Parts Website - Your Opinions Needed

[jwh1113]

Thanks for taking the time to look at this post.

I am in the midst of starting a brand new performance parts website. I am not going to tell you the name of it because it would be against the rules of this board and I think it also is not right. So a few questions:

What is important to you when purchasing from a website?

Does free shipping make your purchase from a website?

How much is your avg purchase?

I would appreciate any and all comments. Thanks for your time.

 

[Magnethead]

What part sector would you be dealing in (if not general), what would be your plan of action to compete with jegs, summit, and Herbert performance, and who would your dealers be?

Because it seems to me that Jegs is more of a speed shop while Summit's campaigns try to focus more on the 4x4 crowd (slowly migrating back to a speed shop), and herbert only advertises at the track. That said, if you could bring in lesser known companies, that may help.

What's important for online ordering? Well, first is an up-to-date SSL certificate, second is menu navigation and presentation (like say, I like jegs more than summit, because jegs actually shows images and has easier and faster navigation), a good search script always helps people find what they want faster, having up-to-date stock and backorder records (like newegg for instance), and customer reviews never hurt.

Does free shipping make a difference? Of course! Especially for things like (long tube) headers..you're more than welcome to pay the extra $100 for my order to be shipped by freight. Just don't jack up the cost of the product (too much) to do it.

Location of mfgr makes a difference too. If it says "Made in USA", i'll order that before something that doesn't say where it's from, or a product from out of the USA. Even if i have to pay a little more.

 

[jwh1113]

I am basically going to sell "general" parts. I really do not have a plan of action to compete with the big dogs. They have way too much $ to even try to do that.

I am trying to find good manufactures that make quality parts. Having a car makes it a bit easier. I will definatley be looking for parts made in the USA, but these days it will be hard. I will do the best I can on that.

I know some companies offer free shipping but you and I both know, nothing is free. They either do like you said and bump the price or add a good size "handling" charge. This is something I'll have to look at really hard.

When talking prices, if companies bring it in and stock it they have to add the shipping to the price and then "bump" it up for the "free shipping". I have a good supplier here that would drop ship right from his warehouse and save racers $. There is no reason to keep adding $ to a part when there doesn't have to be. I will stock some items though. I just want to offer quality performance parts and a good price.

I really do appreciate the information that you gave me. It all helps. I hope some more people on here jump in and tell me what look for.

Thanks for everything.