Please tell me what we (GPR) are doing wrong, - in other words why don't you buy from us. |
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Please tell me what we (GPR) are doing wrong, - in other words why don't you buy from us. |
Brian_Boss |
Nov 25 2014, 04:01 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 324 Joined: 3-June 03 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 781 |
This is not a sales pitch. I'm sincerely asking for feedback on what we could do, or do better, in order to earn your business.
Even if it's not something I can fix, it would still be good to know. For instance, I realize a lot of people have a loyalty to certain vendor as a result of a long standing personal or business relationship. I go out of my way not to spam this forum with commercial posts so I hope this isn't viewed as objectionable. Brian |
bdstone914 |
Nov 25 2014, 04:18 PM
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#2
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 4,537 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
Brian,
I am not sure you are doing anything wrong. I suggest GPR to many 914 owners and they ask "Who is GPR ? I think many owners do not know you exist. Bruce |
biosurfer1 |
Nov 25 2014, 04:18 PM
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#3
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Teener fo Life! Group: Members Posts: 3,020 Joined: 3-August 03 From: Roseville, CA Member No.: 977 Region Association: Northern California |
It may not be what you're doing wrong, just that other vendors aren't either. Pelican gets me the parts I need, at a competitive price, usually within 2-3 days. Hard to ask for me than that.
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trojanhorsepower |
Nov 25 2014, 04:27 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 861 Joined: 21-September 03 From: Marion, NC Member No.: 1,179 Region Association: None |
I think this is a great question.
I can only speak for myself, but I have not shopped here (even though I had a gift certificate) because I spend all my money on sheet metal. Of the stuff you carry I am not even sure what I need yet. Later in my build I will be in your market and will definitely consider you. Even though my gift cert. expired, you sponsor Octeenerfest, so that moves you to the top of the non specialized vendor list. |
rhodyguy |
Nov 25 2014, 04:29 PM
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#5
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,093 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
timely…called this am to order something (spreading the money around a bit), left a message w/my #, no return call. i'll wait a bit before i shop elsewhere.
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Java2570 |
Nov 25 2014, 04:29 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 649 Joined: 7-May 11 From: Fishers, IN Member No.: 13,035 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
I'm not nuts about the online parts catalog on the website....but it doesn't stop me from shopping with GPR and I do recommend GPR to others also. Other than that minor quibble, I'm happy....carry on!
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SirAndy |
Nov 25 2014, 04:37 PM
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#7
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,679 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
I'm not nuts about the online parts catalog on the website.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) One of the things that puts me off from the website is the flow of the catalog where i have to chose a year for my car first before i can look at parts. While my car is a '70, it has parts from all years and other makes and models and it is hard to fiddle through the interface to find the right parts. This is amplified by the fact that the site remembers my choice and then simply assumes that all i'm interested in is for that particular year and model. Of course, it doesn't help either that i'm currently not in the market for any parts. But as we all know, that can (and will) change ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) |
rjames |
Nov 25 2014, 04:46 PM
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#8
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I'm made of metal Group: Members Posts: 3,955 Joined: 24-July 05 From: Shoreline, WA Member No.: 4,467 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I'd look to GPR more often if you removed the 'minimum order quantity' restrictions.
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stugray |
Nov 25 2014, 04:46 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,825 Joined: 17-September 09 From: Longmont, CO Member No.: 10,819 Region Association: None |
Here is a simple answer:
I have not heard of you because when searching google for "914 parts" your site did not show up in the first 40 results Maybe it is time to payoff Google. |
wndsnd |
Nov 25 2014, 04:50 PM
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#10
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You wanted a horse, but got a goat. Nobody wants a goat.... Group: Members Posts: 2,861 Joined: 12-February 12 From: North Shore, MA Member No.: 14,124 Region Association: North East States |
I agree that the website as it is is not particually user friendly.
I am doing a six conversion and am buying parts, maybe you could issue build discounts, and and give guys that are restoring cars, or doing builds discounts for the life of the project. I have been using a lot more Amazon because of the freight policies. I know a lot of us buy parts on budgets and the freight is killing us. Or, how about an East Coast Warehouse! John |
era vulgaris |
Nov 25 2014, 05:04 PM
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#11
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J is for Genius Group: Members Posts: 982 Joined: 10-November 13 From: Raleigh, NC Member No.: 16,629 Region Association: South East States |
I'm not nuts about the online parts catalog on the website.... One of the things that puts me off from the website is the flow of the catalog where i have to chose a year for my car first before i can look at parts. While my car is a '70, it has parts from all years and other makes and models and it is hard to fiddle through the interface to find the right parts. This is amplified by the fact that the site remembers my choice and then simply assumes that all i'm interested in is for that particular year and model. I have to agree with a couple other posters, that honestly I'd never heard of GPR. I've only been a 914 owner for a year, but when I got my first 914 a google search for '914 parts' turned up AA, Pelican, and a couple others. I opened this thread and thought, "Who is GPR?". But I have to agree with Andy above. That shit is super annoying. I have the same issue with the Pelican website. My old 914 had parts from several 914 years, and parts from various 911 model years. When the website locks you into one model/one year it's a real pain in the ass to find what you're looking for. |
rhodyguy |
Nov 25 2014, 05:06 PM
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#12
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,093 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
As Andy stated. Also, I prefer NOT to order online...ANYWHERE! If I can avoid it.
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Brian_Boss |
Nov 25 2014, 05:13 PM
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#13
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Member Group: Members Posts: 324 Joined: 3-June 03 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 781 |
I'm not nuts about the online parts catalog on the website.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) One of the things that puts me off from the website is the flow of the catalog where i have to chose a year for my car first before i can look at parts. While my car is a '70, it has parts from all years and other makes and models and it is hard to fiddle through the interface to find the right parts. This is amplified by the fact that the site remembers my choice and then simply assumes that all i'm interested in is for that particular year and model. I'm not particularly happy with the catalog myself. In case you are interested, here is the "readers digest" explanation of why it is the way it is. If you want to have a web site selling car parts, you have two basic options. 1) You code the whole thing yourself and supply all the part application data yourself. This option is $$$. Just getting the application data is more money than we spend on technology annually. Pelican is in this bucket. 2) You have a website that is tied to a major distributor. The application data (via the YMME lookup) is provided by the distributor's servers in real time, as is pricing. The literally thousands of hastily branded Worldpac sites are the most common example of this. It is also how our site works, just a little more sophisticated. We can do a lot more than the ubiquitous Worldpac shells but we are locked into the YYME lookup model. Probably more than you wanted to know, but bottom line I don't know how to fix it within my financial means. Of course, it doesn't help either that i'm currently not in the market for any parts. But as we all know, that can (and will) change ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) You better knock on wood or something. Whenever I say something like that, my oil pressure light comes on 5 minutes later. Sort of of like telling your buddies how reliable your car/bike/computer/phone is - instant jinx. |
Brian_Boss |
Nov 25 2014, 05:18 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 324 Joined: 3-June 03 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 781 |
I have been using a lot more Amazon because of the freight policies. I know a lot of us buy parts on budgets and the freight is killing us. Or, how about an East Coast Warehouse! John Free freight if you order $70. One of our distributors has a warehouse in PA and we drop ship a lot of East coast orders. UPS ground is one day to a lot of PA, NY, MA, etc. One idea I was kicking around, would you pay a membership fee (ala Amazon Prime) for free ship on everything?? |
wndsnd |
Nov 25 2014, 05:28 PM
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#15
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You wanted a horse, but got a goat. Nobody wants a goat.... Group: Members Posts: 2,861 Joined: 12-February 12 From: North Shore, MA Member No.: 14,124 Region Association: North East States |
Yes depending on the fee and if your prices were otherwise competitive.
I also thought you were out of CA. John |
patssle |
Nov 25 2014, 05:29 PM
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#16
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 981 Joined: 28-August 09 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 10,741 Region Association: None |
I'll put another mark for website user-friendliness. I've looked for parts before on your site and just got frustrated and went to Pelican instead.
I run a website for a multi-million dollar company. Up until last year it looked like a site from the '90s - terrible colors, tabled/blocky look, pure Web 1.0. But the information was up to date, it was relevant, and it was easily the most user-friendly website in our industry. We made tens of millions off of it. |
bandjoey |
Nov 25 2014, 05:38 PM
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#17
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,926 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I purchased a few items from you when serious price shopping for big items.
Pelican has been my go to for everyday items. My toolbox is plastered with pelican magnets. Sorta.. Out of sight out of mind for GPR? Pelican and the Bird are easy to remember. Is it Grp? Gpn? I've had to search World a time or two to remember your name. I just did a google search for GPR and quite looking after 5 pages too Work on branding is a suggestion. |
Larmo63 |
Nov 25 2014, 05:42 PM
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#18
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,264 Joined: 3-March 14 From: San Clemente, Ca Member No.: 17,068 Region Association: Southern California |
When I get to the point where Speedy is getting all the rust repair done, I will be looking you up.
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EdwardBlume |
Nov 25 2014, 05:48 PM
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#19
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 12,338 Joined: 2-January 03 From: SLO Member No.: 81 Region Association: Central California |
I buy parts at competitive prices first, people I like second.
I'm a buyer for parts for the ABM if you want to PM me for a list. Thx |
Old Yella |
Nov 25 2014, 05:56 PM
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#20
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Old Yella Group: Members Posts: 158 Joined: 2-July 13 From: Canberra Australia Member No.: 16,086 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Hi
Never heard of you either but I just checked out your site. I also agree with others. The page is usable but doesn't flow very well. I prefer headings and the parts listed down the page with a picture and associated parts so you don't forget other items that you might have forgotten but you need. Example. Rocker cover gaskets---screen gaskets----oil filter---oil Some additional comments, cheap is good, free shipping is good, members specials are good, hard to get is good, wish list is good, customer loyalty is good, price matching is good. Listing things you don't have in stock and back ordering which takes weeks or months is bad. Also having the exorbitant prices and then listing the savings is nonsense when you can buy the same parts from someone else competitively. Example Transmission gear teeth , List $279.50, your price $112.46---you save 167.04. I checked several sites and you were competitive but all that bollocks does you no favours. The bird stuffed their web site up with the stupid pull down menu which you have to list the year and model of your car, too many annoying complications but I still shop there as they are fast and efficient. I buy from AA because they have things that others seem not to have. PMB because, well they are nice people. 914 rubber because , well who else. SM have been exy and slow but also have a few hard to get pieces not listed elsewhere. Also helps if you are attached to a web forum which serves certain makes of car,-- maybe you need to sponsor some sites so they allow legitimate advertising which is not considered spam. I did see you have swepco gear oil so I might put in an order after a bit of cost comparison Hope the comments are useful. Cheers |
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