PLEASE READ - REGARDING THIS BBS AND WEBSITE!!!
 

Hi there everyone. As you already may know, Pelican Parts has been in business and growing for the past three years. We have been self-financed up until this point.

Now we are beginning to look for outside venture capital so that we can expand our business model and this wonderful website. I'm working on a company profile right now, and I would like to solicit user 'testimonials' as to the usefulness of this BBS and this website.

If you like the website & BBS, your comments and feedback would be much appreciated by replying to this BBS topic.

Many thanks in advance!!!

-Wayne & Tom

Wayne,

I want to thank you for this BBS, The help and information I have obtained are priceless. You have found a way to gather the Porsche community into a single place for discussion. For the posts on this board I have received information I would have never discovered on my own. Along with Peilican Parts' helpful diagrams, tech information and the aid of all those who join this board I have been able to perform every mechanical tack on my own. And that is what Porsche envisioned. This BBS board is the best thing to happen to the internet and carries on the vision of the Porsche family in prioducing a car engineered and designed with the owner/mechanic in mind. thank you.
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Paul
78SC targa

Wayne & Tom,
The volume of traffic at this site speaks for itself. Never before has there been such an opportunity for the Porsche enthusiast to gather information, advice, and caveats. Not only do we gain information and knowledge, but Pelican has an isight to what the customer needs and wants.
Thank you for providing a forum that benefits us all.

This Internet site has been a phenomenon. At least that's the word that came to my mind earlier today, thinking about the great information we just heard from an engineer at the Porsche plant in Weissach!

The joining of technical information and practical experience at the Pelican site is nothing short of magical. The 911 BBS troubleshoots owners' cars at a rate of dozens per day, and is very effective at providing expertise to owners at all levels of mechanical expertise. Mechanics come here for advice.

This site is hands down, the best Porsche site in the world. Pelican comes out on top in the parts and helpful service categories as well.

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'83 SC

As it has been mentioned above, I want to say that without this initiatif from you both, there would be a lot of P-lovers who surely schoudend have bought or fix their car without the knowledge of this wonderfull site. Surely I couldn't have done the job without it. And not mentioning all those tips & trics that I learnt thanks to all of you guy's. Rafael

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Here we have a site created by people earning their living by selling Porsche parts, who not only do not mind us posting other companies names which are their direct concurrents, but also let us find ways NOT to spend our money on their products by helping each other find the most appropriate solution to the itches and glitches of 911 ownership.
And the site owners don't ask for a fee, or mind if we're customers of their products or not.
Thanks Tom and Warren.
GeorgeK

Being new to 911 ownership, I have found that this site has let me gain knowledge that would have taken months and a lot of money through books etc.

It has been extrememly interesting learning from others about Porsches and have found intelligent posting from nearly everyone who contributes - a rare thing on an online BBS http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/wink.gif

If I lived in the US I would be definately be sourcing my parts from PP due to the debt I owe you for maintaining this excellent board and all the technical articles.

Thanks again,
Phil

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'72 911E Sporto

The access to the Pelican Parts Bulletin Board has allowed me the opportunity to perform operations on my Porsche I heretofore would have deemed impossible. Not only is the board informational but when you need the parts the people at Pelican have always been most helpful in guiding me in the most effective direction with patience and knowledge.
Thanks,
Mrdi

Wayne & Tom,
I only wish I had found this site BEFORE I started working on my 83SC.Being a newbie to Porsches, I made a few classic beginners mistakes,it was and still is an ongoing learning experience.This web site and Pelican Parts has provided me with assistance and
saved me hundreds of dollars by allowing me to get the information and parts I needed to preform some of the work on my car myself.
I personally would not object if you did something similar to what Rennlist does,have a membership of sorts that maybe gave discounts to members and access to special areas on the site.I'm not a paying member of Rennlist, I've considered it,just never got around to it.I most definitely would pay to join this site ! I also would not mind if you had t-shirts and ball caps, I would wear them with pride ! I think that a Porsche owner who knows and uses Pelican Parts and this site is a more informed owner,therefore,keeps better care of their Porsche.

Also, as a new 911 owner I can't simply put in to words how profoundly useful the Site is. I joined the BBS before I bought a 911 and I dread to think of what my purchase and thereafter maintenance/problem solving would be like without the BBS and tech. articles etc. I'm in the UK and anyone in the world can equally share information and warmth amongst owners from simply logging on to the Site and the BBS. This is the Internet at it's best, and the best use of it I've seen yet as a classic car owner and someone who has used the web for the past several years.
You are truly a Saviour for Porsche owners and you build in to that a sense of unity and good will amongst owners.
THANKYOU!
Anthony Saffery

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'75 911S Targa
http://member.aol.com/asaffery/my911s.html

The internet is a wonderful piece of technology that too few have learned how to exploit. This site is as well engineered as the cars we drive. It allows a regular guy like me to drive and maintain an exotic with confidence. The only problem I have found with it is the "addiction". If I don't get my daily fix, I am not myself. Thanks guys.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

There are a lot of excellent sites on the internet, but this BBS goes above and beyond by being a truly great resource. I appreciate the time, effort and expense necessary to maintain a site of this caliber and as a result I look to Pelican first to source all my parts. While not always the cheapest ( but always competitive) I think you need to factor in the huge savings many of us have experienced as a result of the information provided here.
This is excellent customer service by it's purist definition.

Thanks

Jeff C
81 SC

Wayne & Tom

I found Your site purely by accident just after I purchased my Porsche. The information I found within the Tech Articles, Parts Diagrams, Tech Q&A, as well as your Catalog is worth a million. The information and entertainment found within the BBS is priceless. I don’t know if I would own an older Porsche if there was no Pelican Parts Web Site.

Thank you for supporting such a wonderful resource.



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Dave
1970 914-6 (soon GT)

Well I will tell you as a newbie to the Porsche world this site is nothing short of awesome. The information and advice here are priceless. It really is nice to have a place to get together with other car fanatics. I have learned more about my 911 here in a short time than any books could teach you.It is amazing that a total stranger will go way above and beyond to help us less knowledegeable enthusiasts and share their experience and knowledge with us. I would like to thank you Wayne and PP for this site. The only problem with this site is the addiction to it!! Thank you again.

Wayne, Your combination of a forum to post questions and a business to sell Porsche items is a terrific idea. You have developed a customer loyalty that is second to none! I have frequently purchased items not only from the companies that have the best prices but also from those that answer all my questions. Developing an understanding about a product is important to consumers. Pelican Parts has achieved this. Best of Luck in your progress.

Michael Herock, owner 1989 911 coupe
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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.



[This message has been edited by 89911 (edited 01-28-2001).]

Wayne & Tom:

As a Porsche owner, I can attest to the volumes of help your company and website have provided in maintaining my car.

As a user of the Internet, I can attest to the enormous amount of valuable information that the Internet has placed in my hands.

As a fellow business owner (currently on number three), who likewise must deal with capital and financing issues,I can attest to one other significant feature or your business and your website. If one were to describe a business model for a company who wishes to increase sales and growth they would describe it thusly:
1.Increase customer loyalty by providing great service and information.
2.Increase name recognition in a niche market.
3.Use the latest technology to create a user friendly environment for customers and prospects.
4.Use the latest technology to give customers the ability to provide feedback about goods and services available.
5.Create a value-added service for the exact demographic group that is the richest source of potential customers.

You have done and are continuing to do these things. No matter the medium the message remains the same. High quality service that the customers value means success. And more customers. And more success. The Harvard Business Review would be hard pressed to find a better example of how to do right.

David E. Murphy

Oil cooler scoop $93,
Turbo tie rods $129,
Information gained from Pelican Parts BBS..PRICELESS!!!!

(Not original, but applicable)

Wayne
I first became aware of Pelican Parts when I saw an advertisement for a cd-rom in either Excellence or Panorama . I then discovered that you had a BB , I had been using the Potomac PCA bulletin Board to share information and advice and was pleased to find that Pelican hada board as well . Prior to becoming a member of the bb , I had traditionally ordered parts from several of your competitors. After getting involved with your bb , tech articles and part schematics, I have felt a sense of obligation, and more importantly, the desire, to support the organization that has supplied more resources to the Porsche owner then any other I know of at this time. Consequently I have ordered parts and manuals from you in the last several months and plan on continuiing to do so. Thanks for the forum and your companies contribution to the Porsche community at large.

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Bob
1982 911SC Targa
PCA - Founders Region

Tom and Wayne,

Your website and bulletin board for Porsche owner's is fantastic. It's popularity with Porsche owner's from around the world has grown steadily over the last 2 years.

As a home "do-it-yourselfer", your web site is a constant reference. I am very appreciative of your tech articles and the wealth of knowledge available through the Porsche BBS. You have definently lowered the cost of Porsche ownership for me.

I want to THANK YOU very much and wish you the best for the future.

Regards, Bruce Russell
Schattenbaum Region, PCA

Wayne,
I have been "lurking" on this BBS for years and it's my favorite site on the internet. It's almost like getting Excellence magazine everyday. Thanks for starting it up and I look forward to it continuing for years to come.

John

Wayne & Tom,

As a new owner of a used Porsche 911, I have found this BBS to be an invaluable resource. Post a question and in no time there are 5 responses. I'm finding these people love their cars, and it's really their pleasure to help you with whatever questions you may have. And I've also found the BBS archive to be extremely helpful-just type in a keyword, and up comes all the information on a subject that has been discussed in the past. Lastly, this BBS has saved me much of one of the most valuable things we have-TIME. My continuing thanks to the people who have helped me out, and especially to you, Wayne & Tom, for making it all possible in the first place!

Blackfoot

Wayne,

I just recently purchased my first Porsche, an '83 911SC. I did it only with confidence gained from research, most of which was gathered on The Pelican Parts BBS. I realize that thereis still much I don't know, but I know that the answers to allof my questions are here, and that when parts are required, Pelican will be there to provide them. I have already purchased several items from you, and have been very happy with the availability and service I have gotten. I monitor this BBS on a daily basis, not only for knowledge, but for entertainment. Congratulations on running a such a wonderful service for your customers!

Magilla Gorilla
'83 SC

Wayne, Tom, and Pelican:

I can't tell you how much I have come to depend on this website since purchasing my first Porsche a year and a half ago. This BBS has taken the fear out of the idea of me working on my car. If it weren't for all of the generous and unselfish folk sharing their insight and experience up here, I would have spent a lot more money on parts and repairs that may not have been necessary. Aside from all of this, the Pelican BBS is just a fun place to hang, too!

Adam Nitti

This site is more than just a place to buy parts. It has turned from a great discount parts house that is available 24 hours a day online into much more. The offerings of the Technical Articles, the BBS and the amazing community in it, and the personal touch that Wayne and Tom add has sparked enthusiasm in many Porsche owners to the point that they take on projects they might otherwise not.

Great job, guys.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9
The Porsche Owners Gallery

It has all been said in above posts, with the exception that I first found this posting before I purchased my p-car. After reading many postings and then purchasing the car, I needed parts. The postings and the responses I received led me to buy parts from Pelican. I would think most VC companys would want to keep what brings in business. I know I would.

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John Birkett
72'T Targa

I visit this site on a daily basis and read everything that is posted on the BBS as well as all of the tech articles. The BBS is the very best thing on the internet for me and I'm sure many others.
Additionally, I always try to purchase parts through Pelican. The service is outstanding.
Thank you for this site that has taught me so much about my Porsche.

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Zach
77 911S 3.2

Dear Tom and Wayne:

Your BBS and product offerings have been integral to the enjoyment of my first Porsche. I have ordered parts from your company and have asked advice regarding the installation of the parts from this BBS and your staff. Everyone has responded in a quick and professional manner that makes working on a Porsche enjoyable.

The product offerings within your company have always arrived quickly, and all the parts I have ordered have been of the highest quality.

This BBS is fun to read and be a part of. There are many folks on this board that are more than willing to help, I think that if they could they would swing by your home and do the task for you.

This forum has become one of my favorite stops on the net during the day. I can gain a lot of information regarding my car just by checking in on a regular basis. Being able to search your archives on past posts has also proved invaluable.

You have a great product and service here, I wish you much success in making your business grow.

John Keir

Thanks Wayne and Tom.

I live in New Zealand and the numbers of 911 mechanics is fairly limited, so I used to get ripped of in regard to how long a certain job should take etc. With help from this BBS I have managed to keep them honest (one outfit I hauled them through the courts and got back $2,200). Now I do almost all the work on the 911 myself.

Also the prices on parts in New Zealand tend to be a rip off. Tom has supplied me with parts between 80% and 50% cheaper than locally supplied parts and that's including the shipping down under.

[This message has been edited by Bill Douglas (edited 01-28-2001).]

There's another large 911 bulletin board out there in webland, but it has become a tiresome chat room involved in numerous meaningless discussions and opinionations, if that's a word. It has also long had a major failing, in that it is un-refereed by anybody who has any real 911 knoweldge and authority, so a certain amount of the "advice" given--often by the loudest and most self-important of its participants--is always suspect. I appreciate this BB, therefore, because it 1/usually stays on subject rather than descending into descriptions of "How I blew the doors off that slammed Civic," and 2/I'm confident nobody is going to be allowed to give advice that will melt my pistons or fry my headlights. For which I thank you guys.

Stephan Wilkinson

the pelican parts bbs is the undisputed reigning champ for porsche information exhange. the users are very helpful and professional in navigating fellow users in all aspects of porsche ownership.
bob
'68 911L

This site (the WHOLE site, not just this BBS) is what every business's site should be like-complete, informative, helpful, useful, and free. So many other companies seem to be happy to sell you something-but when it comes to how to install it, or get the most out of it-or even perhaps how to do without it by making a simple adjustment or repair on what you already have, they just don't get it. Pelican GETS IT! Sure, they're in business to make money-but just as important to them is the free exchange of information and ideas, the education and enlightenment of people who wish to make good use of the data, and the preservation of cars that are SPECIAL-a worthy goal, in my opinion. Add to that the fact that the 911 BBS has somehow transcended it's programming and has become more of a community than just a simple question/answer forum, and you have the ingredients for customer loyalty the likes that's seldom seen in this cut-throat, profit-above-all-else business world we live in. To Wayne, and everyone else at Pelican-my hat's off to you. Great job guys.

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Clay Mcguill www.geocities.com/the912guy

I discovered this website 1 month after buying my 76 911. I had to restore it almost completely. If I didn't have the great help of this bbs, I would probably left the restoration in the middle. And wouldn't like these cars the way I like mine today. I have a lot of fun with my car nowadays.
And if it wasn't for this web site, I would have a completely different thought about porsches.
Because of this BBS we can have porsches and work on them for a cheap cost.
Tks for the pelican crew.

Pelicans site is definatly the premier site for Porsche enthusiests, it offers user friendly rapid access to invaluable information for the Porsche owner

Hats off to Wayne for his hands off approach to this site vs others that are heavily moderated and censored.

Jeff
78 Sc

This forum has been really fun for
me the last couple months. I did not know
it existed until another Porsche friend asked
why I bothered with reading the Rennlist anymore. At that point, your 911 forum required some investigation on my part.
In the past, I had used your technical articles and got the free CD (and the odd
wrong CD with goofy CA sales speel).

Now I have been a member of four other Porsche Internet lists since '93 (Stan Hanks's Porschephiles all the way up to
being a Lifetime Rennlist member).
This 911 forum is the best medium yet.

From my four months of observations, your forum has consistently shown:
more solid information on obscure Porsche subjects, excellent advice, less of the omnipotent, Porsche subject matter experts with big egos, good user rapport, the tolerance of diverse opinions and
most importantly, a very high Porsche S/N
ratio.

Keep up the great work!


I also have tried to use Pelican for
parts now when possible. When in conversation
with Pelican reps, I have told them thanks for this forum. Now please be Raceware
distributors so I can buy my needed rod
bolts from you.

Bill
72T

Wayne and Tom, I cannot recommend your site and business more highly. After purchasing my first Porsche 911, I seached the entire web for 911 information, products and a bbs. This is the only site that fit my needs. Further, I have come to trust and depend on Pelican for advice and products. As others have mentioned, Pelican Parts does not hesitate to refer customers to other merchants when appropriate, confident that they will return to Pelican. Pelican has proven that it can be trusted to tell the consumer the most cost-effective way to effect repairs and goes out of its way to make sure its customers do not waste their money on needless parts or upgrades. This creates customer loyalty and long-term relationships that are more profitable to the company. Finally, the people on this site and the information provided by Pelican have given me the confidence to do my own repairs with parts purchased from Pelican Parts. Even when I have a professional install parts, I will use this board to diagnose the problem and purchase the part from Pelican, saving the huge markup mechanics charge for parts. Without this site, I would be having all maintinence and repairs done by a professional mechanic instead of purchasing Pelican's fine products. Thank you very much.


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MRM 1984 Carrera Cab Eurospec

I hate this damn site. It's addictive! It's a beautiful day in California, it's 30 minutes before some football game and I have not even petted my Targa today.

You guys have taken every spare waking minute away from me. I sneak peaks at work, and it's all your fault.

THANKS

The Best... Not only the information from
this bulletin board but the entire site.

The technical information provided and the manner in which it is provided is great.

Easy to navigate and find information. I always refer people to the site for information and as potential new customers.

Keep up the good job. The same is true of the 914 information. I have both a 914 and 911.

Good Luck
Joe A

I find the information on this board to be extremely useful. I thank Pelican for providing this service. In return my first parts call is to Pelican, they have always responded with courtesy and knowledge. Shipping arrives on time and I have never had a billing error, unusual for internet shopping. This BBS is solely responsible for my first shopping experience with Pelican, the great service has been responsible ever since.

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Rob Fix
'78 SC Targa

To Wayne, Tom, CW Don, Darren et al...

Your site and service have been invaluable to me, through my 914/4, 914/6 and my current 911 addiction. I have found the site, the service and the posters an invaluable source of information and guidance.

I have bought, sold, traded parts and learned things that I never would have in my neck of the woods. I have met and conversed with others all over the world. Bent a few elbows with some with a beer in one hand and the Porsche out in the lot...others I still consider as a friend even though I will never meet them...I constantly recommend your service/company to all that I meet in the Porsche world...

MTZ
83 euro cab
Santa Barbara CA

To any Venture Capitalists Considering Investment in Pelican Parts:

JUST DO IT! Tom, Wayne, and the whole crew are not only gifted in their parts retail abilities and their customer service intuitions, they are passionate about a special automobile that captures the imagination of young and old. And they have been for some time. Now, their BBS is second-to-none, and as mentioned before it represents the best the Internet has to offer.

Yet, they have very attractive pricing on their products, too. In the 18 months of ownership, I've purchased $2,000+ from these guys and will continue purchasing.

[Oh... and here's a newsflash to those unknowing of the Porsche world. As wonderful as Dr. Porsche and his engineers made their cars, there's little things that wear out. Plus, we Porschefiles can't seem to leave well enough alone and want to add things. Others have rightly named this an "addiction." Loosely translated for you, Mr. VC, is cash flow!]

So, JUST DO IT!