Chassis dealers… What can you do for me?

[Andrew M. Coulter]

First off, I DO NOT intend for this thread to turn into a thread for bashing against the industry. I intend for this to stimulate meaningful ideas from US the racers to the salesmen we buy our karts from. After 13 years in the sport I can’t help but notice something real interesting going on. I consider myself a loyal chassis brand customer; I have switched between 3 brands over my 13 years racing. I don’t recall any chassis dealer/importer being loyal to me.

From my experience, I have had engine builders bend over backwards to help out me (the customer) in any way possible. Chassis importers and dealers, not so much. From my experience it seems that the mentality of these sales guys are first off, buy my chassis. Want help? Pay us another $400-$600 or more per event to be under our tent. We will then help you in anyway with the chassis that you bought from us. Shouldn’t importers and dealers be catering to us (the customer)? Not the other way around? Am I missing something here? Don’t get me wrong, if you have a good run on a chassis, dealers/importers are quick to praise and use your results to sell more karts.

What does your chassis dealer/importer do for you, the customer? What do you wish your chassis dealer/importer would do for you, the customer? Would you consider switching brands if another brand could provide something that your current brand does not?

AND please don’t use the “well this chassis brand is faster than the other” theory. That might be true to a very very small extent, but numerous guys that can drive have proved that theory differently over the years. Lets hear it

[Oscar Aguilera]

ill give it a try since you mostly drew the chirps of crickets...lol

i dont work for a shop and never have....i HAVE however been a sponsored driver for a local shop, and importer.

i always felt obligated to help newbies and still do. but even selling a customer a proven set up and tell them to leave the kart alone.....about more than half of these newbies would act as if we were holding back? like there must be something we can do to make this kart faster....because im still not keeping up with the other guys.

then there was the guy who had to change everything to "find out" what made the kart tick.

the down side to the "tent" is that if you are the shop being paid to help a specific customer on race day....how do you justify helping all your other customers at the track on the same day.

key point...you might get great advice on any given race day...but when you go back to the same track...the conditions have changed and you still dont know how to change the kart around to go fast....do you go under the tent again? do you suck it up and try harder? do you chase your tail and blame everything else.

so then you sell the kart with the correct set up for the local track. 2 seat struts on the left...one on the right...the soft axle. the medium hub on the left and the short hub on the right. here is your bill for your new kart...with all the extras added on..you had to add a seat strut that doesnt come with the kart...you bought a new axle because it came with a medium...you bought an extra set of hubs since you needed both short and medium....and you feel you have been taken advantage of...because the kart shop down the street doesnt do that?

you can only help the customer so much...and the customer needs to take good notes when they do get help. but time is money and the next new guy will need help for at least a couple of races....till your time is taken on ......the next new guy. you want my undivided attention...it might cost you?


and not to be negative towards the buyer...i think all kart shops can step up there game. especially when there are two or more shops in the area.,,,the best shop will!!

a practice day with the trailer/parts and help the day before the race would go a long way. a free clinic with the purchase of 2 sets of tires on doing a front end alighnment....tips on doing a top end ...whatever.

just my opinion

[Howie Idelson]

How 'bout buying (and paying out the nose) those factory sticker kits and Team suits for the privilege of advertise for the chassis brand/dealer. Never understood that one.
_________________
Howie Idelson
howieidelson@mac.com
www.coroflot.com/howieidelson

[Chuck Skowron]

[Jamie Webb]

NEVER wear a teams/chassis suit or put their stickers on your kart UNLESS they are paying YOU to do it. You paid for the kart, use it as you want. Learn how to work on and tune your own kart. Get the results and they will come to you.

I have never understood paying someone else to tune your kart $300+++ per weekend to tell you how to tune your kart. Maybe it's just the way I'm wired. For what they are charging for karts now, the dealer/importer should be kissing up to YOU.
_________________
Jamie Webb
Call or email for Home, Auto, Life, or Health Insurance quote (Florida only).

[Dan Haynes]

The only somewhat negative experience I can recall was when we bought a popular chassis. We run our chassis for several years, unable to afford to buy a new one every year. We didn't receive the same support that others did that spent a lot more money than us. From their standpoint I can sort of understand it. If customer 'A' spends $7000 a year from your shop then you will probably treat him a little better than the guy that spends $4000 every 3 years. But from the customer standpoint, it was frustrating. To ask for help and get a one line answer as they are passing by to go to the next tent and wrench on their kart for an hour was frustrating. Keep in mind that these were club races where they had no big tent and they were not 'hired' wrenches for the day.

We now have a used Arrow we bought from Beasley. There are virtually no other Arrows at our track. Even though we didn't buy our kart from Dismore, he has been a great help and always willing to offer his input. Ben and Sam have given input any time I have called or emailed. Eric Jones spent time with us at Man Cup when we had never ran on a rubbered track under those conditions.
That is the kind of stuff that I remember and will remain loyal to. The other guys weren't bad, but it was a little different business model that catered more to the bigger spenders. There were others at the track on the same brand that helped out, and we appreciated that, but the Arrow experience took it to another level.
_________________
Blaise Haynes
#3 Arrow X1-CIK
TaG
Cook Racing Engines Parilla Leopard

[John Matthews]

When I got back into karting in 2003 I was amazed at not only how much things cost but how little the shops in my area were at the track. So I started TMS racing and began working with my customers during practice and race days. Pretty soon I had people that did business with the other shops coming to me for parts and advice which I gladly provided.

But, did they even inquire about the karts I was selling?

No

Even though we were dominating the TaG class our first year out all I heard was negative feedback. The worst was being told by the manufacturer (Birel) to not use their name in my advertising because the Birel importer wasn't also the Easykart importer. I'm not sure how many people understood that our successes was due to the work we put in, not the equipment; sometimes it's easier to seek solutions that you can buy....

But the other shops in the area stepped up their presence at the track. All of a sudden shop owners that I never saw even on race days were coming out to practice nights. Just like in racing, competition made them step up their game.

IMHO the problem you've identified has more to do with the distribution chain than anything else. Running a kart shop in most parts of the country is a marginal enterprise at best. Many shop owners have a day job, or another business that helps fund their karting addiction. Shops tend to pop up when somebody gets their kid into racing and they find out the importer is willing to set-up anyone with $25k to "invest". Manufacturers and importers know this and since they have to sell as much as possible there's little to no loyalty to the dealer community. Obviously there are exceptions but in reality many, many kart shops are just a smart way for their owners to use the US tax code to help fund their race program.

BTW, this problem isn't unique to the karting industry. Across the country small retail business are struggling with competition from box stores and internet discounters as well as direct competition from their distributors and manufacturers. The only way I can see this getting fixed is for people to "shop local" a whole lot more. If the shop you are working with isn't providing the service you expect sit down with the owner and let them know. If their prices are a little higher than you can get online think twice before you decide to save $5 and cut out your local guy.

And.... This is the biggie.... Consider running a chassis built in the US

US manufacturers need to work a little harder than the competition to get and keep their customers. Some of them have been in business for a very long time and build karts every bit as good as their overseas competition. The closer you are to the production facility the more likely you are to get the "good stuff" so next time you think about changing brands ask your local shop if they've considered a US built line.

As long as you're paying the bills it should always be a two way street but as a customer it will help if you understand how the business works if you want better service. Next time you have a few hours ask your local shop if you can spend some time learning about their business. You might be surprised what you'll learn

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

[Joe Brizzolara]

I took the chassis maker's graphics off my kart after they wouldn't replace an obviously defective (poorly designed) part even after I bought a ton of extra parts and tools from them. The only reason the graphics were on the kart in the first place is because they came with the kart.

I have a black kart with a few small stickers from part suppliers or engine builders who have provided me with exceptional service or gone out of their way to help me.

[Brian Degulis]

What your talking about really has nothing to do with chassis or even karting in general. It has to do with the business customer relationship. I own a company that builds tug boats. I have 2 major competitors neither of which build to the level of quality we do and both are priced substantially below us. At least twice a week I'll get a call from someone who has purchased from one of my competitors who's trying to get his boat to work properly. I spend time on the phone sometimes hours send out engineering drawings parts etc. It can get very involved and time consuming. I do it because I know that the next boat this guys buys will be from us. I know that the next guy this guy talks to about buying a boat he will relay the positive experience he had with us. When business is done right there are no winners or losers the customer wins along with the business everybody's happy.

In my area we have a major kart supplier 80 miles away. They have pretty much everything. They're friendly people to deal with and I can pick up or get 1 day UPS ground. They're prices are competitive. Unfortunately for them and me they're web site is not very descriptive If I don't know exactly what I need and call for advice I won't be able to speak with anyone knowledgeable I'll be promised a call back which always takes a long time and sometimes never comes.

There is another supplier in Indiana they're large have pretty much everything and they're prices are competitive. They're website is descriptive and if I need advice I get it on the first call right away. Before I hang up the part is on it's way.

So who do you think gets my business?


Brian

[Chuck Parker]

Brian sounds like Comet

[Brian Degulis]

I never kiss and tell




Brian

[Chuck Parker]

I've always had top notch service from everyone at Comet. The few times I've been to their track a couple time I had issues with my Leopard and they helped me sort it out. A+ operation at the store a.d the track

[Brian Degulis]

Yes my experience with Comet has been 100% positive in all respects.


Brian

[Ted Hamilton]

The friend who introduced me to karting ran USAC Silver Crown without a sponsor, and as a result his car was relatively "bare". I asked once, and he quipped "@ss, cash, or grass, nobody rides for free!" I laughed, but got the point -- why give away precious ad potential for nothing in return?

I think it stems from the same phenomenon that has recreational bikers buying USPS Trek frames, jerseys, and such from their local bike shop just to tool around on a paved bike path. We all want to look like winners, whether we are or aren't. So, looking like a factory team lets us imagine in some subconscious way, that we ARE part of that team.... And if we do well, perhaps THEY will notice? Probably not. But it's fun to dream.

FWIW, I'd like to see the ability to buy a bare frame -- questions asked or no, several levels of accessorizing and bling, a la "kart" pricing that isn't outrageous... Like I said, it's fun to dream....
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Owner, www.hamiltonhelmets.com // UAS Racer #76 // Karting for karting's sake...keep it fun!

[John Matthews]

Here's a good start



http://cometkartsales.com/store/chassis/eaglekart.htm

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.