There go the comparable a on used vans! Stephen Mobile > On Sep 14, 2017, at 11:54 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote: > > Just saw this on the EV list and thought I would post it here. > > I think I know why this has happened. > > It is really the same path that we have been on for the last several > years. Going from a repair shop/parts store, to a restoration shop/parts > store (where we are now), to an accessories developer/parts store (they > will probably eventually stop selling the repair parts at some point and > only supply the accessories/Westy parts which would be very ironic as that > is how the whole business started back in the day). > > It really just comes down to making the most money with your time, with the > least headaches. Developing cool accessories that aren't mission critical > is a great way to make a ton of money (high mark up) while avoiding the > thing that is the most soul destroying in the Vanagon world (dealing with > broken down vans on trips). I had lots of great experiences with doing > repairs for customers over the years, however one bad experience (with an > unreasonable customer, or someone who seems to be jinxed for some reason) > overshadows your life until you get it resolved. Getting a phone message > at 10 o'clock at night on a Saturday from a customer broken down in the > middle of nowhere and there is nothing you can do for them until Monday > will wreck your weekend if you actually care (which I do). Getting away > from that wheel of pain has helped me enjoy servicing the Vanagon world > again and we are actually making the same or even a little more money. I > have just dipped my toe into the restoration and sales world and so far > that is going well. However eventually, I will use that money to expand > the accessories that we sell, because that is really where the money is > right now. People just can't get enough stuff to bolt and strap onto their > vans. I tried to buck the trend for a while but if you can't beat em, join > em. > > Just my thoughts on this. > > -- > Thanks, > Ken Wilford > John 3:16 > www.vanagain.com . |
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