Analysis of Early Bronco Vendors with Survey

[DaveLev]

What I hear a lot also is 'I would go with vendor X more often if the shipping didn't cost so much to ship from them to me'. This is a common refrain. But honestly, how often do you buy something that weighs so much that the price to ship it is the deciding factor? Once a year for a roll cage, and a year later for a suspension kit?

Some have said they wait until there's a sale to make heavy purchases. Like today, black friday, many vendors - for example duff - is doing free shipping on some of their heaviest items. That probably doesn't motivate someone who lives 10 minutes away from their shop to buy something, but the customer who is 1,000 miles away may jump on it. I noticed TBP is doing many black friday deals, but lowered their actual prices by hundreds on several items, but shipping remains the same. Two sides to the same coin.

 

[Slowleak]

A price war doesn't always benefit the consumer. As the vendors and manufacturers cut costs to remain competitive, quality eventually drops. That leaves us, as consumers, with few choices but poor quality items. Since we often have no choice, we buy those low quality items at the lowest price which leads to further price competition. High quality manufacturers are driven our of the market and the downward spiral continues....... I can think of dozens of examples. CharBroil grills are a good example. Walmart, and other big-box stores refused to pay more than a certain price and threatened to drop the line. It forced CharBroil to move production to China or get out of the business. They went to China and quality dropped. I wouldn't use one if you gave it to me. I would prefer to pay twice as much for a grill that will last..... but people buy still buy them.

 

[DaveLev]

I agree with what you are saying wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks that way. Even a $600 dollar BBQ may have high quality stainless outside, or even coated grill grates and premium hoses, casters, and handles, but something like the burner tube will be made overseas. You may think you have a great BBQ until 3 years later when the burners rust into nothingness.

The same can be said of bronco parts, whether OEM or aftermarket. Some pieces have last 50+ years on my bronco, and yet, some stuff bought a year ago aftermarket are crap.

If you know a part for sure is sourced from the same manufacture, ie Dever rear leaf springs, and you want to save a buck on shipping by going with someone closer to you, I get it.

But there is NO WAY of knowing where every part you are trying to purchase is manufactured or resold through.

I love knowing that some vendors make as much stuff themselves here in the USA, and if they don't make it, go through other manufacturers who are also in the USA and they resell the USA-made high quality products.

I haven't purchased any truly piss-poor aftermarket products made in the USA. I think most of us can say that with confidence. However, we also would probably all agree that the original outlay for the product we bought cost more up front.

 

[jw0747]

Where are the survey results? Can you post them in 25-50 words or less?

 

[bronconut73]

Where are the survey results? Can you post them in 25-50 words or less?

Top of page......

 

[5001craig]

I've avoided this thread. Not really sure why.

I will say this--I vote with my dollars. I don't like shipping but I NEED what the vendors sell and I truly feel that they try to do their best regarding shipping. These vendors need to make money or they will not be around and thus will not have the parts I need. They need to be competitive or people will not buy their products.

I also think the service is very important and tend to gravitate towards the vendors that answer an email or phone call and know the answer or get back to you with the answer in a timely manner. Calling a vendor and talking about something like an Atlas or a suspension system with someone that knows what the options are is invaluable.

I'm thinking quality is at the top but service is right there.

If you ship parts you know it's not like it was five or ten years ago. Everything's gone up especially shipping. All you need to do is sell something in classifieds then ship it. It will more than likely surprise you how much it costs to pack (correctly) then ship it across the country.

 

[DaveLev]

Thank you for responding. That is interesting. I didn't permit multiple responses to survey or allow more than one choice to see the #1 reason, and for most, it is quality of product.

I will say anecdotally that staff knowledge of early bronco + quality of product seems to dominate the private responses I got as well, so thank you.

Not sure how long some suppliers will last, though, who do deep price discounts + know there stuff technically. I think that the price wars going on between some suppliers is detrimental to their business. Here's why: Once you start offering a coupon, you must always offer a coupon. Take any pizza place out there as an example. You don't see a gas station offering a coupon day or black Friday discounts.

I believe that while consumers temporarily benefit from the battle of the prices between suppliers, eventually they will price each other out of business. Thus, win the battle but lose the war. Also, as a business owner myself, I know that with the increase in volume comes more human error, staff turnover, etc.

Just me blabbing away. Have a great day everyone.

 

[RedLeg0811]

I have ordered from all of them. I buy, Item I want, quality, price, shipping, Customer support. These are all important things that I evaluate when I make a purchase.

I mostly deal with Wild Horses and Tom's Bronco Parts. They are both close to me and I have always had good experiences with them. They both support local community. Jim and his staff have helped me get the right item and so has Tom's staff. When I order many times they have the same items. Sometimes one has something the other doesn't. I find WH a little more expensive than Tom's, but Tom's shipping is a little more expensive, so it mostly balances out. They both take care of their customers.

These are the ones I ordered from as I know them and the shipping is decent. I have not a bad experience with the other venders.

 

[Whoaa]

Wow....someone has 90% too much time on their hands!

Obviously you need to be working on your Bronco 60% more, spend 30% less time typing, and spend the left over 10% on beer;D

 

[jw0747]

Wow....someone has 90% too much time on their hands!

Obviously you need to be working on your Bronco 60% more, spend 30% less time typing, and spend the left over 10% on beer;D

Check out here when you have a little too much spare time...

http://www.classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272535