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Post by scorp11 on Mar 13, 2013 1:45:59 GMT -5
Ok folks, been working on this for a little while. I have a very early release of this site finally up and running online. There is a LOT left to do, but before I post it somewhere it will get hit hard, I want to post it to this group. I have a lot of content work to do yet, but the interactive manuals are the important part. Long and short, the manuals are interactive. Click on a part and you'll see the info on it. Right now if you create an account, you will see everything including the part number. Down the road, that will probably be a "customer only" option or something. I haven't figured out quite how to "fund" this thing yet, but for now I am putting it out there for a little testing. As I said it is very, very early in the development of it, I wouldn't even consider it in an "alpha" state right now. But, some manuals are there, and you can kind of see the intent. Down the road, I plan to add a lot more to it. Things to note. The images I have put out there are all pretty high resolution. They are dynamically scaled down. The intent is long term customers can view higher resolution (larger) images. That means the first time you view them, it might take a little to load them. After that they will be cached unless I update them. Take a look and if you find any bugs, please let me know. I am certain there are some. I did a little testing with Internet Explorer, but very limited with other browsers out here. Some planned ideas for down the road - Tech / Maintenance tips - online ordering - Parts from other Scorpion suppliers available to order online - Helpful links / documents - photo section for all Scorpion models / makes And most important of all, let me know your thoughts. If you have ideas, things that you think need changing, everything. The site is www.vintagescorpion.comAlso, Admin, I had no clue where to put this. If you want it in another location, feel free to move it.
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Post by obj1 on Mar 13, 2013 13:09:56 GMT -5
Nice job scorp11. That's a lot of work!! so now that your officially open for business, Be ready for every Girl scout troop, school fund raiser, stub my toe benefit and telemarketer to come calling! Make sure you budget enough to be able to donate generously ;D ;D ;D
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Post by admin on Mar 13, 2013 20:03:00 GMT -5
Scorp11, my first impression is; that is really cool and professionally done!
I really like this layout and functionality.
Perhaps you could (somehow) set this up so people load up their "cart" and that sends the entire order to the supplier that has listed their inventory with you, or parts of the order if there are several different suppliers. Since your database holds the order information, you collect a commission on each sale. This would take you out of the labor intensive business of having to place the orders manually and/or be in the shipping and customer service/ returns business.
Place a disclaimer on your site to explain you are not liable for transactions and each supplier holds total responsibility for each transaction.
Again, that is awesome work you've done!
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Post by admin on Mar 13, 2013 20:08:41 GMT -5
It even has the Make-A-Wish sled on the front page!
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Post by admin on Mar 13, 2013 20:19:39 GMT -5
Scorp11, perhaps suppliers could list their used parts in your inventory as well. The quantity would automatically decrement as purchases were made so it's stays relatively current. Check out this site, car-part.com/They have a used part GRADE system to show what GRADE each listed part is.
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Post by admin on Mar 13, 2013 20:25:16 GMT -5
I have been thinking about doing something for years, but never will. Perhaps you can incorporate it into your system. An interchange database. For any part number, the user can see all the models the part what used on. Maybe they can also just enter a part number and have it list all the compatible models too. Conversely, when suppliers list their parts, this functionality allows your site to KNOW all the models of Scorpions that part fits so the listed part will be available no matter what parts diagram the user is looking at. One other thing, if you could make it so your site also has a drop down, drill down list like this site, car-part.com/people could find their part that way too. Without doing any of this stuff though, I really like your site as it is now.
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Post by scorp11 on Mar 13, 2013 21:53:14 GMT -5
admin, Thanks for the feedback. I've talked to a couple scorpion parts people already about incorporating their stuff into what is available. Intent being that this can kind of become a one stop scorpion shop. The problem is, most of the NOS parts suppliers don't really have an accurate inventory of what they have. Sadly I have to include myself in that group :-) So, it would take some effort to count / inventory it all. For starters my hope was to get some of the more popular items and repopped parts into the database. Eventually I'll get all my stuff in there, but it will take some time. I've also talked briefly with Certified to try and get their stuff inventoried as part of this, but that one might be tough. Ideally I'd like to have everything with available quantities and prices, but I know that isn't reality. Some people's prices change based on the day, some don't have things inventoried. In large part, for the scorpion stuff, that is why I chose the path of making it parts manual based. It solves two things. You have complete schematic breakdowns available and you can pick any part to add to your cart. The checking for availability can be done in one shot. I do plan to get all my non-scorpion parts (yes I have many) detailed on the Available Parts section. I have a few ideas there, but am still trying to come up with a user friendly design there. I am leaning towards something like MFGSupply does www.mfgsupply.com/snowmobile.html I like to keep my user interfaces simple if I can. As for other companies parts, I think I might have to establish some street cred to get them to work with me. First and foremost, I need to get what I have in mind now flushed out.
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Post by ddub on Mar 13, 2013 22:00:32 GMT -5
Kevin, I think you will find it enough work keeping up with your own parts, let alone worrying about others.
If other vendors do not keep you up to date on their inventory, that will take away from the credibility of your inventory.
Unless you allow them to keep a database of their items on your site which they have control of.
Yep, start with yours first. Work out the bugs.
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Post by scorp11 on Mar 13, 2013 22:55:50 GMT -5
Dennis, that is definitely my plan. I did set the database up with the "ability" to have other vendors or suppliers, but other than that and some conversations, that part is on hold. Gotta get my stuff inventoried first.
I am starting with a email model for ordering and will move to a live ordering model once I can deal with the security issues around that.
I also need to talk to some of the other people with NOS parts for other brands and see if they have interest in using this model for their parts inventories. Scanning and indexing all the manuals isn't a small task though, so I'd have to find a way to pay for that part of it.
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Post by pararailer on Mar 19, 2013 23:16:07 GMT -5
Im going to order myself a 79 STING LOW SMOKED WINDSHIELD! Sweet!
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Post by obj1 on Mar 20, 2013 18:14:47 GMT -5
Pararailer, dont forget about ordering the 71 stinger sawzall blades.
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Post by admin on Mar 20, 2013 18:41:20 GMT -5
I'm sensing Jack hoarded all the 71 Stinger saw blades just like Scorp11 hoarded all the white springs.
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Post by admin on Mar 20, 2013 18:43:13 GMT -5
Scorp11, please let me know as soon as you get your parts loaded into the database, at least a few months before you tell all these other guys!
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Post by obj1 on Mar 20, 2013 22:35:40 GMT -5
A few years from now we are going to be saying "remember when pararailer cut up all the 71 stingers" Hey, maybe scorp11 can offer a "PARARAILER DESIGNS" kit in the parts manuals.
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Post by scorp11 on Mar 20, 2013 22:57:01 GMT -5
Scorp11, please let me know as soon as you get your parts loaded into the database, at least a few months before you tell all these other guys! Working on getting some of the ones I've loaded into categories. Painful process. It'll be a bit before I get a lot of the stuff inventoried. I'll probably do it in stages. I'll certainly let you know once I get things updated for the next step. I also have to get the rest of the Scorpion manuals out there.
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Post by scorp11 on Mar 20, 2013 22:58:11 GMT -5
A few years from now we are going to be saying "remember when pararailer cut up all the 71 stingers" Hey, maybe scorp11 can offer a "PARARAILER DESIGNS" kit in the parts manuals. So . . . it would include a few hacksaw blades and some welding wire ? ;D
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Post by bubbanoz on Mar 21, 2013 18:59:31 GMT -5
A few years from now we are going to be saying "remember when pararailer cut up all the 71 stingers" Hey, maybe scorp11 can offer a "PARARAILER DESIGNS" kit in the parts manuals. So . . . it would include a few hacksaw blades and some welding wire ? ;D I'd like to place my order now for 1 kit
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Post by pararailer on Apr 7, 2013 0:22:06 GMT -5
Obj1, I can't give up all my secrets like that. But I sure do need lots of blades and welding wire to build a sled these days! If ya got pararail parts I'd be stoked. Part#46789246558939851411004422215664783990031214534
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Post by scorp11 on May 2, 2013 0:11:51 GMT -5
Hey folks, I could use a little help running a couple tests. I have hooked up the shopping cart to email. So. . could a few of you go into the Available Manuals section, add a few parts to the cart and then submit the cart ? It "should" generate an email to me as well as CC you on it. I appreciate any help. www.vintagescorpion.com
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Post by pararailer on May 2, 2013 0:21:29 GMT -5
I think I just did it
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