On Line Sales By rapidjim (Read 739 times)

[rapidjim]

I am thinking about adding 2 wheel scooters to my trike web sales. Have a couple of questions for everyone concerning this.

1. Do you prefer to order and pay for your purchase online, or would you prefer to talk to a real person before ordering and order that way? At the moment when I sell a trike it is by phone. The customer calls and check with Ice Bear to see if the color and model they want is available. Then call the customer back and finish the transaction. The reason for this is I see a lot of sites that you must choose 3 colors when you order and hope you get your first choice.

2. Do you prefer to see shipping included in your price or listed separately?

3. Would you buy an extended power train warranty and if so what would you think would be a fair price?

4. What do you think should be covered in an extended warranty?

5. Anything else that bugs you about online sales?

Thanks

Jim/Owner
Rapid Repair

[wolfhound]

Jim, I always from my local dealer but from the responses that I read concerning
your drop shipping I would not hesitate to use you.Havingdealt with you on other
things I know you to be honest and interested in giving good service.
If you get a bike line you might want to consider one of the Taiwanese lines.
My TGB's have proven most satisfactory.

[kz1000st]

When I bought mine from GSmotorworks I liked having the shipping included in the price. As much as I loathe them I grudgingly admire the way Scooterdepot tells you up front how much they're going to rip you off for a forced warranty and shipping. I don't like being surprised during the purchase process with shipping costs.

If it's going to be separate put it in the ad "Super Whiz Bang 150 $550 + $400 shipping + $150 1 week warranty" just like Scooter Depot

To answer your question. We did buy a one year extended warranty from GSMW. It was worth every penny. I got an exhaust system, valve springs, head gasket, retainers, base gasket, exhaust gasket and an O ring for the oil drain plug-no questions asked.

I know somebody will say bad tires should be covered-I'll agree with that.

[Bashan]

Jan 6, 2011 8:08:58 GMT -6 rapidjim said:

I am thinking about adding 2 wheel scooters to my trike web sales. Have a couple of questions for everyone concerning this.

1. Do you prefer to order and pay for your purchase online, or would you prefer to talk to a real person before ordering and order that way?

Online with the item plainly explained as to what it is without a bunch of stupid trash talk. Click here for the worst example of trash talk.

Jan 6, 2011 8:08:58 GMT -6 rapidjim said:

2. Do you prefer to see shipping included in your price or listed separately?

Include the shipping, it makes it simpler.

Jan 6, 2011 8:08:58 GMT -6 rapidjim said:

3. Would you buy an extended power train warranty and if so what would you think would be a fair price?

No extended warranty, everytime I buy something at Lowes and they want to sell me an extendo warranty I think there's something wrong with the product or they're trying to make a cheap buck

Jan 6, 2011 8:08:58 GMT -6 rapidjim said:

4. Anything else that bugs you about online sales?

Too much hype, not enough fact. Everyone here knows you could be trusted without question Jim, it's conveying that to the cyberworld that would be difficult. I'd say short, sweet, to the point, spell it out. JMO Rich

Jan 6, 2011 8:08:58 GMT -6 rapidjim said:

Thanks
Jim/Owner
Rapid Repair

[wolfhound]

What Rich said!!!

[rapidjim]

Thanks Guys! I am trying to put this together. Seems the consensus from those that I have talked to and the replys I have gotten, including a couple emails, this might be a good thing to do. Right now I have a distributor with a bunch of 150s left over from 2008 and 2009 that has a special on them, I may try those as a test case and see what happens. Problem with that is it is limited models and colors and is first come first served. More later.

I also want to thank you guys for the kind words about how I do business! I try hard to make sure my customers are happy and get what they pay for.

Jim

[cookees]

Jim,
Biggest problem I see is that the makers of the better scoots specifically prohibit their dealers from selling "in the crate". That and you run the risk of really pissing off an existing "franchised" dealer when you ship into their area, even if you fully prep the bike.

[rapidjim]

Jan 12, 2011 11:24:01 GMT -6 cookees said:

Jim,
Biggest problem I see is that the makers of the better scoots specifically prohibit their dealers from selling "in the crate". That and you run the risk of really pissing off an existing "franchised" dealer when you ship into their area, even if you fully prep the bike.

Yep I have ben down the franchise road, it is definately full of pot holes.

Jim

[Bashan]

I've talked to Cookees about this and as you can see he has some very definative and valid reasons against internet sales. When the wife and I bought our first scooters from Green Earth in the fall of '09 we were flying blind. We thought that the decent looking website and rock bottom prices were the way to go. Well we got two beat up crates from China with no: instructions, statement of origin, warranty info, bill of sale, etc.

I've thought that by now the general public might be ready for a step up from this type of trash sales (by the way, I think Green Earth has listened and gotten some better). What if a dealer took delivery on the questionable scooters, redid them to be reliable, and reshipped them as a quality product? Sure it would cost more up front but you'd have a decent scoot that wouldn't fall apart and it would still be a helluva deal. So then my Father-in-law buys a Compeller from the POS site in my first post KNOWING about Scooter Doc.....go figure. I guess folks just like the flashing lights on those kinds of sites and dirt cheap prices. For me, the jury is still out on what would succeed with internet sales.

Now, one more idea and I'm done, I promise. Start a scooter manufacturer in the states! Purchase scooter systems from Asia, assemble them here, and brand them yourself. Could you see Cookee scooters with a big Cookee on the front cowling and a big retro headlight surrounded by the big blue head (Tom actually has a head like that by the way). Or RAPID JIM scooters with Jim running like hell on the side. I'm joking but serious at the same time. I'm not sure what kind of hoops the government would make you jump through to sell over here. How about BASHAN's SCOOTERS! Oh wait, I think that's been done. Rich

[randy]

Now, one more idea and I'm done, I promise. Start a scooter manufacturer in the states! Purchase scooter systems from Asia, assemble them here, and brand them yourself.
I think that is what RC Moto was doing. I bought a Hot Rod 150{ TNG Lowboy} from them in 2005 and the vin number shows it is made in the U.S.A. It has been a verrry good scooter with about 8,000 trouble free miles

[rapidjim]

I am too damn old old to run beside anything. I am just like the old bull on the hill talking to the young bull. Young bulls, says "let's run down this hill and get us a cow" the old bull says "lets walk and get them all".

Jim

[Alleyoop]

Jim,
I would not worry about other dealers getting pissed off at you, if you can sell them crated go for it, are they paying your bills. You can offer a PDI for a price only if they are willing to pick it up and or pay for shipping put together, you don't want to get into the business of RE-CRATEING. Some dealers in Florida give you that option.


ON A SIDE NOTE HOW'S MY 60mm Stroker Looking any luck IF NOT I will order it from Ebay.
Alleyoop

[kz1000st]

When I bought my scooter from GS Motorworks I was flying blind also. Their site had two things going for it. It was simple, easy to read and lacked frills and secondly, they talked about quality and inspecting what they sold before letting it loose. I got my paperwork in three days and the instructions, while not "Scooters for Dummies", was easy enough to follow and got me through the job. I've never regretted the purchase.