The Next Innovation at Ricambi America

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At the start of 2010, I developed three major initiatives for Ricambi America. Each one was something I wanted to accomplish this year to "push the envelope" of the Ferrari parts business. New directions, new ideas, new approaches to a process that was becoming stale.

Initiative One is now well under way, and launched this afternoon. So, what is it?

With massive recognition to fellow Fchatter JLM348 (hey, Fchatters should support one another, right?) and his firmwww.mobimanage.com, we've launched the mobile version of Ricambi America. If you visit our site via a mobile device (iPhone, Droid, BlackBerry, etc), you'll see a whole new face of Ricambi America. Instead of the full website, you'll see a slimmer, clean site with click-to-dial links. You can view featured items, browse many of our popular product categories, and search our database. JLM348 and I have already begun mapping out the next phase, which will include many of the other features you might use daily on our site .

Why a mobile site? Why not! If you're sitting on a train, bored in a meeting, or just waiting for your spouse to come back from the powder room at a restaurant, you can now check out the site quickly and easily. With so many tools in the portfolio of mobiManage, we're just on the very beginning of having a full featured mobile version of our site.

Got a mobile device? Check it out. Requests to www.ricambiamerica.com from your phone should automatically redirect to the mobile site. If you're on a regular 'fat client' browser, you'll likely stay on our main site.

HUGE props to www.mobimanage.com. If you're interested in mobile sites, the development time is astoundingly fast, and interaction with the development team is fantastic.

Get your head screwed on straight!

Oh yeah baby! The 95971393 (4v (308QV, 328, 348) head tool is finally in my hands and available for immediate shipment. No more crappy 'factory' tools. No more wondering about which sub-sub-sub manufactuer is making it. From the skunk-works in Lewisham (London) to the tobacco fields of North Carolina, we got 'em here at Ricambi America.

When it comes to Ferrari parts and tools that raise the bar for quality, nobody beats Hill Engineering.

The newest employee of Ricambi America !

I present, our newest employee in charge of creative uses of Ferrari Parts at Ricambi America.

His name is Wheelorini del'a Skitta Plata. A bit rotund (but highly regarded), and with flappy feet, his arms were lost in a horrible welding accident in the south of England, only to be replaced with these fine Lamborghini bits...



p.s. No skid plates, Larini cats, or wheels were damaged in the production of this photograph. A woman's shirt however, is now fully stretched and filthy.

Home at last!

Whoo hoo ! 6 weeks later, my 348 is back home from spa services at Sport Auto (Summerfield, NC).

Of course, we used Ferrari parts from Ricambi America and custom Ferrari parts from Hill Engineering.

• oil change
  
• coolant flush
• transmission oil change
• brake fluid flush
• new Hill Engineering oil reservoir plate (139627)
  
• new steering wheel (my 360 Challenge wheel is available, if anyone is interested)
• new turn signal/headlamp stalk assembly
• passenger seat rails fixed so seat locks properly in all positions
• upper dash vents (defroster) repaired
• new pedal box cover plate installed (my feet got wet driving in the rain!)
• Husker LeMans grill completely removed and re-installed. (Sheet metal burrs all nicely cleaned up
• Husker LeMans grill nicely gasket-ed on the outer edges for a nice flush fit. Outer edges now firmly secured with new hardware.
• Targa roof seals re-seated, futile(?) attempt to keep the car dry
• shoulder belt orientation fixed (don't ask)
• "intermittent start" issue resolved
• rocking seatback fixed on both sides
• new engine bonnet struts

...and I'm sure there are more line items that I have forgotten about.

My goal for 2010 is to roll at least 5k miles on her.

Less Clicking, More Browsing for Ferrari Parts at Ricambi America

We made a minor adjustment to our site this morning, and I hope it'll make surfing for Ferrari parts online at Ricambi America more enjoyable.

Previously, visitors to our site needed to click into each individual item to see pricing. Now, we have combined Ferrari parts pricing into our primary diagrams. On the right-side of the table, you'll see the 'price per each' of the individual items. This should make browsing faster, because you don't need to click into each item just to see how much something costs. (Of course, you can still click the part number itself to see photos, more description, etc)

Some items might not show a price, and instead will display 'call'. I'm thinking about how to handle these items -- they are things where the displayed part number no longer exists because of a supersession, or because the item isn't actually available as a singular part. My suggestion would be this: if you see 'call', first click into the item and look for the text 'this item has been superseded....' (in red). If you see that stuff, click it to move forward to the current/active part number. If you don't see that text and instead only see "price = $0.00", then give us a ring.

Anyway, I hope this helps a wee bit!

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

It was only a matter of time before a disgruntled ex-employee broke his contracts with Ricambi America and sold the firm's intellectual content to our competitors. I guess I'm not surprised -- he was unable to keep food on his table while employed at Ricambi, despite a massive salary -- so I suppose, he needed some work. Ethics be damned, huh?

Well, the good news is that Ricambi America remains the leader in genuine Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini parts online. Other companies can copy our website, our content, and even our custom photography.... but they're a long way from matching our customer service, enthusiasm, and passion for this business.

2010 promises to be a year of great innovation at Ricambi America. From more advanced supply chains, to faster customer service, and new venues of product communication. Our best days are ahead -- and we're not bound by what 'somebody else' might do. We'll innovate. Everyone else can copy.

The hottest Ferrari parts still can't shake this cold at Ricambi America

I have fun sharing how hot and sexy the Ferrari parts are at Ricambi America, but today I'm not sure I can say anything except BRRRRRR!!!! It is 17 degrees this morning and just too damn cold to think about much of anything except something like hot cocoa or oatmeal. :(

We installed a high tech thermostat at Ricambi America that allows monitoring of temperatures, and humidity at the office and in the warehouse from anywhere in the world. It is a nice piece of gadgetry to make certain everything stays in proper storage conditions. I'm pleased to report that our Ferrari parts are nice a comfortable at 67 degrees now. However, outside in Winston Salem, it is a whole different game!

On the plus side, my 348 is tucked in with a nice stretch satin Ferrari car cover and staying cozy warm on a Ferrari battery tender