The Wholesale Forums

[shopkeeperuk]

I know wholesalers are having a rough time at the moment but a disturbing new trend is taking place on the internet. What I am talking about is wholesalers selling to the public at just above or at wholesale price. Turn up at the door and its trade only and £100 minimum spend. On the internet its no questions asked and spend as little as you like.
As a retailer of Mod Edit: Link Removed! I have found that I am having to compete with the same wholesalers who are supplying me. There seems to be blurring of the Lines between Wholesalers and Retailers.

I have started a e- petition with 10 Downing Sreet to curb this underhand practice which I hope you will all sign.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Wholesale/

[hardwareheroes]

You won't stop it. Decent wholesalers dont do it but if someone is desperate enough....

If you were big enough, in any industry, you are often able to negotiate special terms or geographically exclusive areas.

What it suggests to me, however, is that you are not getting a good enough trade discount if they are selling near your purchase price. No distro can afford to sell retail at those margine. Small order quantities, shipping low volumes etc etc all cost substantial amounts to service and you can't beat boxing up 200 items for a quick profit rather than 200 single items to individuals.

You need to speak to your supplier and demand more discount or start buying in bigger quantities.

[Pete]

Ancient history.

It's always been going on. Before you were born, before I was born, that's just how it is.

If a wholesaler, or a retailer, buys something it's his/hers and they can give it away if they want.

There are some, not many, manufacturers who control prices in a strict manner. They just "cut off" the distributor. But for general market goods, not truly "protected brand names", it's going to happen.

Everyone knows someone who can "get it for you wholesale".

Just like there is always one guy with a lower price than everyone else, and they can get it for less on ebay and all the other price stories, thousands of retailers still have customers. It's not just price.

There was an inquiry on here some time ago about an electricals and camera wholesaler in NYC. Someone even posted pictures of where the address on one street was a "retail" store and the door on the other street at the intersection was the "wholesale" side.

Forget the petition. You have one choice, and one choice only. Buy from them or don't.
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[spiderbites]

Originally Posted by Pete

You have one choice, and one choice only. Buy from them or don't.
.

That would make two choices

[geosamm]

Its been a problem for a long time now, and I sympathise. Another disturbing trend has also appeared in these hard times, is UK importers dropping their minimum order purchases. One I know dropped theirs from 15,000Gbp to 500Gbp. They used to buy by the ship load not container load, now they bring in samples only until they have firm orders.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by spiderbites

That would make two choices

Actually it's one choice. You make a choice between two things. If there is only one thing, there is no choice at all.
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[geosamm]

Originally Posted by Pete

Actually it's one choice. You make a choice between two things. If there is only one thing, there is no choice at all.
.

disagree slightly.... there are always 2 choices even if there is only one viable option.... take it or leave it... but its a matter of perception and which side of the optimistic/pessimistic blanket you sleep

[lordmenace]

It's 1 choice (1 decision) but 2 options.

[Andy777]

Take for example "so called Asian wholesalers" - many of them are PowerSellers on eBay selling the exact same product range. Sometimes I even wonder, why they're calling themselves as a wholesalers. For example, selling iPhone screen protectors for $1.90 is a wholesale price? While you can get them from true wholesalers for $0.20?

Of course, it's a free market and everyone can do what they want - no offense here :-)

[geosamm]

Originally Posted by lordmenace

It's 1 choice (1 decision) but 2 options.

1 decision, but 2 options, I agree,,,, whichever option you decide on is your choice... therefore 2 choices available