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“Accidental” Parts Business Catches On
Gene Wedde’s salvage yard is relatively small but he gives his customers big-time service. At a time when many salvage yards put most of their resources into big and late model equipment, Wedde and Sons Vintage Iron focuses on antique equipment. However, like the big guys, he uses technology to help sell parts.
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“Accidental” Parts Business Catches On SPECIALTY/SERVICES Gene Wedde’s salvage yard is relatively small but he gives his customers big-time service At a time when many salvage yards put most of their resources into big and late model equipment Wedde and Sons Vintage Iron focuses on antique equipment However like the big guys he uses technology to help sell parts “If I part out a Farmall 560 I create a category for it on my website and add all the parts descriptions photos and prices ” says Wedde “When a part sells it’s deleted If a customer inquires about a part on the site 99 percent of the time it is available ” Wedde warns that the website can mislead buyers who stop by and expect many acres of salvage The business is mostly run out of a single 40 by 64-ft pole shed Parts are stored out of the elements in the shed With the help of the website however he has sold parts to customers in more than 35 states “Our specialty is supplying good quality hard-to-find Farmall and International Harvester parts ” says Wedde “Occasionally we may disassemble another color but we stay true to our red roots ” Wedde started the business accidentally with the purchase of a Farmall C that had broken in half He planned to put it back together and resell it While searching for parts online he realized that parting it out might pay better “I advertised the fenders on Yesterday’s Tractors website and the next morning I had a buyer from Nebraska ” says Wedde Free classified ads in a statewide newspaper brought in more business More sales more ads and then booths at tractor and gas engine shows followed the C purchase Eventually he added the Red Power Roundup show “I’ve done as many as 7 shows in one summer ” says Wedde Eventually Wedde set up his own website It allows him a national showcase while maintaining his vintage style “I take phone calls on a land line no texts and do emails from a computer ” he says “I will respond to everyone usually within 24 hours if I’m not out of town whether I have the part or not ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Wedde and Sons Vintage Iron Wautoma Wis ph 920 787-7635; www weddeandsons com
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