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Special Ordering Parts For Customers

#1

davbell22602

davbell22602

How do guys handle parts that have to be special ordered because you dont have it stock? Are all special ordered parts required to be prepaid in advance or does it depend on what part your customer is looking for? I know the engines and transaxles must be prepaid in advance by customers. What small parts such as cables, belts, air filters, carb kits, pushmower wheels, gaskets, blades, etc. that a walk in customer is looking for but you havent had enough demand to keep it on the shelf?

All the other shops in my area require all special order parts must be prepaid. Regardless of what it is from a screw to belt to new engine. They dont want to get stuck with part they cant sell or want the hassel of returning to the distributor.


#2

reynoldston

reynoldston

It must be that I must buy enough parts that I don't have to prepay. One thing I do is when I special order a part I take it and use it and the dealer must knows that. Also I am on a first bases with the parts sales person. Also I would not see a reason for not prepaying if that was the case.


#3

Carscw

Carscw

I think it depends is it a first time walk in or a regular customer?

I first time walk in I think should prepay most times they will have you order a part then find it across town and not tell you to cancel the order.


#4

davbell22602

davbell22602

I had few customers looking for Murray mandels. One customer looking for blades for Troy Built zero turn mower. He said he looked at Lowes cause thats where he bought it from and they didnt have them.


#5

jroske

jroske

davbell22602 said:
I had few customers looking for Murray mandels. One customer looking for blades for Troy Built zero turn mower. He said he looked at Lowes cause thats where he bought it from and they didnt have them.
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Normally special orders would require prepayment unless it would be something I could move. In this case I do not think I would make the customer prepay. If you have a few customers looking for Mandrels I would probable stock at least one because you have a demand for it. If it doesn't move with a specified amount of time..ebay it.


#6

M

MRCo.

jroske said:
Normally special orders would require prepayment unless it would be something I could move. In this case I do not think I would make the customer prepay. If you have a few customers looking for Mandrels I would probable stock at least one because you have a demand for it. If it doesn't move with a specified amount of time..ebay it.
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Agreed, if it would move if they skipped on you, a common enough part, then I wouldn't necessarily pre charge. If I have no other orders to make from a part company and the customer wants the thing quick, I make them cover the shipping. If they can wait til I have a hefty order (might not be a few days in high season) then I cover shipping.


#7

davbell22602

davbell22602

Thanks guys. I think I'll go with advice on if its part I sell if the customer skips out then no prepay. But if its part that would be hard to sell such as new PTO clutch, engine, etc. then they must prepay for it advance.


#8

Fish

Fish

davbell22602 said:
How do guys handle parts that have to be special ordered because you dont have it stock? Are all special ordered parts required to be prepaid in advance or does it depend on what part your customer is looking for? I know the engines and transaxles must be prepaid in advance by customers. What small parts such as cables, belts, air filters, carb kits, pushmower wheels, gaskets, blades, etc. that a walk in customer is looking for but you havent had enough demand to keep it on the shelf?

All the other shops in my area require all special order parts must be prepaid. Regardless of what it is from a screw to belt to new engine. They dont want to get stuck with part they cant sell or want the hassel of returning to the distributor.
Click to expand...

Normally shops will get free freight if they order over a certain amount, but a customer demanding a $10 or less part, I give the choice of waiting until I have a big enough order to not charge him shipping, or pay shipping, and he will get it the next day. But as anyone that has worked in this biz long enough, he has a big list of
folks that have burned him every way from Tuesday.....


#9

M

mowerguy

The shop down the road where I do purchase most of my parts from is prepay everything. And the customer gets a 6 dollar shipping charge if it is not in stock no matter who you are. I am registered as a "commercial cutter" so I only have to pay a 5 dollar shipping charge. Rip off if you ask me


#10

M

MRCo.

Fish said:
Normally shops will get free freight if they order over a certain amount, but a customer demanding a $10 or less part, I give the choice of waiting until I have a big enough order to not charge him shipping, or pay shipping, and he will get it the next day. But as anyone that has worked in this biz long enough, he has a big list of
folks that have burned him every way from Tuesday.....
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Yup, that's my method.


#11

wjjones

wjjones

jroske said:
Normally special orders would require prepayment unless it would be something I could move. In this case I do not think I would make the customer prepay. If you have a few customers looking for Mandrels I would probable stock at least one because you have a demand for it. If it doesn't move with a specified amount of time..ebay it.
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Good idea that way you dont get stuck with it either way. I have let quite a few go on ebay, or craigslist.


#12

OUTDOOR CONCEPTS

OUTDOOR CONCEPTS

We try to do prepay on all special order parts. I think its a good practice to do. Some times customers aren't fans of it tho!


#13

exotion

exotion

What about doing a half now half later type thing so they pay half showing commitment and if they flake you knot lose half and can easily sell the part for half price to make up the difference ?


#14

davbell22602

davbell22602

exotion said:
What about doing a half now half later type thing so they pay half showing commitment and if they flake you knot lose half and can easily sell the part for half price to make up the difference ?
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I dont know if that would work or not. That's pretty much the same as a shop asking for a deposit up front to help pay for parts, etc when customer drops there equipment off to get repaired.

This past summer I had lady try to tell to me that business shouldnt be asking for money up front til the goods or service completed. She said never heard of that. I was trying to get her to prepay for a $100 carb for a Troy Built rider. This was on mobile service call at her house. She said got took in the past from electrician that wanted money upfront to pay for supplies and never returned after she prepaid him for the supplies.


#15

exotion

exotion

davbell22602 said:
I dont know if that would work or not. That's pretty much the same as a shop asking for a deposit up front to help pay for parts, etc when customer drops there equipment off to get repaired.

This past summer I had lady try to tell to me that business shouldnt be asking for money up front til the goods or service completed. She said never heard of that. I was trying to get her to prepay for a $100 carb for a Troy Built rider. This was on mobile service call at her house. She said got took in the past from electrician that wanted money upfront to pay for supplies and never returned after she prepaid him for the supplies.
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I hear stories like this all the time ... It happens a lot


#16

davbell22602

davbell22602

exotion said:
I hear stories like this all the time ... It happens a lot
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I had guy call me to come pick up his mower to have it fixed. I told him there's pickup/delivery fee. He said was only 10 min away. Then he said never mind and he was calling someone else.


#17

exotion

exotion

People don't like fees or added charges or paying up front as soon as you say these words they immediately gain a level of distrust its sad


#18

M

MRCo.

davbell22602 said:
I had guy call me to come pick up his mower to have it fixed. I told him there's pickup/delivery fee. He said was only 10 min away. Then he said never mind and he was calling someone else.
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Free pick up and delivery within 5 miles. Then make sure you charge a healthy labor amount. Hehe. Seriously, people only seem to think that heir vehicle uses gas and needs to be insured.


#19

exotion

exotion

MRCo. said:
Free pick up and delivery within 5 miles. Then make sure you charge a healthy labor amount. Hehe. Seriously, people only seem to think that heir vehicle uses gas and needs to be insured.
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Ya.. gas + insurance + time + loading/unloading risk= ya sure why not be for free >.<


#20

davbell22602

davbell22602

MRCo. said:
Free pick up and delivery within 5 miles. Then make sure you charge a healthy labor amount. Hehe. Seriously, people only seem to think that heir vehicle uses gas and needs to be insured.
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I hear ya. Same goes for those that dont wanna pay for mobile service call fees. Thats why if cant get anybody for $25 service call fee for mobile calls then I might wave that and jack up labor rate to $100/hr instead and not bother with free estimates on mobile calls anymore. I had 2 customers do it this past year.


#21

OUTDOOR CONCEPTS

OUTDOOR CONCEPTS

I think its best just to add to the labor charge. Most people have no idea how long it takes to install a clutch or do any other job. But boy do they hate seeing that P/D charge. Just don't cheat yourself, or your customer. But don't work for free either.


#22

Mid TN Lawn

Mid TN Lawn

I just call my dealer and order anything and pay fir it when I get it, parts equip etc..
I do think they have all other customers pay first but I have been buying from them for 28years


#23

davbell22602

davbell22602

I know the electrical parts such as wiring harnesses, switches etc. arent returnable to the distributor if you ended up having to return it.


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