Pelican Parts Now Sold...Deal Underway...or Just Web Flatus ?

[M.D. Holloway]

Lots of speculation being bandied about. Its no news to many of us that we have seen some changes around here in terms of the way things are being done - some good, some not. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes on the workings of a business.

The interesting thing about what Wayne has created is based around some fundamental axioms about the human condition that will raise a company into a higher level then the competition. Lets explore a few and share others.

Axiom #1 - Your Heart Follows Your Wallet
Anytime you shell out cash on a somewhat continuous basis for a non-essential you begin by proving internal justification then you believe it and it becomes part of your behavior to the point of defensiveness. Think about the money some shell out for youth sports, high end music lessons, watch collections, gun collections, upgrades on our cars - all non-essential for basic life but essential for 'happiness'. Its a personal justification that you defend strongly. Feverishly. Some would even say we could apply this to donations to Church and political parties but this isn't PPOT so lest not go there shall me? Money spent is time spent but a certain type of time is the next axiom.

Axiom #2 - A Platform of Accomplishments and Opinions Garners Loyalty
Give a man an opportunity to brag about his kids, wife, parents, or share what they 'did to their Porsche today' and you establish an advocate. Couple that with a high degree of civility and back patting and you have a devotee. While the PPOT and OT can get yappy, the tech forums are more civil. Folks here are basically very supportive of what you feel is important. You do something to your car, back pat. You lose a loved one, sympathetic ears. A virtual 'Your Story" is established and you are proved the ability to share and also receive affirmations. lets face it, that does not happen in physical interactions with people to the volume this place does. This feeds egos and makes many feel like they are part of something.

Axiom #3 - People Love to Learn
This is obvious so why would more companies figure this out? Facebook, Twitter, all the 'fake' news, (is there even real news anymore), NPR, AM radio, all work because people crave insight. Its entertaining and they feel like it may help them down the line plus its a spend of sometime that beats doing some work you may not enjoy. This place provides social learning as well as hobby insight.

These 3 axioms are really obvious. I am sure that there are others that fit in as well. What is really interesting is that other companies haven't got the formula down. This place does, or at least did. It didn't charge you to be here but maybe it made up for it with a bit higher prices but the service is excellent and the parts come quickly so its all good.

So where does that leave us if Wayne sells the joint to some Cap Vents? Who knows, time will tell right?

One thing is for certain, no smart business owner talks about his business strategy with his customers. He can share his vision and comment on generalities but for legal and just plain smarts you have to keep your mouth shut.

So, if this place is on the block. Oh well. Wayne et al developed a great business and a great place to spend money, brag and share, but most importantly we all had the opportunity to learn. To learn about how to do things with our cars but also, maybe we learned about each other and ourselves. We are just prisoners here, of our device.

So good luck Pelican Parts and Good luck Wayne. Be proud of what you have done.

[widgeon13]

Great business model, hope it doesn't change.

[Por_sha911]

If Pelican BBS shuts down, 2 things will happen:
1) I will have way more free time on my hands to do other things.
2) I will have no reason to purchase from Pelican unless they are the only option since price and time to arrive are negatives. Not a complaint, just an observation.

[wdfifteen]

Google ad for Porsche parts sellers ( Rennline and at least one other one) appear on my screen right under the Pelican banner. Why? That surely must be controllable by the web site operator. You can say goodbye to sponsored message boards if Google allows competitors to advertise on the host's page.

[Brando]

Is a sale confirmed? Announced? Everything Still says "Pelican Parts, LLC" on my screen.

If they do sell, I will search for Porsche parts like I do Mazda parts: Best reviewed + lowest price. It just makes me think of 914club.com after being acquired by Auto Atlanta.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Brando

Is a sale confirmed? Announced? Everything Still says "Pelican Parts, LLC" on my screen.

I have to think none of the players/entities can say anything publicly.

My wild ass guess is ECS, only because someone else noted that AND ECS bought Turner Motorsports in 2015. That's all I got. I have no clue of ECS' financial wherewithal or what Pelican is worth.

ECS Tuning buys Turner Motorsports

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Brando

Is a sale confirmed? Announced? Everything Still says "Pelican Parts, LLC" on my screen.

If they do sell, I will search for Porsche parts like I do Mazda parts: Best reviewed + lowest price. It just makes me think of 914club.com and 914world.com after being acquired by Auto Atlanta.

Huh I knew about 914club being purchased by AA but had not heard about 914world . That's a shame because George Hussey is a piece of...........

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Brando

Is a sale confirmed? Announced? Everything Still says "Pelican Parts, LLC" on my screen.

If they do sell, I will search for Porsche parts like I do Mazda parts: Best reviewed + lowest price. It just makes me think of 914club.com and 914world.com after being acquired by Auto Atlanta.

914World is not owned by AA. Only 914Club is.

[Por_sha911]

So, if my company's customers started asking if we were bought out, I would be putting down rumors that aren't true. Has anyone outright asked PP leadership?

[RANDY P]

Valuation goes up when annual profit goes up. Explains why the other thread exists.

rjp

[M.D. Holloway]

If i started a company and poured my life into it, grew it to be worth millions on a sale would I sell it?





Bet your ass I would. Businesses are like project cars.

[RANDY P]

I would.


External circumstances, new opportunity, writing on the wall, boredom, an unrealistic deal too good to pass up....

You can still play with Porsche's and tanks, and now you can yell back and be rude since you're a private citizen again.

Apart from intellectual property what exactly is an online retailer? It doesn't produce goods, it resells them, has a website, an office space, staff, phones, and a bunch of computers. Easily dissolved....

[M.D. Holloway]

Customer base. I would buy a company maybe for the tech or materials, but mostly for the customers. Its a ton easier to keep customers then to find new ones. I don't care how good a closer you are. Customers develop brand loyalty not so much owner loyalty.

If i was new leadership i would put a bunch into the analytics on what buyers like and dislike and pay real attention to these forums. They are a gem for customer sentiment. Wayne stumbled upon the concept but frankly it is freaking Gold if they know how to read what is being posted.

Some good old cost cutting, fat trimming, throw some more tech web analytics and at order entry and fulfillment, maybe hire a dozen more tech folks that can be on-line to answer questions and process orders 24-7, make sure the inventory is correct and the parts are right, place orders that day and promise a realistic ship to date. do a follow-up call to make sure they are all good and ask if they have any questions or need help then look to up sell if the conversation makes sense to go there. And, as a measure to establish good faith, do some price cuts.

The idea is not to change too much. Folks like what they like but lets face it, new leadership is going to think they know better. maybe or maybe not. Either way they should be cautious and nimble.

And while this is going on, Wayne will start a new book on how to rebuild a Sherman Tank Engine, then write 101 Upgrades for your M1, then buy a King Tiger and write off the purchase by writing about it! Begin his collection while developing a forum. Lather, Rinse, Repeat...


(or do it with American Muscle or Ricers...)

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

Customer base. I would buy a company maybe for the tech or materials, but mostly for the customers. Its a ton easier to keep customers then to find new ones. I don't care how good a closer you are. Customers develop brand loyalty not so much owner loyalty.

The biggest single, one reason for value, and I missed it.

rjp

[M.D. Holloway]

Only reason I know that is time in the field selling. I'm a good sales guy but the energy it takes to close new business outweighs the energy it takes to grow and cultivate existing business. I have seen this with 5 different companies I have worked for all with very different product / service lines.

part of Axiom #4 - People Do Not Like Change.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

If i started a company and poured my life into it, grew it to be worth millions on a sale would I sell it? .

I did. Rode that tiger for 30 years - sold my all stock and moved on without looking back. You have to be ready to let go though, and you need something to move on to.

[daepp]

Someone promise me they'll save the MFI threads... Gulp!

[RANDY P]

we'll know what kind of new master we have depending on what they start to carry for "Porche" owners.

Maybe they can start carrying items such as this, it's quite stylish and would look good on the back of any 930 :

[RANDY P]

Maybe Wayne can start holding an annual "D-Day reenactment" in his hood with that new tank of his. That would be cool.

rjp

[URY914]

We need a PPOT plan B.
What if the forum is deleted?
Where are we going to meet up?