About Vendors, and the pwr of Google

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by Flash68

.....And to be honest, most people who spend their money on these car parts should not actually be buying them (think: financial priorities in life)... but hey that's a whole 'nuther story....

Totally agree 1000%. But, I am nobody to be questioning anyone financial statue. But, that is so true of a statement. Not only should some not be buying the parts, but shouldn't be restoring a car either. That's why at times so many projects get abandoned due to guys jumping in head first to buy a car without thinking and not knowing that this is not a hobby for just anyone. It takes alot of time and even more money.

[Matt@BOS]

My two cents..

People want the best price, (and who can blame them) and dealers have been bending over to give them the best price and trying to trade profit margin for sales volume. I almost laughed at the post Frank made when he wrote that a competitor of Prodigy Customs was undercutting him and selling at a loss. Frank had basically been out Franked! And, we've reached the end of uncutting when someone is selling at a loss. I wondered how long that would take to happen. For years Frank has been trying to operate like the Walmart of pro touring, despite being a little operation, and our hobby being a small market. I know other dealers here hate what Frank and the like have done because 99 percent of the outfits sponsoring here are small shops that aren't cut out to sell volume. basically everyone is forced to lower profit margins to try and make the same amount of money these days. It is a sad state of affairs, but who can you blame? Do you blame the consumer for trying save a little money. Do you blame the dealer for trying to get a sale? Do you blame the vendor for not policing dealer pricing?

One thing is for certain. I think this latest trend is forcing people to be more realistic about the cost of doing business...

[ironworks]

In alot of instances if you buy a product from a vendor who also installs the part your buying they might know more about the the products actual install. Have you ever called a MFG who makes a bolt in product that does not fit. I guarantee they will tell you it does. But the vendor may have dealt with the issue your talking about and know what you have to do to get that bolt in product to fit. So your paying for the expertise they have as an installer or builder. That has to be worth something.

I got an email last week from a guy who had shopped everyone for the lowest price on a subframe. He emailed me with his lowest bid. I emailed the subframe builder and he told me he had quoted shipping to the address from every vendor on the West Coast. He told me the margin and I emailed the guy back and told him at the price he currently had as the winning vendor I could not make enough money to give him the customer service his sales deserves.

I'm also not sure that buying directly from the MFG solves the problem. I have had plenty of suppliers either lie or not know they cannot live up to there estimated delivery time. I think it is better to buy from someone you know and have good luck with who spends the time in giving someone the follow through they want and deserve with their purchase.

[Vegas69]

You blame it on the internet and this new way of life. It's been driven/forced into our brains to continue to be more productive and efficient and it sucks. The internet has taken information beyond where it needs to be.

It's not only the parts industry but most businesses that have succeeded the economy collapse. You either get more efficient or you don't make any money. My job is 3 times the work it was 10 years ago. I really think we are at a point now where we can't get much more efficient. That leads me down the next road. Once you learn to be a government drone you then realize that you have it alright and start living more within your means. Paying down debt, saving money, etc.

This is just my view...

[64pontiac]

Not trying to beat the horse anymore, but as a vendor and parts retailer, I like to see customers support their local distributors. HPI is a labour based business, and we like to make our parts sales to maintain our distributor price points but retail is not a focus. I can totally see how hard it can be for a purely parts retailer to survive off the small margins in this specialty stuff. (not condoning the poor decisions some make). What I CAN tell you is that companies like us use the brands and parts we sell on a daily basis and sometimes are a better source of support than the larger manufacturers! We typically sell to local customers, and take on the costs and responsibility of shipping, damage, mistakes etc in exchange for retail pricing. Add our knowledge support and it's a pretty good deal!

All I am saying is that I feel it is still important to support local distributors as well as vendors on this site, as buying direct is not always the best thing for the industry as a whole, but just pay attention to feedback etc. an honest distributor will disclose as much info as possible, especially about lead times on orders. Us distributors even run into the non-shipment or delays just like the consumers, trust me!

[ironworks]

I think it's funny how you get what you pay for in most instances.

Tattoos - Ever seen a nice jail house tattoo
Hookers - How much beer would you need to consume to even consider getting near a $20 Hooker?
Hamburgers - The 10 dollar burger is better then a .39 burger anyday
Wheels for your car - Ever heard of HRE, Ask the guys at Pep boys about them.
Welders - Do you really think the $100 buzz box will lay down a stack of dime?
Casters - The kind on your tool box Just buy the Harbor Freight Caster once you will know what I mean
New York Steaks - Sizzler Sells a New York steak and so does the Outback. And so does that fancy steak house in the Wynn at Las vegas that won't allow you to wear short in there restaurant.
Attorneys - Would you ever trust a cheap attorney to get you off the hook if you were innocent?
Bicycles - You ever had a $100 huffy that weighs about a 1000lbs.

I believe preceived value is more important then actual cost.

[Flash68]

Yep - do your best to buy from someone you know or have at least met if possible. If not, buy from Summit or Jegs.

[cencalc6]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Yep - do your best to buy from someone you know or have at least met if possible. If not, buy from Summit or Jegs.

[cencalc6]

Originally Posted by ironworks

I think it's funny how you get what you pay for in most instances.

Tattoos - Ever seen a nice jail house tattoo
Hookers - How much beer would you need to consume to even consider getting near a $20 Hooker?
Hamburgers - The 10 dollar burger is better then a .39 burger anyday
Wheels for your car - Ever heard of HRE, Ask the guys at Pep boys about them.
Welders - Do you really think the $100 buzz box will lay down a stack of dime?
Casters - The kind on your tool box Just buy the Harbor Freight Caster once you will know what I mean
New York Steaks - Sizzler Sells a New York steak and so does the Outback. And so does that fancy steak house in the Wynn at Las vegas that won't allow you to wear short in there restaurant.
Attorneys - Would you ever trust a cheap attorney to get you off the hook if you were innocent?
Bicycles - You ever had a $100 huffy that weighs about a 1000lbs.

I believe preceived value is more important then actual cost.

[70rs]

I agree with this ^^^
Buy quality, from a quality vendor. In the long run you come out ahead with less problems.
That the vendor stands behind the product is a huge value. The knowledge, support and relationships that can be built are only more proof.
It helps the industry. It helps your project and you get to make friends along the way.

I'm on a really tight budget. But even as tight as it is I refuse to skimpy on the things that count. For me that means quality, proven parts that perform. ARP fasteners for example that I will buy from a vendor here. Brakes from another. Shocks and suspension components from yet another.
I could save a few bucks going to the big mail order places, but I'll never get the same service. Or ever be buddies with the sales rep there.