Shop owners,painters and bodymen opinions needed

[200horse]

I sold my collision repair business last year and been looking for something to do. I am thinking hard about opening up a bodyshop supply store with after market name supplies that are cheaper than name brand stuff. I know there would be some that are true to dupont,sikens,ppg etc., but i think there would be a market for it the cheaper stuff.When I had my shop I found a few that were great and saved me money.

Who uses some aftermarket brand names like indasa sand paper, rubber seal clears, mirka sand papers, marhyde, pro-spray paint,montana products,mipa? Just to name a few.

whats important to the person buying products ?? quality? price? location? financing? quick delivery? tech support ? great customer service?

Just looking for some input again I know these products might not be for every one but i think theres a market for it.



Any positive or negative input would be appreciated

thanks!!

[vintageracer]

In my local area I can buy most all of those products from 5-10 local suppliers. Therefore, ask yourself this question. Why do I buy from X, Y or Z?

Price? Maybe! Inventory? Maybe! Location? Maybe! Delivery? Maybe! Customer Service? DEFINTELY!!!!

My time is worth more than my money so customer service is key with me. That means acknowledging your screw ups and standing behind your products. That seems to be the biggest problem with the off-brand products. Very few if any local suppliers will stand behind these products because the manufacturer or distributor will not stand behind the products!

Before you bail off in this endevor I would suggest you find out how many people already supply these products locally. There are probably far more local reseller/suppliers currently selling these products in your area than you think there are. Remember, the suppliers of off brand products will sell to anybody with money so it's not hard for anybody to get into this business or any other business that sell knock-offs or non name brand products. Also check the pricing of imported goods from the far east. There have been LOT'S of price increase on these items in the last 6 months. The price advantage they enjoyed is far less now!

Another thing to consider. Is Dupont Nason paint really any cheaper than Dupont Chroma Base? Nason may be half price of Chroma Base but it also take twice as much Nason base as it does Chroma Base to complete the same job since the pigment loading for Nason base is much less than Chroma Base. In reality it's not that much cheaper if at all! The same can be said for many of the other off brand or second grade lines in virtually every suppliers product line. Yes, 3M blue tape at 3-4 times the money is better than the cheap import masking tape.

Overall, this may be a good fit for your business knowledge and connections. Just remember price alone may sell these products the first time and only time but fanatical customer service is what sells your products/service over and over again!

[200horse]

I agree with you about customer service. I have used a quit few aftermarket products that I would put up against th big name any days. I am not backyard type guy either. I am very picky.

When has any ofthe big companies ever admitted to there products being at fault?? with me in my 20 years never. I would definatly take care of the customers using my products. That is one of the reason I am asking others input that I dont know and that dont know me to find out what others want/needs.

thanks tim

[200horse]

also have already researched who carries what and about jobber pricing and all i can say there is there is quit the market I almost crapped my pants when I found out the mark up. The product I want to carry no one carries where i want to sell. Also buying in to these products arent as easy as one thinks. From my talking to them and the research I have done that wantalotof info just to talk with youin details. Kinda scary all they want buti understand why.

This wont be my first business so i have covered all the basics just want input from users what they are looking for in materils and a jobber they buy from.

also opinions on one product vs. another and why

I dont see me doing too much into the bases at first I only found a couple aftermarket bases that were worth anything that was pro-spray and matrix both are sold in area I want to sell in

[zerotofear]

In the past five years we have seen a number of seasoned body shop owners show up in our powder coating class hoping to abandon the everyday battle with insurance companies. Many have many of the parts of the puzzle needed to run a successful powder coating business, a gun , a oven and their swinging. State Farm contacted us last year to do some workshops that would excite body shop owners, I told them if they wanted excite the body shop owners put a profit line on the estimates. Powder coating is red hot , and growing most guys jump-in thinking they be doing mostly car parts, but then some cat walks in that left handed wigget and the games on.

Mark Davis
Metalcraft Skillcenter
Crossville, TN

[GA350]

From my experience Pro-Spray is not a bad basecoat for an allover. The color match leaves a lot to be desired but it seems to cover good and the metallics lay out nice. The best "off-brand" product that I have found and use regularly is Klingspor sand paper and masking paper. Their dry paper is almost as good as 3m and a whole lot cheaper, but the wet paper is nowhere near as good. I still use it because even though it doesn't last as long it is so much cheaper. I still save money using it.

[200horse]

ga350 never heard of klingspor sand paper will have to look into that thats for your input

[zerotofear]

Klingspor is located in Hickory, NC , they have a complete body shop line, along with a fabrication line, mop disc's ect.

[200horse]

i am still looking for a good aftermarket clear to carry any ideas?

[MuscleRodz]

Klingspor is damn nice paper for woodworking in their higher grades. never used their body supply stuff

[camaro2nv]

Klingspor is damn nice paper for woodworking in their higher grades. never used their body supply stuff

I love Klingspor! The guy comes in a truck, the evercoat bondo, glaze paper ect is WAY cheaper then the paint shop!

[HOTRODSHOP]

I have used the Klingspor and its great products,,especially thier sandpapers,it will outlast just about anything else out there. Also check out Southern Polyurethane Clears,Primers etc. they have a great website,the owner is available on his cell all the time and the clears are a great restoration/show car clear,they have great 2K primers,epoxies, wax and grease removers,and several more products. the price is good also and i would put thier clear agaist anything else out there. check em out at http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/homepage.htm
and check thier forums for some great advice from other shops and painters. By the way,i know of one major pro touring builder in NC thats using thier clear on the cars they build.

[HOTRODSHOP]

Oh and by the way SPI Paint is on the Year One cars also,,if you go to website there are pics of these cars and who painted them.

[200horse]

Thanks hotrodshop !!talked to Barry tonight as a matter of fact super nice guy products sound very nice and well priced also.

I would love to talk with someone first hand that uses the stuff anyone out there useing spi products?

[HOTRODSHOP]

200, I have been using it about 3 years now,and not had the first problem with any of the products,,i used Dupont and PPG and still use PPG base and these SPI clears are awesome,,,go over to the forums on the SPI website,there are some resto shops and big shops over there,get up with Novablue71
over there,,he painted Dale Jrs 70 Camaro for DSE ,,and Barry is really good to get along with.

[200horse]

hot rod thanks!! what clear are you using? how does it buff? I spent hours on that site reading everything
thanks !!

[HOTRODSHOP]

im using the universal with med or slow activator, mixes 1 to 1 so a set up around here cost $200.00 for 2 sprayable gallons. its very high build, 3 coats back to back to back on all overs,flashes and dries that quik and buffs great either the next day without any dieback or 3 weeks or 2 months,,all the same, with 3 coats we watersand with 800grit or 1000g and step down to 1500 and buff,come out slick as glass,,the stuff is hard to run,and if you make a mistake like i did once and splashed water on the car with the air hose,you wait about 3 hrs,sand over,base over and clear again. i use a sata rp gun with a 1.4 head. barry says 1.3 bust it up to much or any clear for that matter. i like the epoxies better than PPG and also i have tried every 2K primer out there and spi is working the best,,no shrinkage problems. the spi clear is not in a class with cheap clears even though the price is good.

[HOTRODSHOP]

give me an email or email me at [email protected] and ill send you some pics that really shows what it looks like

[200horse]

guys so far I am going with spi clears and indasa sand papers. Any shops in north west ohio wanting a demo on these products let me know

[HOTRODSHOP]

you wont be disappointed. thought about you up there getting all that snow and ice the other day.