Dear Vendors

[Blevinator]

There are three shops that I can think of the tried that method, undercut everone else, screwed their customers and are now out of business or way under the radar. Who else in their right mind would even attempt to operate that way. There is no place for that business model, it may fit your needs to have retailers slit each others throats so you can save 5 points but eventually something has to give. So you may get your deal, but the next guy gets burned on his parts. Why is this so hard to put together for people?

You throw a list out there like a raw steak and you want the vendors to battle because "you have to save some money" .....then you want a supercharger??!! When your kids are eating alpo and the minivan breaks down and you and your wife can't carpool to work until it is fixed then you HAVE to save some money. If parts are too expensive, save your money, pick different parts, change your plans, I don't care, but don't tell me that we need a ProTouring WalMart.

You posted this in the other forum and got some responses, and one name echoed a couple of times. It seems they are making people happy and selling at great prices. Can they bring the tech?.....don't know......will they help you through a situtation that you run into?.....don't know. My guess is they would tell you yes, but that is a song we have all heard play before from the last "go to vendor". Time will tell with the next batch.

I don't move the volume that any of those people do and quite honestly I don't care to. We make a living, so that is enough for me to make the customer the priority. Getting to know you and your car and your goals and getting you the right parts that meet all three of those parameters.....that's my goal. And that is why I, and many others, will not play the discount game and why you haven't gotten many answers here. Does it cost me sales to quote retail all the time, Yes, no question on that. But it doesn't cost me any money and allows me to focus on customers and clients that understand that I am here to help them build their car.

People with money have money because they know how to save when they can. There is nothing wrong with asking for a discount. This shouldnt hurt anyones feelings. By saving money on the rest of the car, maybe you can afford a supercharger, I did!

[Blevinator]

Hello. Going to try something.....
I need the following and will go out on a limb and provide a budget....
I need Big brakes 14 preferred i have my eye on the C6 Big brake kit but I am open to alternatives. MY budget is 2K
I need 18 x 12 or 18x11.5 and 18x10 rims I have been loooking at CCW and Formula43, I like Mesh, I like polished lip.. I am open for ideas here...
I need 315 35 18 and 275 35 18 My budget is 4-5K
Misc:
I didit column, tilt, wiper switch, 67 camaro
Front power window kit 67 camaro
Carbon or glass (if high quality) hood 2 inch cowl
Carbon or Class Trunk
Autometer Prolite 5 Inch Speedo and tach.
Automater prolite 2 5/8 prolite Oil, water temp, Fuel.
Assessory drive kit for LS... (this may be tricky, I am using a JRS subframe)

Nice to have....
LS supercharger... Open to turbo kit as well.

PM me if you would like to provide a quote.. prefer package disout offers... Cash is king...

I have:

Autometer Ultralite(not ultralite II) Pro Comp guages in 2 5/8" with silverbezels and guage faces
They are mechanical guages and are as follows:
fuel
water temp
vacuum
volts
fuel guage with under hood module
fuel pressure
oil pressure

Also have (in 2 1\4)
Cyl head
Cyl head

Will sell them for 50 percent of new
All work well and look great!

[dontlifttoshift]

People with money have money because they know how to save when they can. There is nothing wrong with asking for a discount. This shouldnt hurt anyones feelings. By saving money on the rest of the car, maybe you can afford a supercharger, I did!

Not sure why you dredged this back up.



Do you ever ask for 10 off on a can of creamed corn? a loaf of bread? a haircut? How about a root canal? Why are car parts any different. You want to negoitiate? Go to a flea market, or fruit market on the side of the freeway, or a swap meet, ever buy steaks out the back of a pick up truck?

Money has nothing to do with it. I don't care how much you have or the customers. It has nothing to do with it. But asking me to trade off my profit so you can have a supercharger is aggravating (my feelings aren't hurt, that hasn't happened since 3rd grade) but it has aggravating.

If you have never been on the other side of the counter I don't expect you or anyone else to understand. Even if you have been on the other side of the counter you may not see it the way I do, but that's my view point.

[Blevinator]

Not sure why you dredged this back up.

Do you ever ask for 10 off on a can of creamed corn? a loaf of bread? a haircut? How about a root canal? Why are car parts any different. You want to negoitiate? Go to a flea market, or fruit market on the side of the freeway, or a swap meet, ever buy steaks out the back of a pick up truck?

Money has nothing to do with it. I don't care how much you have or the customers. It has nothing to do with it. But asking me to trade off my profit so you can have a supercharger is aggravating (my feelings aren't hurt, that hasn't happened since 3rd grade) but it has aggravating.

If you have never been on the other side of the counter I don't expect you or anyone else to understand. Even if you have been on the other side of the counter you may not see it the way I do, but that's my view point.

Stand strong and dont take the dollars that people offer while asking for a 10 percent percent discount
They will always find someone who will take their money. Everyone isnt going to ask for a discount. The ones that do will find someone who is going to take their money. Being in retail for many years has brought this to my attention. You as a business owner can control how much discount you give them. If a 10-15 percent discount killed all our vendors why do they have 10-15 percent off sales? Most of the time it isnt to reduce inventory. I have ordered many items from speed shops for thousands of dollars. Most are drop shipped straight from the manufacturers, so they are not part of the shops inventory.
Almost every vendor has given me a discount as I buy many things from them at the same time. i guess I am lucky that I am able to talk manufacturers into discounting their product. I dont feel bad in the least as they are happy to take my business. There is still a nice profit to be made.
BTW almost anything(other than groceries) CAN be negotiated. Open your eyes! Doctors and dentists will give you a discount if paying cash! I have been offered as much as a 25 percent discount on a doctors visit for paying cash. If it hurt their feelings, they wouldnt offer it.
Remember, it is the vendors right to say yes or no. Dont hate the player!
Again, people that have money know how to save money and will spend it with
someone that will let them save some of it. I do understand that there is value to
helping people find the right solution and spending time with them. On the other hand, if they are just looking for a product they can install themselves and need no instruction, there is no value to establish on the vendors part.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers will still warranty products as long as there is a receipt. Sony, for instance, warranties their products with a receipt from ANY dealer, not just authorized dealers. I used to sell their products, so know this very well.

[Blevinator]

Case in point, Anvil is offering 10 percent off on 3 items or more
http://www.anvilauto.com/

[Rod]

Case in point, Anvil is offering 10 percent off on 3 items or more
http://www.anvilauto.com/

shooting for Volume and their the manufacture

[XLexusTech]

I am really surprised how much basic economic fact, laws of supply and demand , quantity discount, and simple "more you spend the more you save" basics are lost on many.. particularly those who own business here... Anyways.. I got everything i needed to know...

[dontlifttoshift]

I typed a bunch of stuff up and realised it doesn't matter. You are happy, so am I. To your last point I do offer this, the only shred left from the book I wrote in reply.

I understand basic economics. I can think of two major vendors in the past year that built seemingly successful businesses on the discount plan that have apparently vanished. We have been here 32 years now, so yeah, I got it backwards.

[XLexusTech]

Don. I am very glad for you. You have your way of doing things and its working for you to a level that makes you satisfied. That's all that matters.

[dontlifttoshift]

Glad that's over, now go update your build thread.....should be a cool project.

[MrQuick]

I am really surprised how much basic economic fact, laws of supply and demand , quantity discount, and simple "more you spend the more you save" basics are lost on many.. particularly those who own business here... Anyways.. I got everything i needed to know...

running a business in this world is tough these days. Seems that the government and consumers are working against them. Did you get everything???