Lots of Vendor Talk, here's my Jerry McGuire

[Neil B]

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

Its not until it affects our profession or has a direct impact on our own ability to make a living that we get pissed off.... me included

Exactly. No one gets upset when CVS sells milk as a loss leader to get you in the store to buy other stuff. So, if a vendor's model is to sell wheels on low margin and then provide service to sell you everything else you need to finish the car, then good for him.

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

On thing that strikes me when this type of topic comes up...we are all alittle hypocritical.....

We ALL buy stuff online....ebay, amazon, craigslist
We ALL shop at the big box stores like Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes
We ALL eat at the chain restaurants like Applebees, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut
We all buy stuff from Summit and Jegs, Tire Rack, Enco, Grainger etc etc....

We dont go to the local "mom and pop" hardware store (when they used to exist) even when the service was way way better...but the prices were alittle higher...

We dont go to the local owned restaurant even when the food and service are better...

We go to Dominos or Little Ceasar's pizza since they have 2 for 1 deals...even when the pizza sucks compared to the local "no name" pizza joint...

We go to Taco Bell to get 99 cent tacos rather than to the local mexican restaurant

We go to the cheapest gas stations even though the place is a dump, the pumps suck and the bathrooms should be condemned

We are ALL guilty of eroding the sense of looking for the value in an item or service rather than just the price....we are all guilty of locking in on the price as the most important in 9 out of 10 situations

Its not until it affects our profession or has a direct impact on our own ability to make a living that we get pissed off.... me included

Speak for your self

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

On thing that strikes me when this type of topic comes up...we are all alittle hypocritical.....

We ALL buy stuff online....ebay, amazon, craigslist
We ALL shop at the big box stores like Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes
We ALL eat at the chain restaurants like Applebees, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut
We all buy stuff from Summit and Jegs, Tire Rack, Enco, Grainger etc etc....

We dont go to the local "mom and pop" hardware store (when they used to exist) even when the service was way way better...but the prices were alittle higher...

We dont go to the local owned restaurant even when the food and service are better...

We go to Dominos or Little Ceasar's pizza since they have 2 for 1 deals...even when the pizza sucks compared to the local "no name" pizza joint...

We go to Taco Bell to get 99 cent tacos rather than to the local mexican restaurant

We go to the cheapest gas stations even though the place is a dump, the pumps suck and the bathrooms should be condemned

We are ALL guilty of eroding the sense of looking for the value in an item or service rather than just the price....we are all guilty of locking in on the price as the most important in 9 out of 10 situations

Its not until it affects our profession or has a direct impact on our own ability to make a living that we get pissed off.... me included

I think you're correct for the majority of America. For me personally, I only do three of the nine examples you gave. Then again, I'm a weirdo.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by DRJDVM's '69

On thing that strikes me when this type of topic comes up...we are all alittle hypocritical.....

We ALL buy stuff online....ebay, amazon, craigslist
We ALL shop at the big box stores like Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes
We ALL eat at the chain restaurants like Applebees, Olive Garden, Pizza Hut
We all buy stuff from Summit and Jegs, Tire Rack, Enco, Grainger etc etc....

We dont go to the local "mom and pop" hardware store (when they used to exist) even when the service was way way better...but the prices were alittle higher...

We dont go to the local owned restaurant even when the food and service are better...

We go to Dominos or Little Ceasar's pizza since they have 2 for 1 deals...even when the pizza sucks compared to the local "no name" pizza joint...

We go to Taco Bell to get 99 cent tacos rather than to the local mexican restaurant

We go to the cheapest gas stations even though the place is a dump, the pumps suck and the bathrooms should be condemned

We are ALL guilty of eroding the sense of looking for the value in an item or service rather than just the price....we are all guilty of locking in on the price as the most important in 9 out of 10 situations

Its not until it affects our profession or has a direct impact on our own ability to make a living that we get pissed off.... me included

Ned great obsevation! Being in small buisness my wife and I go out of our way to frequent all the small buisness we can. I will say this you will never see a Walmart item in my house!!I would'nt give a sh^t if they were giving there crap away!!!!!Oh and never to the franchise pizza either or the Mexican food

[DRJDVM's '69]

There are always exceptions to the rule, but i think for the majority of the "average households" the observations hold true...and ALL of us at least do some of the examples

I do think that the guy that owns and runs his own business (or at least has a vested interest inthe company)has a different mind set. They think of things differently...its like a business karma. When they do business somewhere, they actually think of WHO is getting their business and who it really benefits...and the true value of who you do business with. They dont focus soleley on the price of the item that they walk out the door with

Most people dont think that way....and the majority wins and sets the landscape of business.

I've played both sides of the fence... I've shopped extensively to get the obsolute best price on an item and couldnt care less on who it came from....and I've done business with people that I trust and like and can count on and paid more for something I could have gotten for less

Customer service before and after the sale are great...and for some items they are paramount...but for others they play no role at all..... if i can buy a case of Mobil 1 oil at Walmart for $10 cheaper than at Autozone, why wouldnt I do that?

If I'm getting Lasik eye surgery, I'm sure as hell not picking the guy with the coupon in the penny saver

The general focus on bottomline price isnt going anywhere....its the big reason why the USA hardly actually makes anything anymore....adapt to the landscape or perish......

Focus on getting the customer the best value...... DSE is a great example...offer a good product and excellent support and exposure in the market....do it at firm non-negotiable higher prices but back up every penny the customer spends with you.

You cant offer dirt cheap prices on everything and great customer support and stay in business unless you are really big and have other profit centers ....and conversely you cant sell top of the line stuff and huge prices and do a ****ty job supporting your customer.

[randy]

Im always looking for a great deal too. I could have saved a few hundreds over the thousands of dollars ive spent at firewheel classics by buying from a online site. Thing is they were close and i could just go pick it up. Im willing to pay extra for quality. All in all most of the price shopping i have done well everyone has been around the same price. I end up going with who i feel the most comfortable with. Might not be the cheapest or the most expensive.

[randy]

O and find me someone who has in stock ready to ship marquez billet tail lights for a 67 camaro rs ready to go. Post on here and when i get back from my date with my wife ill send you the money

[redfire69]

Originally Posted by randy

O and find me someone who has in stock ready to ship marquez billet tail lights for a 67 camaro rs ready to go. Post on here and when i get back from my date with my wife ill send you the money

Marquez has them in stock on their website...


Back on topic, I enjoyed reading the OP.

[HIFLYR]

Originally Posted by NewGenWheels

I can tell you last time I walked on to the lot manufacturers are advertising a "no hassle" sale price.

And besides, I'm talking about aftermarket parts, not cars dude. Profit margin on parts is a totally different game. Your that guy that thinks that parts stores are making a killing, aren't you? You obviously didn't learn anything from the OP.

Lets compare apples to apples shall we?

So let me be clear you never ask for a discount on any thing you buy? You never go look at something in local store and then buy it online for less? If you give quality service and fair pricing you will have my business. I am looking at a complete ridetech front suspension and rear 4 bar in the near future and while price will be a issue the most important one is customer service.

[TheJDMan]

My MO when buying parts is to decide on what part I want, take that part number and search for the lowest price. I try to avoid paying full list price whenever I can. Call me crazy, I'm just funny that way. I try to find answers on-line and will only contact a vendor to clearify specific information as needed.

I understand profit margins for vendors and manufacturers but there is one aspect of this discussion that can be controlled and which I have not seen mentioned which is sponsorship. Free parts cost vendors and manufacturers money in exchange for generally very limited press exposure. As a paying customer, I know the price of my parts has the added cost of those free parts added in. I am particularly offended when I see cars built by so called celeberties who have more money to burn than I could ever dream of and yet are too cheap to buy their parts and actually support vendors and manufacturers. These builds usually make a big deal about using the latest and greatest parts that are provided at no or little cost in exchage for worthless endorsements. Why don't you vendors and manufacturers simply cut out these sponsorships which in turn would reduce your overhead costs. Then maybe you could sell parts to us little guys a little cheaper and still make a decent profit margin.