Internet communication & selling parts

[worldparts]

Dealerships have been selling parts on the phone and across the parts counter for more then 40 years. Now that Internet communications has become the preferred method of communication for millions of people around the world, I think it would be wise to start a dialog about using the internet to sell parts. This is a brand new arena for selling and "what works" is just now being learned. Here are a few comments and questions to start the thread.
1. Are there any "very successful" dealers out there who have made significant gross selling parts online?
2. Are you offering any discounts to internet customers?
3. How can we keep retail gross margin from eroding like wholesale margins have done in recent years?
4. Why would a person buy a part from a dealer 3 states away when he probably has a dealer locally which can get the part?
5. What are the "experts" saying about the future?
6. What are the manufactures position or strategies?


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Bob Van Der Ploeg
bob@worldparts.com
http://www.worldparts.com
ICQ: 7660816