Another store closes it's doors :(

[Kevin Brown]

Todd Helme and I were joking about this stuff. We were saying how now we're competitors now that he works for PBMG. Something was said about getting "taken out" buy the big guy (by him or me). I said partially joking that it's hard to take a guy out that is happy with 3 sales per day... (me, right now).



I'll always sell stuff, but yes, you do have some very valid points.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

The only thing saving Autogeek is the fact it isn't big enough to swat down yet.

I wouldn't say that.... there's no way Amazon could ever manage to parallel the specialized knowledge that a company specific to the car care industry provides.

 

[Dan]

Todd Helme and I were joking about this stuff. We were saying how now we're competitors now that he works for PBMG. Something was said about getting "taken out" buy the big guy (by him or me). I said partially joking that it's hard to take a guy out that is happy with 3 sales per day... (me, right now).



I'll always sell stuff, but yes, you do have some very valid points.

Yep, if you do it for enjoyment, there is certainly nothing wrong with that!:chuckle:

I wouldn't say that.... there's no way Amazon could ever manage to parallel the specialized knowledge that a company specific to the car care industry provides.

Could Amazon replace Autogeek? Certainly not, at least the way they run things now. But could one of the higher-ups get a report showing him that Autogeek is making an 18% profit margin on product while his current portfolio is making 8.5%? Then his ears perk up. He decides he's happy making 10% on the same products, and he has much lower distribution costs due to one of the largest shipping/logistics networks. All of a sudden, we see the same products AG has for 20% less. What if he decides he wants that business even more and employs predatory pricing practices, which are perfectly legal in the US? Sound impossible? Remember hardware stores? Plenty of other examples.



In this country there are two ways to get really rich:



-Create/Sell an exclusive and protected product.

-Create a wide product distribution (or service) network that is so efficient it makes entering the market nearly impossible.

 

[PorscheGuy997]

As an example, I recently sent three gallons of liquids (about 25 pounds total) from California to Indiana via UPS, and my actual shipping cost was $44.

Dang...I didn't know it cost you that much to ship that stuff. PayPal funds coming in 3...2...1...next week...





While I wish that there was some way around that $8.50+ shipping charge, there simply is no way around it. I shipped packages via UPS for over five years. Unless the location is a business address located within four hours, the cost to ship a 2lb box after the UPS discount is easily going to be $8.50. Residential addresses always cost quite a bit more than a commercial address.



In the end, I try to submit an order only when I desperately need the product so that I may cut down a bit on the shipping cost. But, I still consider shipping a huge convenience. In so many cases, it is cheaper to have it shipped than drive an hour or so.

 

[Bill D]

In so many cases, it is cheaper to have it shipped than drive an hour or so.

That is such an important point and I remind myself of it after I initially vent about the charges not only on detailing products but most anything else. I order practically all of my "goodies" and I pretty much can't get them locally any way.

 

[Bunky]

For someone without a contract with a shipper like UPS or FedEx, shipping is expensive. I shipped a box today that weighed less than 1 lb (did not try to cram in a flat rate envelop) and it cost $7 to ship. Sellers get substantial discounts off the published rates if they have a contract (likely volume related).



Now, some sellers will say the shipping price includes a box, noodles, packing material, and even labor to pack, etc. but that is a business decision. They obviously want to encourage larger orders since if they have free shipping it is just cutting into their possible profit. No place is going to make money in the long run shipping a $10 item for $3.

 

[Ron Ketcham]

Having been in the business, both OEM, large detail users, and individual buyers, it is always "shipping".

We would sell pallets of private label to Ford, Chrysler, etc, no problem, as they have computer programs that tie the order to our response to abiltiy to ship and their trucks would be at the dock within 1 hour of the specified time.

Others, they used logistic shipping handlers, and we dealt with that, which kept shipping cost down.

Small orders, 5 cases or less, we were at the mercy of UPS, Fed-X, etc.

It got worse when the products were classified as "hazordus", and that got really costly.

Individual's, well, they got the big stiffy, cost was not in our control but in the shippig vendor.

You don't even want to know about shipping a container out of the country, the paper work alone would make you have to change your sheets.

I do know what all are talking about, for I have to source many items from outside my normal vendor range.

Recently I was going to buy two pin stripping brushes from a vendor. Total cost of the brushes was $22.00 and they wanted to charge me $18.00 for shipping and "handling".

I contacted them and asked them why they could not just put them in USPS bubble pack for $6 and send them to me.

They replied that in order to maintain low prices of the products, they had to add shipping and "handling" costs to the invoice.

What? They would pull two little brushes off a shelf, out of a box, slip them into a bubble pack and off they went.

I informed them that since I was in the business world, knew what their normal profit margins should be, and to add aprx $10 plus for the products was not in my best interest.

I later bought the same brushes, and $80 of other products from another supplier, with shipping of $12.

They were honest, they had the business volume base to keep cost of shipping down, IE. they were smart, not greedy.

A small detail product supplier is caught in a bad situation today.

Think about it, "why be in business, all the headaches", if you don't make a profit.

Flipping burgers at Mickey D's could be more profitable today.

OK that's my rant.

Grumpy

 

[imported_WCD]

Autogeek is the only one left?? Nah....plenty more!

 

[autoaesthetica]

Autogeek is the only one left?? Nah....plenty more!

Plenty. You just don't fight the undercut with an undercut. Let them fight their own wars.

 

[DaGonz]

The problem I have with all of them is the inflated "shipping and handling" charges. If I only want one or two relatively inexpensive items, my "shipping and handling" charges are around 25% or even more! To add insult to this injury, the hook is baited with the promise of "free shipping", only to find that applies to orders of almost $100. Unreasonable, IMHO.

For small items, all of the online detaling supply companies the shipping should be through the United States Postal Service... another organization that could use the business. It is ludicrous to spend more for shipping and handling than the item one is purchasing.

 

[DaGonz]

Customer service ( or lack thereof) is he one thing that can make or break a company, whether it be detailing supplies or detailing itself.



The client I had who wanted me to redo her interior because she wanted it "shiny" is an example. I went to her house and showed her various protectants and then Meg's Interior QD, After showing her what the refelections would be like from the dashpad in the sun, she went with my original choice of Meg's QD. It took me about an hour to redo her interior... but she loved it and I got a couple of referrals out of it.



Some things are beyond a supplier's control, like items that are backordered from the manufacturer. I have been fortunate that all of my online transactions have been positive.

 

[Accumulator]

This month FedEx lost TWO packages for me from different vendors. Give me the boys in BROWN.

Huh, that's interesting (and troubling!); I've always used FedEx for documents that *HAVE* to arrive OK and/but can't be hand-delivered :nervous:

 

[Bill D]

Huh, that's interesting (and troubling!); I've always used FedEx for documents that *HAVE* to arrive OK and/but can't be hand-delivered :nervous:

Fedex, in terms of document/business deliveries, seems like a whole other animal compared to its home package delivery. Sometimes I feel they consider package delivery an after thought since they seem to thrive mostly on business deliveries.



I'd say definitely opt for UPS if you can when you order any goods over the internet ( play) and Fedex for any business document deliveries ( work)

 

[Accumulator]

For small items, all of the online detaling supply companies the shipping should be through the United States Postal Service... another organization that could use the business. It is ludicrous to spend more for shipping and handling than the item one is purchasing.

That's how PakShak always ships my orders, and I'm pleasantly surprised that the whole "shipping all the way from Hawaii to Ohio!" isn't a deal-breaker.

In so many cases, it is cheaper to have it shipped than drive an hour or so.

Opportunity costs aren't just about $ :grinno: I often prefer to spend money instead of time; renewable vs. nonrenewable resources and all that...and that can work for businesses as well as individuals.

 

[Bill D]

USPS--Priority, is an attractive option, kinda a "have you cake and eat it too" situation when it's cheaper and pretty fast. I think TopoftheLine has and continues to offer that option as well. All my stuff from Ebay comes that way. When I ship small items I use my very friendly, hassle free branch too.

 

[JCturboT]

Huh, that's interesting (and troubling!); I've always used FedEx for documents that *HAVE* to arrive OK and/but can't be hand-delivered :nervous:

I feel the same way with FedEx.



I have had problems with UPS on two separate incidents:



1) I used to buy and sell vintage tube amplification and sent out one that I had packed myself to a customer. I got an email from it's new owner once it arrived showing a picture of the amp, looks like it was dropped about six feet off the ground and the chassis was bent as well as the faceplate.UPS had said it was my fault due to "improper packing". I explained that this was not my first vintage audio shipment and had never had a problem with any of my past packing jobs.After two months of going back and forth with them they relucantantly agreed to give me a credit of about 80% of the insured value that I had purchased for the shipment.



I have sent audio as far as Alaska with FedEx without any problems.



2) Someone backed into the rear door of my mint condition SRT4 and left the scene.The door was a mess and I did not want to have it fixed so I scoured the net for months for a clean Solar Yellow door.After finally finding one and agreeing to the price with the seller I had it shipped from Michigan to Massachusetts via UPS.

I let the seller know my disdain for UPS but he stated he never had a problem in the five years he had set out auto parts with them.I decide to give them another try as everyone deserves a second chance.



Well, one month goes by and no door.I keep checking my tracking info with UPS and it stated it is still in transit. Another two weeks pass and the tracking info states "contact UPS".

I call their phone # and after getting the run-around from several people I am told that UPS has lost my door!

I can see them losing a small package but a crated door...WT F!!!!



They offer to refund me my $$ but I would still have to find another door. I decide to just bend the door back best I could and just install it myself.

It bugged me from the day I put it on and sold the car a couple months later and purchased my SRT8.



To this day I am concerned when I ship/receive big buck item from UPS.



Jeff

 

[autoaesthetica]

FedEx and USPS has our business continually. Proper handling has never once been a problem with either of them. Every single time we get something from UPS, EVERY, SINGLE TIME, each box has holes, stuff is leaking or falling out etc.. They lost our business because of that alone. I always think of Ace Ventura when we expect a UPS shipment or package, and its always confirmed that Ace is doing the handling when we see the stuff..





Shipping is no doubt expensive, fuel and all these other things that go into logistical management is absolutely worth it in my opinion. But it seems like some guys need to put all their eggs in one basket before ordering to avoid having to complain about shipping prices(I mean this 100% respectfully) because there is really nothing you can do.



That said,



As a vendor(though a little bit more personalized) if someone needed something like 4 pads, and they asked, we could easily ship insured, in an envelope to the tune of a couple bucks provided they knew how it was shipped.



I try to weigh out every single shipping option, most people order 15 lbs or so from us, so Fedex is much more reasonable compared to something similar from USPS. I love USPS, they get really good rates and FAST(3 days across CONUS).





As DaGonz has stated, CS is what makes or breaks a relationship sometimes. I personally try to handle as much as humanly possible even during our prep season. I make sure that it literally is THE cheapest option provided its covered by insurance. I am surprised shipping non damagable items or lightweight stuff snit more flexible with other vendors..

 

[Dan]

I have had problems with UPS on two separate incidents

I always have issues with UPS too. The best was four wheels laid on top of some obviously very alive shrubbery. Always reminds me of this crank yankers:

 

[JCturboT]

I always have issues with UPS too. The best was four wheels laid on top of some obviously very alive shrubbery. Always reminds me of this crank yankers:

Dan,

"We get to drink...it's Saturday"



Too funny!



Jeff

 

[JCturboT]

Just re-read my post from earlier...



I forget to mention that UPS did finally locate the door and shipped it to me...and it was in fact not only bent on the top and bottom as well as the paint "cracking" from the bend, but a mouse had somehow got into the crate and died, his dead carcass was stuck to the window when I unwrapped the door.



I am not sure if he died from malnutrition or from the shock of UPS tumbling my door end-over-end during shipment.



I have the picture somewhere and will post it when I find it.



Jeff