Now I know why the local speeds are out of business

[gnxtc2]

I needed 2 45* -6AN swivel hose ends. I call up the local speed and they had them in stock. I asked for Earl's but the guy said "I have them in Aeroquip" I said "OK, I be done there in a little while" I drive down there are he has them on the side. Mind you I never asked for a price nor am I in a rush for these fittings. He hands them to me and starts to look the price up in the Keystone catalog. I notice him writing down the price, $21.88. I say "Keystone should change their company name to Highway Robbery." Here in NJ, Keystone has a warehouse in PA and you see the Keystone delivery trucks on the highway all the time, hence the name "Highway Robbery" Getting back to the story. The guy totals up the bill with tax, $48.xx. I take out 3-$20s to had them to him then I hesitate.

Me: "Are you sure that is the correct price"

His reply, with an attitude "I don't sell second hand or used stuff like Jegs or Summit does. I only sell new." (Thinking in my mind, I never bought a used part from Summit or Jegs )

Me: "They should cost around $16-$18 each"

Him: "I buy them for that price"

Me: "OK" and walk out of the store.

The most of the speed shops around me deal with Keystone and charge you list price. In my mind. in no way am I going to pay list price if I don't have to.

I got home and looked in the Summit catalog for the same part.
Summit............FBM4022.......$16.88
Speed shop......FBM4022.......$21.88

Granted, Summit charges $8.95 S/H but I'll just increase my order size. I wouldn't have minded if the price was $2-$3 more but in the future I'll think twice before going to the local speed shop. I like to support the local independant shop but sometimes they make it difficult for themselves.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

On Edit: Oops, this should've gone in the Lounge, sorry. Editors, please move this.

 

[mybuick]

i have noticed this too... the establishment tags on the shipping charges to the consumer also. become friends with the owner and they might give you a price break.

 

[Turbo Indian]

very seldom do I order from Summit or Jegs. for several years I had a relationship with a guy @ Muscle MotorSports, he even set up an account for me with them because I was buying so much. he gave me the same price as sum. or jegs. after about a year doing buis. like this I never even had to double check his pricing. now that he is gone I went in there & bought some goodies when I got the bill I was like what the hell!
I have since found a place called race parts, he is mostly a mustang dealer but the one guy I deal with is giving me some top notch pricing. he is even a dealer for precision, one day we were talking about turbos, he said if there was anything that Harry had that I wanted to try he would hook me up. can't beat that! but I had just bought my 76 GTQ, so I will save his offer for the future.

 

[TurboBuckeye]

Jegs is my local speed shop

 

[BoostMasterK]

I hear ya Billy, I like to buy local when possible but there's no reason why they need to whack you for more than a few bucks on a $16 item. And the attitute is the icing on the cake. I'm still steaming because I had to pay $42 for a 6-pack of Mobil one today thanks to NJ blue laws.

It isn't just auto parts though, many trade shops like plumbing, hardware etc. same thing and same attitude


Mike

 

[Turbo Indian]

I had to pay $42 for a 6-pack of Mobil one today thanks to NJ blue laws.


Mike

what blue law do yall have on oil? the only blue law I've ever heard of is no booze on Sunday untill after 1pm.

 

[grocerygetter]

I'd rather pay the extra two or three bucks and support a local shop. That's my opinion.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I'd rather pay the extra two or three bucks and support a local shop. That's my opinion.

Most of us would, its when its paying the extra $10 a part to support the local guys is where we get a bit heated. I try to buy my stuff through the local speedshop, George's Speed Shop, but when it comes down to it if I need a bottle of assembly lube or some odd crank bolt, I go to Summit desite getting smacked twice here in OH for shipping and tax. George's is the only place I've found thats not all riced out and its 40min away from my house, only 15 from my office though.

Just some food for thought,

 

[WakkoSS]

I'd rather pay the extra two or three bucks and support a local shop. That's my opinion.

I agree. When you need the expertise, it's right there. Sucks when the price variation is big though.

 

[bruce]

I can't wait to hear the whining, when all there is, are shops like jeg's, and summit around. They buy parts in HUGE quantities, and force co.s to give them a bigger break then the smaller wholesalers. Oh, and once they force all the lil shops out of business, guess what?, they'll return to the *free market practice*, of supply and demand, and you'll pay more then what the small shops used to ask.

BTW, Wallyworld isn't the first huge retailer. Back in the 50's there was a firm called E.J.Korvette's on L.I., NY., that almosted pulled off setting up a monoply for retailing on L.I.. If they hadn't gotten quite as greedy they may have pulled it off. I'd almost wager, Wallyworld has learned well from their error, and they won't make the same mistake.

 

[CTX-SLPR]

I can't wait to hear the whining, when all there is, are shops like jeg's, and summit around. They buy parts in HUGE quantities, and force co.s to give them a bigger break then the smaller wholesalers. Oh, and once they force all the lil shops out of business, guess what?, they'll return to the *free market practice*, of supply and demand, and you'll pay more then what the small shops used to ask.

Do I detect a hint of socialist thinking in your comments Bruce or are you just eager to stick to the man for some extra expense?

 

[Turbo T/A 1543]

I own a small auto parts store, and there are things I have to buy from Summit or Jegs because of price. I try to curb my attitude, but it seems most people don't understand the difference in pricing available to us as small "jobbers" vs. a Summit or Jegs, and think you are trying to bend them over when you give them a price. It's dam*n frustrating. You really want to help the person out and make a buck at the same time...but can't. Believe it or not, I understand that some chains like Autozone tell the manufacturer what they are willing to pay for an item - to the point approaching their actual cost, which leaves the manufacturer no choice but to bang us harder to make the same money. Generally I just tell people "Jump on the phone - call Summit or Jegs - and have it tomorrow for a $7-$8 "handling" charge".
For me to get anything from Keystone, I have to have a $100 minimum order and pay a $6.82 delivery charge, so the difference is negligible, especially if you don't want to come off looking like a rapist. Sorry if I come across negatively, it's just getting to be a tough racket. :frown:

 

[lordmikef]

I am located in Northern New Jersey and go to one guy for my parts. His prices are always the fairest and will beat competitors. The place I am referring to is Dave's Speed Shop on Harrison Ave in Harrison, New Jersey. Great guy in general and great prices.

 

[turbojimmy]

I am located in Northern New Jersey and go to one guy for my parts. His prices are always the fairest and will beat competitors. The place I am referring to is Dave's Speed Shop on Harrison Ave in Harrison, New Jersey. Great guy in general and great prices.

I used to go to the same guy all the time, too. Been in town for 30+ years. Autozone ran him out of business last month. He moved to another town, and I drive all the way over there to support him, but he's not doing well at all.

I haven't had much luck at the local "speed shop". He just doesn't stock anything I need and by the time I get it from him I've had paid more and had to wait the same amount of time as if I got it from Summit or Jeg's. I'm willing to pay him a premium but not double. In the case above, it would've been close enough for me to pay the premium (net it was only $1.05 plus tax, right: $21.88 x 2 versus $16.88 x 2 + $8.95)?

Jim

 

[gnxtc2]

I am located in Northern New Jersey and go to one guy for my parts. His prices are always the fairest and will beat competitors. The place I am referring to is Dave's Speed Shop on Harrison Ave in Harrison, New Jersey. Great guy in general and great prices.

That's where I went. Great guy Great prices And he was going to charge me list price for the fittings but I said "No"

Ordered my fittings from Summit last night, bought the 2 fittings that I needed and bought a third fitting, also. Total price including S/H......$50.86

I want to support the locals but they make it impossible sometimes.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[BoostMasterK]

I own a small auto parts store, and there are things I have to buy from Summit or Jegs because of price. I try to curb my attitude, but it seems most people don't understand the difference in pricing .... Sorry if I come across negatively, it's just getting to be a tough racket. :frown:

Interesting to hear the other side, thanks. It's still inexcusable, the attitude customers often get from the local shops. Instead of being bitter, they should step up the customer service to differentiate themselves.


Mike

 

[rtviper]

It is really tough to maintain a so called great attitude in HP parts business. The independent speed shop pays more for the part then Jegs and Summit sell the parts for. Every day they hear " I can get that part a lot cheaper through mail order" The small shops also spend many hours a day answering all the tech. questions about a product and the application only to lose the sale to the Mail Order Co.once the customer had learned what he needs to know to make the right buying decision. A business will need to make at least 36 percent on an item to keep his doors open and that equates to 36 percent more then the price you can buy it from the Mail Order Companies. Then a few times a month you get a customer that wants to return a defective or wrong part that he bought from Mail Order and wants the speed shop to take care of the problem because its a lot tougher returning parts to Mail Order Co. Just last week a employee of mine bought weld wheels from Summit and they sent the wrong wheels. He didnt notice it untill he mounted the tires. Called Summit and they said too bad we will not take back wheels that have been mounted. A local speed shop would have taken care of the problem