October 28, 2016
To Whom It May Concern,
Today, I had the misfortune of stopping by All Pro Performance (located at 1617 S 1900 W.). I stopped on my way home from work. On numerous occasions, I had driven by, reading signs that said,
"We Specialize In
Suspension Upgrades ~ Tire & Wheel Packages ~ Vehicle Maintenance & Repairs
Performance Products ~ Differential Parts & Service ~ Custom Fabrication"
So, I decided to stop by, ready to make a few purchases for my ongoing vehicle build. I entered an empty show room, walls covered with bumpers, side bars, various types of off road armor, a few winches, wheels and aftermarket off road lights. I waited more than 5 minutes, listening to the lone salesman arguing on the phone, repeatedly telling the caller that he wasn't about to stick around waiting for someone to drive down from Salt Lake City just so he could sell them a $10 part.
Once he finished on the phone, I told him I was in the middle of a build and looking for a long list of parts including bumpers, rock sliders, armor, lockers, a body lift and possibly some addition Rigid Industries lights. When I told the salesman I had a 2004 Lexus GX 470, he immediately replied that he wouldn't have anything that would work with my vehicle. He said the only Toyota parts he might have were for Land Cruisers and possibly FJ Cruisers. I attempted to explain to him the Lexus GX is, in fact, a Land Cruiser Prado (in any market outside of the United States). In addition, the GX 470 is built on the Toyota 120 Platform, shared by the 4th generation 4Runner and the FJ Cruiser. Furthermore, I informed him that many parts designed for the 4th Gen. 4runner and the FJ Cruiser (including the 2.5" suspension lift, with Bilstein Shocks, Radflo Coils and Light Racing Upper Control Arms I am currently running) will fit the GX. Doubting the veracity of my statement, he claimed he would have to verify my statement with his vendors. He went on to say that the products I cited for the aforementioned Toyota vehicles are such a niche market, they weren't worth his time. I explained that many companies and vendors, including: ICON, METAL TECH, ADDICTED OFFROAD, SLEE, CBI OFFROAD FAB, TOTAL CHAOS FABRICATION & ALL-PRO OFF-ROAD, ironically known as "THE TOYOTA OFF-ROAD SPECIALISTS", oh and the little "niche" company (perhaps one of the largest global companies of its kind) ARB! He then curtly responded that perhaps we were "miscommunicating" as he had no interest in selling me any aftermarket parts for my vehicle. He then went on to say that if I wanted to buy the parts and bring them in, he would be happy to install them. I clarified for him that we were not miscommunicating at all. See, I already have trusted mechanics to install the parts I purchase. I was there looking to purchase parts, and he was overtly telling me not only that he had no desire to sell them but was in fact telling me to purchase them online. I can only assume that business at All Pro Performance is prosperous, they don't feel the need to sell the products on their shelves (although I wonder if their vendors would agree).
Moreover, the idea that aftermarket off road products for Toyota vehicles (Toyota, the largest manufacturer of automobiles in the world for at least the past three years) is a "niche market" is indicative of either one of two things (or, maybe both in this case). Either the salesman has no clue about the industry in which he works, or has absolutely no idea what the word "niche" means.
Finally, in a last attempt to support a local business, I asked about wheel spacers and was told, yes, they do sell them but I could get them anywhere. This was particularly frustrating because I was prepared to, at the very least, purchase a set of Spidertrax wheel spacers and possibly a set of Rigid Industries lights for my vehicle. It's a shame, in an era when local brick and mortar stores are vanishing at such an alarming rate, in favor of online vendors, that employees of said businesses fail to recognize the one huge advantage they have over online vendors, namely, customer service! Instead, I was l pushed out the door by someone telling me that I was better off going online to purchase the very products which All Pro Performance sells. Unfortunately, I will not be back. On the other hand, I will be buying Spidertrax 1.25" wheel spacers and a pair of Rigid Industries D2 - Driving Lights.
Sincerely,
Matt Fenton read more
