I think it is a fair practice. I will be purchasing some items from Ramy in the future. just depends on when I earn a paycheck that is more than minimum wage.

 

I think it should be in the policy for super rare parts that he'd actually have to "LOOK" for. Like what RedR1 was saying, you should know the ball park price of the item it is that your interested in purchasing. Those who go to Ramy and pay this fee should be only those who are serious about finding and purchasing this super rare item that they can't find anywhere else except Japan. Face it, not all of us have connections to get these things, so going to Ramy makes sense, and for those who don't buy the item they have an inquiry about, the $25 will go to Ramy's huge phone bill from making all of those international calls. Basically he's tired of paying for his huge phone bill from people who inquiry and don't buy. Just what I think. I'd react the same way as Ramy did. Just my 2 cents.

-Jeff

 

that is a good idea to say that up front. that isnt fair to you or anyone else. hi im mike, im new to the site and just put my car on. the shipping is costs are crazy some times. i know this because most of my car came from japan. so what kind of parts can you get from over there? im looking for more re stuff for the body. things i cant get here.

 

gotta pay for labor

research = labor

 

The word "fee" might scare away potential customers. How about we call it a $25 "deposit"...

$25 doesn't sound too bad if it's ONLY on super rare items. If a 5-10 minute phone call to his sources is all that's required, then I see no reason to charge (maybe $5). But If he feels an inquiry might take a considerable amount of time, he can inform the customer that a $25 deposit will be required in order to continue due to the rarity of the item. If the item is really that rare, and the customer is serious about purchasing, then he/she should have no problem with it.

 

Excellent idea, it will get rid of most of the window shoppers and leave him more time to find parts for people who are serious.

• Make it a $25 deposit.
• Have a time frame set, different per item depending on rarity.
• refundable if outside the time frame
• Non-refundable if within the time frame

Seems simple to me. Where do I send my 25 bucks I want an Espirt rear tailight cover/spoiler.

mike

 

i guess i owe you an apology for asking about rz brakes today on your webpage>! all i wanted was a quote, and i stated in the email that was what i was looking for. i thought you had a figure in your head that you knew what you sold these items for. i wasn't aware that you had to run all over town to find out this information. i am a service advisor for a dodge dealer in houston. i run all over the place all day long with a smile on my face and work over twelve hrs everyday. just because i waste thirty minutes talking to a customer about repairs he really needs or answering his somewhat stupid questions about his car...........doesn't mean i'm going to get paid. like some others before me have said, that is what you get for choosing to open a business that is in the service industry. to my knowledge that is how all business's go, you offer a service or a product and you charge a considerable mark up to make up for your effort. only you know what your mark up is, and i doubt it is that small of a margin. i do not know you ramy, but i have heard nothing but good things about you. that is the reason i go to your webpage and look at items to purchase. if you don't like answering non-stop questions about price, why don't you just list a price for everything on your webpage. again, i don't want to come off like an *** but just an idea. i still plan on making purchases through your company, because of your reputation.

p.s. sorry for the email, i sent it before i saw this thread.

mark scott

 

I'd pay $25 to move to the top of the e-mail queue!! I seriously forgot about a question I asked via e-mail two months ago. Then I get a response out of the blue, all nonchalant and friendly and detailed. So I immediately replied and...nothing. I can only assume he is just going through them one at a time as time permits. My latest reply just went to the bottom of the queue to be responded to in a few months, maybe.

I say continue this for those willing to wait two months for a reply, but...

Go to the website and pay the fee to ask a question which is given top priority, a real reply within one business day, or the like. I would pay it if I was trying to try to buy something anyway, WTFN? If the inquiry is serious but Ramy can't come through, then he could, at his discretion, refund the fee.

 

I cant see paying money for the chance to be a customer. I think a lot of people would just go to someone else, or to a web sight that lists prices. but I would agree it would cut down on people wasting your time, that arent ready or have no intention of buying.

 

Not to dig up the old post but I agree with Air-rex. Just now I was looking for an item but will go somewhere else b/c of the fee and it's not listed on his website. I know it's time consuming to answer the emails and such but I'm not gonna pay for a price quote. I'm sure the guy rocks.. as I've heard over and over, but I'm just calling it like i see it. /shrug

 

i personally have never purchased anything from you, however i feel a fee to inquire about something will also prevent me from doing so. im not trying to knock your fee but in my opinion people who are inquiring about something have already taken the first step towards a purchase. they looked you up for a reason not to waste your time as they would simply be wasting their own time as well. a $25 fee to inquire may deter non-customers from becoming customers. But if your business doesnt care for new customers and is ok with that, you will find they will go elsewhere. i cant tell you how to operate your business but if inquiries are taking too much of your time up maybe its time to hire someone else to deal with those inquiries, and satisfy a potential customer. Every long term customer started out as someone on the fence. For me, i wouldnt give them an opportunity to pick which side of the fence their on even before purchasing something from me.

thats my 2cents

 

I own a business and I can tell you in the shortest, simplest terms, that what this guy is suggesting (charging an upfront fee) is ludicrous. It is the cost of doing business.. nothing more.. look what happened to First Chicago Bank when they started charging $1 to simply TALK to a teller??.. and don't say it's apples and oranges.. because it isn't.. it's customer service.. if you don't like the so-called numerous inquiries, then hire more employees. The only way to find out, is do it and see what happens.. that's my 0.03.

 

^I agree with the above posts, bad idea. I built from scratch an $8 million per year company and can't tell you the number of times I dealt with dead-end customer inquiries. It's the nature of the beast though. My thought was always one of these dead enders will turn into a customer so I have to deal with them all to find that one customer.

Sorry, but it is the cost of doing business. You've got to turn the "tire kickers" into customers and the more roadblocks you put up, the less customers you'll have. For me, I love what you are doing Ramy, but I'd never pay the $25 and would go elsewhere.

 

Yea I agree I wouldn’t pay it. Who the heck charges for a quote? Why do businesses give out free quotes because quotes = potential business.

Maybe the knowledgeable forum members on here should start charging for their advice? How about this forum just starts charging for every question someone posts. Get the idea?

 

Ha or how about the guy you get your quotes from charge you for every time you called them?

how about stores charge for you to walk into it? You get the floor dirty from walking on it, you might use the rest room and they have to clean it. Then you might just walk out because you didnt like the price they are charging.

 

Would this apply for information on products you offer? Like the Ohlins coilovers on your site. I f I wanted info on them would I get charged?

 

not a good idea for the fee. Dealing with dead end customers is part of owning a company like yours..

 

rx7 owners are a bunch of fickle, poor, and cheap kids and i feel your pain, but if you choose that community as a target then you have to accept the costs of doing business there

 

i know this is old, but it's a sticky so I'm assuming the issue is still open.

No, I would not pay ANY company for a price quote or to answer my questions. I wouldn't pay someone to receive my business.

However, you could ask for donations. =]

 

I like the idea of a fee for quoting; you're not selling typical retail. Labor is required to source the part, and labor needs to be paid for. Call it a 'retainer'. If they don't like it, send them this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDJGEdF_F4E

 

where do we put the fee to buy parts i have been trying to buy parts from you guys for three months i have money in hand ready to buy. so why is it that i can send a email to japan to buy parts and i get a answer the next day. and these guys deal with all the major makes of vehicles i just want to know is there a easy way to get a hold of you guys. this has been brought up many of times you guys have great prices you just don't answer people back and some you get with them right away. you help would be great thanks

 

+1. posts 57, 59 - 65, and 71.
Suggest posting historical prices you have from previous quotes and actual sales on your website. Make your own part numbers and create your own simple ERP (MRP) system in excel so you can track the parts to help you quote. There are templates on line that are pretty good.
I do know where you are coming from though, it is a lot of work. The people who ask how much for 10+ items and end up not going through with the order didn't have a previous price to work with. I also understand where they are coming from. A % of them will come back for your services though. At least now you have the prices to add to your site.
I do want to order from you but, a year ago I did not get a response so I ordered somewhere else, sorry. I still would like to purchase parts through you as you have a good following on the site and want to support your unique business. So many people can't be wrong. Keep up the good work.

 

That maybe true for FB and FC owners, but not most FD owners. Plus, some "JDM" parts are sold for outrageous prices, so yes call me a "fickle, poor, and cheap kid" even though I make six figures, because I pass on those kinds of "deals." I've been to Japan, seen the prices, and know the huge mark up.

 

Recently I decided I was tired of a non-functional ODO. I briefly toyed with the idea of having Ramy repair it. But a quick check on that thread convinced me that was wishful thinking. Instead I ponied up a bit over $380 for a brand new one from Mazda Speed - got it in a few days, works perfect.

I did participate in several GB's and eventually I got what I paid for at good prices. I just had to wait out the required year long delays. But at this point all my friends and I have completely written off FDNewbie. A business that doesn't communicate with it's customers deserves to die. This whole thread proposing a fee for prompt communication (basically) is BS. I can't imagine the responsiveness would magically become reasonable for a "minor fee". If you want parts, get serious, go to a real business...