George Alvarez

“I’m not going to sell you something that won’t fit your car”

Have you ever thought of scouring the Pomona Swap Meet for some of those great automotive finds that are there every time and then spending a few hours on eBay later, selling them to the world? Trust us, you’re not the first and a few of our vendors started just that way, including this month’s Featured Vendor, George Alvarez of G&P Performance.

Like many people, George was looking to add a little income for his family and decided that eBay was the place to do it. Eventually, he linked in with a company that sells TSP automotive dress-up parts like quality fans, air filters, radiators, overflow tanks, alternator brackets and much more.

George would get people from all over interested in his inventory on eBay and, when parts were needed, he went to a go-to supplier to get those parts for his customers. George knew that his supplier provided a high quality product, so he didn’t have to worry about returns much, though he was happy to stand behind everything he sold. There were times when he went to the supplier and they had questions for George. After all, with 20 years of experience rebuilding automotive parts, he had many of the answers the suppliers themselves were looking for.

Eventually, George decided to set-up his shop at the Pomona Swap Meet, with those same quality valve covers, distributors, power steering pumps, and custom brackets he had been selling all over the world. Remember, George knows his stuff and is able to match customers and their needs with the parts available. But he only sells to people for whom he knows he has the absolute right parts – George is steadfastly committed to either providing the absolute right part or he won’t sell anything at all. “I’m not going to sell you something that won’t fit your car”, he insists, “I’m very truthful with the customers.”

So, how have things been going? Pretty well – George has been here three years now and says that word has spread quickly about his great advice and fair prices, as well as his rock solid guarantee. He says about one in five customers are repeat customers, due greatly to this “word of mouth.” That’s not bad for a small business that’s been around just three years. You can learn more about George and the parts he supplies, by visiting him on Road 17, Space 44 at the October 14th Pomona Swap Meet.  Map of Vendor Spaces (PDF).

George can definitely make your car a nicer machine with beautiful parts gleaming under the hood. If you want to step up to the next level with your show car, there’s nothing like opening the hood and showing off the serious bling, and George can help you with that.
Oh, and speaking of great advice, George’s main supplier was so impressed with his great advice, that he now is employed by them. Not bad when your own customers appreciate your advice so much that they hire you, eh?

This article was written by Tony Barthel from the Curbside Auto Column and Car Show Calendar. For auto articles, news and an on-line calendar of automotive events, please visit www.curbside.tv.

G&P Performance

G&P Performance swap space is extremely eye catching with it’s bright red tables and high performance products on display.

 

 

George’s shop here at the Pomona Swap Meet, with those same quality parts he had been selling all over the world.