Please allow me to rant, support your vendors! - Lateral-g Forums

DriverzInc · #1 01-13-2009, 04:58 PM

I've talked to many of the supporting vendors on this site over the past two years. Gotten to know them very well, and I'm even a dealer for many of them, and many of them are dealers for our wheels. In light of the recent events such as ATS closing doors, I just wanted to remind everyone to continue supporting the vendors that you depend on for good customer service and technical information day in and day out here on the forums.

I've recently been tracking some of the phone conversations and email conversations I've had recently with our customers and what I'm finding out is very discouraging. Over half of the people that I've worked with extensively over the past two months have taken our conversations regarding backspace and tire information and bought wheels from alternative sources. I'm having a huge problem swallowing this as I put in a ton of effort in figuring out what fit those customers specific applications, and when it came right down to it, they bought a similar product or in some cases the same product from another company, after using us for free tech help just to save a few small dollars. Now, I'm a fair guy, but if that situation continues to occur, Driverz, Inc., and other companies that go the extra mile, won't be around any longer to help you guys.

All I'm saying is, think about who you spend your money with. Choose who is administering the best customer service, and the best overall service to you, the end user, and continue to support those vendors with your loyal patronage. Otherwise, the guys like us who do really care about you, and your individual needs won't be around in the future to help you, or others like you.

Thanks again to all our loyal customers, whom over the years have continued to come back to us for your parts. It is because of you that we can continue to keep our doors open to help others. And it is because of you that our dream of doing what we love for a living is a reality.

ironworks · #2 01-13-2009, 05:18 PM

preach it Jon....

I have a customer who owns a skate shop in the local mall and he hears people say that they are going to go home and order the same shoe off the internet because they tried it on at his shop and he is 10 bucks higher. That is totally jacked.

All of us as builders learn a lot of secrets and tips and develop connections to get certain info because of the work we I have done and people side step my effort all the time to order it from Ebay or some other place for just a few bucks. The best is when they call you after they bought it some where else to get advice on how to install it. Or they thought they bought the right part, but they did not know about this other part that is not in the catalog that you were trying to sell them that actually works unlike the wrong part they got. Or the other story where they think your price is way higher but they find out the cheaper price they found does not include everything they need.

The helpful customer service and advise is not free, we have a phone bill to pay and a power bill to. Even if the Price is retail, you should support your sponsors and vendors. There is not a huge margin in these parts and when you go some where else over 15 bucks it is not about the 15 bucks it is about the other chunk we did not get. FYI in order to get a typical 25% discount you have to spend 25,000 -35,000 per year. That is alot of stuff to sell.

Sorry to steal your soap box you can have it back.

DriverzInc · #3 01-13-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironworks

preach it Jon....

I have a customer who owns a skate shop in the local mall and he hears people say that they are going to go home and order the same shoe off the internet because they tried it on at his shop and he is 10 bucks higher. That is totally jacked.

All of us as builders learn a lot of secrets and tips and develop connections to get certain info because of the work we I have done and people side step my effort all the time to order it from Ebay or some other place for just a few bucks. The best is when they call you after they bought it some where else to get advice on how to install it. Or they thought they bought the right part, but they did not know about this other part that is not in the catalog that you were trying to sell them that actually works unlike the wrong part they got. Or the other story where they think your price is way higher but they find out the cheaper price they found does not include everything they need.

The helpful customer service and advise is not free, we have a phone bill to pay and a power bill to. Even if the Price is retail, you should support your sponsors and vendors. There is not a huge margin in these parts and when you go some where else over 15 bucks it is not about the 15 bucks it is about the other chunk we did not get. FYI in order to get a typical 25% discount you have to spend 25,000 -35,000 per year. That is alot of stuff to sell.

Sorry to steal your soap box you can have it back.

Nope, that is exactly what I'm talking about. Thank you for contributing! I've actually had customers do the same thing, where they will get all the info on what fits their car from me, and then order wheels from "Brand B's" camp,and then will post up or email about how mad they are they are having to wait 6 months for wheels. I hate to say it, but I told you so, and I warned you. Remember, this is what we do, day in and day out, so there are a lot of behind the scenes information we get that may not make it out to the public, and when we advise you that it might be a better decision to go another route, chances are you should, but you didn't, and now you're having problems.

**camcojb** · #4 01-13-2009, 05:34 PM

Jon, you are correct. Unfortunately there will always be the guy who goes for best price possible. Hopefully this strikes a chord with the members as it's critical to support those vendors who support you. If you don't they will not be around next time you need them.

Before my current business I spent a lot of time in retail. I owned my own speed shop in the early 80's and the only way I survived was with good customer service. I could not match most of the "big boys" prices, but I always took care of my customers and gave them the best deal possible. Built a very loyal clientele.

Jody

**Steve1968LS2** · #5 01-13-2009, 05:38 PM

I can see price shopping if the price diff is considerable, but if it's in the ballpark I would rather buy from the company I like for various reasons like customer service or "enthusiasm".

I would also rather pay a bit extra for better customer service down the line.

moparnut · #6 01-13-2009, 05:51 PM

You are 100% right on. I build high end cars everyday (for 20 years) and theres nothing better than a good vendor for support. I think there are a lot of 1st time builders that dont take into account who is going to help them should they have a problem with a part-they are not going to be able to get a hold of that person somewhere in cyberspace who sold them a part $10 cheaper than their local vendor. Young guys out there reading this listen up-I'm a professional- if these guys are taken for granted, you will be doing a lot of guess-work on your own.

Blown353 · #7 01-13-2009, 05:36 PM

Agreed with both of you. I don't talk someone's ear off on the phone and then buy elsewhere. If they help me, they get the business-- period. If their prices are really high I might mention a competitor's price to see if they have some wiggle room on the price. Even if they stick by their guns I still buy from them as they helped me. Their time isn't free. Unfortunately it seems in the world today where it is very easy to price search on the internet people take the info from you and them go on google and sort by lowest price and buy from that source.

You guys could start doing what another friend in the industry does... when you know someone is phone-@#$*ing you with no intention to buy from you feed them bad info

He says it's a riot when they call back cussing and complaining they bought what he recommended elsewhere and guess what, it doesn't work! He then gives them a real earful. Mean trick for sure, but probably hurts his reputation more than he would like to admit as you know those guys are pissed and badmouth him every chance they get even though they didn't purchase from him!

War · #8 01-13-2009, 05:43 PM

Very good point Jon. I bought my Welds for my truck from you and I didn't have to talk to you about back spacing, you knew what I needed and took care of it.

If someone goes out of their way to help or has the knowledge I have no problem paying a few more bucks for the help.

ohcbird · #9 01-13-2009, 06:12 PM

Not that this is anything earth-shattering, but the problem is with places like Amazon.com, Buy.com, etc (a HUGE list, BTW), most off-the-shelf items have become simple commodities. That is what the consumer perceives, and what you are fighting daily. CNC? Hah- now guys think that all you have to do is draw it, chuck a chunk of metal, then cut it. Bam- instant custom part that 'has to be cheap because they didn't have to build it by hand'.

Again- it's an issue of consumer perception, not your reality.

While most of the older guys might not internet shop- The customer that is going to pay your bills for the next 30 years is well versed in shopping around. Note that I did not mention Summit & Jegs... they changed the buying landscape, but that was going to happen anyway. If it wasn't them it would have been somebody else (remember when the PAW catalog was 400+ pages?).

John- you know as well as I do what happens to the guys that are in business to undercut the 'other guy'. They won't last long. If guys are price shopping, let them. They'll be back around when the real character of the 'other guy' comes out.

Jeff

Roadster Shop · #10 01-13-2009, 06:28 PM

These companies are called "Supporting Vendors", supporting your hobby - How about returning the favor and supporting them?

A lot of good points made here that need to come to light. All of the vendors on these sites are breaking their @$$ and spending countless hours building reputations, proving their products, answering tech questions, and putting their support into all of "your" projects. It seams that the majority of people are interested in saving a few bucks. But what about the companies that are making this hobby possible?

Bottom line is that these cars are expensive to build. Saving a few bucks may seam harmless, but it is definitely hurting the companies that are making all of this possible.

We have completely stopped selling parts and eliminated them from our show room because it was not worth having the large inventory costs that don't seam to pay off.

-RS Performance