Hey man. I emailed you a couple of days ago asking some Q's about some lighting kit. Since I have not gotten a response yet, I'll post it here. Can you get the following?

CWest sleek healights. If so, how long to get them?
Eastbear lights, same question, how long?
RE sleek lights, same ??



Thanks

 

Dude, Ramy is a busy man, it takes sometimes a week or so for him to get back to you. Just sit tight, he isn't ignoring you or anything, just too much on his plate most of the time.

 

just a thought? why not get some friends to help out? instead of being a 1 man show? just a question not trying to be rude or mean

 

Thanks Spandy

I do have a handful of ppl that help out, but a lot of this stuff can only be done by me, as it's all experience-based stuff. Stuff you can't just tell someone else to do; stuff it'll take weeks of trial & error and instruction to teach someone else. Remember, the mainstay of my business isn't just ordering parts readily available from other companies; rather, it's utilizing contacts and resources to find rare parts as per ppl's parts requests.

~Ramy

 

I'm just wondering if you're going to throw in the towl and get sick of dealing with it hah. It sounds like a hard position to be in, people want their stuff and sometimes it takes awhile to get it.

BTW I e-mailed you in March about Spirit-R Recaros, no reply and now I'd like black RZs instead, plz get back to me on this as I've had the money saved for those seats forever!

Thanks
-Andy

 

I understand Ramy that you are a busy man, and for one I know how it is to deal with people when they want something. I do not know if this is just a hobby with some perks, but it looks to me like its more of a business rather than a hobby.

I run a business too, and I have two stores now, so greater stress. However, I find the time to always answer my client's questions through the phone and email. I get roughly 60 emails daily all to which I tend to in a matter of hours. My work shift is of 6-8 hours, sometimes 12. I have two kids and a wife, LOL. Its summer and I have to take the kids to work, so you can imagine.

One thing is waiting for a reply to a question. Another is having to wait for parts that you know you are going to have to wait anyway, and there is nothing you can do about it. But when customer service is lacking, then sometimes the client moves on to other sources. Andy has been waiting for months on a reply about some seats. It would be easier to say, "no, I cant get them" than not answering at all.

I don't mean to point out the obvious, but you do need to take care of your emails, since this is the only way to get to you with regards to business, on a more consitant basis. We all are busy people, its all a matter of getting organized.

Ok, so I guess that with all I said, you won't deal with me anymore. If you decide to get back to me, and want my business, let me know.

Thanks and sorry...

 

lol

 

First, I don't take it personally, so no sweat

Second, it is indeed a hobby and a passion, not an all-out business, although that's the direction we're working on taking it to.

Third, everything is about perspective. I hate to try and showboat ppl about how I have to do this and it's more than they realize etc, but that's simply the reality of it, so since you opened that can of worms...

- If you can reply to most of your emails on the fly, that implies that you have the answer with you. The VAST MAJORITY of the inquiries I get are for obscure parts from companies that don't even have a website, which requires a LOT of legwork to make happen. For example, I recently handled an order w/ Panspeed that took WEEKS to happen, because they don't have a website, they don't quote over the phone, they are walk-in only, and even then, they are so busy they don't take new accounts, so you have to find an existing wholesaler who is willing to sell to you...at which point you're playing 3-way operator w/ a line of middlemen to figure out what part is in stock and for how much etc. Now take that, and imagine getting 10 such requests - each from a different company in Japan - PER DAY. There's NO WAY I can have my ppl follow through on all of 'em EACH day. It's gonna be first come first serve, and once one inquiry is done, THEN the next will take place. And so on. So yea, it's just a wee bit more complicated than the emails you get

- As for your 6 - 8 hr days...that's how long the FIRST half of my day is. My day typically begins at 5 AM, and I don't EVER leave before 5 PM. And on average twice a week, I'm on call - in house mind you - for 30 hrs straight, much of which involves constant fast-paced work with no food and no sleep. And when I do finally get home, I'm expected to be preparing in the few hours left in the day for my national board exams, which I've been taking about every 2 months. And I may not have a wife and kids, but I play a considerable role in my family as well. I typically have to pick between food and sleep, b/c there simply aren't enough hours in the day. It has nothing to do w/ organization; sometimes there simply isn't enough time. That's all. Keep in mind we haven't even BEGUN talking about the JDM parts stuff So unfortunately, I don't think you can imagine

In short (in a non-condescending manner), there is "busy" and there is BUSY. I'm the latter. There's a lot more than meets the eye, but I simply don't think it's necessary to put all my business out there in order to help provide ppl w/ the perspective they often do not consider.

Couple this w/ the fact that I do not charge for (and thus don't get reimbursed for) the HUNDREDS of hours that often go into searching for rare parts, and packing them in a manner to ensure that they won't be damaged in transit. Why? Because I see my role on this forum as providing a service to my fellow members. And ALL I ask in return is one simple thing: patience. But it seems all too often that is too much to ask.

So in short, hey I'm happy that you're here, I welcome your business, and look forward to providing ya w/ the best quality parts I can. But if you'd like the OEM Recaros - for example - pronto, feel free to place an order w/ Mazda Japan for the tune of $9000, shipping and handling not included. Or simply wait, and pay less than a THIRD of that price. Plan early and order ahead. IMHO, that's a trade-off I think we should be able to live with...

~Ramy

 

I gotta admit Andy that at times, it does get very frustrating. Ppl often think it's as simple as picking up the phone and making a call and POOF, you have overnight parts from Japan lol. But it ain't like that at ALL. And yes, many times I'm like man, ppl are so unappreciative... See, it ain't like I do this for the money (sheesh, I wish it was that profitable). The margins are very narrow and the expenses along the way are too high... My PRIMARY reason for doing this is b/c I know myself how it is to want a part SOOO badly that I can't find/get, then after sooo long, to FINALLY be able to get it. Oh man...that feeling is PRICELESS. And I'd love to help others feel that way too, by providing them w/ parts that they otherwise prob. couldn't find or get. And you know what...it's the few times here and there that ppl express their thanks and gratitude, and their sheer excitement and thrill at getting a part they've been wanting sooo badly that makes it ALL worthwhile... All of a sudden, all that built-up frustration slips away, and I'm smiling too So yea, it has its ups and downs...but I don't think I'm going anywhere anytime soon. I love the FD too much

My bad. I should be getting to your email shortly (I actually took a few days off to try and knock out the remaining emails in the next few days), so we can take care of that for ya pretty much immediately

Thanks!
~Ramy

 

Cool man, yeah it sounds like you are the patient one hah. I know I wouldn't be able to do that but for some people being busy is what keeps them going. My friend was thinking you should have Greg write up some automated status system and have people refer to that, could help. Or find someone with similar skills and go into business with them. Anyway I'll be waiting for that e-mail, those seats practically make me drool looking at them on your site

 

Interesting way of looking at it. I gotta say I never really thought about it like that before...

Same Greg who's helping w/ the site? If so, yea that's what I was looking into too. Didn't know he was your friend! I'm gonna be talkin to him shortly to try and finish up some loose ends and see what this badboy can do. Hopefully it'll streamline a lot of the FAQs. But extended wait times are simply an inevitable part of the nature of the business..

Easier said than done. I know this is a bad generalization, but nonethless, from my experience, a lot (if not the majority) of ppl in the car parts business are shaaaaadyyyy. Shady shady shady. And I operate on a VERY strict set of principles and morals. Not willing to compromise them no matter HOW much money it can make me. Cuz if you've lost that, you've lost everything... So yea, it's hard. But I got a few real great guys that together we're trying to help take this to the next level. So we're working on that. We'll see how the initial steps go in the next month or two. Wish us well!

I'll be sure to get to it. And thanks for your patience! I promise it'll be well worth the wait

~Ramy

 

Yeah I'm a Psych minor, so these are things we discuss. For example a 75 year old heart surgeon who performs 3 back to back surgeries per day and handles it very cooly, these people are considered "hardy" and deal with stress easily, it is a challenge to overcome.

Yup, he used to live in the Bay Area and my friend built his car, we went to sevenstock with him along with a lot of other local meets before he moved.

I know what you mean, finding reputable people in the car world can be difficult, hopefully your friends can start to take over some of the work load and decrease turnaround times

Great, Thanks!

-Andy

 

I guess I mistook things. It sound like you are more of an enthusiast than a business man, and not doing it so much for profit than for fun. I am not unapreciative, if anything thanks for making an effort. You are right, sometimes the time put into something does not return or yield enough profit.

Yes, my business runs differently, and maybe I tried to compare it, but anyway, feel free to let me know on the following if you already have a price list on those, I figure they are a popular item. The RE sleek lights, Eastbear lights, and the CWest lights. Still trying to decide which. I want HID bad, LOL, and I like the KS kit, but KS kit, but damn 1700 bones is a lot for HID's.

Any experience with either of those?

BTW, I want mine overnited from Japan, LOL. I dont care if they have them IN TX, I want mine from Japan...ok? Thanks

Thanks and thanks for keeping a cool head.

 

Everyone who's provided the same service I provide has done it in the same manner - and my argument is that's because that's the only way it works. Jesse Lau, Jason of JT Imports, etc. But not only am I trying to source parts from Japan; we're also developing our own product line

Well everyone has important stuff to handle in their own right. And we can leave it at that

Will do. What name/email address didja use when emailing me, so I can look for it?

Yep. I'll outline 'em in the email.

Yea that can be done no prob, as long as you cover the cost of overnighting 'em

No worries

~Ramy

 

Ramy's a "show-off" .

 

torillo@hotmail.com

Things look differently from the outside, sometimes we tend to judge very quickly.