Title quote by Barls
Good quote there Barls, gotta laugh at the fact that so many people seem to know what they want and how to do it, but are most likely to afraid to get off thier ass and do something about it.
If it's so easy to run an online VW shop, put your money where your mouth is.......heck, I'll even be a part of it if someone wants to help.....
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
here here i agree with Barls its very hard to start any business wether it be a shop front or internet based venture,
but also this back and forth talking is good to get the msg thru to the business owners to make them try and smooth all the creases out but whinging gets no one anywhere be pro active and voicing it properly gets you alot further
cheers guys, its good to be quoted for good reasons for once.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me
We have a small 2 person shop and we may get 5 calls a day wanting work done now 🤪,I say sorry but I can book you a time.
if they need it done rite away maybe try K MART auto as they have lots of staff. People don't understand that they have to book jobs in as we normally have work booked in a week in advance. Cause if I was waiting around every day for a job to come in I wouldnt have a business.😊
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
While I agree in principle to Barls quote,
there is also the point that you don't have to be a chef to know that your steak is burnt
I am sure it is not easy to run a parts store but maybe there is room for improvement and all criticism/feedback is good surely.....
P.S do people still say "Heck"
Keeping it real !
heck yeah!
You don't own your business ... your business owns you!!
No it's not humorous 🙄
most of the vw guys I buy my parts off, here and overseas are only small shops with a few staff and I know there is only so much a few people can do.😊
Even McDonald's drive Thur have parking bays to wait for your order🤪😂🤪
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
ian.mezz wrote:We have a small 2 person shop and we may get 5 calls a day wanting work done now 🤪,I say sorry but I can book you a time.
if they need it done rite away maybe try K MART auto as they have lots of staff. People don't understand that they have to book jobs in as we normally have work booked in a week in advance. Cause if I was waiting around every day for a job to come in I wouldnt have a business.😊
I ran my workshop ran the same as yours Ian,I booked the jobs in and built up a good loyal customer base who were willing to book in a week or two in advance it ran successfully.My parts suppliers looked after me because we didn't mess them about,if one didn't have a part in stock they would tell me and I could then get it elsewhere.
I have sold the business and I do not miss the hours or the paperwork or the taxation dept.
😂and some people ask all the time why they dont get someone on the phone instantly
and then u have to answer the questions then u get the line ill get back 2 u
What some customers do is think that people in business are stupid........BIG MISTAKE.
If if you are fair and reasonable - and not some smart-arse , who thinks he [or she] can 'screw' everyone, and get away with it - you will more than likely be well treated. Who in their right mind would miss-treat a customer like that.
Having spent almost 50 years in business [now retired, thank goodness], I have come across a few customers who were a 'pain in the arse'. I'll tell you this - the 'nice' people got the best treatment.👍
Cheers, Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
Having never run or owned a business i am sure it is very difficult, however i think feedback no matter positive or corrective is always good.
As a customer i have no problems in having to book in or wait what really gets up my goat is being bullshitted too about delivery times etc. If a service provider is honest with the customer then most will appreciate it
You are absolutely spot-on, Paul - it's a two way street. Fortunately, competition will take care of 'bad' businesses, and [hopefully] they wont last long.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
Spot on guy's, always two sides to every story and honesty will always win out.
Let's face it, these aircooled wonders aren't getting any yonger, so every repair takes as long as it takes to get the job done to a standard that everyone (owner and repairer) is happy with......ahhh....a perfect world where every job goes to plan 😂😂
edit: and lets not forget most owners/workshop customers aren't stupid either. (most)
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
the funny thing about any business is that even though you own it you still have a boss, it is every single person who gives you there custom. without customers,`there is no business!
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123
It's amazing how many people think that having your own business is a breeze. Years ago, when I worked at home, a friend said "gee you're lucky, working at home". My reply was "I don't really work at home - I live at work!"😠
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
Ha.....and I thought working for yourself was one big holiday 🙂
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
There's two sides to every story...Most complaints I've seen on here are about emails not getting answered in a timely fasion.
I've started, developed, run and sold three niche market business that sucessfully dominated their fields ( old and rare wine, hardcore 4wd parts and custom publishing)
The nature of niche 'leisure' businesses ( where customers are largely supporting a hobby or pastime) means that customers never think they are wasting your time, they're 'researching' particularly with emails- then noses get out of joint when their expectations aren't met. They're prepared to say and ask things by email they wouldn't in person.
As a niche motoring business the vast majority of emails you get don't result in sales- trust me- the major groups are:
-stupid open ended questions that would take 20 paragraphs to answer correctly ( think 'I want to get a VW, what can I do with it? what will it cost? Will I like it?)
- requests for remote diagnoses of funny noises, wobbles and squeaks- real or imagined. Follow up emails will reveal it was nothing to do with it. You will need to follow up and memorize all these to not offend the owners.
- guys who've shopped elsewhere but want technical backup/ soloutions from the 'rip off' supplier now that their bargain doesnt solve their problem. they will justify their need for a discount by saying "but I'm already out of pocket'
- assclowns who didn't listen to you, bought the wrong parts and now want you to make it work.
-people who demand you share the hard earned technical knowledge that you use to make a living.
-Poorly thought out , poorly presented requests for sponsorship.
-Requests for technical diagrams, specs and YOUR SUPPLIERS CONTACT DETAILS!!!( yes really)
-complaints that you didn't use their car for product development
- approaches from people who want YOUR help, to replicate or trade off YOUR business, but dont have any money, so YOU"LL have to give them credit.
- demands from uninfleuntial members of tiny clubs/websites/events that no one has ever heard of, demanding you look after them so they can use their awesome power to promote you.
-hundreds of expessions of interest in starting group buys- they'll rarely acheive anything except wasting everyones time.
- generous permission to supply parts at no charge/ free to the most awesome world changing high profile project in the history of the world ( that will never see the light of day and probably sold off in parts for a profit)
- longwinded invitations to get entangled in pointless internet dick swinging competitions with guys who live in their mothers spare room.
-requests for all the parts to replace everything- but you must itemize it because allthough I claim I'll be your best and biggest customer ever- I'm actually a tightarse building a chunka.
- many emails that basically say- yes, whille I agree that is the best/only/cheapest way to get the desired result I dont want to spend that much...but I demand the best outcome and wish to waste your time.
- letters that pretty much say- I'm on school holidays and want to waste your time...
- letters that pretty much say- I dont have one of these cars, I'm just fantasising and need to know every detail
- Guys who just cant believe that you wont develop a custom part just on the basis that he and a few of his internet buddies would buy one in the future ( when they get a job)
- Despite spending a fortune carefully crafting a state of the art, super secure online store , you'll get orders by email including credit card details because "it's safer"
-Trade guys who want you to send detailed catalogues for parts they'll never order- (they want you to give them a discount , tech support and credit so they can have your retail customers)
- demands for detailed spreadsheets of part numbers/ costs etc so some clown can trash your products on ebay.
- Emails from people who want to know stuff that is plainly spelled out on your website- or who dont like it and think that rephrasing questions will get different answers.
- emails discussing problems with work that was taken elsewhere.
- People who think your psychic- "can I fit it myself' , "how long will it take', "will I like it?"
-Scams, rippoffs and chancers.
All these emails take time to deal with and most of the senders wouldn't ask the same face to face.
But if you dont answer them, they'll slag you off to all and sundry, tell everyone how they could do so much better and return each and every email in a nano second. They'll 'knowingly' inform everyone you're making outragous markups and conveniently forget workers comp, duties, taxes, rent , wages and THE COST OF ANSWERING STUPID EMAILS in their calculations.
Think I'll have a beer after that rant...
i think you deserve one after that rant.
well summed up though.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me
I'm tuckered out, just from reading that, liam66. Will it help me? Could you make it a bit more to the point?
Seriously, I wish every customer, everywhere, would read that - but I know most wouldn't bother. Brilliant.👍
Have another beer!
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
at the end of the day people can be really annoying to other people, thats why i like animals😂
1 1963 356b porsche coupe
2 1960 karmann ghia cab
1 1965 karmann ghia cab
1 1966 karmann cab
1 1961 split ute
1 1967 split p/van
1 1952 standard bug
1 1963 ragtop
1 1960 ragtop
2 1954 ovals
1 1956 oval baja project
1 1957 oval flying flea
Hi Happy days, I think you know my father in law- Rick Senior?
He's got the 302 powered clubman that Gear races at wakefield. He's now building a VW powered rear engined racer with an 1835 I donated. Should be a good thing.
Sure do! Ask Rick about the time he tried to electrocute me. Hope he doesn't want the bonnet louvred on the new car.😂
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
vwsteve wrote:at the end of the day people can be really annoying to other people, thats why i like animals😂
+1
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
liam66 wrote:There's two sides to every story...Most complaints I've seen on here are about emails not getting answered in a timely fasion.
I've started, developed, run and sold three niche market business that sucessfully dominated their fields ( old and rare wine, hardcore 4wd parts and custom publishing)
The nature of niche 'leisure' businesses ( where customers are largely supporting a hobby or pastime) means that customers never think they are wasting your time, they're 'researching' particularly with emails- then noses get out of joint when their expectations aren't met. They're prepared to say and ask things by email they wouldn't in person.
As a niche motoring business the vast majority of emails you get don't result in sales- trust me- the major groups are:
-stupid open ended questions that would take 20 paragraphs to answer correctly ( think 'I want to get a VW, what can I do with it? what will it cost? Will I like it?)
- requests for remote diagnoses of funny noises, wobbles and squeaks- real or imagined. Follow up emails will reveal it was nothing to do with it. You will need to follow up and memorize all these to not offend the owners.
- guys who've shopped elsewhere but want technical backup/ soloutions from the 'rip off' supplier now that their bargain doesnt solve their problem. they will justify their need for a discount by saying "but I'm already out of pocket'
- assclowns who didn't listen to you, bought the wrong parts and now want you to make it work.
-people who demand you share the hard earned technical knowledge that you use to make a living.
-Poorly thought out , poorly presented requests for sponsorship.
-Requests for technical diagrams, specs and YOUR SUPPLIERS CONTACT DETAILS!!!( yes really)
-complaints that you didn't use their car for product development
- approaches from people who want YOUR help, to replicate or trade off YOUR business, but dont have any money, so YOU"LL have to give them credit.
- demands from uninfleuntial members of tiny clubs/websites/events that no one has ever heard of, demanding you look after them so they can use their awesome power to promote you.
-hundreds of expessions of interest in starting group buys- they'll rarely acheive anything except wasting everyones time.
- generous permission to supply parts at no charge/ free to the most awesome world changing high profile project in the history of the world ( that will never see the light of day and probably sold off in parts for a profit)
- longwinded invitations to get entangled in pointless internet dick swinging competitions with guys who live in their mothers spare room.
-requests for all the parts to replace everything- but you must itemize it because allthough I claim I'll be your best and biggest customer ever- I'm actually a tightarse building a chunka.
- many emails that basically say- yes, whille I agree that is the best/only/cheapest way to get the desired result I dont want to spend that much...but I demand the best outcome and wish to waste your time.
- letters that pretty much say- I'm on school holidays and want to waste your time...
- letters that pretty much say- I dont have one of these cars, I'm just fantasising and need to know every detail
- Guys who just cant believe that you wont develop a custom part just on the basis that he and a few of his internet buddies would buy one in the future ( when they get a job)
- Despite spending a fortune carefully crafting a state of the art, super secure online store , you'll get orders by email including credit card details because "it's safer"
-Trade guys who want you to send detailed catalogues for parts they'll never order- (they want you to give them a discount , tech support and credit so they can have your retail customers)
- demands for detailed spreadsheets of part numbers/ costs etc so some clown can trash your products on ebay.
- Emails from people who want to know stuff that is plainly spelled out on your website- or who dont like it and think that rephrasing questions will get different answers.
- emails discussing problems with work that was taken elsewhere.
- People who think your psychic- "can I fit it myself' , "how long will it take', "will I like it?"
-Scams, rippoffs and chancers.
All these emails take time to deal with and most of the senders wouldn't ask the same face to face.
But if you dont answer them, they'll slag you off to all and sundry, tell everyone how they could do so much better and return each and every email in a nano second. They'll 'knowingly' inform everyone you're making outragous markups and conveniently forget workers comp, duties, taxes, rent , wages and THE COST OF ANSWERING STUPID EMAILS in their calculations.
Think I'll have a beer after that rant...
Mate that is a bloody good wrap up of the buying public and in the spirit of "happy days "gees it's good to be retired and not have to put up with the crap of wanton people,although I do miss some of my regulars (particularly those who used to bring beer).Well said Barls Cheers Les
HappyDaze wrote:I'm tuckered out, just from reading that, liam66. Will it help me? Could you make it a bit more to the point?
Seriously, I wish every customer, everywhere, would read that - but I know most wouldn't bother. Brilliant.👍
Have another beer!
Fantastic post Liam66
Greg is so right....I wish every customer, everywhere, would read that - but I know most wouldn't bother.
x2
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
x3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pete -
Custom Vee Dub
28 Hayward st stafford 33564356
HappyDaze wrote:What some customers do is think that people in business are stupid........BIG MISTAKE.
If if you are fair and reasonable - and not some smart-arse , who thinks he [or she] can 'screw' everyone, and get away with it - you will more than likely be well treated. Who in their right mind would miss-treat a customer like that.
Having spent almost 50 years in business [now retired, thank goodness], I have come across a few customers who were a 'pain in the arse'. I'll tell you this - the 'nice' people got the best treatment.👍
Cheers, Greg
love and agree the last comment Greg
😂
VW - helping put oil back into the ground for over 60 years
too many comments to quote, and i think there is no point writing my opinion as many other have already expressed it for me 😂 spot on guys :P
VW - helping put oil back into the ground for over 60 years
I used to work in the parts industry and we did a bit of mail order .One day a bloke rang me up abusing me because he found out his mate got better prices than he did and he demanded to know why
so I tolld him that his mate wasnt a rude arrogant cock !!
His manners improved sharply as did his prices eventually
