Scammed or fair?

[Willy P]

I'm not against a mark up from suppliers, but I don't like being gouged.
2 examples yesterday:
Vac motors- asked at a supplier- $279
Got them for $99.95
Lid for my booster experiments, no mounting bracket - same supplier $38
From another place, with mounting brackets - 2 for $32
Nothing wrong with a profit, but well over 100% is friggin' nuts, especially when with a little savvy shopping, you see a big difference.

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

I've experienced the same thing in this industry. I now source chems and tools from a few different places. Case in point, I can order, and get better quality chems from a different city(4 1/2 hrs away). It's 30 bucks cheaper per 5 gal. pail (even with the courier charge). Protector.... 15 bucks cheaper per gal. I think it's not cutting out the middle man, it's cutting out the greed....... I used to sell audio gear.... I know how these things work..... Audio accessories, 1000% markup......
Jeff @ SCC

 

[PrimaDonna]

Free market....someone is paying the higher prices or they wouldn't be able to get them.

And then there are folks like you and us that take some time to research and find a better deal. For some, the time to shop around and save a few bucks isn't worth it to them.

You could make the same argument when it comes to carpet cleaning....one company can be 2-3 times more than another. If they are fairly comparable in the results, then why are people willing to pay more for the "same thing"? Don't you want to get the highest amount you can for the service you provide? Suppliers are doing the same thing. If you can get more money, then why wouldn't you....

Keep in mind, some suppliers have a ton over overhead, staff and storefront locations, advertising etc. Online retailers can often offer better pricing because they don't have the same overhead.

 

[Willy P]

Free market....someone is paying the higher prices or they wouldn't be able to get them.

And then there are folks like you and us that take some time to research and find a better deal. For some, the time to shop around and save a few bucks isn't worth it to them.

You could make the same argument when it comes to carpet cleaning....one company can be 2-3 times more than another. If they are fairly comparable in the results, then why are people willing to pay more for the "same thing"? Don't you want to get the highest amount you can for the service you provide? Suppliers are doing the same thing. If you can get more money, then why wouldn't you....

Keep in mind, some suppliers have a ton over overhead, staff and storefront locations, advertising etc. Online retailers can often offer better pricing because they don't have the same overhead.

None of this was bought online, it was all from local business with brick and mortar stores.I've researched a few of the online stores and still found significantly higher prices from 85% to 200 plus %. Again, I'm not anti profit \and I expect a FAIR mark up, but leaving a business with a sore bum isn't on my agenda.

 

[PrimaDonna]

Thanks for clarifying. That does seem like a huge difference if you were comparing apples to apples (brick and mortar to brick and mortar). At least you did your due diligence and got the best deal for yourself.

 

[SamIam]

For people who argue why do you look for the cheapest price then complain when your customers do!

I say buying a product like formula 90 6.5 lbs for $24.95 at one place or $31.95 at another is a no brainer.

I'm not getting more or less product.

If I offer a 5-7 step process and someone else offers a 2 step process and they're half price I just let my potential customer know the difference. I'm glad if they choose me, I'm glad if they choose them.

 

[steve_64]

And this is why Walmart and the like have nearly eliminated the mom and pop shops.

Some retailers get a better discount for buying in quantity.

When the big guys eliminate the competition their prices go up too. So beware of the better deal,it can bite you later.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Fookin pay it William!

How many motors are they going to sell? They deserve a return on their investment. How long does their money sit on the shelf until some bottom feeding porty user need one? Then only to have them cry about price, after just killing his clients buffing in a little wax.

I never knew you were such a whiny bitch. Oh wait, "Willy" uhhh never mind.

 

[hogjowl]

I'm sure I pay more for my things than I might if I shopped around, but I can call TCS and they'll bend over backwards to help me. So, I give them all the business I possibly can.

 

[Old Coastie]

Is an *ss-chewing porty user the same as a "bottom feeding porty user"?

Uh.. I'm asking for a friend.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Present company excluded of course.

 

[rick imby]

but leaving a business with a sore bum isn't on my agenda.

But from the Old Man who PLays Rugby with other BOYS.... We thought you liked a sore bum???

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

And this is why Walmart and the like have nearly eliminated the mom and pop shops.

Some retailers get a better discount for buying in quantity.

When the big guys eliminate the competition their prices go up too. So beware of the better deal,it can bite you later.

Funny thing is, the higher priced stuff is from the big supplier...... I now shop the ma and pa shops...... It's called price gouging...... Kind of like when there's a disat

 

[rick imby]

With different chains of distribution, the gentleman that was attempting to sell you the item for the very high price may not have been the one with the very high markup. It might have been his supplier that raked him over the coals...

As a retailer, I would guess that the vac motors are a very slow selling item, some people will pay dearly when they are desperate for a motor to get a job done.

 

[Old Coastie]

Could we please not discuss sore bums? Today was Suppository Day for my aged Mother in Law and it is a

Uh....

Sore subject.

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[hogjowl]

Could we please not discuss sore bums? Today was Suppository Day for my aged Mother in Law and it is a

Uh....

Sore subject.

There ain't no freakin way

 

[steve_64]

Funny thing is, the higher priced stuff is from the big supplier...... I now shop the ma and pa shops...... It's called price gouging...... Kind of like when there's a disat

Exactly. Should've never stopped shopping them.vwe all want low prices but when that's our focus we get hood winked.

 

[Mrice]

I see it both ways. Do you buy stuff from a convenience store or do you drive to Costco every time? Some people live next to Costco.

PS if you really want cheap vac motors, source the mfg and order straight from them.

 

[Willy P]

Fookin pay it William!

How many motors are they going to sell? They deserve a return on their investment. How long does their money sit on the shelf until some bottom feeding porty user need one? Then only to have them cry about price, after just killing his clients buffing in a little wax.

I never knew you were such a whiny bitch. Oh wait, "Willy" uhhh never mind.

Geez - menopause? Or hemorrhoids flaring up? Go polish your rocket! bitch!

 

[Cleanworks]

Interestingly, the place where Willy got the best price also offers great service. I bought a stainless bbq from the store across the street. The heat diverter was not stainless and rusted out. That store refused to help me. I went across the street to Willy's store to see if I could buy the part and the manager took the diverter off a floor model and just gave it to me. These are marine hardware stores and the lousy one is now out of business. Go figure.

 

[Willy P]

And suck on this Chavez. Bottom feeding porty user my ass...

 

[Desk Jockey]

Hell they aren't even carpet cleaning distributors?

 

[Desk Jockey]

And suck on this Chavez. Bottom feeding porty user my ass...View attachment 18893

Couldn't make it to the shitter....again?

 

[rick imby]

Couldn't make it to the shitter....again?

Still has his sore bum...

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[Willy P]

Never a problem with constipation with you assholes around.

 

[ruff]

Sorry to interrupt the fun boys.

I think most of us understand and are willing to pay more for products to a local supplier if they provide good service.
We want them to stay in business and understand that brick and mortar suppliers with a service department have higher costs.

However, if the price of goods is astronomically different, we do feel gouged. With some it is and with the good ones it isn't.

Now, Willy , Richard, Imby & all- Carry on.

 

[John Olson]

I'm not against a mark up from suppliers, but I don't like being gouged.
2 examples yesterday:
Vac motors- asked at a supplier- $279
Got them for $99.95
Lid for my booster experiments, no mounting bracket - same supplier $38
From another place, with mounting brackets - 2 for $32
Nothing wrong with a profit, but well over 100% is friggin' nuts, especially when with a little savvy shopping, you see a big difference.

Wow those are drastically out of whack did you go back in and talk to them? Maybe someone keyed something in wrong? Oh their accounting software screwed up when they updated their cost? I've ha quickbooks change list pricing way out of whack when updating the new costs on items if I don't pay attention and let it mark up the list on its own. I didn't catch that it was doing it. A $5 increase in cost lead to a $20 list price (just an example not 100% accurate) also key the wrong price and not noticed it until I went to sell something then had to call customers and issue refunds because my guys sold several and they didn't notice. The example is Aeon Oil someone it got keyed wrong and was being sold for 6-8 more then it should have been which is huge. Luckily it was like 3 or 4 purchases before I made a sale and I noticed it.
Anyway before throwing them under the buss ask them. I know id appreciate being asked and given the chance before being flayed open on the internet.

 

[Jimmy L]

What vac motors ? number and size?