Q: Why did you first start selling on eBay?
A: I first started selling on eBay to supplement my income. My business at the time was primarily service-based, and I wanted to expand and sell parts for the vehicles I was working on.
Q: How has selling on eBay contributed to your success?
A: I feel that selling on eBay was the catalyst for my success. Before eBay I relied primarily on service work for income. Over the last 10 years I have shifted the focus of the business primarily to parts sales. Today 90 percent of the business is e-commerce. eBay helped pave the way for where I am today.
Q: Where does the inspiration for your business come from?
A: My inspiration comes from my love for cars. Growing up I loved fast cars, and I still do today. I used to be a racecar driver, and today I get to sell parts for, and work on, some amazing cars while being my own boss. Dream job? Definitely.
Q: Why do you believe customers enjoy buying from you?
A: What sets us apart from other parts vendors is that we have the knowledge and experience behind the parts we sell. We have used or installed everything we sell at some point in time. Being able to provide tech support to the customer pre- and post-sale, I feel, is crucial and leads to more sales and repeat customers. We always go the extra mile to make sure you, the customer, get what you need for your car.
Q: How has selling in one space supported the other sales channel?
A: Selling on eBay and having a physical retail and service location complement each other well. Keeping a large amount of inventory in-house helps us efficiently process orders. Also, if a customer online is curious about an item, they can drive here and check it out in person before committing to purchase. We find people like to come in and browse. They may come in for one specific thing but leave with something entirely different. We have loyal customers who buy from us in store and online. They know when buying from HPTAutoSport that they are getting a quality part from a name they can trust.
