What do you think?

[Classic Heartbeat]

We have decided to start advertising with C/10 Builders Magazine.. This is the add.. Curious to see what everyone thinks... WES

[demian5]

Whats the value ad of your place VS say:
Truck and Car Shop
Classic Industries
LMC
Brothers
Etc...

Gotta state something that gets me to want to use you when I am driving distance from 3 of the places I listed.

Just my 2 cents.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I can see a couple of the companies you have listed have poor quality parts. Some couldn't tell a bumper from a windshield gasket. You can ask around the boards here. I have a reputation. WES

[Classic Heartbeat]

Also look at my join date. I joined and have been working with people on these boards for almost 20 years. WES

[Classic Heartbeat]

Are you talking about my thread? Grumpy old man?

[Classic Heartbeat]

Well you can believe however you want to believe. However I have produced some of my own product that the quality is unmatched with the others. Besides this is a what do you think about my add post not a post where I am going to argue who you should buy parts from. However ask yourself this. Witch one of the above mentioned companies helped any other board member here. WES

[Classic Heartbeat]

I know the answer, so I guess there is no value in our help and experience. WES

[mjoc1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

When your prices and shipping are less than others . Then the guys will pay attention until then your just another retailer .

He's right.. I'm a hour drive from Classic industries but will never buy parts from them if I dont go and pick them up there shipping is the worst.. I will actually order parts from companies across the country because the shipping is better. And as far as parts go they are all pretty much the same quality for the resto stuff..

[cliff67]

I think the ad looks good ! Advertising is not cheap, good luck with the ad if you go forward with it.

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

I can see a couple of the companies you have listed have poor quality parts. Some couldn't tell a bumper from a windshield gasket. You can ask around the boards here. I have a reputation. WES

This is the point I'd be making as your differentiator in the market, Wes. " We don't sell crap." Or, " Our customer service doesn't suck." What makes you different/better than the 50 other guys, and how am I gonna know about it at a glance?

[mjoc1]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

This is the point I'd be making as your differentiator in the market, Wes. " We don't sell crap." Or, " Our customer service doesn't suck." What makes you different/better than the 50 other guys, and how am I gonna know about it at a glance?

Your right up to the time this was posted up I have no idea who has better customer service or better products you need to make me want to call you and find out that you are going to be my go to guy.

Michael

[1971Stepside]

I don't think you need quotations around Classic or Late Model. Keep your ad simple. It is very busy. You only get the viewers attention for seconds, so make it count. What are you really trying to tell them? I would maybe think about taking out the white truck pic and the sheet metal. Enlarge your logo. If you flip through a magazine you will notice your eye is drawn to simple ads. Busy ones you don't even see. Just my .02. Good luck.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Thank your feedback 1971 Stepside and cliff 67. I shouldn't have gotten caught up in the quality thing. It wasn't what feedback I was looking for. mjoc1, sorry if I came off angry, I wasn't. WES

[Classic Heartbeat]

Thank you dsy1. I missed that. Hopefully it's not too late. I let the editor know. WES

[mjoc1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I still don't understand why your posting on here that your advertising on another site ? are your prices/shipping less than other suppliers or are you just wanting to pull buyers to another site ? it really makes no difference how long you've been on here if your prices are higher ?

Its not for another site it is for a magazine ad.

Michael.

[Classic Heartbeat]

mjoc1 is right. This is for C/10 Builders Magazine. It is a quarterly magazine for us C/10 guys. WES

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I still don't understand why your posting on here that your advertising on another site ? are your prices/shipping less than other suppliers or are you just wanting to pull buyers to another site ? it really makes no difference how long you've been on here if your prices are higher ?

Not all of us want cheap crap on our trucks. My truck is very much being built on a budget and I’d rather buy good stuff the first time not what is cheapest. Wes has exceptional stuff. If I lived next to lmc, classic parts, etc. I would still order from Wes or even GMC Paul rather than walk across the street to get parts that are trash before they ever go on my truck. Look at the multi year warranties he offers on lots of his REPRODUCTION parts. These guys sell the parts they use and in my observation they don’t carry the low quality crap that is sold daily from the other usual suspects. I’ve ordered directly from Wes and his parts are different than most!

Sure some people are going to buy the cheapest things they can find to get a build or project on its way but I’d be willing to bet the vast majority are willing to buy parts one time rather that over and over again. Cab rubber parts are the perfect example.

Good luck with your ad Wes. I’m no marketing expert so I will leave critique to those qualified!

[Classic Heartbeat]

dsy1, Thanks again! The editor was able to change it before it went to print... Whewww! Good catch! WES

[68 P.O.S.]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I still don't understand why your posting on here that your advertising on another site ? are your prices/shipping less than other suppliers or are you just wanting to pull buyers to another site ? it really makes no difference how long you've been on here if your prices are higher ?

If you read his first post, it's pretty obvious; he wants the boards opinion on his advertisement.

[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by demian5

Gotta state something that gets me to want to use you when I am driving distance from 3 of the places I listed.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree.

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

I guess there is no value in our help and experience. WES

I don't agree.

The whole question of advertising in general has been rolling around in my head for 24+ years, ever since I've been a retailer. I sell different stuff than you but I'd venture to guess it really isn't much different. I've always felt ( up until 4 months ago, more on that in a minute.) that my advertisement dollars were basically money thrown directly in the trash can. I tried the local papers, TV, the thrifty nickel (a free publication placed in all the restaurants etc.), menus, the backs of grocery store receipts, calendars, mini footballs they throw out at high school football games, you get the picture. With a budget of only a few hundred a week it seemed like i would get just enough business from the ad to cover the cost of the ad. Sometimes I would see no results. Eventually I just quit these methods all together and felt all the better, like I was saving money, which is the same as earning it in my eyes.

Along came the interwebs and now its all changed. You nearly have to be on every social media site, posting like a teenager in love, or spend a gianormous load of cash to an SEO company to get in front of their face. For several reasons, I don't have the desire to do this, but I do believe it works when done properly.

Back in June I decided to close a store. I didn't want to hire any more employees only to let them go after the store was closed, so I hired a liquidation company to handle the management and sales for the event. Part of the contract that they required of me was to advertise via direct mail. 10,000 8.5 x 11 heavy card-stock flyers a week through the US post office program called E.D.D.M. which stands for every door direct mail. The cost comes in at 33 cents each. yes, 3 grand a week, ouch. The commitment was for 8 weeks, but it was such a success I asked them to stay for 2 more, so 10 weeks total. I sold the equivalent of 2 years worth of product in 2.5 months.

I say all this to recommend that you look for a GOOD mailing list and directly mail to guys like us. Look for your specific demographic, I'm guessing the majority of the board is over 40 and male. Personally, I save all of the truck related stuff that comes in the mail and put it near the porcelain throne for in depth study while attending to the "grunt". This way, when I'm ready to buy whatever I'm needing, I have already done the homework to make the purchase.

In regard to how well your ad grabs attention, there are so many schools of thought on this I say print what you like. Yeah, you're not gonna win them all but remember, you are trying to get older guys attention, so I don't think flash is needed.

Hope this gives you some help somehow. It is my real life experience and I will continue to use it for event oriented sales, maybe 3-5 times a year, to stay in the minds of potential buyers.

[Killer Bee]

I am by no stretch of the imagination an advertising expert but I like the ad..

tells me what you're selling and how to get there..

and I'll agree with the above, some of the local catalog houses may be nearby, but way too crowded, long lines, or incompetent counter help that makes shipping more attractive..

I recently bought a previously discontinued high hump floor mat for my 65 from a place 20 minutes from my house.. although I was very excited to get my hands on it, saturday morning lines out the door aren't my thing.. so I paid a few bucks and had it shipped 15 miles to my doorstep instead..

good luck with the ad, hope it's productive!

[Canuckvetter]

As a longtime member of this site your have every right to ask the guys and gals that have used the other vendors and have been frustrated by the lack of knowledge, cheap parts that don’t fit or wrong parts sent to try to get a leg up on the completion. The fact that you know these truck inside out is worth while dealing with you. Your reputation as a fair, knowledgeable guy has made its way into Canada. I have only bought 1 thing off you so far and had a great experience. You did what you said and followed up till I got it. I find some private sellers on this site shut down with no response or returned PM’s once they find out they have to ship to Canada. Even some responding to this post. I have dealt with quite a few fellas over the years as where to buy and your good name always comes up. Glad the biggest responses have been truly helpful and wish you the best of luck with your ad.
Michael

[dsy1]

"Suburban's" should not have an apostrophe.

[68 P.O.S.]

I like it and think it looks good Wes. Your reputation for selling hi-quality parts, your own exclusive parts, and being a helluva guy are what makes you a great vendor.

[Ol Blue K20]

I like it Wes, one thing people don't know is you only sell the parts you use in your shop.