You guys will never have any idea until you get into the Automotive parts industry....you will just never ever ever understand.

 

Buwahahahaha (borrowed from DarkCrow), now that I think about it, you REALLY should frame that!! Given my former reaction a while back to any filter not made by JR...

 

What a load of crap. All most of these people expect is a little communication. If you have someones money and haven't delivered the goods then you sure as hell better answer an email or voicemail. It doesn't matter if this is part time or full time you have to be able to communicate with your customers if you expect to have a business. I know that I have never had a problem with Muz who is the only one I have ordered from but I hear complaints from a lot of people about other vendors. I would have ordered stuff from other suplliers but never heard back on inquires I made about their products. Some of these people would have been very happy to get an email telling them that you were waiting on the parts to arrive from Japan or that you were working on the harnesses. They would have been happy to wait a little longer and just wanted to know you hadn't taken their money and run. If you don't know whether to return a call or answer the phone because it is ringing so much you either need to hire some help or at least get a real voicemail system.

Good luck to all of you, customers and vendors alike.

 

I would vouch for that. It's like women saying men would never understand child birth - one can hardly imagine what small retailers struggle through to make ends meet in this industry. That's why I had an open call for anyone who wanted to try and run IDi for a week about a year and half ago (no one really responded, BTW)

Just like your marketing or economics professor would tell you: the easier the entry barrier to a business, the more difficult that industry will be to work in.

Personally I think Randy took IDi in the right direction - and I wish I can give him more support but my current job schedule just won't allow it...

 

turbo-pwr:
I did respond to your posting in the thread about the wheels. I didin't think you, turbo_pwr were in charge fo the gb, so I sent my emails to 4ig, but never got any responses. I also tried getting the same wheels through bulletproof automotive, but they wanted way way to much $$$ and time. I ended up buying some other wheels, and am pretty pleased with them. I really had my heart set on the ssr type c.

mingster:
then why is it that when you were running things, I got your responses and advice, thus I bought something through you! Was anyone assisting you? I know that my economics and engineering professors said something to the degree of increasing supply to meet demand, or hiring additional employees, even if temporary, for seasonal peaks in business.

again, I don't mean to sound rude to the sponsors who make this incredible forum possible. I just think it shouldn't be so hard to do business with you. Any of you need help? I'd be glad to assist from my town, a remote location, as a contact etc. for commision only, through emails or via phone. SERIOUSLY!

I worked for a small, local autoparts shop for a long time in Dallas, and know what it is like to compete with other part companies, especially competing against the giants like Autozone etc. Small shops can survive, my shop did, but it was the customer service that we thrived over, and not our prices when the giants buy in bulk.

 

Eddie, no problem, I was really interested in those wheels also but at this point. I think it was probably better I didn't buy them.

 

Since I still got no reply on paying and waiting for the JR filter I decided to spend $5000 with hopefully another sponser and go the S/C route and no longer have a need for the damn filter or poor business practices. Good examples are: MUZ 10,000 miles away and Iv'e ordered from him 3 times with full communication and zero problems, same for costal metals, Duc @ anthony's mufflers and now with David at rand d motorsports they have all been great and I'm sure they are busy too. Some people just don't know how to do business! Thanks to the responsible sponsers out here for keeping my faith up! just my 2Cents from a fellow businessman in the auto business! Phil

 

I just wanted to post a for Muz also. I have ordered many things from him with no problems ever.

 

I definitely agree with you guys that Muz, RandD Motorsports, and Ricks2k have been great

 

Thanks for the comments, guys. I can say this, that things do get busy for us at the shop, but this IS my livelyhood and one reason why we dont have any low price claims or anything like that. Service comes with what you buy as well as any knowledge we can contribute as well.