A Message to the EVO M Community
Evolving Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 259
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From: bartlett
That extra 5% goes into quality. Shops like AMS make their parts in house. I have AMS's full turbo back and it is a quality piece of work. Yes it cost a little more but it was superior to many brands out there in compairison to decibel note, apparence, and installation ease.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Dragon41673
K, not trying to jack a thread...wasabi is gone? Ugh...was planning on visiting them sometime next year...oh well.
This is exactly the reason why Eric posted this thread. Wasabi was a great place...wonderful guys. People...seriously think about it for a while before purchasing something...do you want that personal touch that only people like AMS can give you...or do you want to speak to a guy behind a desk that doesn't even own a car anywhere CLOSE to what you're driving telling you what to do and how to do it? Hands down...gotta go with the people that will ALWAYS be there for you and that know what your car can and can't do!
This is exactly the reason why Eric posted this thread. Wasabi was a great place...wonderful guys. People...seriously think about it for a while before purchasing something...do you want that personal touch that only people like AMS can give you...or do you want to speak to a guy behind a desk that doesn't even own a car anywhere CLOSE to what you're driving telling you what to do and how to do it? Hands down...gotta go with the people that will ALWAYS be there for you and that know what your car can and can't do!
Wasabi Racing Inc
Born 8-2003 Died (CLOSED) 10-20004
I've been saying the same thing in the import auto parts end of thing for about ten years now. The mass mechandisers and internet only stores are killing off all the local businesses. Have you actually seen a new "family-owned" hardware store go up in your neighborhood? No, but how many Lowes/Home Depots are going up daily. They are contributing to the dumbing of our collective customer base. These are the people who now only expect the best price and forget entirely how to pay for service.
Eric, great post and sorry about the rant.
Eric, great post and sorry about the rant.
Let me put my slant on this. First, I totally agree with AMS. Those of us who are "real" shops are all in the same boat. Let me break it down from the tire side which is the most "Whored" up part of the aftermarket industry
For those that think we are making money hand over fist do the math. 20% is what we look to make. In most other retail business they work on 30-40%. Yes, competition is the name of the game and this can sound like a bit of sour grapes, but just take a minute and think about our side. If I make 20% then take a credit card I loose 2% on the fee. Now I'm at 18%
My main business is race tires. We have two stores and two trucks with trailers that we take to the races. This cost's money. The cost to run a storefront and traveling storefront cost lots of money. So when we see some clod selling the same tires we have at our normal, fair, price undercutting us by $10 or more that really hurts the the overall business. Imagine this scenareo: A potential customer calls and asks about a new set of tires. You guide him in the right direction, tell him what is required to upsize, what tire would work best for his application and based on where they live. You spend a good 5 minutes giving them the info they need to make an informed decision. Then comes the big question; how much do the cost. You give them the fair price and they counter with "but online tire guy has them for $ much less." Now, knowing there is no way for him to talk to anyone at said Online tire store, to get basic info. How am I supposed feel? I'm pissed especially when I go look a the prices on the Online site and see they are only making $5 per tire. Remember I know what they pay. So yes we are little sensative on this issue.
There will always be those who buy on price alone, that is why Walmart thrives. But I would hope that those on this site and racers and tuners as a whole would remember once the shops are gone, who's going to answer your questons or change your flat tire at the track. Hope this explains a little more.
For those that think we are making money hand over fist do the math. 20% is what we look to make. In most other retail business they work on 30-40%. Yes, competition is the name of the game and this can sound like a bit of sour grapes, but just take a minute and think about our side. If I make 20% then take a credit card I loose 2% on the fee. Now I'm at 18%
My main business is race tires. We have two stores and two trucks with trailers that we take to the races. This cost's money. The cost to run a storefront and traveling storefront cost lots of money. So when we see some clod selling the same tires we have at our normal, fair, price undercutting us by $10 or more that really hurts the the overall business. Imagine this scenareo: A potential customer calls and asks about a new set of tires. You guide him in the right direction, tell him what is required to upsize, what tire would work best for his application and based on where they live. You spend a good 5 minutes giving them the info they need to make an informed decision. Then comes the big question; how much do the cost. You give them the fair price and they counter with "but online tire guy has them for $ much less." Now, knowing there is no way for him to talk to anyone at said Online tire store, to get basic info. How am I supposed feel? I'm pissed especially when I go look a the prices on the Online site and see they are only making $5 per tire. Remember I know what they pay. So yes we are little sensative on this issue.
There will always be those who buy on price alone, that is why Walmart thrives. But I would hope that those on this site and racers and tuners as a whole would remember once the shops are gone, who's going to answer your questons or change your flat tire at the track. Hope this explains a little more.
AMS, the best way to compete with low price companies is to differentiate yourselves. Offer something(s) that a basic discount reseller can't. Let not be fooled, we are all affected by price. Too low OR too high can kill a sale.
Like most typical customers, I will research a product (not a brand), throw in a little common sense and experience, review my evaluative criteria, and pick the brand that best suits my needs. When I decide on the product and brand, I shop for the lowest price.
So why did I pay 225 plus shipping for the AMS lower IC pipe? Differentiation. Your's is the best. It benefits me most.
AMS, make products that you have the capacity to make, and make them better than similar products out there. Price them fairly, even if slightly higher, and they will sell based on benefits and advantages. But parts are only a small piece of the pie.
The most obvious product that no virtual store can offer is labor. I will always pay for good labor on something I cannot perform myself. I like to install everything I am able for two reasons. First and the largest, is so I can learn. I love to learn new things and changing cars as often as I do and working on what I can feeds that for me. The second reason is to save a lot of money. It always nice to buy parts and still see your bank account grow.
But when it comes to tuning, I'd rather Mark at TurboTrix make the power. If I was local to you, I am sure that I would be in there getting dyno tunes when needed. But alas, I am not.
So to avoid losing to the discount competition, do not blind yourselves to them and focus on how they hurt you. Look at them. Analyze their model. Find a way to use that in the aspects of your business that is similar to theirs. Look at WalMart. How big are they? The biggest? What do they do? Sell cheap crap that the people who work there don't know anything about. It's a model that works online and obviously offline. Grow your buying power. You are also online. Start a discount web based store named something else. But remember that your bread and butter lies in what makes you different.
Like most typical customers, I will research a product (not a brand), throw in a little common sense and experience, review my evaluative criteria, and pick the brand that best suits my needs. When I decide on the product and brand, I shop for the lowest price.
So why did I pay 225 plus shipping for the AMS lower IC pipe? Differentiation. Your's is the best. It benefits me most.
AMS, make products that you have the capacity to make, and make them better than similar products out there. Price them fairly, even if slightly higher, and they will sell based on benefits and advantages. But parts are only a small piece of the pie.
The most obvious product that no virtual store can offer is labor. I will always pay for good labor on something I cannot perform myself. I like to install everything I am able for two reasons. First and the largest, is so I can learn. I love to learn new things and changing cars as often as I do and working on what I can feeds that for me. The second reason is to save a lot of money. It always nice to buy parts and still see your bank account grow.
But when it comes to tuning, I'd rather Mark at TurboTrix make the power. If I was local to you, I am sure that I would be in there getting dyno tunes when needed. But alas, I am not.
So to avoid losing to the discount competition, do not blind yourselves to them and focus on how they hurt you. Look at them. Analyze their model. Find a way to use that in the aspects of your business that is similar to theirs. Look at WalMart. How big are they? The biggest? What do they do? Sell cheap crap that the people who work there don't know anything about. It's a model that works online and obviously offline. Grow your buying power. You are also online. Start a discount web based store named something else. But remember that your bread and butter lies in what makes you different.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Greetings
Most car owners have parts and services from multiple vendors, I have parts from Vishnu, AMS and tons of other suppliers, I am getting a Turbotrix tune this sat. But, the most important single factor for me was the help and services provided by Alamo Autosports in Arlington Tx. Brice knows how I use my car, upgrades it accordingly, and is there if I have questions. I do not consider his prices out of line at all. You get what you pay for. Some internet providers don't even have phone numbers for crying out loud. If a business cannot make money, they will not be in business long. Support ypur local tuner shop, the cheapest deal is not always the best deal.
I am very interested in the alcohol injection possibility, need to call and find out more
Eddybear
Most car owners have parts and services from multiple vendors, I have parts from Vishnu, AMS and tons of other suppliers, I am getting a Turbotrix tune this sat. But, the most important single factor for me was the help and services provided by Alamo Autosports in Arlington Tx. Brice knows how I use my car, upgrades it accordingly, and is there if I have questions. I do not consider his prices out of line at all. You get what you pay for. Some internet providers don't even have phone numbers for crying out loud. If a business cannot make money, they will not be in business long. Support ypur local tuner shop, the cheapest deal is not always the best deal.
I am very interested in the alcohol injection possibility, need to call and find out more
Eddybear
Keepin this post alive
Totally agree with this 
The business I am in is similar where we spend billions in research (a majority of which never pans out!) and Vulture's sit and wait to pick it off; all profit and no expenses in R&D.
What will eventually happen? R&D will go away = sh*tty products
!
The business I am in is similar where we spend billions in research (a majority of which never pans out!) and Vulture's sit and wait to pick it off; all profit and no expenses in R&D.
What will eventually happen? R&D will go away = sh*tty products
!
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
I agree. Support your local shop in any way you can. Have you ever tried returning something over the internet from some basically unknown name; impossible! Even as a shop owner it sometimes is hard.
AMS has a great product for the Evo community. Check out the stats!
AMS has a great product for the Evo community. Check out the stats!
Originally Posted by TurbotrixRacing
" hey i bought this afc online .. can you give me the settings over the phone " ..
I bet you wish you could just tele-smack the guy right there...
I would try to support ams but eric is so damn busy! lol jk man, they been good to me since I got my evo8 in 2003. They been always they have been so helpful but man your shop needs to expand! Well good luck to guys at AMS, and eric stop working so hard!
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Odessa
Originally Posted by EVOTEXAS
AMS, the best way to compete with low price companies is to differentiate yourselves. Offer something(s) that a basic discount reseller can't. Let not be fooled, we are all affected by price. Too low OR too high can kill a sale.
Like most typical customers, I will research a product (not a brand), throw in a little common sense and experience, review my evaluative criteria, and pick the brand that best suits my needs. When I decide on the product and brand, I shop for the lowest price.
So why did I pay 225 plus shipping for the AMS lower IC pipe? Differentiation. Your's is the best. It benefits me most.
AMS, make products that you have the capacity to make, and make them better than similar products out there. Price them fairly, even if slightly higher, and they will sell based on benefits and advantages. But parts are only a small piece of the pie.
The most obvious product that no virtual store can offer is labor. I will always pay for good labor on something I cannot perform myself. I like to install everything I am able for two reasons. First and the largest, is so I can learn. I love to learn new things and changing cars as often as I do and working on what I can feeds that for me. The second reason is to save a lot of money. It always nice to buy parts and still see your bank account grow.
But when it comes to tuning, I'd rather Mark at TurboTrix make the power. If I was local to you, I am sure that I would be in there getting dyno tunes when needed. But alas, I am not.
So to avoid losing to the discount competition, do not blind yourselves to them and focus on how they hurt you. Look at them. Analyze their model. Find a way to use that in the aspects of your business that is similar to theirs. Look at WalMart. How big are they? The biggest? What do they do? Sell cheap crap that the people who work there don't know anything about. It's a model that works online and obviously offline. Grow your buying power. You are also online. Start a discount web based store named something else. But remember that your bread and butter lies in what makes you different.
Like most typical customers, I will research a product (not a brand), throw in a little common sense and experience, review my evaluative criteria, and pick the brand that best suits my needs. When I decide on the product and brand, I shop for the lowest price.
So why did I pay 225 plus shipping for the AMS lower IC pipe? Differentiation. Your's is the best. It benefits me most.
AMS, make products that you have the capacity to make, and make them better than similar products out there. Price them fairly, even if slightly higher, and they will sell based on benefits and advantages. But parts are only a small piece of the pie.
The most obvious product that no virtual store can offer is labor. I will always pay for good labor on something I cannot perform myself. I like to install everything I am able for two reasons. First and the largest, is so I can learn. I love to learn new things and changing cars as often as I do and working on what I can feeds that for me. The second reason is to save a lot of money. It always nice to buy parts and still see your bank account grow.
But when it comes to tuning, I'd rather Mark at TurboTrix make the power. If I was local to you, I am sure that I would be in there getting dyno tunes when needed. But alas, I am not.
So to avoid losing to the discount competition, do not blind yourselves to them and focus on how they hurt you. Look at them. Analyze their model. Find a way to use that in the aspects of your business that is similar to theirs. Look at WalMart. How big are they? The biggest? What do they do? Sell cheap crap that the people who work there don't know anything about. It's a model that works online and obviously offline. Grow your buying power. You are also online. Start a discount web based store named something else. But remember that your bread and butter lies in what makes you different.