fleetfilter.com raised their prices

[peking]

So what now??


February 6, 2007

Our suppliers have insisted that we either alter the way we sell filters on this website or we close it
down. The traditional business model consists of large fleets getting the best pricing; our business
model consists of everyone getting that price. However, our suppliers and their current customers are
concerned that our deals are too good for the average buyer. We like our supplier relationship because
they have always been very supportive of our website. Since they are currently our only supplier, we
are forced to compromise if it means the website can continue forward.

Effective immediately we have raised our prices. Our prices are still 45% less than retail, but not as
good as the 58% they used to be. As an offset, we will give you an immediate 15% off your entire
order if you buy more than $125.00 in filters. IF YOU ARE BUYING MORE THAN $750.00, PLEASE
EMAIL OR CALL US, AND WE WILL GIVE YOU AN EVEN BETTER DISCOUNT.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:

---

However, our suppliers and their current customers are
concerned that our deals are too good for the average buyer.

---

Yeah ..concerned? "You're treating them too good!! They might continue to buy from you ..and we might have more throughput as a result!! ..and that's something we cannot tolerate!!"

Hey...there's others willing to sell for a few $$ less.

If I were fleetfilter I would totally comply with Wix's/NAPA's wishes ...shut the door to consumer sales.


...and when they realize that they're (NAPA/WIX) are losing money from lower re-orders ..say "Well, we did offer you an alternative

"

 

[FleetFilter.com]

We fought hard not to have to do this. They love what we are doing, but they didn't like the way we were doing it. So we came up with this comprimise. We thought of being more harsh, but in the long run the only people it hurts is the customers. Without yall we have no website. We are trying our best to keep the prices as low as we can and give the same great customer service.
Bryan

 

[fredsavage]

That is too bad. I purchased a couple of cases of oil filters from your establishment in December, still need to get air filters. How about dealing in regular Wix? They are the same filter, and usually cheaper at other retail outlets then the Napa Gold.

 

[FleetFilter.com]

It is an option that we can not reach yet. You can check with others, but we should still be very close in pricing.
Bryan

 

[okiedokie]

Only surprise here is it didn't happen sooner. Filter1.com is and has always been the best filter buy out there.

 

[Gary Allan]

Are the current posted prices valid? They don't seem like too much of an alteration. The 51515 is still low

Don't you hate it when this happens?

 

[FleetFilter.com]

Quote:

---

Only surprise here is it didn't happen sooner. Filter1.com is and has always been the best filter buy out there.

---

I respect your opinion, but how long have you been buying from them? Our prices are as good as theirs and if you don't buy enough from us we won't jack your prices. PLUS it is a lot easier to buy from us then it is them. We post our prices for all to see.
Bryan

 

[FleetFilter.com]

Quote:

---

Are the current posted prices valid? They don't seem like too much of an alteration. The 51515 is still low

Don't you hate it when this happens?

---

Yes the prices listed are the current prices. They did go up, but we are still cheaper then you can get from a retailer.
Bryan

 

[Mr. Boston]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Are the current posted prices valid? They don't seem like too much of an alteration. The 51515 is still low

Don't you hate it when this happens?

---

Yes the prices listed are the current prices. They did go up, but we are still cheaper then you can get from a retailer.
Bryan

---

Bryan - why can't you toss in free shipping as an offset?

Thanks,

 

[FleetFilter.com]

If you buy over $125 and get the discount, that usually is more than shipping. We looked at it both ways, and we decided to give yall a bigger break on the filters than shipping.
Bryan

 

[Gary Allan]

That's what BF Goodrich dealers have to do ..sorta. You will never get a BFG tire discounted. They can give you a free Lincoln Towncar with the tire purchase (free mounting and balancing) ..but the price is somewhat fixed.

It's the same with most "advertised" prices. Most vendors are contractually limited to what they can advertise. That's why they always say "CALL". It's more labor intensive ..but then they can "deal". This, in terms of places like Summit and Jeg's ..basically means that anyone who pays the advertised price is paying too much. They can always give you a discount on the phone. The supplier/manufacturer won't know what you're selling it for.

Naturally you then have to higher more phone staff as a result.

 

[FleetFilter.com]

That is not totally true. Our program is set up for people who buy large amount of filters. Basicly the problem with our suppliers is the ones ordering one or two filters. We do not have a problem with these people, because there is not customer to small. So we have developed where the more you buy the better the deal. We have guidlines on what breaks we can give at what amount. Not everyone will be ale to hit these amounts. We won't give everyone a deal if they call us. You have to met the amounts. We do not have the ability to hagel on the prices. I hope this is not to confusing for yall, and we hope that we can make it better as we go.

Bryan

 

[Mr. Boston]

Quote:

---

That is not totally true. Our program is set up for people who buy large amount of filters. Basicly the problem with our suppliers is the ones ordering one or two filters. We do not have a problem with these people, because there is not customer to small. So we have developed where the more you buy the better the deal. We have guidlines on what breaks we can give at what amount. Not everyone will be ale to hit these amounts. We won't give everyone a deal if they call us. You have to met the amounts. We do not have the ability to hagel on the prices. I hope this is not to confusing for yall, and we hope that we can make it better as we go.

Bryan

---

OK...I'll ask again.

Bryan - why can't you toss in free shipping as an offset?

BTW - I just bought two cases of oil filters from you...

 

[FleetFilter.com]

We can not sell the filters at low prices and give you free shipping. If we were to offer free shipping we would have to raise the prices, again. You, the customer, will save more money this way.
Bryan

 

[okiedokie]

Quote:

---

I respect your opinion, but how long have you been buying from them? Our prices are as good as theirs and if you don't buy enough from us we won't jack your prices. PLUS it is a lot easier to buy from us then it is them. We post our prices for all to see.

---

No opinion - FACT. Plenty long enough, thank you. I compared prices to include shipping. $50 minimum for free shipping is not that much for anyone with two or more vehicles to maintain. Anyone can easily get an account and use their catalog to do cross-references, see pricing and even set up a quick order form to track all their various filters for numerous vehicles.

It would seem you are the one with the misguided opinion, which I do not respect when you use phraseology to infer an easily avoided shipping cost as jacked up pricing.

 

[FleetFilter.com]

That's not what I meant. The filter business is a complicated one that uses "kickbacks" from the manufacturer to offer lower prices to large customers. In essence, Filter1 does what we do to stay in business. However, it's been our experience that Filter1 offers a swinging deal out of the gate, then raises their prices the second time around (this applies to smaller customers) because Wix refuses to give Filter1 the kickback due to the small purchase.

We don't do that. We have all our prices up front, and the only increases we've had in the past two years were standard, minor adjustments set by Wix. This time, we've had to alter our pricing because Wix doesn't like the amount of "kickbacks" we've been generating.

Bottom line, I'm okay with whoever you buy filters from. It's America, and we put ourselves out there as a viable alterative to your local parts store. You, as consumer, get to choose who you think is best, and then support that company through purchases. For the larger customers to our site, it's best for them to pay the shipping and get the discount.

 

[peking]

I'm pretty sure you make a nice little profit off the members and viewers of BITOG advertising your products here. Most of us buy oil and air filters for personal use. We don't buy them in the bulk quantity to make it worth while, since, your prices have gone up. We'd be better off getting similar/comparable oil/air filters somewhere else for a lower price. You could at least "Toss us a Bone" and include free shipping. Your price increase would definitely make up for the shipping cost! Or at least orders over $50.00 like some other online sites. Not all of us can order $125.00 worth of products to even get the 15% discount.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:

---

That is not totally true.
Bryan

---

Not in your case. But this is a pretty standard type of marketing format on the consumer level. You're not operating on the consumer level as a rule.

Go look at Jeg's, Summit, or any vendor of any major aftermarket item. You go to any one of them..the price advertised, unless manufacturer authorized, is within (typically) a dollar or two. They can then discount from that SRP ..but most just take whatever the catalog posts/lists as prices.

Something like this happened to Fuel Power ..but in an opposite way. They sold cheap to everyone ..then when bulk sales came into the picture they had no where to discount. They had to raise the ceiling to afford the former everyday price to the bulk customers ..who they didn't want to inadvertently compete with.

higher=hire

 

[SkyPup]

So the 46637 I buy went from $19.54 to $24.86, which is over a 25% increase. I'm not a math whiz but if your price changed 13% or as you stated it was 58% of retail off and is now 45% of retail off..... Maybe I'm facing the wrong direction when I press the buttons......