OK... I’ve been around the block a few times, but there’s not much that ticks me off more than when OUR "suppliers" are more than willing to sell directly to OUR customers (potential customers) for the same price as they sell to us!
Don’t get me wrong. I understand that if it’s a BIG order and the end user somehow locates them, business is business... they shouldn’t have to turn the business away.
BUT DAMMIT. DON’T SELL TO MR/MS. LAW FIRM AT THE SAME PRICE AS YOU’RE SELLING TO MR/MS INTERIORSCAPER. THAT’S JUST NOT ETHICAL!
YES, I’M SHOUTING!
I chatted yesterday with a very good interiorscape buddy of mine who happens to be a very formidable, credible and local competitor... He was PISSED!
Seems that an existing client of his called him to add some "panel planters" to their space and he specified TOPsiders as many of us would. Client balked at the price (as they often do about all prices) and decided to search online. Lo and behold, their search returned a website (which shall remain unnamed for now) that offered all of their planters INCLUDING "panel planters" online to ANYONE at the same wholesale prices as they do to their resale customers!
Client called him and said... "I can get the planter’s you quoted me on online at half your price at (blankety blank website)!"
Turns out that one of our industry suppliers has a very nice and customer friendly website that they would probably say is aimed at US, however it appears that anyone can order online with a credit card and have the product shipped directly to them with FREE shipping no less! Nice.
I’M NOT LIKING THIS ONE BIT!
YEAH... I’M SHOUTING AGAIN!
IF OUR SUPPLIERS ARE GOING TO OFFER THEIR PRODUCT TO END USER’S THEY NEED TO SET UP DIFFERENT PRICE STRUCTURES FOR THEM.
RETAIL WOULD BE GOOD!
Nothing wrong with selling to whomever one wants to, but one can’t have ones cake and eat it too!
If one is going to sell online, then sell at LIST price to end users and discounted prices to re-sellers.
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