I'm starting up my internet business this month and will be requesting price lists from numerous wholesalers and manufacturers. What brands/manufacturers products should I carry? I plan to sell just about anything someone might want for their car, audio, security and convenience products (power windows and locks, trunk releases, door poppers), performance parts like intakes, headers, exhausts, cams, pulleys, turbos, IC's, S-AFCs, clutches, rims and tires, etc. Just shoot out some brand/manufacturer names that you like the products of. I won't be stocking all this stuff unless this venture really takes off, but I'll have access to it all. So pick your brains (not your nose) and see if we can't cover everything from top to bottom that we could ever want for our cars. Please let me know what type of products the company makes in case I haven't heard of them. I'll check in and update a list in this post. Thanks. :)

-Rob

I put a few ??? by brands that I don't know what they make, so if you posted it, please clarify. Thanks. Here's a list I'll keep up and alphabetized, so look through it before you suggest anything.

ACT
AEM
Alpine
Apexi
Autometer
Blitz
Brembo
Commando (alarms, KE, remote start)
Coustic
DEI (clifford, Viper, PPI, Orion, etc.)
Energy Suspension
Enkei
Falken
Fidanza
Forge
Garrett
Greddy
Ground Control
HKS
Hotshot
I.C. Dynamics (alarms, etc.)
Incon
JL Audio
JUN
JWT
K-9
K&N
KYB
Magnaflow
MB Quart
Momo
Motul
MSD
NGK/NTK
Nismo
Optima
Pacesetter
Panasonic
Parts Express (wholesaler, tons of stuff)
Place Racing
Polk
Raxle ???
Redline
Rota
Spal (power windows, locks & switch kits)
Spearco
Stillen
Stromung
Sumitumo
Techtom
Tial
Unorthodox
Toyo
Volk
VRS
Walbro
Wilwood

Provided that you're going to be cheap, here is a list of brands I think you should carry:

1) Apexi
2) Stromung
3) Garret
4) Unorthodox
5) ACT
6) Panasonic
7) K-9
8) K&N
9) Sumitumo
10) Raxle
11) Techtom
12) Greddy
13) HKS
14) Blitz
15) Momo
16) Polk
17) Alpine

That should do it for me right now.

18) hotshot
19) jwt (if possible)
20) autometer (gauges)

niiiiiiiiice, do we get an SR20 forum discount?

So what's with the business gig? Are you gonna do like an ebay thing or setup an internet store?

Some more additions:


21) Fidanza
22) Volk
23) Falken
24) Magnaflow

25) AEM
26) PR
27) Forge
28) Spearco
29) Tial

most of these places you have to have a huge buy in, a huge warehouse, ect, ect, so you will more than likely get an account with another wholesaler, and go from there. I want to say Volk is like a 5K buy in, and it goes up from there

I'm going to do my best to buy direct from the manufacturer, but like Brian has pointed out, some of them have big buy ins, require an actual store front, etc. I can tell you right now that DEI (clifford, viper, precision power, orion etc.) products I'll have to get through a wholesaler. I'll need to go through a few wholesalers because I'm starting this thing on a zero overhead basis, although I already have money into my domain name and tax paperwork but that's it, I'm getting my web hosting for free. I also want to do business with people who are willing to drop ship, although this would mean that a person's order might arrive in seperate packages, it'd keep the S&H down for the customer, and they'd get their stuff faster. If I can't undercut the competition on a product I'll be flat out honest with you guys and tell you who I've found that has a product cheaper. I'm not looking to take anyone's money if they can do better elsewhere. I'm mainly starting this up so I can get parts for myself cheap and also offer to get stuff for fellow forum members at little to no markup. So yeah, we're hopefully looking at a major discount. The internet store will mainly be there just to kind of feel this thing out and see if I can't make some money doing this (mainly to pay for my own parts). The tough one could be finding out who to get engines from that is reliable, maybe I can get a business to business discount from Watanbe's or something. I'm trying not to be too optimistic, but I'm hoping I can really get stuff for us cheap.

More wheel choices, Rob.

I'm looking for a set of the 15" Enkei RPF1's, with the 35mm offset, also a set of Toyo T1-S's(205/50/15)... hint hint hint;)
Heck, even some Yoko ES-100's(205/50/15)

Maybe throw in a set of Kyogen light weight lug nuts...

Centercaps

Car care products are big on the internet.

Different types of horns that we could use on our Classics

Notice, other than the wheels and tires, I haven't the foggiest notion about other products. And, I won't until I need a different product.

Cool clothing with Nissan/Classic pictures or emblems on them. Even my wife made some for me by using pictures she found on this forum. I know, "cool" is relative.

How about battery cables? Ok, Rob, you can stop laughing now.

More power to you and bon chance,

Mark

VRS Exhaust/piping?

are you gonna deal with engine sales at all?

I'll have to find a place to get engines first, and only if I can undercut other places, otherwise I won't bother with them, and unless they'll drop ship, there's no way I'll be able to get them cheap. Problem is, the people that would know, likely wouldn't tell me because they'd be cutting themselves out by doing so. That's understandable, like I said, I'm just trying to do well for us, the internet store is where people can pay my markup for stuff. Needless to say, this isn't going to happen overnight. Shit, I have to contact every single one of these companies yet, not to mention fax them my business info, and that's if I can buy direct, otherwise I have to ask them for a list of wholesalers they sell to, and go from there.

i think you forgot the most important one:

http://store4.yimg.com/I/rodi_1739_12395349

Very funny. :) What else guys? What's missing?

KYB
and soon too

Got it up there, and I hear ya on that one. I'm going to be putting all my ES bushings in, along with new springs, struts and sway bars in June. If the rest of my paperwork goes through within the week or next week I should be able to start getting my price lists from places.

Toolapcfan:

You have used the word "undercut" several times in your post. I've been in this industry for a long time in some form or another and would like to give you some advice.

Some of us have to make a living in this industry, and that means we need to make a profit to survive and pay our mortgage. I'm not talking about crazy markup, but when shops have HUGE overhead and invest lots of money to start a venture that will support the motorsports community with services we all need, 10% markup doesn't cut it. I can't buy an ACT 2600 clutch for $340 and sell it for $370. It just doesn't work.

I think everyone understands that those of us who runs shops and such need to make a living and there has to be markup involved.

Whoring parts out for 10% over cost does nothing but bring the entire industry down and hurts everyone including the consumer because real world shops who make and develop parts and offer tuning services can't survive because people who are starting bedroom business don't care and sell parts for damn near cost.

It also brings levels of service down to nothing because you can't possibly afford to take the "hit" on a part if the wrong one is shipped, installation attemped and you now have to sell it as used for less than cost.

Don't sell yourself out on price alone because that is not the be all in high performance. Service goes a LONG way. What's your return policy? What happens if there is manufacturers defect? Wrong parts are shipped? Who do they ship it back to? Etc etc. I know *I* wouldn't buy from someone who is just selling parts cheaply and has no support behind it. I'd rather pay a few bucks more with peace of mind.

Just some things to consider, and I don't mean this as a flame at all. I'm simply looking out for the enthusiast AND shop owners alike and offering some advice.

I understand your concern Jay, and I certainly have neither the means nor the intention of droppign the bottom out and ruining the market. I'm just hoping to offer parts at better prices than what people are accustomed to. The only reason I said that I'd offer parts to guys around here at little to no markup, is because I have a feeling that the zero overhead approach I'm taking is going to mean that I am not goign to buy parts at the cheapest prices. Someone who's willing to make a three to four figure minimum purchase from a given manufacturer or wholesaler is going to get their products cheaper than I, who will be ordering one part at a time and wanting drop shipping as well. So I think the reality is going to be that If I'm able to undercut anyone on anything it's probably going marginal, nothing staggering. Additionally, as mentioned, since I will initially be stocking nothing, orders that invovle numerous manufacturers/wholesalers, products will arrive accordingly, so a person might have to wait for a few packages arrive to get their complete order. In effect the whole business will be run with every product being a special order. As long as I can arrange drop shippping for most of the products, shipping duration and cost will be kept minimal. My return policy will really depend on what costs I will have to incur due to restocking fees from wholesalers and manufacturers. Defective products probably wouldn't incur any restocking charges, and although return shipping is typically covered by the customer, even in the event of defective product returns, I'd do my best to cover those charges as a service to my customers. Service is very important to me, and since profit is not my intial goal, service and value will be my focus. I've heard enough horror stories of bad service, like that whole turbo mess at the B15 forums, people waiting months and months for parts, just to keep getting excuses from some guy about not being able to pay his bills. I'm keeping my day job, so there will be no reason I can't keep this thing afloat. I'm not looking to hurt anyone with this thing, I'd cut the cord on the whole thing right now if that's the case. You're a well respected figure in the community Jay and given your background, I'd appreciate your input and direction if I can start to make money at this thing. I don't want to make any enemies, I just want to do right for myself as well as people who want a good deal on things as well as good service.

Originally posted by Toolapcfan
I understand your concern Jay, and I certainly have neither the means nor the intention of droppign the bottom out and ruining the market.

Glad to hear it. Just keep in mind "undercutting" all the shops can turn into a vicious circle really fast where we push all the small guys out of the picture. :) (Just look at what happened to the domestic side...entry fee for a domestic parts shop is INSANE thanks to Summit, JEGS etc etc)

I'm just hoping to offer parts at better prices than what people are accustomed to.

And who doesn't want to do that? I think we ALL want to be able to give our customers the best value for their dollar. (Remember the term value and dollar) Selling on price alone is the easy way out and honestly doesn't add a lot of value.

Here is my logic on the subject. Value cost money. That money has to come from somewhere. Do you (You =s' customer) want "mad cheap" parts and be banged over the head $90 an hour for labor? Or would you prefer a hefty "shipping and handling" charge? It's all a balancing act because the bottom line is a certain dollar amount has to be made to keep the lights on and make more than a McDonalds employee.

I'll use an example of a guy who bought a Greddy turbo kit from the shop I used to manage. He came in and inquired about the kit. I quoted him (If I remember right) $1800. He came back and said "I can get it from XYZ for $1480" I told him to order it from XYZ, BUT if he had any issues installing it I won't be able to help him and if something doesn't fit he is going to have to play the "shipping game". I offered the kit for $1650 (Only made like $150 on it at that point) He bought it from us.

Two days after he got it, my phone rang about 14 times in 6 hours with questions. He finally got it running but not good and stopped by. I spend another 45 minutes rewiring some things, and showing him how to do this and that. The car then ran SWEET.

I asked him outright afterwards. Are you sorry you bought it from us and not XYZ on-line retailer? His response was "HELL NO, you saved my ass"

THAT is what I mean by value, and that cost money for the shop to offer. See the difference between "value" and straight "dollars"?

The only reason I said that I'd offer parts to guys around here at little to no markup, is because I have a feeling that the zero overhead approach I'm taking is going to mean that I am not goign to buy parts at the cheapest prices.

Well you might be surprised. Unless you spend $20,000+ for buy in's you don't get that much off. With no buy in you are what's usually called "dealer 1". With a 5-6K buy in, I'm a "dealer 2" and the difference is about 5%. The next step is "Wholesaler" and some just go right to "WD" (Warehouse distributor).

For a small shop to slap $20,000 down for a buy in just for Ray's (Ray's ='s Tanabe, Volk etc and it IS that much last time I checked) is a LOT harder than you think. We've burned through 40 grand in getting our shop built and up to speed already and have another 20 to go at least!

The $1000 buy in at most places just gets you Dealer 1 pricing. That's it. Some do dealer 1 for no buy in.

So I think the reality is going to be that If I'm able to undercut anyone on anything it's probably going marginal, nothing staggering.

Well I hate to be the realist hammer but you're perception is wrong. And I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm just being straight forward. The import market is whored out pretty bad from all of this. There is not much markup to go around unless you manufacture products yourself.

The difference between dealer 1 and dealer 2 on a SE-R clutch "kit" from ACT is about $35, an Autometer boost gauge is $3...yes three dollars. That's it after a large buy in.

Keep in mind there is also a 2.5% credit card surchage to overcome as well. On a $3000 turbo kit that is $75 when there is only a few hundred dollars on markup. You can't add money back on for credit card customers either...it's illegal.

My return policy will really depend on what costs I will have to incur due to restocking fees from wholesalers and manufacturers.

This is something you REALLY should look into or you could end up screwing yourself and customers if you are not careful.

Think it out all the way before you go for it and make phone calls where needed.

Service is very important to me, and since profit is not my intial goal, service and value will be my focus.

Good, because that matters IMO a lot. If you are putting all of your profit into covering expenses associated with servicing you can probably keep your head above water. Just keep in mind you will be working for free. :)

You're a well respected figure in the community Jay and given your background, I'd appreciate your input and direction if I can start to make money at this thing.

Thank you for the kind words and I just want to make clear again that my intention was not to try and discourage you from starting a business, I just wanted to be sure you fully understand how this whole thing works. Again, I'm just looking out for the customers and shop owners alike.

Perhaps I can even help you out with some things as we will have many VR products produced in-house.

Good luck. :)

Ground control