What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Well with spring just around the corner we would like to know what our customers would like to see from us this season. We already have some big plans in regards to project cars and events, but we really want to know what we can do to improve in regards to products, services, and anything else for that matter!

If you don't see what you are looking for in this poll, please feel free to select other and add to this post! We greatly appreciate any and all feedback!

We want to be your source for automotive performance!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

I think that you guys have everything except an AWD dyno. I have never seen your fabrication or Tuning capabilities tho. I dont think on hand inventory besides what you have(ARPs, Bearings, Gaskets) is nessesary considering you can get it pretty much next day anyways. And I believe your prices are decent enough to not need more specials. Just my two cents.
Mike

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

An 8 second pass.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

4 Sec pass!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

AWD dyno.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Thanks for the feedback Mike! That's about what we were thinking...

Chris

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Like I said, big plans for this coming season in regards to project cars ;)

Chris

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Pick up an Amsoil dealership so you can sell their EA (rebadged Donaldson) filtration products. I wouldn't push the Amsoil lubrication products as I believe that a number of their products are more snake oil than anything.
http://www.amsoil.com/filtration/index.aspx

Add Adel Wiggins to your list of available product lines.

Add a gallery to your website.

Put together a line of stainless downpipes which are a 2.5"-->3" transition. I'll be the first in line for a 1G AWD model.

If you have a weak point, don't pretend that it doesn't exist. Be 100% up front with people.

Don't turn into another Slowboy Racing.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel with everything you do. There are too many shops which pretend to do this and they only make themselves look like immature fools because of their true lack of long-term experience like that had by Buschur, Marco, Shepherd, Brown, etc. There is a difference between reinventing the wheel and ingenuity. Don't market yourselves as experts because you may have won X award or received Y certification.

Prove to us (the members) why we should give you business. Obviously you have the Toonerz crowd on your side by the discounts you're offering them but there are many people like me who look beyond the price.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Other: more involvement in the community? Come to some tuesday bee's gatherings, etc. I don't *ever* see you guys!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Ya, come out to bee's and stuff like that. I know you think I'm a crazy drunk, but hey we're good people!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Dude you crazy!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Thank you! This is exactly what I am looking for, and I will personally look into these changes.

Can you elaborate more in regards to proving to the members why they should give us business? Our focus right now is not only on lower prices, but also fast fulfillment and exceptional customer service.

Thanks again!

Chris Carey

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Pictures can do wonders for people. Fill your gallery with pictures of your fabrication and installations. For example, I couldn't care any less if you or any other vendor has sold 391 FMIC piping kits as unless I see examples of quality work, it's not earning my business. I'm far from a welding expert but too many people have no clue what the difference between shitty and quality fabrication truly is. Look at the prices that SLS and Shearer are able to charge for their tubular manifolds. It is because of the reputation that their manifolds have for quality and that the internet is flooded with pictures and feedback proving that reputation.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

That thread is long! Can someone enlighten me as to when and where this takes place? Maybe we will show up tonight! I hope its after 8 as we are open until then ;)

Chris

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Applebees off of HWY 100 (west side of 100), 1 exit north of 55. 9pm ish every Tuesday.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

I went there a couple times with Tauni!

Therefore you cannot hate!

We will probably roll out tonight in the GTO!

Oh, and I said other, because I could use some more fucking money! So lets work on that!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

I can't believe I haven't heard about this before, it's so close to the shop! We will see you tonight then!

Chris

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Cool, glad you guys are able to make it.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

You act as if we have anything better to do!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

I meant to say, "God damn it now I am not coming since you a-holes will be there!" Better? ;)

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

HAHAHAHA, thats just funny.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

I suggest focusing on markets that you can better serve. By that, I mean 2WD cars since that is what your dyno is capable of handling, especially with the saturation of DSM/Mitsu shops already in existence near the Twin Cities. The national EVO market is going to be very tough to crack in to since you do not have an AWD dyno nor a shop EVO. What about focusing on the 350Z/G35 and the GTO (along with your current DSM endevors) since the shop already has those cars at its disposal? I know there is a decent amount of GTO's running around the Cities because I've been on the Minnesota section of the national board numerous times. The Z/G population is also growing and as far as I know there isn't a Midwest shop that focuses on them. You were saying you can't crack into the Mustang/F-Body market, but I think the GTO may be your ticket in. Another thing I think is important is having your shop cars make a presence at all events during the summer. Keep your cars up and running at all times, and when some downtime is needed, make it as brief as possible. It says a lot for a shop and instills trust with their customers if they are able to keep their cars together.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

AWD Dyno

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Thanks for the insight Chris. I must say I have had the same thoughts in regards to the GTO/350Z/G35 markets simply because we do own the cars and can most definitely get the parts. The problem is that we love turbochargers! Thus the obvious correlation between the DSM, WRX/STi, Evo, and SRT-4. These markets are also a lot easier to reach as there are both local and national forums that we have sponsored that lead to 90% of our business. I also think that the similarities between the DSM and the Evo kind of forced us to pursue the market.

So that leaves us with two choices, get an AWD dyno to pursue these markets or switch it up completely and focus on different markets. But like you said the competition in the area has grown immensely over the past few years especially in the markets we currently serve!

And at that I will stop rambling. You may have noticed that I haven't come to a conclusion, and that's because we still don't have one! lol

Chris

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

I think you can take a whole other direction with this. Adding another set of rollers to make your setup AWD obviously has to cost another good chunk of change and honestly, we don't know if you guys would rather go the Dyno Dynamics way for AWD simply due to the other 2 in town to compare numbers with. That's all inside info and speculation for the random peeps.

Changing things up if you stick with the 2WD dyno isn't 100% true. Keep your current AWD customers, and focus more on bringing in more 2WD car types. It works for your setup and at your prices it works for your customers. Use this to grown long term and make a feasable jump to an AWD setup down the road. Just seems more of a route I would take, and it would give you guys more time to continue any needed learning curve on various tuning systems.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

That's the other big thing, even if we did invest in an AWD dyno we still don't have someone to tune many of the different tuning systems. However, that is quickly becoming our top priority.

The way our business has been going it appears that people bring general maintenance, repair, and small upgrades to us based mostly upon price, and choose to pursue larger projects elsewhere regardless of the cost difference or time frame for completion. The only reasoning for this that I can see is the capability to tune the vehicle after such upgrades have been made. It only makes sense though that such a customer would want a one stop shop for their performance vehicle, and in the AWD market we are not able to provide that at this point in many occasions.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

AWD Dyno would put us out to a much larger audience.

BUT, it looks like what the people are trying to say is that they want to see a Turbo'ed LSx GTO in the near future!

That and a ford 9" and we would be set;).

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Good call, my dad's GTO's rear diff is on its way out...and it was already replaced (not just rebuilt, a whole new unit was swapped in) under warranty once.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

STS system FTW!!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Honestly guys, and I welcome the competition, but I really think the Twin Cities can not support 4 AWD dynos.

Giving you honest advice as a competitive business owner and a friend, I would focus your attention on other aspects of your business.

A AWD dynojet locally would be cool for some comparisions, but putting that Pit in can't be cheap!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Only "cost" of the pit is us working our ass off for like 50 or 60 hours! That and concrete pouring, which we get done at cost, as we know people.

It still sucks and is expensive though!

About the STS:

Why would I want to put a turbo BEHIND the vehicle? Even though thermal losses and spoolup issue's don't seem to be too bad, I would still route it to the front where the airbox is more than likely! Turbo's are supposed to be close to the engine IMO! And then you have IC piping, a separate oiling system, and just yuck!

Yeah, the stock rear diff in the GTO is gay. It is alright, but they don't like wheelhop at all! Or lots of power......... And its IRS, which isn't good for drag racing unless you drive a viper!

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

With the volume of parts you all have been moving, I do not see how many non-internet-based businesses are going to be able to compete with MAP, irrelevant of whether it is group buy pricing or not. If you could pick up business from all of the people who buy overpriced parts from SBR, you would definitely take a big leap ahead.

It's all about having an established reputation. Look at Shane & DB. Shane has the reputation of being one of the top import EFI tuners in North America and even though DB's dyno rates sit in the middle between MAP and LSE, I'm sure they could raise their prices and still maintain a constant customer base. I certainly know that he's the only one who will ever touch my car, whenever it gets to the tuning stage.

Does it? Look at how many shops have quality control issues because they try to "do it all." SLS used to market parts very heavily but now all of their advertising indicates that they have shifted their key focus to fabrication. SLS and Shearer are really the only ones in the DSM market who push high-end fabrication.

I have no problem doing business with multiple shops and I would certainly think that there are others who feel the same way too.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

It sounds like you a have a pretty good grasp on how this industry works, and I greatly appreciate your feedback. As far as parts you are correct, our volume has increased ten fold over last year on a monthly basis and judging by the responses we have been getting on a national level we are definitely taking some of that business from SBR, Buschur, Etc. But as you may well know, the margins are not the greatest! Thus our focus on labor at a local level. We now have two lifts and three techs, one of which (Kyle) being what I would consider a "car god." Granted, he still has a lot to learn and we learn new things every day. But after eating, sleeping, and breathing cars for nearly ten years he has proven himself time and time again. I guess we just need to increase the exposure like you said in regards to his work.

We are still very young at nearly ten months old, but we anticipate some pretty big leaps this coming season...

Thanks for the insight guys!

Chris Carey

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

A business may as well close their doors if learning ever ends.

Exactly.

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Hmm....how about...hit 10's

:)

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Actually we were thinking about skipping 10's altogether ;)

Re: What would you like to see from us this season?
 

Hey, that works too.... :P