Pelican Parts and Sevice??

[austin552]

Okay,
So P.P. is the best in sales right?
M.M is the worst in rebuilds or service right?
How about a Pelican Parts and Service...
I know its a big jump but would swing a profit.
Hmmm...
What do you think?

[Wayne 962]

I've given this some thought before. The parts business is a pretty lousy business to be in. You're selling a high-maintenance product for cars that are old. You have to know the product inside and out, and also be able to walk the customer through the repair process. It would be so much easier if I were selling books, china, or mattresses.

On the other side is service. One of the messiest businesses around. First of all, with all the regulations and insurance required in California here, you're already starting to swim with concrete shoes on. Secondly, it's tough to find good people to work on the cars for you. Good quality mechanics are hard to find, as I'm sure Dave B. and JWW will atest to.

Finally, if I were to build engines, I would have to run them in and dyno test them here and deliver them leak-free and broken in. Why? There are too many people who would potentially install them and not break them in properly. Then they would return them and claim that it wasn't built properly. Jerry Woods breaks in and dyno tests all of his engines before sending them out. This is good, but expensive. There aren't too many people around who can afford a Jerry Woods engine rebuild (mostly wealth racer guys). The market is small.

As for swinging a profit, see the controversial post I'm about to post in five minutes.

-Wayne

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Wayne,

Move to Texas!!! Just a thought...

[dickster]

mmm, thats a thought. one of the largest car parts/accessories suppliers in the uk turned its hand to minor servicing a few years back. they obviously use their own parts.....

[rcecale]

Originally posted by Groesbeck Hurricane
Wayne,

Move to Texas!!! Just a thought...

Texas, hell! I'm all for Wayne packing up his operation and moving right here to Marietta, Georgia! I'm sure I'm not the only one here who would love to have his crew around!

Randy

[austin552]

An East Coast Operation would be closer to handle the Euro group too. I was thinking only sell your new parts. Rebuild using new parts. I can't believe you would not be able to find good mechanics anywhere. How much would dyno testing run? As far as the break in period, thats a toughy...

[rexav8r]

I hereby lobby for a Pelican Parts move to Cincy or Dayton !!!

Middle of the country, expidites orders to every corner of the U.S.A. (and globe) and I live here !

[no substitute]

Wrong thread

[Zeke]

Lots of businesses leaving CA. Not that it's good for us, but it makes a hell of a lot of sense. NV, no inventory tax or personal income tax. Southern states, low overhead, especially workers' comp. Anywhere in the middle, better distribution. Not that you can't find combinations in one place.

You can't always live at the beach and have the advantages of a better business climate. It's pretty much mutually exclusive.

[look 171]

Originally posted by austin552
An East Coast Operation would be closer to handle the Euro group too. I was thinking only sell your new parts. Rebuild using new parts. I can't believe you would not be able to find good mechanics anywhere. How much would dyno testing run? As far as the break in period, thats a toughy...

Good mechanics and work men are all over the place. What kills your service business is the good mechanics who doesn't care. They can fix the problems, but how they do it is what makes a difference. I deal w/ people in the building trade everyday, man that's tough. When we find someone good, I try to give them what they want. I sleep better knowing the job is done right, and the clients are happy with the crew. Workman who smiles and say hello to clients make all the difference in the world.