Lots of Vendor Talk, here's my Jerry McGuire - Lateral-g Forums

Vegas69 · #1 02-22-2012, 07:08 AM

I think it's hard to sell the value of a quality vendor to the new crowd. It's no different than shopping for a TV or a loaf of bread in their mind. It goes back to my post about the internet and what modern times have done to business. It's let every Tom, Dick, and Harry compete and that means stupid low prices. It's forced businesses to run leaner. It's not going to change anytimje soon. People with money today are smarter. I hope Travis has figured out a way to have less overhead.

You mentioned raising your prices and losing customers. What customers did you lose? The customers you didn't make any money on in the first place? I've found with my business that my BEST customers are as loyal as the day is long. They refer to people just like them. I always tell the kid that works for me, "Pick your battles". If he's a grinder or not loyal, find a better customer.

**GregWeld** · #2 02-22-2012, 07:27 AM

Just think about all the vendors on all the forums that you've never read ANY post, EVER, about late shipping or hassles getting a refund.... There's way more of them than there are the ones you've read over and over about.

Everyone in business faces the same challenges. Price. Service. Competitors.

Just look to the left of this page and see all those banner ads... and ask yourself how many of them you've read bad stuff about. What are they doing differently? Are they competing? Are they on the Internet? Are they in a different economy?

ord27 · #3 02-22-2012, 07:48 AM

I haven't started a build yet. I have owned a high end wakeboard or a ski boat most of my adult life. There are many online suppliers of boating toys and equipment. Instead of saving a few bucks ordering from one of these guys, I've always gone to my local dealer and bought from the pro shop.

Sure a wakeboard setup from them is a bit higher, but it keeps the local guy in business. If everyone did that, I wouldn't hear so much grumbling about marine service departments in other areas of the country. My dealer can hire the best service techs because he has a large, loyal customer base in all 3 aspects of his business: pro shop, service dept, and boat sales

Beegs · #4 02-22-2012, 08:13 AM

Jon I feel for and understand what you are saying BUT.... in ANY business that has margin, people pile on and you get price erosion. It has always happened and always will.

I feel it with my apartments, haven't raised rents in almost ten years but my costs continue to go up. I feel it when I sell a load of topsoil. My father made more profit selling dirt in the 70's than I can today. EVERYONE has a truck, EVERYONE has machines...EVERYONE chops balls.

Price erosion.....it sucks.

De Beers ...now there is a business model! Are diamonds rare? My wife thinks so and that's all that matters....along with setting prices....lol

sik68 · #5 02-22-2012, 08:42 AM

I can't say it any better than what everyone here before me has already said...and it is the internet's fault like Todd is saying.

Among the admirable vendors on the left side of the screen is DSE. I can draw so many parallels to Apple I won't waste my time, but they built a brand, focus on their products, prove it in the field, and stay off forums. Their price is their price...and although I don't own a single DSE product, it's a brand I aspire to buy "because it just works."

Bucketlist2012 · #6 02-22-2012, 09:02 AM

Being in the service business almost 30 years, Quality Service, parts, and follow up are key.

I understand the mark up on parts....I did it....Always the good customers come back, over and over again..

Why when I go find a Killer shop to work on my car, would I try to barter down to near his wholesale price ? Sure to save money, but I will make it somewhere else and Pay the man for the parts and the Labor..

Sure i see what I can get them for, so as not to get ripped off, but to say to him, " I know you get it at cost, so what is my price ? " , to me is getting spit in my food....Get my drift ? I would not want to work on my Car...

Instead, I have a loyal relationship with a great Builder, and My job is to go make My money so I can pay him what he needs ..

It was always just under what I would pay retail so no biggie..

In my Trade, We are charging 1.2 times on parts, so a 50 dollar part is 110... I understand how it is.

**bret** · #7 02-22-2012, 09:21 AM

[FONT= " Courier New"]Back in the day, you had to have a brick and mortar location to become a dealer for some manufacturers. Now, you can buy Ridetech from a dude sitting at a laptop in his boxers in the comfort of his own living room just cuz he has a website. Hell, I’ve even caught manufactures selling product direct for less then what dealer cost is?? WTF is that about? That just isn’t ethical to me." [/FONT]

Jon...just trying to clarify...are you saying that you have seen RideTech sell product direct at less than retail price? Or are you saying that Some RideTech dealers may be mostly internet based?...or are you saying both?

**Stuart Adams** · #8 02-22-2012, 10:32 AM

If I were a vendor or a dealer I would be very upset at Dealers that hold others money to pay for parts ordered before. THAT is the real problem.

Think about it, if the bad dealer is selling parts at cost then the other dealers are not selling at all because of this ploy. Bad dealer doesnt need a profit because he is using this current money minus his cut to pay for the previous orders. That is what is killing the ethical dealers. Profit on the order is NOT the way BAD dealer makes money.

Vegas69 · #9 02-22-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sik68

I can't say it any better than what everyone here before me has already said...and it is the internet's fault like Todd is saying.

Among the admirable vendors on the left side of the screen is DSE. I can draw so many parallels to Apple I won't waste my time, but they built a brand, focus on their products, prove it in the field, and stay off forums. Their price is their price...and although I don't own a single DSE product, it's a brand I aspire to buy "because it just works."

markss28 · #10 02-22-2012, 11:13 AM

Ok, so reading this I feel yea your right about keeping cost as they should be but what about the difference between buying a 18x10 wheel and an 18x12? Some Manufacturers up the price by $400 a wheel just because of the size of the hoop. Is 2" of aluminum that much more expensive or is it more difficult to make? Also some companies sell control arm sets for under $800 and others for about $1,300. Is there a real difference in the building or quality of parts?

I do agree that everyone should know there budget and keep to it but would like more options in the way of those that are more budget minded.