Gooseneck trailer tips

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Ya know Jody -- Seriously -- I am a dream customer. SAR - which should stand for Stupid Ass Retards - worked the entire build of the '32 with funds UP FRONT without once ever having to ask me for a reload. Who does that? Me... because I understood that it was "tough" out there and I figured I'm going to have to pay for the stupid little car no matter what - so big deal if I'm 30 days ahead of the game. Big whoop.

Brizio has been working now for several months - billing against the funds I wired him this summer.... and he's nowhere close to being out of money. The entire build was discussed - motor - tranny - color - interior - stance - looks - everything UP FRONT.... They're not waiting on me for a single thing. They know exactly what I want - they have funds to buy all the parts - body - frame - motor - everything.... way before they need it. How easy is that? I trust them. I know what I want - I communicate it - and let them rock and roll.

I don't ask for a discount for cash - I don't ask them for interest on my money - I only ask that they hurry up because I'm like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning.

This is why I say "it must just be me". SAR screwed the pooch.... cost them the next build.... the trailer guys (Renegade) have now blown through TWO builds and got neither of them. Little wonder business is tough! It's hard enough when you do everything right - let alone when you're stupid enough to blow through the easy customers! UGH!

To me it's much easier (and more successful) to keep your customers happy and get the rewards of that relationship, plus the additional business they bring because they're happy and spread the word, than to not take care of your customers and constantly battle to replace the ones you lose so you stay in business. As hard as it can be to develop a good customer it baffles me that so many companies just don't seem to care about keeping them.

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by camcojb

To me it's much easier (and more successful) to keep your customers happy and get the rewards of that relationship, plus the additional business they bring because they're happy and spread the word, than to not take care of your customers and constantly battle to replace the ones you lose so you stay in business. As hard as it can be to develop a good customer it baffles me that so many companies just don't seem to care about keeping them.

Sadly the 80/20 rule applies to your common sense and logic. Unbelievable isn't it.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Sieg

Sadly the 80/20 rule applies to your common sense and logic. Unbelievable isn't it.

I've been buying cars from one dealer here in Seattle since 1976.... I'm on #9 now... It's really not hard to keep customers. Treat them with respect... do what you say you're going to do... be honest when things aren't going as they should.

When I was the factory Rep for Brown Jordan... I treated every customer as if we were partners. The better they did - the better I'd do. After all... I was a commissioned rep... so I got a percentage of everything. I could write one order and feed them full of crap - and make nothing from then on... Or I could help grow their business - which would in turn - grow mine.

Not really rocket science.

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

... be honest when things aren't going as they should.

That's where the vast majority of salespeople fail and mostly out of fear.

In reality that's their opportunity to stand above the heard and earn future business via honesty, trust and respect. But NOooooo it can't be that easy.

Sadly we'll probably never know the core reasons on your trailer order unless we happen to read a new report that they closed their doors.

[Greg from Aus]

I think it's a division of SARS and they are out to get you.

Greg

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Sieg

That's where the vast majority of salespeople fail and mostly out of fear.

In reality that's their opportunity to stand above the heard and earn future business via honesty, trust and respect. But NOooooo it can't be that easy.

Sadly we'll probably never know the core reasons on your trailer order unless we happen to read a new report that they closed their doors.

When I was there a few weeks ago - it didn't appear that there was an imminent danger of them closing - but I can tell you that there's far more capacity in the plant than is currently being utilized...and they're running on
the bare minimum of employees.

I actually have no problem with the quality or the giant leap of faith they're asking me to make with just signing off on the plans as is... my problem comes from THEM dragging their heels - not answering simple questions in a timely manor... and then making me sit on my ass waiting for them because they can't get their act together. I just can not - will not - reward someone with my business even if I'm the one that suffers for it.

The fact that they're not clever enough to have slotted me a build date - and didn't tell me that minor little fact... while I was waiting weeks for replies... is what killed it for me.

I dug out the paperwork... I signed a build quote and build plan on DECEMBER 18th!

I was under the impression (given the June delivery date) that we were just working on the very final details.

I'm also having a hard time understanding the lack of knowledge/info etc coming from the dealer. As much as I like him... I expect far more interaction etc. To just lay back and let this all play out -- not pushing the factory -- and or having info and not passing it on to me... that's another nail (actually a clasp with a lock on it!) in the coffin.

Originally Posted by tonner

I think it's a division of SARS and they are out to get you.

Greg

Maybe Stupid Ass Retards (SAR) is having a bigger mo badda unit built and they are in cahoots!!! It's a total conspiracy I tell ya!! I thought I saw a UFO kinda hidden in the back under some tarps...

[travmon]

Greg, I wish you were having better luck with your projects...Unfortunately I know all too well what your dealing with....This last year was a landmark year for myself, as I went "All In" on a new and expanded buisness and I swear everyone I dealt with from electricians, security people,phone people and all these so called experts not ONE of these people could just give me a bid and time frame with-out trying to alter the way I wanted it done....So now a year later we are almost done with stuff that could have been done 6 month's ago if I wasnt having to do it all myself ( and my son )...The only plus to any of it is we are now experts at wiring 3 phase power,tile installation ,security and camera systems,internet-ethernet systems controls and wiring,sheetrock and texture and whole bunch of other stuff I would have been happy to pay for If I had a comfort zone with any of them.. As for the trailer issue I think one of the things your dealing with( I know you'll get this, as I read your posts in the investment section) is the fact that A ton of our buisness's in the U.S.A that have actually been able to make it through this economic collapse are so busy playing catch-up that they cant even focus on current, in the same fashion as they used to be..The bad thing is now they risk bad press before they have time to rebuild..I believe any company that didnt watch the economy with a magnifying glass and lay-off accordingly ,thinking they could ride it out and then had to lay off big groups to stay afloat is what is killing on-time action now..Just my opinion but I believe it to be .I started a new shop that should have cost half a million and the only reason it didnt was I havnt written my self a ck for all that I did !!! Greg , I know we hav'nt met yet and I have very good reason for that,I believe I have built one of the nicest street rod/race car shops in the northwest and I did'nt want you (the ideal customer $) to see it until it was done !! You could however come down anytime for lunch take some pics and let me know what you think..I have roughly 15000 sq ft and we are about to be something in the NW.....again sorry for all the bad issues you have had to deal with when all you really wanted to do was spend money , and stimulate the economy...Trav ........................... I'm dog tired or there would be paragraphs

[fesler]

Originally Posted by camcojb

To me it's much easier (and more successful) to keep your customers happy and get the rewards of that relationship, plus the additional business they bring because they're happy and spread the word, than to not take care of your customers and constantly battle to replace the ones you lose so you stay in business. As hard as it can be to develop a good customer it baffles me that so many companies just don't seem to care about keeping them.

This is why we treat our customers like family, they fly into town and hang out at the shop for hours and play with the dogs ask how the kids are doing and have lunch with the guys. I dont want clients that dont love what we do I want clients that live what we do and want to be apart of it. Its simple do what they ask and dont waste their money and they will be happy.

[Ketzer]

Originally Posted by fesler

This is why we treat our customers like family, they fly into town and hang out at the shop for hours and play with the dogs ask how the kids are doing and have lunch with the guys. I dont want clients that dont love what we do I want clients that live what we do and want to be apart of it. Its simple do what they ask and dont waste their money and they will be happy.

My buddy and I were out for the GoodGuys show last month, it was either raining or hailing or freezing. We decided to get out and shop-hop to kill time and stopped in over at the Fesler camp.
We're just a couple average Joes off the street, gonna poke around and see what we could see. We were greeted at the door and asked if we wanted a tour right off the bat. Chris was out so his son took over tour duty. We were shown their projects, asked about our projects, told what they could help us with and even offered some free swag. Very down-to-earth bunch of folks.
It is as the man says, they love what they do and it shows. His son and his crew really seem to get it's always about the customer.


Jeff-

[GregWeld]

People must have woke up Monday morning and thought to themselves... "Hey, ya know what? I think we just blew off a $400,000 order!"

I've had lots of phone calls..


Too bad they're MONTHS behind the curve and what's gone is gone. I'm real easy to deal with - right until you piss me off. Then it's game over.