Why I don't buy stuff from Pelican

billwagnon · 09-13-2003, 05:53 AM

Once again I am looking for a part and I can't find it! I thought the DriveWerks redesign would be an aid.

I am looking for the reinforcement kit for the door check strap. I know that it must be easy for some people to find this stuff - I checked interior (includes window regulators! includes the check strap itself!) no joy. I tried body sheet metal - got a long list of Wurth paint products that look super but aren't what I am looking for. And no sheet metal either, for that matter.

I think this forum is awesome. The knowledge here and the activity is top-notch. I could probably post a list of parts and have the relevant links from helpful people in five minutes.

I have a choice of eternal frustration in searching for "secret" items on Pelican, or picking up a Tweeks catalog and just finding the darn thing. I want to buy from Pelican (it's not a lot of money but how many other sales are lost?).

Why does it STILL have to be so flippin' hard to find the parts?!?!?

kellzey · 09-13-2003, 06:01 AM

They can't list EVERYTHING!. Usually they can get it if it's not listed on the site, but not always.

Here's an idea. There is this new device... often next to your computer... it's called a phone. Use it. They EVEN have a toll-free number, so it won't cost you anything.

All kidding aside, give them a buzz. They are very helpful on the phone.

Regards,

Karl

BlueSkyJaunte · 09-13-2003, 06:01 AM

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/dbsql/db.cgi?db=partsearch&mh=20&view_records=yes&uid=default&description=door+reinforcement

It took me approx 20 seconds to find this.

billwagnon · 09-13-2003, 06:04 AM

yep, here's what I get in my 20 seconds -

http://www.drivewerks.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/DW_search.cgi?command=DWsearch&description=door+reinforcement&x=0&y=0

and the phone is a super idea - once I know what I want and what the cost
is.

kellzey · 09-13-2003, 06:22 AM

You can call, even if you don't know the price or part number. They SHOULD help you find what you need even if you don't t know what it is. If they don't, then e-mail Wayne.

I still use the regular Porsche parts finder on Pelican. I don't use Drivewerks.

expat · 09-13-2003, 06:25 AM

I'm gonna 'fess-up here too....I find it really hard searching for stuff on the Pelican site at times. I do order stuff but there has been occasions when I go elsewhere to see if I can find the same part, and usually do much easier.

I agree the phone is a great idea, if your on the same time zone.

Email too can be great but then there's always gonna be a delay with time differences too.

I guess I may just not think of the right search words yet I seem to find the stuff elsewhere.

Perhaps it would be good to have somewhere to log any problems that would give specific examples to Wayne. Maybe patterns would develop that would make it more obvious where the problems lie.

Zeke · 09-13-2003, 06:39 AM

I use the phome alamost exclusively. Ususally have to wait a few minutes. I emailed last Thurs and haven't had a reply yet. They are apparently very busy and the best way is to get someone on the phone and take care of it then and there. Lack of a printed catalogue is inconvenient, but it saves you money. Get someone else's catalogue for a reference.

Elombard · 09-13-2003, 07:15 AM

I often order on the phone too. I find it awkward using the phone because they are obviously looking the parts up in the computer and it seems to take a long time and be disjointed??? My last order I did on line but I knew exactly what I needed and had no questions, sometimes this is not the case.

One thing to try is (using your example) go ahead and pretend to order the strap on line. A list of of parts that "people who order this part often order these parts" pops up. Might work for something like this.

pwd72s · 09-13-2003, 07:24 AM

I'll confess to being a phone customer...I just don't know how to search for parts on a computer well. Call it old goat-itus or something. THe Pelican phone guys are most helpful.

UTKarmann_Ghia · 09-13-2003, 07:29 AM

Yep, finding something on Pelican is not always easy. I dont think it helps when there's alot of duplicate use of products between years and even models. Every once in a while, I just browse the catalog by category and I can get a feel for the layout. I would suggest this to anybody. Also, I think I'm searching more effectively now. I do a search for "911 rubber" and I found my front windsheild rubber. For your example, I would search for "911 door ..." but theres alot to bowse through.

MY83SC · 08:30 AM

I admit....It can be frustraiting at times to find what you are looking for...All-in-All....PP is the best put together internet parts source avaible...Hands down! Not to mention the worlds best P-car technical BB! They are always looking to improve the site...and have done so in the last 2 1/2 years since I discovered them. My hat goes off to Wayne and everyone else at PP for a job well done.

If you can't locate what you are looking for...a fast call to PP, your questions will be answered and your order filled! They are very, very helpful!

masraum · 09-13-2003, 08:19 AM

I have spent lots of time searching for things in the past. Often parts are difficult to find. Thank goodness for the new Porsche-->Pelican part number search.

Jeff Alton · 09-13-2003, 08:33 AM

Phone

TMH · 09-13-2003, 08:33 AM

I gotta continue this thread as I am in the middle of like my 3rd or 4th Pelican order in a month or so. This last one I placed was the first time I have ordered over the phone: I wanted to make sure the center caps I was looking at were correct for my wheels. Order went smoothly enough with little waiting, but I was surprised that Pelican's price was $10 MORE than Performance's. I thought that Wayne was saying (a while back in his "Why isn't anyone buying anything anymore" thread) that Pelican's prices were always equal or lower than Performance's? I told the guy this on the phone, but there was "nothing he could do". Oh well, $10 and I'm already on the phone, so let's just go ahead with the order. That was over a week ago (Friday, 9/5) and I still haven't received the order yet. Pelican is in So. Cal and I am in Nor. Cal, so I normally get them in like 2 days. But now it has been 8 days, and no order yet. Was something out of stock? Must have been to be taking this long, but it sure would have been nice if they had let me know when I was placing the order.

Maybe just a blip, I hope so.

Tom

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

Put it in perspective.
Have you tried to order something online from Vertex or Performance? They have incomplete catalogs, slow shipping and lack of educated customer service. Pelican is not a perfect company, but they appear to me to be the industry leader in Porsche components, providing the best service and broadest product offering as well as the the most comprehensive BBS system around. Oh, I forgot the beneficial classified sections and owners personel attention to the customers and their Porsche related issues.

JG

Jcon · 09-13-2003, 09:32 AM

That really is the point...Nothing is perfect. Pelican though is constantly improving and well ahead of the rest in my opinion. I've placed dozens of on-line orders without a hitch. Most things can be found in 30 seconds. If not I pick up the phone and get courteous help with no attitude. I have not had the same luck with other parts houses.

I think for the sake of this thread people need to be specific so Wayne can work out specific solutions.

CarreraS2 · 09:55 AM

OK, I'll admit it, too - I've had a hard time finding certain parts on the site.

For example, I needed those little rubber decklid and trunklid height adjustment pieces (the ones you screw in and out to adjust the height) and I couldn't find them anywhere on the website.

If I can't find it after a few minutes, though, I just pick up the phone. The guy on the other end was nice and found it in 2 seconds.

It also took me a while to find the Engine Rebuild book! Which, surprisingly, is not in the "Book" section where one might expect it to be (See link below)

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/BOOK/por_BOOK_BKPTEC_main.htm

I think for the most part, though, the site is set up well for finding most parts . . . supplemented by the phone when necessary, it works well.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

If you think Pelican is bad, try Performance Products.

it's a shame, really because i helped architect the Automotion site launched in 1999 (did the catalog, too) the Automotion site from before the buyout not only had excellent acc3ess to 13,000 SKUs, but has 'associated' and 'recommended' purchases as well. It took over a quarter million dollars and nearly a year to build that site, and we won awards like crazy for it.

When Performance bought Automotion, They started from scratch with a huge staff and three years later, have a malfunctioning mess that only accesses about 60% of their SKUs.

Ecommerce sites are a big job. In the Porsche category, Pelican's is the best out there.

masraum · 09-13-2003, 12:22 PM

Agreed, the old Automotion site was pretty good and I HATE the new Performance site.

Unfortunately I agree with much of what BillyPilgrim says. I am a tech geek, I live on a computer and the internet. I can find just about anything I need on the internet, and in my work I have to perform several different searches on Cisco's intranet, internet sites and several internal databases. I'm not the best, but I'm pretty good at finding what I need. I often really have to look around to find stuff on Pelican. I get what I need because it turns into a challenge, and sometimes I still have to call to find things.

I'm sure there are lots of people who do not live in cyberspace that just don't buy their stuff here. That sucks.

For me I'll call because I want to support the site that provides me with so much.

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

I have to agree with most of the posts in this thread. It is too much of a challenge when searching for parts in the Pelican online catalog.

Some have suggested that the telephone is the best way of finding a part at Pelican. I am so much against this that I would use it only as a last resort. Quality parts at competitive prices can only be maintained by controlling overhead. If everybody starts calling, the overhead requirements will increase and prices will go up.

Hopefully, Wayne will look at this thread and realize that the system is somewhat dysfunctional and address the situation.

BTW, I've found the best way to search for parts is to look them up in PET and paste the part number in the Pelican search. In comparison, PET is so much easier to navigate than the Pelican catalog.