Fixed price on Smarty

[robmints]

I thought the same thing as Viper when I saw the back and forth between NGM and BobWagner. But the way Smarty and it's dealers do business is up to them as long as it's legal. There is plenty of competition for your DL dollar, if their methods bothered me that much I would pick another brand.



Thanks for the thread Viper, helped clear some things up for me.

 

[Nate]

There are free web forums for CTDs??? I only knew about the TDR, that's why I paid.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just one pointed, and certainly RELATED question:



How many Dodge truck owneres HERE, in THIS thread shopped for best price as a LEADING reason for buying their truck where they did (and later bragged about the sweet "deal" they got!), and how many knowingly and WILLINGLY paid significanly MORE, and perhaps drove further, for exactly the SAME truck only because of relationships with the dealership?



Fair question, any fair answers?



I fully realize guys here want to be loyal to fellow members like Bob and others here selling the Smarty - but let's not totally lose all reason or perspective in the process...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

There are free web forums for CTDs??? I only knew about the TDR, that's why I paid.

YUP - there are other free forums - pretty good ones at that, you'll have to do some investigating to locate them, probably not a good idea to promote competing websites here, especially free ones! :-laf

 

[zstroken]

I see this system working as long as Marco is commited to making the smarty the best downloader on the market. If not, then people will shop for a cheaper alternative. I think the minimum selling price is a band aid. These companies with the electronics need to put the serial numbers in the electronics, stuff that can't be removed. Then you can track them and hold that dealer responsible for servicing the product. If they don't then do not sell any more to them. THe same thing could be done with the smarty, if a dealer refuses to service the customer, then drop the dealer.

 

[Bob Wagner]

the smartys all have serial numbers for that purpose.

 

[Rockcrawler]

just another scenario- Guy who lives in germany comes up with a new system, calls it genius, it's cool new and has many features and benefits. He establishes no controls- they sell on ebay at +/- cost cause for some reason someone is willing to do that. The ebay "someones" who make no money go out of business once they wake up (it's called volunteering). Other business do not carry or stop carrying the product as they can make no money.



The Guy who lives in Germany who made the genius says "Fun while it lasted" the price driven customers now own a bunch of Yugo's.



the concept of sale/promotion and moving old inventory at a reduced price is not new. We all shopped for deals on our trucks- but I suspect the dealers are still making money- it's a very lucrative business. How many car dealers do you see go out of business?



If you go to work and expect a paycheck in return then you should recognize that dealers/sellers need some amount of margin- they have families to feed too.



On the flip side- when negotiating with contractors I often use the phrase- "I'll gladly pay you for your talents and services, just don't ask me to put your kids through college on the this job"

 

[lil red cummins]

one of the most important aspects of buying any product is its' price.



when an item is priced the same through any distributor, you automatically have the assurance that you are buying it at the BEST POSSIBLE PRICE!



from that point on, the only consideration is which distributor provides the best customer service.



this is the way my business operates - same price for everyone, no matter who it is.



you will never have to worry that you could have gotten it for less from someone else.



jim h

 

[DieselFiend]

one of the most important aspects of buying any product is its' price.



when an item is priced the same through any distributor, you automatically have the assurance that you are buying it at the BEST POSSIBLE PRICE!



from that point on, the only consideration is which distributor provides the best customer service.



this is the way my business operates - same price for everyone, no matter who it is.



you will never have to worry that you could have gotten it for less from someone else.



jim h

You may be distributing the product to every one at the same price but are you dictating how they mark it up? I realize that manufacturers are trying to level the playing field for the sake of getting their product out to as many dealers as possible but is it really up to them? Dealers should be allowed to sell their products at a price that's commensurate with the current market in their area. Of course internet deals are a totally different story because of the variety of businesses out there that would be willing to sell them for a variety of prices.

 

[JVolpe]

I have read this thread, laughing sometimes and irritated at others. There are many manufacturers of goods that set the pricing for the distribution chain across many industries. From a consumer stand point I don't know what the issue is. If you don't think the price of a product warrants the benefit of the product don't buy it. That is your prerogative. If distributors don't think marketing the product is beneficial to their business then they should not carry it.



I think the current Ebay/Internet sales environment has clouded our view of purchasing goods and services and what is a fair price for both. Just my . 02.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I see no one has stepped up to the plate to respond to my question below:

Just one pointed, and certainly RELATED question:



How many Dodge truck owner's HERE, in THIS thread shopped for best price as a LEADING reason for buying their truck where they did (and later bragged about the sweet "deal" they got!), and how many knowingly and WILLINGLY paid significantly MORE, and perhaps drove further, for exactly the SAME truck only because of relationships with the dealership?



Fair question, any fair answers?



I fully realize guys here want to be loyal to fellow members like Bob and others here selling the Smarty - but let's not totally lose all reason or perspective in the process...

It's one thing to lecture others as to buying practices, and the "need" to be willing to pay more for "quality service" and to support members here we like and appreciate - such as Bob and Marco.



But it's entirely another thing to do that lecturing in one breath, then walk out the door to buy your fuel at the cheapest price in town, to fill up the truck you shopped around for the best price when you bought it, and then drive on over to Walmart because THEIR stuff is priced lower than anyone else's in town.



The term "double standards" and "situational ethics" sorta comes to mind...



Personally, I too shop for best quality at a price I'm willing and able to pay - as much as I respect a few vendors I might know personally, my single and greatest "loyalty" is to myself and my family - and unneccesarily higher prices paid for goods or services is money I no longer have to support and care for those who TRULY are closest most important to me - so I won't apologize when it come to shopping for best price on items I want or need...



And somehow, I suspect I'm really not alone in that regard!

 

[DieselFiend]

Well said, I'm with you on that one. On top of that, no one has been able to tell me what makes their customer service superior to another vendor's customer service when all they're going to do in my case is pack the box up and ship it. Other than that, if the price is the same, why buy from one or the other.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Well said, I'm with you on that one. On top of that, no one has been able to tell me what makes their customer service superior to another vendor's customer service when all they're going to do in my case is pack the box up and ship it. Other than that, if the price is the same, why buy from one or the other.

My comments here are not related to individuals, Bob and Marco have in the past displayed a willingness and ability to assist customers FAR above and beyond common expectations - I bought my own Smarty from Bob, and have deepest respect for his integrity - but all that said, my earlier comments still apply - somewhere along the line, price has to be thoughtfully weighed against other basic needs and issues...

 

[GregSmith]

Just to clarify my earlier post, I don't have a problem with someone looking for the lowest price on the internet. That's what competition is all about. But it's wrong to go to your local retailer, spend hours of his paid staff time researching your purchase, then take your business elsewhere. If you're interested in a particular item, do your price search first, then ask all your tech questions of the company you're going to buy from. Taking it to an extreme, I'm in the middle of a customer service issue with one of the manufacturers we represent. The customer bought suspension parts from an Ebay business rather than my company (cheaper), the parts are defective, the Ebay business will not answer the customer's email, and now the manufacturer wants me to solve the customer's problem. That takes money directly out of my pocket.

 

[TAbbott]

Just to clarify my earlier post, I don't have a problem with someone looking for the lowest price on the internet. That's what competition is all about. But it's wrong to go to your local retailer, spend hours of his paid staff time researching your purchase, then take your business elsewhere. If you're interested in a particular item, do your price search first, then ask all your tech questions of the company you're going to buy from. Taking it to an extreme, I'm in the middle of a customer service issue with one of the manufacturers we represent. The customer bought suspension parts from an Ebay business rather than my company (cheaper), the parts are defective, the Ebay business will not answer the customer's email, and now the manufacturer wants me to solve the customer's problem. That takes money directly out of my pocket.

Doesn't sound like a problem. If you're an authorized dealer/distributor for a product that is under warranty from the manufacturer, I'd expect you to take care of it if I brought it to you as well. What if I bought it in New York, had it installed there, went on a trip to LA, whatever it was shot craps and you were the local dealer? What if what broke was the Dodge truck you just spent $40,000. 00 for? You don't think the dealer 3000 miles away should honor the warranty and get you taken care of? Get real! What if the shoe was on the other foot and he bought something from you, went on a trip and it failed thousands of miles away. Wouldn't you want a local dealer there to take care of your customer? If he has a defective suspension part that the manufacturer wants to warranty, just have them send you a replacement part and give it to him. If the manufacturer wants you to install it for him, they should reimburse you for whatever the flat rate time is times your agreed to labor rate.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have done repair(warranty) work for quite a few big name vendors when their work has had issues out of their area. If I want help from these vendors I expect to help them when I can. On the other hand I expect for the people in my area to come give me the first shot before buying off the internet then expecting me to get them out of a jam that an internet company has left them in. I find myself correcting many internet misconceptions on a regular basis. All of this leads to loyal customers. Viperqa1 more power to you trying to save money but when you have issues don't cry when your lowest bid leaves you hanging.



Bob

 

[DieselFiend]

Bob, I really didn't say anything about bidding or getting it off ebay. I said, in not so simple terms, that I'll shop around for the best price for a quality product I already know about. I've been buying off the internet for quite a while now. I've purchased anything from tires, to gauges, to chips, you name it, I've bought it and I haven't had a single problem. So if you think there's some kind of common epidemic with buying stuff from the internet, you're sadly mistaken. Hop on the train or those respectable internet companies selling the same products you're selling are going to make sure it leaves you behind. I also think it's pretty bold to "expect" customers in your area to give you a shot first with out offering them a price match. If I know what I want and the guy downtown is selling a smarty for say $700 and the guy on the internet is selling one for $685 shipped, I'm 99. 9% going to get it from the guy on the internet. Besides, what kind of customer service do you expect? A smile while the guy downtown takes down my credit card number? Whooopppy Dooooo! I'd much rather click the "submit my order" button and have at my door step for cheaper. Hop on the train bob.

 

[JVolpe]

Well to each his own. I have bought a lot of items off the Internet. I have also done my research of items on the Internet and then went to a local retailer to purchase. I usually make their sale very easy since I already know what I want and all the product details. There are just some things that I want to look a person in the eye, give 'em my money and get a reciept. Then shake hands and say thank you. Guess that I am just getting old and becoming my father. Most of the time the local retail may be a little higher, but usually not much by the time shipping and the waiting anxiety toll is added up.



I still don't get the consumer having such a problem with the way a manufacturer wants to do buisness.

 

[Bob4x4]

I never mentioned E-bay,and I am pretty sure the going rate is 685 not 700. I am not saying you can't get a functioning part from an internet company. I am not a vendor. I am a tech,and I spend way too much time on the phone and internet answering silly questions from people who want everything given to them What makes you think my pricing is not competitive?Yes, service does have value. Maybe working for the government has changed your value system





Bob

 

[BigPapa]

Might I ask what you do for a living Mr. Viper?



Scott