What's Up with You Guys?!?!?

[TopsailBeach]

You're getting all my business.

My wife has now decided that the 911 is more expensive than the sailboat, which she says I should sell and simply stop by the bank on the way to the beach each weekend and pick up several hundred $ in 20's, and stand on the end of the pier and tear them in half and drop them in the water, one at a time. That way, I'll spend less time on maintenance.

Oh well...

[toolman]

A good planner would work on his car all winter (here in Michigan) and drive it all summer long. I have an engine, and clutch rebuild on the horizon for this winter. After that it should be good for about the rest of eternity the way I take care of stuff.

[Sonic dB]

Its summertime Wayne...many industries are slow during the summer.

The P-Car used market has slowed down...hence less people purchasing parts for upgrades and repairs.

Competitors? maybe

You got my last order on July 3, havent needed anything since.

[campbellcj]

Oh, I think after spending an average of over $1K/month on my car for the past year, plus buying a trailer and tow vehicle, plus a multilayer driving suit, plus a bunch of driving events...I'm just kinda B R O K E

Honestly, too, most of the stuff I have been buying lately is not in the realm of Pelican wares. Most of my recent orders have been from race car fabrication types of places: Pegasus Racing, Coleman, Coast Fabrication, Earls, and so forth. And for labor services. Oh yeah, and also I blew significant coin on 3 sets of wheels and -R tires...

Sometimes I think a cocaine addiction would be cheaper

[GSpreeman]

The 911 is on the road and isn't in need of any parts right now. As soon as I get some cash coming in I'm beginning the restoration of my 356C. New window seals all around, driver's side rocker, etc.

[5axis]

Just lakes for me

P car projects to resume in the fall.

[dd74]

Ebb and flow of a luxury market, my friend. Our company goes through it constantly.

Racing season might have something to do with it.

I wonder if Pelican Parts sales will spike around Oct. to Dec., and maybe carry over to Jan. when the dads and husbands buy themselves something special after they've finished everyone else's Xmas.

That sometimes happens with us via the galleries we sell to.

Also, and excuse my ignorance, but does Pelican go to Porsche or car trade shows? SEMA, LA Auto Show, etc? You might get some good sales at one of those.

You could also do a "lot sale."

I don't know, I'm blabbering again instead figuring out a way to make money to spend with Pelican Parts.

All I do is try to remember the slow times when we're understaffed and have more on our plates than we can handle.

[Wayne 962]

Just to clarify, it's not bad, but the past four weeks have been consistently down.

Just wondering. I pulled the sales data from previous years. Actually, it's a bit less volatile than the past years, but inconsistent, and doesn't show any patterns...

-Wayne

[jazzbass]

Originally posted by gduke
worked on my car all spring. Waiting 'till after the leaves turn color & fall. then its back to work.

Same here.

[dickster]

i've been putting parts together for my projects for the last couple of years, and have most of the major parts that i need.........

[jazzbass]

Originally posted by chuckw951
A competitor is running a 20% off promotion this week. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

I think you're talking about Performance, correct? If so, I got the 20% discount thing, too. Interestingly, 20% off their over-inflated prices brings them down to Pelican's level. Same thing as with the $100 Porsche dealer certificate that I finally threw away today. I was going to get the 930S steering wheel - $350 from the dealer. After the discount, their price was the same as Pelican's.

[makaio]

I'm too busy working, being fire season and all. I hardly have time to check the board right now. Plus I'm saving to build a second garage. Come Fall, I'll be back in full purchasing swing though .

[cab83_750]

For what it is worth, here are my input:

1. Tried to buy something and the person who answered did not have same personality as Tom. I was turned off and since it was a small item, I went with someone else. I was to email you but did not want to get the 'newbie' in trouble. Sorry!.
2. Keep up with your "Our Competitor is Having a Sale" and we'll beat their sales price. As I said before, although in most cases your regular prices are already lower than your competitor's 20% off, other Pelicanites may not know this! It always helps to remind people!
3. Consider the shipping issue! Or could you at least may a rule that "customer to pay shipping but total invoice will not exceed Competitor's total invoice. This is a win-win scenario!
4. Another Porsche business owner in the aftermarket parts market stated that business has been very very bad. Why? It is cheaper/easier for people to buy newer cars (ex., 993) than keeping and maintaining an old 911.

[}{arlequin]

saving the cash for trackdays' entry fees, tires, motels etc....

[coolbreeze]

i know what will make me spend,,, sell my SC and buy a long hood. think of all the mods with no smog hang ups?

[Joeaksa]

Wayne,

First you say that your business is down a bit and you may have to lay people off, and now I see a sticky saying that you are hiring another person??

The company is growing, and we are looking for a few good people! Specifically a BMW Sales position with knowledge of Porsches. This is a very cool job in a fast-growing company!The company is growing, and we are looking for a few good people! Specifically a BMW Sales position with knowledge of Porsches. This is a very cool job in a fast-growing company!

Have to somewhat agree with Cab83-750. Working with Darren and Tom spoiled me and when I received the email from another person at Pelican last week it did not help. You took care of the situation (the return of some incorrect parts) but it made me realize how lucky we are to have the two guys above who really know their stuff and take care of the customers.

Believe that things will spool up in a month or six weeks. As I said before, our business is so good that we are turning away new customers as we are at the limits now. Just bought a new factory in Canada (St. Catherines area) that is 5 times the size of our previous ops there due to the demand we have worldwide.

JoeA

[Schrup]

Still have to get all the stuff put on from my last order. Just got back from vacation, got to get the teenager ready for school, still buying lots of tools, & my interior is screaming to get done.This time next year I'll be droppin some major jack after I pass my final smog test. Think I'll remove all that bovine fecal matter, & throw on some SSIs, sport muffler, ect. I'm sure glad I locked in at 4.25% for 15 years 3 weeks ago.

[JeremyD]

Amen - too many summer distractions - and way too hot to work in the garage in my neck of the woods!

[power]

Out driving, will wait until winter to buy more parts. Perhaps a new book will help?

[rdane]

Small business here unrelated but also totally dependant on disposable income. The last 60 days have been extremely slow. Dead in comparison to the last three year's figures in June and July. Recession worries is my quess. Last week pulled the sales to an acceptable level but no question I am worried about the next 90 days in sales and production.

Personally after a major rebuild from fall to spring I am driving my car and deciding what to do next winter. The upside for Pelican is I have a few nagging problems I'll need to address shortly but nothing with big dollar amounts attached. To be fair I have also sourced products from other vendors because some were not available easily at Pelican. What happened to the "race/performance" section in the online catalog? You lost sales on seats, carpet, harness, cage and wheels (both kinds) to the tune of over 8k in the 60 days from me.