Caden_Hrabak
Member
You know if i had some sort of money to invest that would be a good idea very small time seller only a few kits but rare kits
My conversatons (e-mails) so far, is that 500 piece mimimums is a "negotiating point". China's economy( yes, dayacom is China, too) ain't "all that" either.
In reality, you can direct buy at 250 piece minimums...AS LONG AS YOU BUY MORE THAN ONE PRODUCT. I have NO intention of becoming a "kit" seller,(too much unproductive time and too much loading language "translators"!) However, those of use who make a LOT of one or two "kits" would be stupid NOT to help out a fellow IAP member keep the product that we use. I miss the IMP and the Lotus, but as long as we are at it, might as well get some JR's..
The short answer is no. Virtually all of the costs putting TI kits in the hands of the supplier except the actual cost of the plating material and process is the same. Costs except for some supplier inventory costs getting the item from the supplier to the retailer are the same. Price to the retailer is about 50 to 75% more for TI.Yes ... there is a wide price gap.
Look at the Slimline kit.
Chrome plated kits for less than $2 each per 100 piece order.
Now plate the same parts in something else and the price just about triples.
Is TN really that much more to plate per kit than Chrome?
I am asking cause I really dont know.
My opinion, which may be totally off, is that we could find a way. We have over 9000 users on IAP. Lets say only 2000 make these higher end pens. Out of that, lets say only half actually use the site to it's potential. That is 1000 that probably want the same few pen kits. We have the power in numbers to organize the biggest group buy on IAP. If everyone put in as much as they want, some people buy 2 kits, some 200, and no one was looking for a profit, we could all benefit. The people looking for a profit, no offense intended, are the ones who kill the prices. With that buying power if we worked through one person directly with Dayacom, we could all get these pen kits we like at the absolute base cost. No one makes a profit, but we all get the best deal possible. It would be cost effective if we got a big enough group and everyone splits the price.
Absolute worst case scenario, we can only group up about 50-100 people, we could still manage the 500 minimum order, get the kits we like, and save money at the same time.
Popcorn's in the microwave and soda's on ice! :biggrin:
Absolute worst case scenario, we can only group up about 50-100 people, we could still manage the 500 minimum order, get the kits we like, and save money at the same time.
You need to order 500 OF ONE STYLE!!!
A FOUNTAIN PEN IS NOT A ROLLERBALL, FOR THIS DISCUSSION!!
An Emperor is not an Imperial or a JR. Emperor.
500 kits is easy, if you could use everything Dayacom makes----you CAN'T
And, yes, you can GET 300, but the total cost will be very close to the 500 cost.
Let's say 500 @ $25 per kit=$12,500
300 kits may cost you about $10,000, cost per kit is now $33.33
THEN, remember this all EXCLUDES shipping, customs, insurance (you are responsible for the kits, you paid in advance, you have no recourse!!)
WOULD I help you in such a purchase?? YES.
But you would NOT LIKE the contract you would have to sign before you would be included. ALL RISK is on YOU!! This is completely consistent with the way I have to purchase kits from overseas. If you want a deal where the vendor has nothing to gain (profit), you will find it's hard to find a vendor who will risk LOSING anything!!!
People who have the ability to GET loans to support small businesses have to be able to show the bank they have avoided LOSING money for some period of years, while running businesses with all their assets "at risk". Once you have that track record, every purchase you make is another RISK---we take that very seriously.
IT is neither SIMPLE nor PRETTY!!!
For this one time, let me sign: Ed (business consultant to Dawn)
Each of us has an investment in Exotics, but we BOTH have a track record with my real business--me since 1975 as founder and president of the corp, she has handled the billing and accounting since 1982. We, together, have a "steet cred" with the banks, as well as "hard assets" (own a house and "other" things). In today's economic climate, you will find banks have no interest in "startups".
We have a couple of well respected Aussie Suppliers that will ship to USA
1. GPWWoodturning.com au Has Emperor, Etc
2. Timberbits.com has some High end pen kits also
Amos
Could be because they have to import them by the thousands, and only a few of us are buying them 1 or 2 at a time.
Dead on!
Also, the one or two who are buying want different "flavors". To handle the Emperor, you need to stock gold and black ti, fountain and rollerball ---4 styles. BUT some want the SMALLER version---so you need to stock those same choices in the Jr. Emperor---4 more styles. Now you have 4000 pens---representing over $100,000. You will probably sell less than 1000 pens per year. So, your average cash in use is $50,000 for four years.
Takes VERY deep pockets. And very few who can AFFORD such a deal are dumb enough to BUY it.
But they will probably find SOMEONE!!!
Could be because they have to import them by the thousands, and only a few of us are buying them 1 or 2 at a time.
Dead on!
Also, the one or two who are buying want different "flavors". To handle the Emperor, you need to stock gold and black ti, fountain and rollerball ---4 styles. BUT some want the SMALLER version---so you need to stock those same choices in the Jr. Emperor---4 more styles. Now you have 4000 pens---representing over $100,000. You will probably sell less than 1000 pens per year. So, your average cash in use is $50,000 for four years.
Takes VERY deep pockets. And very few who can AFFORD such a deal are dumb enough to BUY it.
But they will probably find SOMEONE!!!
Perhaps NOBODY will make that rather risky investment. I suspect that is why Dayacom has directly opened up to small quantity purchase option (20-30 units).
Ed, you are "dead on", my friend. Try explaining a $100,000 investment to make maybe 10 percent over 2-3 years to the typical small business banker! That "floor plan" simply will not fly in our current economy.
...IT is neither SIMPLE nor PRETTY!!! ....
Yes, but tomorrow we can start changing that. Vote early, vote often. :biggrin:... We, together, have a "steet cred" with the banks, as well as "hard assets" (own a house and "other" things). In today's economic climate, you will find banks have no interest in "startups".
You sure that is Springfield, MO and not IL ... But then MO did give us Boss Pendergast....IT is neither SIMPLE nor PRETTY!!! ....
Sounds like the voice of experience here. :wink:
Yes, but tomorrow we can start changing that. Vote early, vote often. :biggrin:... We, together, have a "steet cred" with the banks, as well as "hard assets" (own a house and "other" things). In today's economic climate, you will find banks have no interest in "startups".