Milt's gig at Pelican...

Zeke · 07-11-2008, 07:40 PM

I subbed for a vacationing sales rep last week and it was a great experience, I had to take several days of training in order to get up to speed so I could fill in somewhat efficiently.

Let me be the first to say that the Pelican Parts regular staff is top notch. They are a team; they take their particular task and run with it. Yes, I saw some physically run now and then.

I was there part time for a short time helping out. I hope there are not rumors that I am there as an employee. I'm not, I was just a temp and testing the waters. It's a tough and demanding job sitting at the sales desk on the phone. So many models and now so many brands. BMW is becoming a big part of PP sales.

Anyway, I did fill in for a couple of weeks and I thank Wayne for the opportunity. I have a way different perspective on what kind of customer I have been in the past! I'll have a lot more respect for the sales staff and have that part number handy when there is a question. This helps more than you know.

Wayne has taken the better part of 12 years to refine the Pelican site for shopping, given us the wonderful forums rated in the top 100 of all the Net, extensive tech articles on the site, and classifieds. All free.

Wayne, thanks one more time for the opportunity to help out a bit when your staff was short. I know I'm not one of them, but I think I held up the pristine Pelican reputation for excellent customer service or you wouldn't have let me sit down at the work station.

It was a great experience and maybe we'll do it again for a week or so. That's up to you. I'm just happy I got to see how a very successful company works on a day to day basis (I'll be ready to work my ass off

if the fill-in opportunity occurs in the future)

Folks, you can take it from me: I've now BTDT and it was a very enriching experience. We should all get a turn on the "other side of the counter."

For the time being, I'm just a normal happy customer and forum member with way too may posts.

mikester · 07-11-2008, 07:57 PM

Ooooo! Wayne could sell the "Pelican Parts SALES experience vacations" like Major League baseball sells baseball camps!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Very cool. I'd love to work at Pelican for a day or two just to see what it's like.

Joeaksa · 07-11-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Very cool. I'd love to work at Pelican for a day or two just to see what it's like.

Same here and nothing like first hand experience!

dtw · 07-11-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

I'll have a lot more respect for the sales staff and have that part number handy when there is a question. This helps more than you know.

I really try to have all part numbers but sometimes I am in a hurry and don't have time to break out the PET. When you call in without the part number, sometimes you can actually hear the rep's teeth grind.

Congrats on what was surely a unique and enjoyable experience.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

less posting, more working !!
where's my order, dammed!!!

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikester

Ooooo! Wayne could sell the "Pelican Parts SALES experience vacations" like Major League baseball sells baseball camps!

Pelican may be doing well, but I don't think Wayne needs us driving business away from his company.

kycarguy 935 · 07-11-2008, 10:22 PM

Tweeks was a learning experience when I worked there in the early 90's at their Signal Hill location.

I agree with you Milt. It's good to try out the other side of the counter.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Working an order desk is a fast pace job. You find that you can never finish ANYTHING without the damn phone ringing. I did it many moons ago for several years in the late 70s.

I have hated phones ever since.

Ian

Oh Haha · 07-12-2008, 04:42 AM

Well, THAT explains it:

I called Pelican for some help and got this guy who was a total a$$ to me. Didn't know anything about anything.

Just messin' with ya.

Sounds like a cool gig to try.

Zeke · 07-12-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtw

I really try to have all part numbers but sometimes I am in a hurry and don't have time to break out the PET. When you call in without the part number, sometimes you can actually hear the rep's teeth grind.

Congrats on what was surely a unique and enjoyable experience.

Well, the reps are there to take orders and recommend parts if they can. You don't HAVE to have the PN, it just helps a lot and makes the order go faster.

Most sales are done online and the sales guys never see them. However, there will sometimes be a question about two very similar parts and the applications. It can get tedious in this respect and that's just an example of the many ways a rep can help. What the customer should understand is that no one can know everything; the reps are there to assist, the way I saw it.

Pelican has the bases covered well. There is a BMW guy who was a bimmer mechanic, there is a 944 guy, there is Glenn who had a string of 914's + an SC and now restoring an early 911 S. And more; if you ask, I'm sure you can be directed to someone that is biased in your area. If the specialist is on a call, the phones will not go unanswered, someone will pick up to help.

I don't want to belabor the details. The point behind the thread is that there are a number of people working at Pelican all dedicated to serving the customer as best as possible. Anything can happen and does...

"I called Pelican for some help and got this guy who was a total a$$ to me. Didn't know anything about anything"

I might have answered that call. Were you the gentleman who called on his cell phone while driving in the canyon with the top down and handed the phone to the girlfriend all the while shouting out the names of parts? When you asked about an axle it sounded like something that ended in "hole."

Danny_Ocean · 07-12-2008, 07:35 AM

Did they search your pockets/lunch pail before you left?

sammyg2 · 07-12-2008, 07:46 AM

Milt, I'm still waiting for that new GT3RS engine I bought for $2500. When did you say it would be here?

Zeke · 07-12-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Milt, I'm still waiting for that new GT3RS engine I bought for $2500. When did you say it would be here?

You know, in one week I had 2 calls for new crate engines. One was a woman seemingly in an airport asking questions to a man and then relating them to me over a cell phone. She wanted a new 3.0 CIS in th box. Well, for one thing, that won't happen AFAIK because of the age. I told her north of 25K.

The other was a gentleman who was thinking about buying a Boxster with a blown motor. That one you can buy, 21+ large..... plus tax and shipping, my friend. So, with the price of the engine equaling the price of a good Boxster, I think he moved on.

Are there phone trolls? One wonders.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Congrats Milt! Sounds like it was an enjoyable work experience. Now you can add another occupation to your "jack of all trades" list.

2.7RACER · 07-12-2008, 08:24 AM

Getting behind the counter separates the "men" from the "boys"
Congrats from one of the boys.

pwd72s · 07-12-2008, 08:40 AM

I chuckled all the way through this. Thanks guys, I needed a laugh this morning.

scottmandue · 07-12-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

Folks, you can take it from me: I've now BTDT and it was a very enriching experience. We should all get a turn on the "other side of the counter."

Indeed, I had a friend (now passed on) who was very handsome and a silver toughed devil to boot (as in when I walked into a bar with him I might as well be invisible to all the women).

Whenever we went to a restaurant he was a total PITA, he couldn't order anything off the menu and everything had to be specially made just for him.

Then he got a job managing a restaurant and swore he would never be like that again.

Thanks again to Wayne for a great website and a great business.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Very cool. I'd love to work at Pelican for a day or two just to see what it's like.

Me too!!

sammyg2 · 07-12-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

You know, in one week I had 2 calls for new crate engines. One was a woman seemingly in an airport asking questions to a man and then relating them to me over a cell phone. She wanted a new 3.0 CIS in th box. Well, for one thing, that won't happen AFAIK because of the age. I told her north of 25K.

The other was a gentleman who was thinking about buying a Boxster with a blown motor. That one you can buy, 21+ large..... plus tax and shipping, my friend. So, with the price of the engine equaling the price of a good Boxster, I think he moved on.

Are there phone trolls? One wonders.

that's all well ad good but ... .when do I get mine? You're still going to throw in a few sets of those PMOs you promised to sweeten the deal, right?

PS, please don't forget the free pelican gift card.