You sir are correct. If you dont support local business you cant very well expect there to be local business's.
There's one common thread here...small local businesses that provide something that mail order houses can't...friendly, knowlegable (sp?) service, decent turnaround time (1-2 days), great selection, hard to find parts, etc...thrive. You can't compete with a Jegs or Summit on price, so do what they can't do, and win on that. I own and run my own business, and it blows my mind that some small businesses expect to survive by providing crappy (or no) service, much higher prices, etc. It's no secret what it takes to survive, but so few smaller businesses do it. Chris
Ha! I just got done ordering a part from RockAuto.com that I picked out myself and paid with shipping to my door less than 50% what I was quoted locally for the SAME EXACT PART. Sorry guys, it's my money and the local guy definitely loses when we're talking about more than $20 difference. Unless I need it absolutely immediately I buy online. Between Summit, Rockauto, and eBay I've found everything I need for WAY LESS MONEY while still BUYING NORTH AMERICAN STUFF ONLY. Someone said we're paying for Customer Support? Hahahahah!!!!! You mean I GET to pay for shitty attitudes from ass clowns who can't figure out how to find something basic without a year make and model? Puh-leze!! Ordering online I don't have to worry about some moron employee getting me the wrong part, often has about the same turnaround time, plus I can order at midnight while eating Cheetos and watching midget porn. Just my opinion...
If I don't know what I need, that's pretty rare, summit has a tech line that is very knowledgeable. If they don't know the answer they will find it out and get back to you, uh sometimes they call me on older stuff. I normally have my pieces in two days or I can order it red for an extra 6 bucks and it will still be less than the part that I want to buy from the local guy. A lot of things I just don't order, fittings for instance or fasteners. I can get them from any number of sources here in the metro, like fastenol or NAPA. I have discovered that the locals are not very knowledgeable any more. They just hire junkies and winos off the street.
I support local business whenever possible! I have owned and operated a mail order business since 1974. We get some surprising requests by telephone. Approximately 10~15 percent of the requests are for dealer items NOT available anywhere other than the original selling dealer or a junkyard. We refer these callers to their local dealer. Most times I get the response "REALLY, I would never have considered that". Good customer service is essential, regardless of whether a business is walk-in or mail-order. Unfortunately, there is a very small (maybe less than half a percent) group of customers that can never be satisfied. My Dad used to say they would gripe if they were hanged with a new rope! Often, a local business that you frequent, can help you avoid mistakes. And even though I am in mail order, I would highly suggest you at least try locally first. The comments by a couple in this thread concerning the benefit to communities by local business should NOT be overlooked. Jon.
It sounds like yo haven't had the books be wrong yet. I'm working on an odd older motor and the seal books were wrong (I bought the parts and had to return them....no shipping back, just walk in ). He hunted the correct numbers down for me and got them. I can order them over the phone without paying first......all I'm saying is try your local parts place first. If they suck then you tried......but even my place say to buy from rockauto if they're 40-50% difference. If we would have kept up with our local indy stores then they wouldn't have to hire tweakers, at least that's the way I see it.
With me, it's all about spending the LEAST amount of money to get your part. I'm on a very limited budget. I'm sorry if it sounds cold, but it's not about the parts store to me, it's about me and my part and my money. If I have to wait a couple extra days for the part because I ordered online, then so be it, I have the time. It's a project car, not a top priority. We have a couple parts stores here with some of the nicest people you can hope to deal with, but if I can get it cheaper online, I will. Generally, if the part is the wrong one, it's because I ordered it that way...my fault. A little research goes a long way. So I wait a couple days while I send it back for exchange, big deal. It's all about the money to me...my money at that.
Because you can get virtually any part in existence from places like summit and jegs reasonably quickly, the business model of the speed shop does not really make sense anymore. What is the solution? i have no idea. i do have a thought that land---somehow could be found cheap---say in the corner of a large mall parking lot. This area could be leased----i suppose. Then about 4-8 large shipping containers would be attached together to form a large, but cheap building. The purpose of this building is to serve as and internet pickup "station." In other words, you would order what you want off the net and pick it up at the "station." This would save you (would it really?) in shipping costs. What would be the other purpose of this station? i have no idea but it sounds good. But generally, the days of the speed shop are over. Unless a machine shop also sells parts. But that generally doesn't work either because the machine shop is also a losing proposition. Hot rodding is kind of a do-it-yourself type hobby so recieving a part thru the mail is kind of natural---there is no need to interact with a counter person for the most part so i'm not sure why we even need the "station," yet the idea seems comfortable to me. Yes, i am losing my mind.
5 years ago I needed rotors (just tophats) for a disc brake conversion. Autozone=$64 Checkers (but we will price match)=$65 Pep Boys=$71 Rock Auto=$17
There's no local speeds shop near me.Summit more than Jegs simply because Summit has a far better search system.And Rock Auto for stock stuff and they do have a pretty good supply of parts for older vehicles. I do use the two local non chain parts stores for stuff like brakes because I want the parts right now.
Will buy local if in stock but if not cut out the middle man and order myself. For most of the normal daily driver items N.A.P.A. can have it next morning if not on shelf. For specialty items and speed equipment. Internet is the way to go because the prices vary so much between dealers and shops.
But you CAN. With performance parts I can see what the big stores are priced at. If they have a smokin deal or a loss leader I will tell the customer that they better jump on it. But, many times I can do as good if not better. Also, back when I was at the other rod shop, and before that bike shops, we did a weekly order that all the regulars knew about. We could build up an order and everyone benefited from free shipping.
I try to use the local stores but I get pissed off when I'm standing at the counter with money in hand, the phone rings and they want you to stand there while they make a sell over the phone.
It is a shame that the local guy didn't catch it before you had to make a second trip. I have actually never worked on anything rare myself. I built an engine for a guy a couple of years ago, I called summit to order pistons because none of the local stores would get me the pistons that I needed. They were just pistons for goodness sake. I knew what company would have probably have them. Summit said that they didn't stock them and I said I'll bet if you call you can still get them from TRW. The guy said he would call me right back, ten minutes later he called I paid and he had them drop shipped from TRW. I ran into a problem with the bore I had one cylinder that would not clean up at the overbore, so I called summit and told them of the problem. They had ordered a set @ .010 larger when I ordered just in case I mis calculated, they shipped them right out. Yes I had to ship my pistons back but they didn't wait for the return. I had my different pistons in two days. Like I said, I deal with local when it is something that I can get local if I can get it at a decent price. My experience is that I dont get a decent price and more often than not I get we can't get that or don't know what that is.
I'm lucky enough to live in Watertown, SD so I buy parts through Randy Gribble (Lake City Rod and Customs) whenever I can. He's always very competitive price wise, and even if it is a little more, I don't mind because all the advise he gives me is priceless! He's always willing to give me advice and help me anyway he can. (Very helpful when you're building your first car! )
Hi all.I agree about shopping the locals.However as some of the OP`s have said,prices can get crazy.Back in about 85/86 I rebuilt the 302 in my OT truck..030 punch.Locals wanted $45.00 EACH for the pistons plus rings. Checked out P.A.W.Got a set of Badger flattops for including rings for $110.00 delivered.Time for delivery was 8 days from the time I dropped the order in the mail till the UPS truck dropped them at my front door. That was from East Tn to Cali to me.Not bad service. Good luck.Have fun.Be safe. Leo
I am super lucky to live in the dead center of the fifth largest city in the country. In a three mile radius I have So-Cal Phoenix, Loper's, Az Jobbers parts supply, Two major nut and bolt wholesalers Copperstate and Phoenix Nut and Bolt, Nappa (last resort!) MacFadden/Dale industial Hardware, Two circle track race shops, Three paint supply shops, and three new/used Motorcycle parts places. Been buying at almost all of these joints so long now that I get best pricing available, and know damn near everybody on the counters at any given time. As good as all that is, I still miss Carl over at Rod Factory for "T" bucket stuff, and Karl's Custom for VW stuff. Not too often that I HAVE to order from out of state, although say three times a year I order from Speedway. Almost everything else I build.
The question, would you miss them if they went away? If they don't have the buisness they will be gone. In my case that small part I need right away would be 40 miles away. Add 80 miles of gas and time to a $10 part and see how that works.
PAW was the shit. They were all gone by time I was a teenager but I remember going with my neighbor when I was younger to Chatsworth and being in heaven walking into that building. Remember that phone book of a catalogue?
Every shop is local to someone.....even though 90% of them are in Cali. I buy my parts from whomever gives me the best price for the highest value.
I do like the idea of using you buttholes to get the parts I need, checking the classifieds on here is part of my morning routine, yahoo news first , hamb classifieds , then Craigslist!
Support the local guy! You earn your money local and spend it local. Plus the stories and know how you can pick up in a local shop is priceless! Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I am working on a T-bucket project right now, and I bought 2 5/16 x51" flared lines for the tranny cooler.Bought them from advance for $7.40 each. due to a miscalculation I ruined one of them,so I decided to run to the local parts store for another line,$11.00,same line,same manufacturer.The local store is about 2 miles from me,Advance is about 4 miles, I should have driven the extra 2 miles.
I got my best deals from PAW by talking directly to shipping and receiving. If you spoke the language them guys would go out of their way to make sure that you get the best that they had, or a reasonable facsimile there of. One time they screwed my order up and sent me the wrong plugwires. I called about returning the wires, the guy said if you speak spanish I will hook you up with the shipping dept, I can't communicate with those guys. So I said OK then hook me up. So I am talking to the guys and he says, I'll ship your plug wires today, I said give me the addy to return the others, he says not to worry they are just plug wires. Then he says is there anything else he could do for me, I said sure that if he wanted he could send me an engine stand, I could always use a spare engine stand. So I waited for a couple of days and this truck rolls up, not UPS, and stops and unloads my PAW shipment, I am thinking pretty big and heavy for plug wires. My spare engine stand comes with a set of plug wires. I still have the engne stand. maybe that was what did them in. I wish I had been bold enough to call and ask for one of those hemi kits.
I usually buy from Bob's Automobilia for all my weird Buick 263 stuff. Not local to me, but local to California. I like that when I order parts they call to clarify with me, making sure I get what I need like the fuel pump for my 53. I like that when I call I get Bob Sr. on the phone to answer my questions on an install. They bust their assess to get you quality service and have a passion to talk with you about your car. When I did my clutch I ordered parts on a Monday afternoon and had them installed by Saturday. Posted from Jalopyjournal.com App for Android
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