m sprank Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I thought my quote of $380 was reasonable. I broke it down as: $200 springs $75 front sway bar $105 rear say bar and brackets. $0 for links Another vendor (not on this forum) quoted him $175 total (so he said), and he asked me to beat it. I respectfully declined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I thought my quote of $380 was reasonable. I broke it down as: $200 springs $75 front sway bar $105 rear say bar and brackets. $0 for links Another vendor (not on this forum) quoted him $175 total (so he said), and he asked me to beat it. I respectfully declined. Good for you mikey. Your prices are very close to our, almost to the penny. When we first started we were always the cheapest and eventually we were spinning our wheels. Also, customers dont realize the overhead involved in running a business. Insurance (which for a shop is one of the highest premiums of any business), utilities, rent, workmans comp, fica, payroll insurance, advertising, etc etc. -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Bills? Dont get me started. I might throw up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFromPA Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Mike (take your pick), Can you give me a quote on a set of Koni's? I'd like you to include shipping in your quote and I heard from my friend Tim's dentist that you get them for $200, so I won't pay more than $250. Shipped. I try to enter into relationships with the knowledge that the other side is working with me, not with themselves. For example, I asked AZP Installs for a custom quote on a job with some overlap. And the amount they came "down" perfectly fit, in my head, with that overlap. I already expressed I thought their prices fair too. I'm in sales now and have my customers do the same thing (vastly different industry). To relate it here, I can give a discount on the parts, or a discount on the labor, but somewhere in between I gotta pay for lunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 AZP is far closer. Save the shipping. Buy from Mike at AZP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 AZP is far closer. Save the shipping. Buy from Mike at AZP. Yeah but I KNOW msprank will sell em to you for $250. He can drop ship em directly to you and doesnt need to know a thing about them other than the part number! Or better yet, I can quote you $250 shipped, msprank can quote you $249, and then domestic image can quote $248 and new england motor sports can quote you $245! -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTuner Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Sometimes, more than not with car parts, it's better to spend a few extra bucks just for peace of mind. I prefer to support the smaller vendors because what Mike was saying about overhead, etc. The smaller vendors usually will work harder to help you if there is a problem. The vendors who do not usually face a quick demise anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Oh heck. I will pay you $250 to take them from me (that way I win the internet Walmart award), bring them to AZP and have them installed. I am sure Mike at AZP is willing to install them for $50. I am sure both of us (Mike's) are cringing at this. It is a shame, but it is a big part of our businesses. Competition from internet "Walmarts" with zero overhead, no location, no taxes, no payroll, eating off mom and dads paycheck still and selling at zero profit to their friends. We might be a few bucks more. But we answer teh calls and emails and PM's. We troll the open forums offering free advice and support. We answer tech support for all other vendors all day long because we live the cars, not just sell parts for every car made. I dont do everything. But what I do, I try to do well. Rather be good at one thing than crappy at many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Catalyst. Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 IMHO this thread is exactly why I have, and will continue to place orders with IP&T (or AZP for that matter - but I'm west coast). Both Mike's understand the community, specific needs for our cars, and what real customer service is. As a community we should step up and support them so that they can keep the doors open...to lose either would be a negative impact on all of us, as they continually answer technical questions posted and it was obvious to me after reading here that my business should go to one of them! I am a firm believer in supporting local small businesses over the Big Box/internet sales only (no overhead) bargain basements where there is zero support and once the transactions complete they could care less about the customer. What's a few bucks if it means down the road you can get valuable information free of charge that could end up saving you even more? My spec.B [#163] Project Thread with Pictures Get CryoTuned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xero287 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I thought my quote of $380 was reasonable. I broke it down as: $200 springs $75 front sway bar $105 rear say bar and brackets. $0 for links Another vendor (not on this forum) quoted him $175 total (so he said), and he asked me to beat it. I respectfully declined. Wow, If only you were on the east coast when my brother and I couldn't get a strut bolt off and had to take it to a known shop around here. $450 later (For a SIMPLE replacement of pre-assembled struts), we were unhappy with the price, but ecstatic with the TiC Legendary setup lol. There needs to be a shop like AZP or IP&T in Maryland. Keep on chugging guys, you're doing great things for the Subaru community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Oh heck. I will pay you $250 to take them from me (that way I win the internet Walmart award), bring them to AZP and have them installed. I am sure Mike at AZP is willing to install them for $50. I am sure both of us (Mike's) are cringing at this. It is a shame, but it is a big part of our businesses. Competition from internet "Walmarts" with zero overhead, no location, no taxes, no payroll, eating off mom and dads paycheck still and selling at zero profit to their friends. We might be a few bucks more. But we answer teh calls and emails and PM's. We troll the open forums offering free advice and support. We answer tech support for all other vendors all day long because we live the cars, not just sell parts for every car made. I dont do everything. But what I do, I try to do well. Rather be good at one thing than crappy at many. In partnership with M Sprank, since he is willing to pay you $250 to buy them will pay you $200 to have us install them for you! This way both of us can win the Walmart/Amazon Marketing Award! Thanks for those who get it, that is what makes me keep the doors open every time I get discouraged and want to close the doors! -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: paisan@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFromPA Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I am sure both of us (Mike's) are cringing at this. It is a shame, but it is a big part of our businesses. Competition from internet "Walmarts" with zero overhead, no location, no taxes, no payroll, eating off mom and dads paycheck still and selling at zero profit to their friends. I dont do everything. But what I do, I try to do well. Rather be good at one thing than crappy at many. That's why many "mom and pop" shops fail - they try to compete. You aren't even in the same market sector. Your parts distribution services are not profit generators for you - they are a marketing service you use to build your name recognition. Selling parts online for a brick & mortar can only be used to drive traffic to the physical location, where the competitive advantage (and therefore the money) is actually present. Or, in MSprank's case, the e-tuning business as well. It's not even a competition and business failure often comes when people start to react as if it is. You can't outsell walmart or underprice them - because you aren't in the business of selling commodities are extreme volume levels. Instead, you use the best customer service, reputation, and loyal bases of consumers to charge reasonable and profitable rates on your non-commoditized services. And you are loved for it. Exactly how it should be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Unfortunately, I dont profit from tuning. That is 100% Shamars gig. Having a reputable tuner working with me helps the shop. But adds a lot of time answering questions for his services. If I dont compete with the internet parts slingers, I sink and fail. Our shop is not self sufficient. It costs far more to operate than it brings in. The parts sales keep the doors open (for now). I have even been working a night gig since before Christmas. The paycheck from the night gig covers part of the shops payroll. It is a loooong story and 99% of people are oblivious to what it takes to not punch a time clock and try to pay the bills. My cable was turned off last month for non payment. My gas this month. I have lost 60lbs since leaving NYC and coming back to Cali and starting this business. Infamous Performance will be the death of me. No BS. But until I die, I wont stop charging forward like a freight train. I started this business because I was good and pissed off at the options available to Subaru owners for parts and service (after getting hosed myself). It is my mission to be better and I am more stubborn than a mule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFromPA Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 That's called "starting a new business" You can run loss-leaders like your shop for other purposes, but if your shop is your competitive advantage and it's going to be a loss leader for the forseeable future, then your business plan is screwed sideways. Mike, you basically just said that you need to run a commoditized lowest-cost business line in order to fund your cost-overrun shop (which should be your profit center, comparatively). Don't make me fly out there and examine your books! P.s. There's nothing wrong with setting up an electronic tipjar my man. P.p.s. Let me know if you ever want to talk business planning. Maybe you won't get anything out of it, or maybe I can help you reduce the head-banging, but either way you are talking to a customer like you usually do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The plan was not for me to run a shop. The plan was for me to build a business that I could hand over to three old friends (race team mechanics) who needed jobs. The online sales were for me. So, I took the plunge for the benefit of the many, not the one. One of my buddies ended up starting his own shop up north and sticking with racing. He now has his own private team and is entering the West Coast national Series with his team starting the weekend of March 10th (Glen Helen Raceway, IPT Series, Lusardi Motorsports). His brother, friend 2, found a gig building hot rods (his first true love) so he went back to building cars like he has done since he was 10 years old. Friend 3, Todd, my mechanic now is still with me. So, for better or worse, I keep going because I made a promise to Todd not to leave him hanging like what happened when the race team dissolved. That being said, no it is not a great business plan. I am a mule. Lol. I made a commitment, so I stick with it. I am stubborn enough to not see the writing on the wall and convince myself that I can make anything work. That enough hard work and commitment will be paid back some how, some way, some day. Like any start up, I have expenses. Having to open the shop with 2 guys worth of tools instead of 4 is a major expense. Never realized how much we relied on each other for what we were able to accomplish as a TEAM. But, I hold my head as high as I can, and I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel that is not a freight train headed my way. I truly believe that the parts business will not last forever. The cars will become old, clapped out and undesirable by the younger/modding crowd. Times will change, something new will be the hot ticket. When that happens, the shop should be going strong with plenty of satisfied and return clientele. They will bring whatever they drive, not just Subies. So the shop should keep a roof over our heads for the long run. It is just slower to take off than online parts sales. No one said it would be easy. I know. This is my second small business start up. Just the first time I had the b@ll$ to kiss the paycheck good bye and go it alone. Scary morning when you wake up for the first time with no job, no paycheck, nothing to fall back on, but your own work. For our success so far, I must thank the loyal customers and members of the LGT community. Without this place, I would be long gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Mikey, similar to you, I also keep the shop going for the many rather than for personal reasons. If I can help the economy just a small bit by keeping folks employed it is a personal achievement. Stick with the service end of things. No matter what happens, Parts Slingers can never take that aspect away from the business because they can't be shipped from the same distributor as all the other ones in a place where rent is almost zero. Eventually the manufacturers will wise up and will sell direct at a tiny margin. Then the slingers will all disappear. They will move on to the next widget that is hot. As you said, the cars will change a bit but the customers will know they will get good service from places like ours and a caring and supportive atmosphere. Just build slowly and make sure everything is paid for. It makes it easier to sleep at night. Perhaps we should put together our heads and franchise the business model out to Subie communities around the country... -mike http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: paisan@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFromPA Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 You are a testament to fortitute man. Keep it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutbackXT05 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Always been a supporter of forum venders and always will be. Just bought a clutch from IP&T earlier today I just wish you guys were closer. I would definently stop by a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Got the order for the FX300. You should have it before the end of the week (Thursday). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutbackXT05 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 All i need now is my turbo and tune thanks again for the great service you guys do for the community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolksey85 Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 AZP, you have a PM. Finally looking to get them done shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtbimmer Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Wow. This thread is FULL of WIN! I enjoyed reading both Mike's input and I applaud your hard work, honesty and dedication. Too few and far between are people/companies like this. Keep up the good work guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZP Installs Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Wow. This thread is FULL of WIN! I enjoyed reading both Mike's input and I applaud your hard work, honesty and dedication. Too few and far between are people/companies like this. Keep up the good work guys! Thanks! It is posts like this that keep us pushing forward! Like us on Facebook for special sales too http://facebook.com/azpinstalls Also check out our website as we will start to post up pertinent articles of interest about upgrading and maintaining subies in the next few months. -Paisan http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg%5Dhttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg 11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts. Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us. AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber "Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I try to pack our vendor forum with tech bits and info. I actually own SpecB.net. The original plan was to dedicate the site to my SpecB and its many builds as well as host all the tech data I have in 1 place. Plans... Just need time. We too have a Facebook page. But I am so old and out of the loop on social networking that it is 100% run by Shamar (infamous1). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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