Idea For A New Forum Category

[unclestu]

I have an idea for a new category for the forum. Please let me know what you all think of it. I think it could be very beneficial for all of us.

Feed back please
Maybe there can be a new category on the forum were you can post products that you think AG should sell. Than say once a week AG can poll its members by having them vote on the various "wish list" items that have been posted. Even if it were a product that AG felt that it couldn't sustain a consistent sales volume with there still might be enough pent up demand among the forum members for AG to use it's awesome product knowledge and buying power to pre-arrange a one time group purchase perhaps on a monthly or quarterly basis. What a tremendous benefit that would be to all of the forum members. I know for a fact that I would be buying a canopy and a power washer from AG even if I had to wait a few weeks to place my order. The ability to be able to buy at such a deep discount and the peace of mind in knowing that AG utilized it's vast degree of knowledge in helping make a selection would be worth the wait. It would be a win win situation for all concerned. AG can make a small amount of profit on sales that it never would have had not to mention the collateral profits generated through the sale of impulse items introduced at the point of sale.

Thanks for reading my suggestion. Please let me know what you think.

May the shine be with you

Stuart "Unclestu"

 

[A4 1.8tqm]

I like the idea, I have no clue how much work it would create for AG though. Now I'm worried about potentially missing group buys in the future

 

[GMC83]

I couldnt see that working out.

 

[rwisejr]

I think AG has has already proven that they pay attention to what we want .As we have seen so may lines of products and tools added .

 

[unclestu]

I like the idea, I have no clue ho w much work it would create for AG though. Now I'm worried about potentially missing group buys in the future

Thanks for the reply.
There shouldn't be a need to worry about missing out on a group buying opportunity as you would be in contact with AG throughout the process. Lets say that I posted into the new category that I would like AG to sell a detailing canopy. At the end of the week or month or what ever time frame AG chooses to gather an ample sample of "wish list" items AG can than allow the members of the forum to vote on what ever item that they felt a desire to be able to purchase from AG. After the polling takes place AG can than do one of several things based upon the degree of interest expressed by the members for each specific item.
1) AG can decide that there is such a great degree of interest in a specific item that they decide to add it to there permanent inventory.
2) AG can determine that there is enough interest in a specific item to make a one time bulk purchase but not permanently add the item to there inventory.
3) AG can determine that there is just not enough interest in a specific item to justify any further involvement
If the detailing canopy that I posted to my wish list was the item that you had an interest in and voted so than if enough people felt the same way about that item as I mentioned earlier AG could either add it to their inventory or consider offering its members a group buying opportunity. If the later is the case than AG I imagine would qualify all those that showed an interest in the item in order to gauge the true size of a potential group (bulk) purchase. Upon determining the size of the order AG can than establish a price and contact those members that expressed an interest in lets say the detailing canopy that I originally posted on my wish list. You as a potential group purchase participant would be contacted by AG throughout the process of a wish list item becoming a reality.

 

[unclestu]

I think AG has has already proven that they pay attention to what we want .As we have seen so may lines of products and tools added .

Thanks for the reply.
I agree AG is very receptive to the needs of its customers. This is about communicating those needs to AG in a centralized location. It enables AG to have a finger on the pulse of the detailer or hobbyist in the field. As good as AG is there is always room for improvement. Wouldn't it have been covenant to have been able to buy a foam canon package with a power washer direct from AG? Lets say that out of all of AG'S members there is a thousand people out there that would be interested in a canopy. That is probably not enough of a volume to motivate AG to stock canopies on a regular basis as they tend not to be short term purchases. But don't you think an entity looking to purchase 1000 canopies would get a better price than a single independent detailer looking to buy just one canopy? Wouldn't it be great if as a member of the AG forum you were able to participate in the tremendous price reduction that a 1000 unit purchase can offer? It would just further eliminate the need for an AG customer to shop any place else. This could be good for everyone.

 

[unclestu]

I couldnt see that working out.

Hi and thanks for your reply. Your avitar caught the attention of my signature LOL Are you a Porsche owner or admirer? My last 911 was in silver. Please elaborate as to why you do not see it working.

 

[GMC83]

Hi and thanks for your reply. Your avitar caught the attention of my signature LOL Are you a Porsche owner or admirer? My last 911 was in silver. Please elaborate as to why you do not see it working.

I think it would just vreate an arguement about a product and its performance and whether it is worthy or not.

 

[CEE DOG]

I love the idea.
Not sure if it's realistic for AG though.
I am looking for a pop-up canopy too... and some shop lights... autoglym...

 

[unclestu]

I love the idea.
Not sure if it's realistic for AG though.
I am looking for a pop-up canopy too... and some shop lights... autoglym...

Hi Cee Dog and thanks for the reply. Perception is reality. If AG can see all of the benefits that this can provide both for the customer as well as themselves it will happen. I can see the AG slogan in my head
"AUTO GEEK WERE WISHES BECOME REALITY LOL.
Yea I never thought finding a canopy would be such a project. I need a one man easy up quick setup type. The problem is that I want it large enough to accommodate a Caddy Escalade.

 

[Superdutytd]

Being a businessman first and a detailer second I can easily see how this could be a great idea for AG IF and I mean a big IF there are enough people on this forum to make it work. The 1000 plus idea is great but I don't see 1k on AGO buying a single product or even 50 for that matter because everything that popular is already being sold by them. I could use a good canopy though! :cheers:

 

[unclestu]

Being a businessman first and a detailer second I can easily see how this could be a great idea for AG IF and I mean a big IF there are enough people on this forum to make it work. The 1000 plus idea is great but I don't see 1k on AGO buying a single product or even 50 for that matter because everything that popular is already being sold by them. I could use a good canopy though! :cheers:

Hi and thanks for your reply. I used the 1k# simply to illustrate a point. I have no idea as to the number of members AG has and without that information it would be difficult to extrapolate a percentage of potential interest for any given entity. I do agree that the fuel that will drive this idea to reality is the number of people on the forum. From a business standpoint for AG this is a no loose situation. Perception is reality you can't put a price on the kind of positive public relations this idea can generate for AG. It would be like having their own private focus group out in the field expressing needs for products that AG is not currently selling. you just might be surprised at the number of things people are looking for. THINK OUT OF THE BOX. I once read that in the beginning of the 20th century there was a movement to close the US patent office as it was thought that all of the inventions that could be invented were already invented. when I was a kid the 4 minute mile was the be all to end all and now you see some high school kids doing it. As a businessman I am sure that you will agree that the longer you can keep a customer in your store the greater the chance of that customer making a purchase and conversely if your customer goes to another store the greater the chance of you loosing a sale. That is exactly what happened with me yesterday. I decided that I wanted to get the foam canon from AG but I do not own a pressure washer and AG does not sell pressure washers (case in point). I went to my local Home Depot to find an inexpensive pressure washer that can accommodate the foam canon (impulse reaction to the foam cannon video talk about putting the cart before the horse). Any way I came across a pressure washer for $99.00 that had a high pressure foam lance included as a bonus. If AG sold a pressure washer/foam cannon kit I would be waiting for the big brown truck to arrive. As I stated previously this can only be a win win situation for everyone IMHO.

 

[Superdutytd]

Hi and thanks for your reply. I used the 1k# simply to illustrate a point. I have no idea as to the number of members AG has and without that information it would be difficult to extrapolate a percentage of potential interest for any given entity. I do agree that the fuel that will drive this idea to reality is the number of people on the forum. From a business standpoint for AG this is a no loose situation. Perception is reality you can't put a price on the kind of positive public relations this idea can generate for AG. It would be like having their own private focus group out in the field expressing needs for products that AG is not currently selling. you just might be surprised at the number of things people are looking for. THINK OUT OF THE BOX. I once read that in the beginning of the 20th century there was a movement to close the US patent office as it was thought that all of the inventions that could be invented were already invented. when I was a kid the 4 minute mile was the be all to end all and now you see some high school kids doing it. As a businessman I am sure that you will agree that the longer you can keep a customer in your store the greater the chance of that customer making a purchase and conversely if your customer goes to another store the greater the chance of you loosing a sale. That is exactly what happened with me yesterday. I decided that I wanted to get the foam canon from AG but I do not own a pressure washer and AG does not sell pressure washers (case in point). I went to my local Home Depot to find an inexpensive pressure washer that can accommodate the foam canon (impulse reaction to the foam cannon video talk about putting the cart before the horse). Any way I came across a pressure washer for $99.00 that had a high pressure foam lance included as a bonus. If AG sold a pressure washer/foam cannon kit I would be waiting for the big brown truck to arrive. As I stated previously this can only be a win win situation for everyone IMHO.

I agree 100% with your points. I also do think some products like powerwashers are kind of hard to sell over the internet as shipping is killer? Don't get me wrong I beleive that this is a great idea but don't really know how much of a discount can be had for 50-100 of an item. I think that if AG were to do something like this that they would be helping out themselves AND their customers alot. :goodpost:

They really sell powerwashers for a $100? I have a commercial grade 3600 PSI BE powerwasher that was like $1100 .

 

[Matt]

I think this is an interesting idea and definitely worth the debate! Only good things can come from it.

They really sell powerwashers for a $100? I have a commercial grade 3600 PSI BE powerwasher that was like $1100 .

They sell them for $50!!! I saw some the other day except they looked so cheap and nasty but they did come with a foaming attachment ...But I'm sure they'd still work well enough....I was tempted to buy one because I had a foam gun in my AG cart and would have bought a Foam cannon instead, but I decided there was no point.
Sorry, not meaning to go toofftopic: but I do like my new Foam gun though

 

[ryandamartini]

It sounds good until forum members get all pissed that their product was not added. Or the classic case of many buys when everyone is like oh yeah lets do it! When time comes, everyone backs out. It is a risk all around to me and difficult to manage.

AG already has the best customer support, the best management, the best product selection, etc..

From my experience in group buys, it is a pain to manage even when people pay. First you have to gauge interest. Then you sign up. Then you confirm yes or no by a date. You take that list then collect payment. Some people back out of your number you needed. This happens in group buys almost without exception. Now you could take up money in advance. However depending on the item, a lot of folks I imagine do not like having money tied up with no product if the time frame is too long.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea. It just creates a large amount of trouble and inconvenience for AG to get us a product with them not getting a normal cut.

I could see something like this maybe once a year. Beyond that, I would not ask AG to bend over backwards for such a large group buy often.

 

[A4 1.8tqm]

While we're off topic about cheap power washers... Don't buy a Husky, all three of the Husky's my friends dad bought broke down with just a few uses. You think he'd learn huh? :cheers:

Edit: I realized that it not wise to give advice based on others experiences, so I borrowed the last Husky that broke/quit working from him. The problem (at least with the newest one) was starting the power washer with a hose full of air attached (air should be bled from hose first) and not going through the power test that is clearly stated on the plug. The power washer is functioning perfectly, at least in my hands. Im the MAN

 

[Meghan]

I will definately pass this info on to our next meeting, but as most all of you have stated, we listen, we are ALWAYS listening. So if you have a product you would like us to carry let us know, start a tread if you like or email me. I will tell you we read all of the threads, and we take seriously the wishes of our customers. You will see there has been threads before started and if you look we are carry some of the ones that have been requested, and always working on some new ones.

If you look in the link below we had some requests Einszette, 3M backing plates, Menzerna, Duragloss, 3M Painters Tape, water Filters, all of which we carry now. So if you want something post it there, if we can get it and it fits with Autogeek you will see it!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/new-car-care-products/2019-products-autogeek-should-sell.html

 

[ryandamartini]

Some things I would love to see:

The 3m wool pads and the adapter to use them

A few ceegee products, namely the citrus wash and jetseal. Maybe a few more. They are widely used by members on the AG boards. It just makes sense to buy in house. Its getting to the point of where Menzerna was. Everyone used it but AG didn't sell it.

A few of the FK products would be nice.

Zaino..

 

[unclestu]

I think it would just vreate an arguement about a product and its performance and whether it is worthy or not.

Hi and thanks for the clarification though I don't follow your logic. How would it create an argument? All a member would be doing is posting an item that he would like to see AG carry in stock. AG at a later date would compile the "wish list " that was created by the members and put it to a vote based upon which items members would actually want to buy. There would be no need for campaigning to promote a specific item. There would be no need to debate the merits of a specific item. It would be democracy in its purest form. The worthiness of a specific product would be determined solely by the number of members who actually want to buy that product. In this type of scenario how and with whom do you see this argument, which you have mentioned, occurring with? I firmly believe the benefits to both the forum members as well as to AG would far out way the logistical challenges it might pose.

Thanks again for an opportunity to state my case.

Stu

 

[unclestu]

I will definately pass this info on to our next meeting, but as most all of you have stated, we listen, we are ALWAYS listening. So if you have a product you would like us to carry let us know, start a tread if you like or email me. I will tell you we read all of the threads, and we take seriously the wishes of our customers. You will see there has been threads before started and if you look we are carry some of the ones that have been requested, and always working on some new ones.

If you look in the link below we had some requests Einszette, 3M backing plates, Menzerna, Duragloss, 3M Painters Tape, water Filters, all of which we carry now. So if you want something post it there, if we can get it and it fits with Autogeek you will see it!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/new-car-care-products/2019-products-autogeek-should-sell.html

Hi Meghan
Thanks for the reply I am glad that there was a place to post requests to carry products not currently available on AG.
Though I have only been involved with AG for a short period of time I definately recognize and appreciate the wonderful and receptive customer support that AG provides its customers. I am going to post a request for AG to carry a 1gal. or 2gal pump sprayer. I want to get one of those to use with the ONR that I plan on buying. I think AG should offer as a kit the ONR along with a 1gal pump type mister/sprayer. The type that you use to spray gardening chemicals.

Thanks again and looking forward to hearing what they think about my idea.

Unclestu