Ricks' 1st Gen

[Silver69Camaro]

I'd be inclined to disagree Jody. Typically, being a dealer for a company doesn't give you much of any "inside" info. It doesn't give you the opportunity to sit in company meetings and such.

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by Silver69Camaro

I'd be inclined to disagree Jody. Typically, being a dealer for a company doesn't give you much of any "inside" info. It doesn't give you the opportunity to sit in company meetings and such.

what I meant is he's probably seeing the changes firsthand. I'd imagine he orders more of their stuff being a dealer than you or I do.

Jody

[XcYZ]

It still doesn't change the fact that Rick's didn't keep their end of the agreement. Jim (Murtah) is someone who I have a trememdous amount of respect for and I'm 100% confident that it happened just as he explained. They said they would honor their deal, then backed out.

[Silver69Camaro]

Originally Posted by camcojb

what I meant is he's probably seeing the changes firsthand. I'd imagine he orders more of their stuff being a dealer than you or I do.

Jody

That's understandable. But I'd have to ask, are these changes due to the fact that the company is in the process of changing management, or because "Service will suffer as it's about numbers now"? I would imagine the rough road will begin to smooth out when things start to settle down after the change. Why do people have to assume that a management change is a bad thing? Does Eckler's have a awful reputation for customer service?

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by Silver69Camaro

That's understandable. But I'd have to ask, are these changes due to the fact that the company is in the process of changing management, or because "Service will suffer as it's about numbers now"? I would imagine the rough road will begin to smooth out when things start to settle down after the change. Why do people have to assume that a management change is a bad thing? Does Eckler's have a awful reputation for customer service?

Good point. One thing though, in my opinion, is that if you are buying an existing business and the name, you should not start changing things up right away. Try to keep things as close as possible to the way they were, while looking for ways to improve it, add new items/services, etc. Otherwise, do not pay the bucks for the name, just buy out their inventory and use your own name.

It makes no sense to pay big dollars for "good will" and then change things all around. My favorite restaurant did this, and then immediately changed the menu, flavorings of the sauces, etc. Within a year they took a great restaurant that had been in business for over 50 years with an awesome reputation and customers and went bankrupt.

I am not saying this is what Ecklers is doing, I have only bought a couple things from them and that was a long time ago. But if you paid for the name you ought to bend over backwards initially to keep the customer base happy, at least as happy as they were before the purchase.

Jody

[Stuart Adams]

Originally Posted by camcojb

Good point. One thing though, in my opinion, is that if you are buying an existing business and the name, you should not start changing things up right away. Try to keep things as close as possible to the way they were, while looking for ways to improve it, add new items/services, etc. Otherwise, do not pay the bucks for the name, just buy out their inventory and use your own name.

It makes no sense to pay big dollars for "good will" and then change things all around. My favorite restaurant did this, and then immediately changed the menu, flavorings of the sauces, etc. Within a year they took a great restaurant that had been in business for over 50 years with an awesome reputation and customers and went bankrupt.

I am not saying this is what Ecklers is doing, I have only bought a couple things from them and that was a long time ago. But if you paid for the name you ought to bend over backwards initially to keep the customer base happy, at least as happy as they were before the purchase.

Jody

I agree.

[Efi69Cam]

Ricks made alot of their own stuff. The CHQ brand was theirs. IMO the CHQ stuff was far superior to OER.
I never had a problem with Ricks. This is not good news.

The few times I've dealt with Ecklers I was not impressed.

[Silver69Camaro]

Originally Posted by Stuart Adams

I agree.

Me too.

[Ummgawa]

Originally Posted by Silver69Camaro

And I assume you have solid evidence to prove this?

C'mon guys, you have to give them a chance. Just because a business changes owners, it doesn't mean it will completely change. There was upset customers before the change, and there will be upset customers after.

Let's not start some internet wildfire rumors here.

OK Matt, here we go. Ecklers is owned by a huge conglomerate that is out to make a lot of money for its stockholders. This conglomerate has been after Rick's for a long time and finally came up with a number that "Couldn't be refused".

Rick had a tremendously profitable business with a small stockholder base...Rick.

It's about numbers dude, get used to it. Check Google for the owner of Ecklers and know there isn't a Car Guy in the bunch, just corporate bigwhigs looking for a representative to be at Barrett Jackson because it's "Good Business". I have been associated with Rick's since he sold parts out of a trailer he pulled behind his truck.

HE ISN'T EVEN IN THE BUILDING ANYMORE.

[Ummgawa]

Originally Posted by Silver69Camaro

Re-read my post. Look at the comment that I quoted, it wasn't about Jim's (Murtah) post.

Ummgawa's post is more than likely based on his own opinion and stated as fact. But, unless if he's on the top-tier management team at Eckler's, I doubt he actually knows that screwing the customer is priority #1. That, to me, is a rumor.

Just like your opinion is based on facts? My salesman at Ricks is "Maintaining an even strain" as he put it. My comment is based on a long time salesman's comments, Dude. Your is based on....what?

I have found Rick's to be one of the finest if not the finest Camaro parts houses in the country. MY long term affiliation with Rick's, going to visit the shop on a regular basis, helping Rick locate JL-8's and Crossrams when he was smaller and my loyalty to what was once a small business gives me just a little more insite than maybe you know. I never said screwing the customer is priority #1, if you read my post.

I guess Yody is back. LOL.