Online parts vs local.Story with a rant.

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted by Mr Nice
Originally Posted by AZjeff
Had my own small retail business for 17 years and was in exactly Chris' spot more than once , just change the hardware to camera stuff. Nothing you can do, unfortunately one person can sour your day.

Truth is there are way more people looking for the lowest price oil filters at Rock Auto or $1/qt oil on closeout that there are willing to let a local guy or business make a living. Awe man, don't get me started.


Did you sell your camera business.... or did it go out of business ?



We sold the business and house in '05 and moved to Arizona. Was lucky to sell it all and walk away with enough to make the move. Had a top shelf minilab to make prints for people (anyone remember paper photographs?). Digital sure did change that whole industry. Wife went to work for a utility and I went to work in manufacturing. Don't envy and have a ton of respect for anyone succeeding in small business today.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted by hatt
Originally Posted by Trav
Originally Posted by JC1
Chris,

A lot of people don't know what quality means. They are shopping on price.

Unfortunately you have to deal with all types.


That is so true especially in the USA where the never ending crusade for cheap goods is driving quality down all the time.
Americans in particular (not all of course) have come to accept atrocious quality and workmanship as the norm.

Buying a trusted brand and selling junk under that brand is a tried and true method to make money.



That's very true and look where it left us and its the same story with everything we buy. Until consumers demand better by not buying this rubbish it wont change.

 

[javacontour]

Not all customers are worth having. The customer isn't always right. Just like not all businesses are good, the same goes for customers.

Sometimes one is better off firing a customer. Of course, learning how to do it so they don't feel offended is an art. Just saying something like I don't think we can help you, good luck in your search is usually enough.

Originally Posted by forkian
You (ragtoplvr) think you can treat them like that and gain new customers?

You want to charge more and have terrible customer service skills.

You will be closing up shop in no time. lol

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted by javacontour
Not all customers are worth having. The customer isn't always right. Just like not all businesses are good, the same goes for customers.

Sometimes one is better off firing a customer. Of course, learning how to do it so they don't feel offended is an art. Just saying something like I don't think we can help you, good luck in your search is usually enough.




Yep.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by dave1251
Keep fighting the good fight. Stay around as long as you can.

This. People don't realize how important a good rad shop is until they actually need one. While I have bought parts online and brought them to shops (my suspension guy preferred that when I had my Audi), I'd generally think that if a person knows so much and wants to buy the parts, do the job, too.

 

[Jarlaxle]

I like a local shop...but when the local place charges more than twice as much for the same part, I get disgusted in a hurry.

 

[dlundblad]

Markup should be 40% or thereabouts. You're in California so after adjusting for high living expenses, excessive small business taxation etc., you're being fair.

What exactly is he saving by saying no and driving all over town trying to find what he previously found? Yes, Joe will be back tomorrow.

I realize the rest of the world can't be like BITOG, but Joe should have researched what was needed and planned accordingly before taking on the job. Perhaps then he could have found it cheaper?

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by Garak
Originally Posted by dave1251
Keep fighting the good fight. Stay around as long as you can.

This. People don't realize how important a good rad shop is until they actually need one. While I have bought parts online and brought them to shops (my suspension guy preferred that when I had my Audi), I'd generally think that if a person knows so much and wants to buy the parts, do the job, too.

I haven't seen one around in a long time. There used to be one not too far from me, a radiator and welding shop. Used them once to weld a seat frame and they were good and quick. They shut down several years ago and now it's a multistory condo building. I wonder if it's one of those things like muffler shops, used to be a lot of them around, but with stainless steel, not so much anymore. My car doesn't call for a radiator flush til 15 years. Seems like in the past you had to do it every 3-5 years.

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle
I like a local shop...but when the local place charges more than twice as much for the same part, I get disgusted in a hurry.


Repair shops have crazy overhead.

Lots of shops don't like when their customers bring in parts to get installed.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted by Wolf359
I haven't seen one around in a long time. There used to be one not too far from me, a radiator and welding shop. Used them once to weld a seat frame and they were good and quick. They shut down several years ago and now it's a multistory condo building. I wonder if it's one of those things like muffler shops, used to be a lot of them around, but with stainless steel, not so much anymore.

I don't doubt there are certainly fewer of them, for the reasons you listed. Of course, like any business, some work hard and take pride in what they do. Some do not. Some diversified. Others have enough taken up the slack from others. My "muffler shop" that I have always used also does suspension and brakes and tires. They haven't done much exhaust for me for years. They excel at the other stuff, too.