E-commerce and digital marketplaces, particularly behemoths like Amazon, have rapidly transformed the business landscape, offering brand owners unprecedented opportunities to reach a global audience. However, with opportunity comes caution. Not all sellers contribute positively to your brand's reputation and value chain. In this post, we're delving into why brand owners and manufacturers must be judicious about who they entrust with their products.
The rapid proliferation of online marketplaces has democratized the ability to sell, making it possible for virtually anyone to become a retailer. While this can lead to increased distribution channels for manufacturers and brand owners, it also opens the door to sellers who lack a commitment to providing value or even understanding the essence of the supply chain.
These 'valueless sellers' often take a short-term approach—prioritizing immediate profit over sustainable growth and customer satisfaction. This mindset poses a significant risk, not just to your one-time sales figures but, more importantly, to the long-term perception and success of your brand.
Your brand is tantamount to a promise—a commitment to quality, service, and experience. When bad sellers enter the fray, armed with a transactional outlook, they can add several levels of separation between you and your end consumers. What ensues is a potential degradation of customer service, a dilution of brand messaging, and even sub-par product handling—each capable of tarnishing your brand's image or even limiting your ability to take your product to market.
Building a brand isn’t merely a financial investment—it’s a holistic effort that encompasses marketing, quality control, customer service, and much more. Authentic sellers who believe in your brand will invest in marketing efforts, educate themselves and customers about your product's unique selling points, and ensure that their service levels uphold the brand's standards.
Contrastingly, bad sellers tend to eschew these considerations. They do not invest in the brand's success because their business model isn't based on fostering growth or ensuring sustainability. Their lack of investment is not just in marketing, but in the customer experience as well, which can lead to negative reviews and feedback—further injuring your brand.
With minimal financial investment and low overhead costs, many sellers can accept lower profit margins. This is further amplified by the availability of free repricing software provided by major marketplaces. However, it is important to consider the hidden costs of marketplace fees, fulfillment, storage, and shipping, which may be overlooked by inexperienced users. Additionally, new government and marketplace regulations on price gouging pose further challenges. Failing to navigate these complexities can lead to disastrous consequences, including the removal of your brand from the marketplace altogether.
Have you ever encountered a product on Amazon that is being sold for just $0.01? While this may appear to be an extreme case, Amazon has implemented measures to address such issues through its pricing monitoring system. But you might be wondering, how does this occur? In most instances, the seller compensates by charging a higher shipping fee. Repricers take into account the total price, while Amazon calculates shipping based on a weight value gathered from the community and the seller's designated shipping template. It can be quite confusing, right? That's why many sellers opt to offer free shipping on Amazon. However, this may not always be the most suitable choice for customers who are purchasing inexpensive items or items in bulk. Sellers sometimes list offers with inflated shipping rates, which allows automated repricers to lower the product price below the distribution cost.
When this happens, astute buyers, including other retailers and distributors, take advantage of the situation. Although the seller profits from each individual unit due to the shipping cost, the buyer who purchases in large quantities suddenly benefits from costs that are lower than the manufacturer's distributor prices. Traditionally, the harm caused to the brand would have been temporary, as the seller would eventually run out of stock or realize that they are selling the product at a loss. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, marketplaces like Google Shopping and Amazon have become increasingly vigilant about potential price gouging. Therefore, the rapid decrease and correction in the average sale price can trigger price protection policies, ultimately leading to the removal of the product from the marketplace altogether.
Consider the following real-life scenario: Plexus™, a highly regarded plastic polish, has been widely used in the aviation industry for decades. I came across this product while working as a buyer for a private jet company. Our aircraft detailer strongly recommended using Plexus™, as they had firsthand experience with it during their time in the military, where they were responsible for cleaning Air Force aircraft, including Air Force One. Given its reputation, it made perfect sense for us, as a respected aviation supply resource, to stock this product.
Upon discovering more recent supply constraints, we promptly assigned an employee to source additional stock to support our valued customers. Regrettably, unbeknownst to our team, this individual exploited the situation for personal gain. They not only proceeded to establish a competing online store but also monopolized the available supply. In their haste, they launched into online channels and slashed prices below manufacturing costs, without comprehending the intricacies of specific marketplaces. Consequently, the average sale price of a unit of Plexus™, typically retailing for $35-$50, plummeted to a mere $9.78 on Amazon.
By the time the pricing error was rectified, it was too late. The product had already been flagged for violating price policies and offers were subsequently removed from the Amazon platform. Moreover, the remaining supply has become even scarcer and more expensive. Main suppliers like ourselves, Aircraft Spruce, and even Boeing Global Distribution are currently out of stock. Consequently, not only is the product no longer available through the most popular retail channels, but long-time customers are being forced to explore alternative options, thereby costing Plexus™ its loyal user base.
In recent years, marketplaces have made significant strides in improving brand representation. Amazon, in particular, has introduced its brand registry to safeguard the image of brand owners and empower their sellers. However, the process of listing a product on Amazon used to be quite simple, requiring only a UPC/EAN, a title, and a price. This resulted in numerous inaccuracies and duplications in the product catalog, as many sellers relied on product data feeds to contribute to Amazon's catalog. Often, products were listed with the wholesale supplier as the brand, making it challenging for brand owners to make corrections to landing pages. Moreover, Amazon would randomly prompt sellers to fill in missing information, leading to a lack of consistency in values. Consequently, incorrect data often went unnoticed outside of Amazon, and even values like pack count could change randomly over time.
Today, brand owners face a new challenge. While sellers are no longer able to list new products with brands they don't control, they can still list items with generic brands. This relatively new and revised feature allows sellers to list items that may be branded outside of the brand's control. Additionally, Amazon doesn't permit other sellers to generate offers on these landing pages or make changes to these generic listings.
As a brand owner, safeguarding your brand online should be a paramount concern. Here are some actionable strategies:
In an era where anyone can sell online, brand owners must be more vigilant than ever. The accessibility of the e-commerce world presents both opportunities and threats. Selecting the right partners to sell your products is not merely a logistical consideration; it can determine the fate of your brand in the vast digital landscape.
Remember: every seller who carries your product acts as an ambassador for your brand. Choose these ambassadors wisely, as they can either elevate your brand to new heights or become burdens that weigh it down. Safeguard your brand's integrity, monitor its online presence, and remain true to the values that set your brand apart in the marketplace. Your diligence will yield dividends in the form of a stronger brand reputation and a healthier bottom line.
At Pilots HQ, we strive to be a value-adding distributor and retail partner. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of marketplace consulting services, including product listing and detail page management, marketing, policy consulting, and brand and trademark policing.
See how we can partner with your brand on Amazon to drive your brand's success.
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Since early 2009, Pilots HQ has recognized the value of not only eCommerce but online marketplaces, specifically. From its inception, Pilots HQ has driven the majority of its sales through traffic sent to our eCommerce site via Google, Yahoo and Bing Shopping. Through our success over the last 10 years we have recognized that marketing efforts outside of the marketplaces simply do not perform in comparison. Additionally, online shoppers have shifted their focus and desires to the following key points.
These 3 key shifts in consumer behavior is what has driven the success of the online marketplace movement and has led to Amazon becoming the industry leader among online marketplaces.
The consumer shift to online marketplaces and the growing popularity of the Amazon marketplace has created many new challenges for brand owners and manufacturers including:
As progressive early adopters within online marketplaces. Pilots HQ has built the expertise to navigate online marketplaces and trends. So much so that our CEO founded and successfully launched the first eCommerce marketplace dedicated to the Aviation Industry.
This expertise specifically within the Amazon marketplace has ranked Pilots HQ as the most used aviation retailer on Amazon. This ranking has created working partnerships with Amazon that has enabled Pilots HQ to pay for dedicated support staff working within the Amazon organization. Granting the use of special tools, programs, and enhanced features not normally available to other Amazon sellers.
Pilots HQ has some exciting news to share with you!
We are proud to announce that we are now a direct distributor of Phillips 66 Aviation lubricants.
Our team has always worked hard to deliver quality products at competitive prices, backed by excellent customer service. Therefore, eight months ago, we began our endeavor to create a direct relationship with Phillips 66 to better serve our customers and further expand our B2B capabilities. We are happy to announce that we were successful.
We hope that this relationship will achieve the following:
Although we have always sold the Phillips X/C line of aviation engine oils, we were purchasing from many different oil distributors, with no primary supplier. This created challenges, particularly if the oil distributor’s core business was not Aviation. Non-aviation specific oil distributors tend to lack aviation supply, offering more unrelated automotive and industrial products instead.
Now, with direct access to Phillips 66 aviation lubricants, we will be able to offer these products with ease, and with limited supply outages.
Over the last two years, there has been an increase in demand for new products, such as the Victory and Anti-Rust products. However, these products were difficult to find at the non-aviation distributors, and the larger aviation suppliers were slow to stock the new products. A direct relationship with Phillips 66 will allow Pilots HQ to quickly accommodate customer requests for any new products offered by the manufacturer.
Purchasing from multiple vendors has presented certain challenges. We had to buy products from whichever vendors had stock readily available, at fluctuating costs. These additional costs passed down to the customers, leaving them wondering why they were paying more one week than another. On occasion, we even found ourselves in the unfortunate position of no longer being able to offer these products at competitive prices, reducing our customer retention rate overall.
Our goal with this direct relationship is to stabilize the cost of products, and pass savings on to our customers by offering competitive pricing across all sectors of supply.
Below, you will find a link to our most popular Phillips 66 Aviation products, as well as a link to our full line of Phillips 66 Aviation lubricants.
Since the creation of Pilots HQ, aviation has been our passion. I started in Aviation at the age of 19, when I worked for a flight school and corporate jet operation as a janitor.
Although I did not choose the path of becoming a pilot, I have dedicated my career to supporting aircraft operation, ultimately working my way up through the business serving as the Director of Purchasing for that corporate flight department for almost 20 years. Then in late 2009, I started my own company.
Since we started in business, we have always been excited about finding new and exciting ways to promote aviation through our company. Pilots HQ was founded in 2009 when online shopping was starting to become popular, and the internet was a new way to expedite access to both information and supplies.
Since then, Pilots HQ dedicates thousands of dollars per year to marketing. Although we have not marketed in the most traditional ways familiar to our industry, we have always had the aspiration of setting ourselves apart from the competition with our ingenuity and creativity.
Such creativity has developed into the programs such as:
Recently, I was having a discussion with a long-time colleague and friend, Owen Busch. We discussed our current programs and how Pilots HQ was looking to recruit more social media industry influencers when Owen presented an idea.
Owen goes on to suggest, considering the amount Pilot's HQ already invests in marketing and that an affiliate commission structure already exists, why not reward promotion and commission in the form of donations for a cause such as a pilot scholarship program?
Well, we loved the idea, and although Pilots HQ has traditionally donated to non-profits in the form of product donations. This opportunity generates a new win/win situation for both the non-profit charities and Pilots HQ.
So as stated above, we have taken Owen's advice and are pursuing partnerships with aviation scholarship programs. The current participants enjoy the benefits of donations in the form of a percentage of proceeds for sales referred to us and support in providing educational material to scholarship recipients.
Why should we stop with aviation scholarship programs? The fact is that aviation charities and non-profit organizations demonstrate the integrity and value of the Aviation industry to the welfare of the general public. From transporting vital supplies during the pandemic, airlifting critical medical patients, to providing clean energy in the form of wind turbines, aviation plays a critical role in the welfare of others.
Our program can offer these charities and non-profit organizations the same donation from referred sales as the scholarship programs, marketing tools and education on how to promote sales or utilize a virtual shop.
See some of our Non-Profit Partners
]]>As an intricate part of the Aviation community as both a retailer and distributor, Pilots HQ is dedicated to the continued growth of the industry. Which is why Pilots HQ is offering a variety of way we can help support our crucial flight schools and flight operations.
Pilots HQ is pleased to announce the expansion of wholesale B2B capabilities, with extra discounts, contract pricing and in some cases net terms. Contact us at: sales@pilotshq.com or call (888)798-4479 for details on how we can help you increase your profitability. Check Out our Wholesale/B2B Line Card.
Pros:
Cons:
A viable alternative to purchasing, stocking and selling required material to your students is an affiliate marketing program. These programs pay referrers commission from sales on orders collected from their customers simply by providing a unique web link. Read more about Pilots HQ's Affiliate Marketing Program.
Pros:
Cons:
The virtual pilot shop developed with Pilots HQ can bring the best of both worlds, having high demand items ready and available for local customers as well as offering an extensive catalog for purchasing. The virtual pilot shop consists of a virtual kiosk often times combined with a display case which allows customers to purchase items both readily available as well as order the products they need delivered directly to their home.
Read More about the Virtual Pilot Shop offered by Pilots HQ.
Pros:
Cons:
Read More about the Virtual Pilot Shop offered by Pilots HQ.
]]>Digital Disruption
It is clear that the introduction of new technologies and easy access to the internet has changed our way of life today. From how we interact with each other to how we shop, everything has become, in many cases, more competitive and efficient.
I recognized this trend early in my career as a professional buyer when my paper rolodex transformed into online searches for many day-to-day business requirements such as office and facility supplies. Surprisingly, however, there were limited online vendors for items specific to the Aviation industry. Even today, many professional aviation buyers rely on their current contacts and relationships to procure their requirements, often using an RFQ or RFP process. However, the general public has become well acquainted with the easy and value proposition that eCommerce has provided. This left me with the overall hypothesis that the digital marketplace would eventually grow to take over the market.
In late 2008, when the large flight school and corporate flight department I worked for decided to close the flight school division, my hypothesis was confirmed. As the go-to company problem solver, I was contracted to liquidate the remaining supplies and parts. By mid-2009, I liquidated the majority of the surplus flight school supplies utilizing the eBay platform. I was surprised about the vast amount of customer requests I was getting to obtain new pilot and aviation supplies online.
In late 2009, while on a mandatory two-week furlough from the corporate flight department, I decided to start procuring supplies to meet the eBay customer requests. From a surplus liquidation eBay store called "Pilot Center", Pilots HQ was born.
The Brick and Mortar Pilot Shop's Engine Fire
Starting out as an Aviation online retailer was not easy; many suppliers did not respect or see the growing value of the online market. Additionally, the company was quickly outgrowing the trunk of my Hyundai Elantra. In early 2010, I recognized that I really needed a brick-and-mortar pilot shop partner that could process daily shipments and provide access to products that suppliers would deny.
My first stop was at the local pilot shop located at the Oakland County International airport. Although this pilot shop was intrigued with my business model and sales, the proposed 50/50 partnership found me laughed out of the building. Unfortunately, these individuals failed to recognize that I had earned over a third of their yearly revenue within three short months, and the local demand did not limit my business model.
Within the next couple of years, this Pilot Shop was no longer in business. The pilot shop director and another local professional buyer on the field tried to reopen including eCommerce into their business plans. However, limited volume, space constraints, high real estate overhead ultimately led to the sale of the company to the FBO landlord.
The FBO landlords soon recognized their challenge. Many customers looking to purchase from the local shop wanted or demanded the same prices found online, however, given the limited discounts due to a lack of volume-limited competitiveness and profitability. Within months, the final local pilot shop on one of the nation's busiest general and corporate aviation airports was closed.
Today I am constantly plagued with complaints and suggestions from local customers.
As stated above, it is easy to understand why there is a limited amount of brick-and-mortar pilot shops left. The remaining pilot shops either have a solid online presence or other revenue streams supporting the business. A robust online presence is often not enough as the requirement of volume and inventory takes up too much space to be crammed into a small showroom.
Today, Pilots HQ has grown to EIGHT warehouses. For my business to relocate on the field, I would have to completely take over an existing FBO and dedicate the hangar space to warehousing rather than aircraft. And let's be honest, industrial warehouse space is significantly more cost-effective.
However, we are dedicated to figuring out how to better serve all of our customers, both online and in person.
To successfully solve this problem for our customers, we need to first solve the FBO/Flight Schools issue by reducing the operating overhead, ensuring competitiveness, and driving profitability.
We developed the virtual pilot shop program with the brick-and-mortar store's pain points in mind. The virtual pilot shop consists of an electronic device utilized for ordering, creating a seamless process where the partner can share in revenues gained from product sales while remaining competitive with the online sellers and managing costly overhead.
Virtual Pilot Shop Partners Can:
Whether you are purchasing products wholesale for resale or purchasing for a business or flight department, Pilots HQ is solving your purchasing needs.
Our success in driving retail sales has enabled the volume required to obtain master distributor agreements with many different manufacturers. We are transforming Pilots HQ from a retail storefront into a source for wholesale and B2B transactions.
See our Wholesale Line Card Here.
New software now enables Pilots HQ's staff to set up special pricing to better suit each customer and evaluate and turn on the ability for customers to purchase on account. Purchases can be completed utilizing the same user-friendly website used for retail sales. However, when the user logs in with their configured account, the customized pricing and checkout will be provided.
Contact us Today about setting you up with a Pilots HQ Business Account.
With the high demand for PPE caused by the pandemic and the raw material shortages for manufacturing nitrile gloves, we know the difficulty our customers have been experiencing finding gloves at a reasonable rate. However, after months of planning, hours of negotiations, and countless delays, the first container load of disposable nitrile gloves arrived today.
Ecommerce has undoubtedly revolutionized how we buy today, from websites to online marketplaces and reviews. The process of buying products has become more transparent and competitive. However, with the growth and innovation of social media, the way consumers are making purchasing decisions is again transforming.
At Pilots HQ, we recognize this transformation and the value that social media offers consumers. With video reviews, product showcases, or DYI tutorials, Influencers are shaping and revolutionizing successful marketing strategies in all industries.
Therefore, we have decided to design a program that will incentivize social media influencers to ensure a balanced value exchange by further monetizing their audiences.
Getting started is easy! We can break down the setup process into two phases:
1. Using the Pilots HQ Carro app to Request products and enter you into our Influencer Database or making manual requests for samples.
2. Signing up and configuring your affiliate account to earn commissions.
**Note: You need to have at least 5000 Instagram followers to use the Pilots HQ Carro App.
Navigate to https://pilotshq.com/?carro. When the site loads you will see a small icon on the right side of your screen.
Next, you can shop, as usual, by adding the items you are interested in into your cart.
When you are done and ready to complete your request. Instead of using the normal eCommerce checkout process, click the Carro button as outlined above and follow the prompts.
No need to worry; we still would love to work with you. Please continue to the next step and email any product discounts or sample requests to sales@pilotshq.com.
Signup for the affiliate marketing program can be completed at : https://pilotshq.goaffpro.com/
1. What is the Commission Paid?
The base commission rate for our store is 3%. However, commissions can fluctuate based on products and can be as high as 8-12%. Pilots HQ will also run commission promotions from time to time that may increase the commission paid on certain items. Be sure to refer to our Marketing Partner Newsletter for more information on increased commissions and promotions.
2. How and when will I get paid?
We payout our commissions via PayPal once a month. Commissions payouts are delayed for 30 days to account for any returns or cancelations. Additionally, the minimum payout is $10.00.
3. How do you keep track of the sales that I refer?
When you sign up for the affiliate program, you receive an affiliate ID. This ID is inserted into the URLs that you provide to your customers. When the customer clicks the link, a tracking cookie is installed. When the customer then makes a purchase, the system knows where and who referred them to the site. Referral links can be created utilizing the marketing tools in the affiliate dashboard or by including "?ref=[YOUR_AFF_ID]" at the end of any of our page URLs. Example: https://pilotshq.com/?ref=qhedh6jwtse, or https://pilotshq.com/products/nuvite-nushine-ii-grade-a-metal-polish?ref=qhedh6jwtse.
4. I am a "word of mouth" or video content influencer that does not use links.
Have no fear; we can create custom coupon codes that you can use for us to keep track of your sales. Contact us at sales@pilotshq.com or use the affiliate dashboard to request a personalized coupon code for your campaign.
5. How long do the tracking cookies stay installed?
Unlike the Amazon referral tokens that last only a few hours. Our tracking cookies last for an entire day (24 hours). If a customer clicks your link, leaves, and then returns to our site within 24 hours, you will get credit for the sale,
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]]>Give the gift of flight this year with Introduction Pilot Training Videos, Pilot Training Kits, and Aviation Books!
You can never go wrong with Aviation Apparel like Aviation T-shirts, Hats, Coats and Sunglasses. See some of our favorites!
Gift your special Pilot with some new gear for the cockpit with Aviation Headsets, Kneeboards, Luggage, or GPS units:
A new pair of safety wire pliers or a fresh new clamp tool is the perfect gift for your AMT.
We have a wide variety of Aviation Toys and Kids Clothing. Perfect Stocking Stuffers for your future aviator.
Looking for Gifts around the house? Find Aviation Clocks, Pens, Dishware, signs and more!!
]]>With 20+ years as a director of purchasing for a private jet company, there always seems to be that one A.O.G. (Aircraft on Ground) that brings added turmoil to the on call aircraft support staff every holiday season. Although many operators are ending their fiscal year and have a desire to keep inventory low, I learned pretty early in my career that I should stock up on some of the small necessities that can really save the day. Normally these items consist of:
Number one on my list is always aircraft sealants. The reason for this is actually pretty simple. Distributors and manufacturers alike are wanting to reduce their year end inventory. To add fuel to the fire, many aircraft sealants have very short shelf lives and often have low stock levels to mitigate the waste of product.
I can not even count the amount of times that we needed to complete a simple job such as replacing a landing light only to find that we did not have the required sealant to complete the job. In one instance, I can remember having to replace a Hawker windshield and was left without the sealant. Luckily, at that time I owned this business and just so happen to have just enough sealant to ensure that the holiday passengers reached their destination on time.
In other cases I have been forced to rely on some local sources to wriggle my way out of an AOG situation. Although other operators maybe helpful in loaning or selling you the occasional light bulb, bolt, or o-ring, I have had very little luck in obtaining aircraft sealant during these rush times. Additionally, I have always been fortunate enough to a large Boeing Distribution Center within a 2 minute drive from the operation. However, these larger suppliers often adhere to a more liberal holiday schedule and a trip to their warehouse on Black Friday, or the day after Christmas is often met with locked doors.
Furthermore, it is well known that we all end up paying more during AOG situations. This is tremendously compounded when you are having to drag a person away from their holiday dinner to make a trip to the warehouse and to an airline in order to counter to counter an AOG part. In one instance, (a scenario that always seemed to baffle investors for the online parts marketplace) I was forced to pay close to $15,000 for a $.15 O-Ring. The long story short, a paid charter to cover the missed trip would cost between $8-$12K, multiplied by multiple legs missed, and further compounded by the fact that the part would eventually have to be replaced anyway. The cost of the seal was obviously heavily inflated due to the holiday after hours request and required multiple airline flights and customs clearances to arrive at the operation.
Therefore, as best practices, I always take this week before the holiday to ensure that I am able to limit these AOG requests by ensuring adequate stock of commonly used and hard to find items during the holiday season.
Note on current status of PRC:
As stated above, there is a shortage on some PRC/PPG/PRC Desto sealants. Call us at 888-798-4479 or email sales@pilotshq.com and we can cross reference the sealant to either 3M or ChemSeal / Flamemaster Sealants.
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Telex will be globally launching the new Airman 8 Plus to the public on July 1, 2020. Distributors & dealers can use this time frame to load product to their inventory and prepare their online pages for global launch. Please ensure you do not go live with public communications, public orders until July 1, 2020.
Below you will find the sales and marketing tools to help you prepare for our global product introduction. Thank you for your support!
Model | Impedance | Part Number |
AIRMAN 8+ Double Sided ANR Headset, 2PJ | 600 Ω | AIRMAN8P-0210 |
AIRMAN 8+ Double Sided ANR Headset, XLR5 | 600 Ω | AIRMAN8P-0211 |
Title | For Use With | Part Number |
Carrying Case | Airman 8+ | AIRMAN8P-0909 |
Clothing Clip | Airman 7/8/8+ | AIRMAN7-0904 |
Ear Cushions | Airman 8+ | AIRMAN8P-0903 |
Cloth Ear Covers | Airman 8+ | AIRMAN8P-0910 |
Large Headpad | Airman 8+ | AIRMAN8P-0908 |
Small Headpad | Airman 7/8/8+ | AIRMAN7-0906 |
Windscreen | Airman 7/8/8+ | AIRMAN7-0900 |
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Today our newsletter subscribers has amounted to over 100,000 with diverse blend of people ranging from the everyday consumers to corporate and government buyers and covering not only Aviation but a multitude of other industries including; Automotive, Industrial, Healthcare, Military, Hospitality and more...
This diversity has made it difficult for us so send newsletters that contain value adding content to our customers. Considering I did not want my company to be classified as one of those "annoying" retailers sending blind weekly newsletters, we have refrained from email marketing, However, with the introduction of the Covid-19 Pandemic and our unique ability to purchase products, Pilots HQ was able to obtain valuable products such as PPE and disinfectants that were an interest to our entire customer base. In April, Pilots HQ launched its first successful email campaign, distributing product to help slow the spread.
In March 2020, just prior to the Covid-19 shutdown, Pilots HQ upgraded its web platform. This new platform is allowing use to create even more value adding content, including repair manuals, product guides and more.
The ultimate goal starting in July and ongoing into the future, is to provide valuable information and content to our user base. We are now utilizing our new system to classify customers and ensure that we are sending them only the content that they care about. (Not dis-similar to the approach social media has taken)
Additionally, every email sent to our user base will provide visibility to their classification and a link to surveys that will allow us to ensure that the user has the ability to reclassify themselves accordingly.
Please See the following links:
To all, I want to extend my gratitude for helping make Pilots HQ a grand success and I hope that we have the pleasure of serving you in the future.
Thank You,
Carl Helka
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1. What is the Commission Paid?
The base commission rate for our store is 3%. However, commissions can fluctuate based on products and can be as high as 8-12%. Pilots HQ will also run commission promotions from time to time that may increase the commission paid on certain items. Be sure to refer to our Marketing Partner Newsletter for more information on increased commissions and promotions.
2. How and when will I get paid?
We payout our commissions via PayPal once a month. Commissions payouts are delayed for 30 days to account for any returns or cancelations. Additionally, the minimum payout is $10.00.
3. How do you keep track of the sales that I refer?
When you sign up for the affiliate program, you receive an affiliate ID. This ID is inserted into the URLs that you provide to your customers. When the customer clicks the link, a tracking cookie is installed. When the customer then makes a purchase, the system knows where and who referred them to the site. Referral links can be created utilizing the marketing tools in the affiliate dashboard or by including "?ref=[YOUR_AFF_ID]" at the end of any of our page URLs. Example: https://pilotshq.com/?ref=qhedh6jwtse, or https://pilotshq.com/products/nuvite-nushine-ii-grade-a-metal-polish?ref=qhedh6jwtse.
4. I am a "word of mouth" or video content influencer that does not use links.
Have no fear; we can create custom coupon codes that you can use for us to keep track of your sales. Contact us at sales@pilotshq.com or use the affiliate dashboard to request a personalized coupon code for your campaign.
5. How long to the tracking cookies stay installed?
Unlike the Amazon referral tokens that last only a few hours. Our tracking cookies last for an entire day (24 hours). If a customer clicks your link returns to our site within 24 hours, you will get credit for the sale.
]]>Thank You.
]]>FUELSTAT compliant with new ASTM Standard D8070
London, 7th December 2016 – Today, Conidia Bioscience announces that FUELSTAT® the immunoassay based fuel contamination test kit is compliant with ASTM D8070.
ASTM International has this week approved a new Standard Test Method for detecting microbial contamination in liquid fuels using immunoassay techniques; designated as ASTM D8070. Conidia Bioscience is pleased to announce that FUELSTAT®, our simple 10 minute test for detecting microbial contamination in both aviation and diesel fuel, is fully compliant with ASTM D8070.
ASTM International is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards. Today, they have over 12,000 standards in use around the world to improve product quality, enhance health and safety, strengthen market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.
ASTM D6469 – 14, Para 8.3 – 8.6, Standard Guide for Microbial Contamination in Fuels and Fuel Systems section states that, “It is recommended that ideally testing should be completed on site within a few minutes of sampling”. However, the regulation also states that if the test cannot be undertaken on site fuel samples must be transported on ice and tested 4 hrs but no longer than 24 hrs after sampling. FUELSTAT® overcomes this potential problem as the test is conducted on site, negating the danger of changes to levels of contamination in the sample caused by transportation at the incorrect temperature.
Dr Joan Kelley Technical Director of Conidia Bioscience said, “We are delighted that this new standard test method has been approved by ASTM and that FUELSTAT® is fully compliant with ASTM D8070. Immunoassay test kits such as FUELSTAT® offer a low cost, easy to use test option that gives quick results and requires little investment. There are no special handling, storage or fuel disposal requirements. The very nature of how the test works means that there is no risk of cross-contamination: results are accurate and completely reliable”.
There are a number of proprietary tests on the market to determine the presence of microbial contamination but many are laboratory based tests or rely on culture growth and are therefore time consuming. FUELSTAT® would appear to be the most simple to use test available on the international market. No special skills are required to use the test, and there is no investment needed for a reader to translate the results.
The awareness of fuel contamination has grown in recent years. Many different microorganisms can enter the fuel chain at any stage, living in the water phase and feeding off the fuel. Prolonged, heavy contamination is now an expensive issue, with the possibility of fuel pipeline blockage or corrosion both of which will require expensive mechanical intervention and significant downtime to clean fuel tanks and ancillary equipment. The majority of operators have concluded that detecting and dealing with this potential problem by testing early is the efficient, cost effective answer, to manage this risk.
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