Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion This is the kind of question I get every week

Hello I am interested in getting our pump up and running again. It leaks so I think we need new gaskets since it will not seal properly. Do you have replacement parts or can you steer me in the right?

Should I give him Tokheim's phone number?

Jack Sim

Come on Jack. Can't you just did deep and find all the unknown parts for the unknown pump. With all the info they gave you , whats the problem.LOL
I'm sure you want to be polite. Good Luck with that.

Gene

Jack I'm sure it gets old with all the emails that arrive weekly. But you have to remember most people do not have a clue about gas pumps. They look it up on the internet and your name pops up. So then you have two options, do you answer them to the best of your ability possibly bring somebody new into this hobby. Option two do nothing and lose the chance for someone else to enjoy this hobby and a possible customer. These choices are yours and you have to make the choice on every email. I would think you probably use both options depending on how they email you.

Great post Shawn.

Jack, Every business owner I know (including me)gets questions from people wanting to know how to do something themselves, or where to buy parts or material cheaper, etc. Unfortunately that comes with the territory when you're in business.
The professional reply to the question you posted should go something like this......
We sell vintage petroleum equipment literature and write books about collectible petroleum equipment such as gas pumps and air meters. It sounds like you need a professional to service your pump. Search the internet for petroleum equipment service companies in your area. Thank you for you're inquiry.

I like Lastgas15 reply! You could just simple copy and past and maybe even have different replies that you could copy and paste for questions. That way you wouldn't have to worry with typing a personal reply to hundreds of emails a year.

Lastgas15 hit the nail on the head. I get lots of emails like those. I have made up several form letter responses that I can copy and paste into my reply. Otherwise, you can get bogged down spending all kinds of time writing replies that are not part of your core business function.

Jack, I have owned a body shop for the last 28 years and if I had a dime for every time someone calls and wants an estimate over the phone on their damage, well I'd have a whole lotta dimes!! I used to always say that one of these days I'm going to tell them to hold the phone up to the car so I can see it! Nowadays that's not as funny with cell phones but the truth is as Lastgas15 says, No matter the business, your always going to get similar calls.

I am sure Scott Benjamin, Wayne Henderson, don @ Vic's66 and all the other gas pump supply houses deal with on a daily basis.
For many it's a hobby... For some it's a business.
If it's a business then treat it like one... If it's a hobby then enjoy it.

I have the same issue with my gauge cluster business. "How much is it to add a tachometer to my existing gauge cluster?" If I had a dime for every time someone ask me that

I also believe there are a lot of people out there that just don't know any better and as a business owner, I try to be very respectful when I reply to the redundant questions. I would also like a dime for every time I quoted a customer a price to give them the tachometer they want in there existing gauge cluster and never heard from them again. If I get 2 out of 10 that spend there money, it is a good day.

I am sure it is very much the same for a person who restores gas pumps as a business. You have to bait the hook sometimes

I posted this with a smile on my face, mostly to get a laugh out of you guys. I did reply, politely, but I do like the way Lastgas put it, I think I will copy that.

I can only remember one question that I didn't answer. Email with a picture arrived, message said "What's this worth." Nothing else. I did get a little feeling that I was being used.

Thanks for the replies,

Jack

Bet you're getting a few.."I've been a good boy this year.Where can I take a picture with you?"