Riverside, Calif.–Allied Auto Salvage is well known among body and repair shops, collision centers, insurance companies, and retail customers throughout the Riverside area even though the business has only been open since 2005, Co-owner Chris Whetstone said.
“We’re not new to the recycling business; we successfully started and ran a similar operation in Minnesota from 1992 to 2005, which we sold before coming to California and starting Allied Auto Salvage,” Whetstone said.
“Allied has become successful for several reasons, primarily because we believe in establishing long-term relationships with our customers,” Co-owner Rachel Whetstone said.
“We have also positioned ourselves differently than many companies in our industry,” she said. “Our policy has always been to put a different spin on our industry by focusing on professionalism.”
“We want to make using recycled used parts as easy for the repairer as possible,” Whetstone said. “Once a repairer experiences our consistent performance, they come back again and again.” That philosophy helped them expand their business by 30 percent in 2008, she said.
Allied sells or rebuilds parts only for 1995 through 2008 model vehicles, and it also has been rebuilding electronic components for more than a decade, Whetstone said. “We have many rebuilt items in stock and ready to ship, or we can professionally rebuild your item,” she said.
“Depending on what part of the country you’re in, it will take between two and 12 business days to rebuild and return your part because we not only replace defective components in your unit, each item is rebuilt to our exacting specifications,” Whetstone said. “We also have an extensive inventory of reconditioned bumper assemblies, wheels and headlights.”
“Our standard is excellence, insuring that your item will be rebuilt properly the first time,” Chris Whetstone said. All rebuilt items have a one-year parts repair warranty, and new items are added frequently, so Whetstone said customers should call for availability.
“We stand behind each item that is rebuilt in our facility,” he said. “We also provide support in helping to solve related electrical problems that may contribute to electrical failure.”
Expedited service is available for all items, Whetstone. “We have a 24-hour in-stock shipping policy, which means the customer gets what they need fast,” he said. “Call toll free and a member of our customer-support team will assist you in starting an order.”
Allied is a member of Team Premium Recycled Parts (PRP), a nationwide alliance of best-in-class recyclers that use an identical quality assurance program based on ISO9000 standards, Whetstone said.
“All PRP members share inventories regionally and nationally, and this gives us instant access to literally millions of consistently high-quality parts online through other PRP members,” he said.
“PRP member quotes are guaranteed for a minimum of seven days, even if the part has been sold to another customer,” Whetstone said. “We pay any supplements on our parts and communicate with the estimator and repairer so there won’t be any surprises,” Rachel Whetstone said.
Allied is also a member of 1877 End of Life Vehicles.com, a national network of accredited auto recyclers that seek to develop a national solution to the environmental problems created by the mismanagement of end of life vehicles, Whetstone said.
“The focus of the network is the responsible recycling of end-of-life vehicles, thereby working toward a sustainable environment to be enjoyed by generations to come,” she said. “We ensure that end-of-life vehicles are disposed of in an efficient manner, meeting all legislated requirements, thereby contributing to the future stability of the environment.”
In keeping with Allied’s professional focus, technicians are constantly given training in-house and online via the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) University, Chris Whetstone said.
“The ARA University is a first in Web training for the automotive recycling industry,” Whetstone said. “This online training and information platform offers our technicians important certifications, sales training, legal compliance, hybrid training, hazmat training, and numerous seminars right on our computer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Several vehicle lifts make vehicle dismantling easier, and a high-pressure crusher was recently purchased for recycling vehicle carcasses after every possible part has been removed and recycled, Whetstone said. “We take pride in using state-of-the-art equipment,” he said.
“Though competition is strong in the auto salvage and dismantling business in the Inland Empire, by focusing on building long-term relationships, we have established a customer base that will keep coming back again and again,” Whetstone said.
