability on the supplier side. Your accountant can help you see how these items appear in the books, and the purchase agreement can say who bears old claims. Use the records as a signal of how tidy the rest of the shop’s paperwork is, and ask for corrections before closing.

Key takeaways

• Compare the shop’s return log with supplier statements to find unclaimed credits.
• Look for old open items and recurring disputes with the same supplier.
• Settle in the agreement who bears credits and claims that predate the sale.