Soliciting bids

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beck3906

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Aug 13, 2005
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Belton, TX 76513
Is it appropriate to use this means to solicit bids? For example, I need 60-65 different Sierra style kits and want to find the cheapest pace. Could I ask for bids on one of the forums and award the purchase to the lowest bidder?

I would need to outline the terms for shipping and shipping cost with the solicitation.

My problem has been finding a supplier that could provide 50 or so chrome kits.
 
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No, there is no 'bid on my business' section - you can PM or otherwise contact any business you know of and ask for their price for 50 kits - but there's no 'reverse ebay' style section on this forum.

There are a few vendors on here - check their catalogs first, and maybe their websites next - should have the all-in price for 50 kits...
 
maxwell_smart007 said:
No, there is no 'bid on my business' section - you can PM or otherwise contact any business you know of and ask for their price for 50 kits - but there's no 'reverse ebay' style section on this forum.

There are a few vendors on here - check their catalogs first, and maybe their websites next - should have the all-in price for 50 kits...
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I wish you guys as moderators would consider adding this as a feature. I know all of the vendors and have checked their sites. Many don't have the quantities I want. Some have their sites use a green/yellow/red color code saying things are in stock or not, but you don't really know what the red and yellow levels mean as far as quantities.

I can spend way too much time looking for someone to supply me, so why not try a little of the good ole' competitive spirit? Beside, I have about another 80 Jr series pens to be turning. Why waste time shopping?
 
Tom T said:
No reverse bids or we will become like the rest of them, where its only about the money.
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There've been a number of posts recently where it's been all about the money. Everyone wants to save a few dollars.

I buy in larger quantities so I can get the max discount. Why not use the competitive bidding process to save a bit more?
 
The Penguin said:
Smitty37 said:
The Penguin said:
Berea sells them for $5.50 each for qty 51-100 - I doubt you'll find anyone cheaper than that.

Sierra® Ballpoint Pen Chrome Pen Kit Making Supplies Berea HardWoods
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Sure he will, if he looks in the right place.
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OKLAHOMAN said:
Sure he'll find them at a better price and no black , all metal.
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OK...where?

PM since I'm sure by some arcane rule you're not supposed to post a link to your own site.[/quote] Not so...both signatures Roy's and Roy's contain a link to our websites.
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Penquin, and others, there are rules in place about vendors posting in other threads Quote "I sell That" This was part of the remake of the classifieds to keep all threads from becoming seller advertising. I can tell you that (name your vendor) sells them but I cant tell you I do. In this case I dont so Im not violating the rule. Your allowed to use your signature line as a simple reminder or link.
 
beck3906 said:
Tom T said:
No reverse bids or we will become like the rest of them, where its only about the money.
Click to expand...

There've been a number of posts recently where it's been all about the money. Everyone wants to save a few dollars.

I buy in larger quantities so I can get the max discount. Why not use the competitive bidding process to save a bit more?
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You won't save more, you'll probably do better by contacting the vendor's direct and asking their best price. I have people do this all the time, sometimes I get the order sometimes I don't. Sometime I don't have what they want.

But just for your information -- getting bids does not guarantee that you will get the best price. Governments at all levels deal in sealed bids all the time and if anyone thinks governments get the lowest price... I have the bridge that I'll be happy to sell you.....
 
Getting the lowest bid pretty much guarantees you will get the crappiest stuff.

If you are selling the pens at a good price, 50 cents a kit is a fool's bargain. If your customer is not giving you a good price, why are YOU taking the order?

You pay for junk, don't be surprised when you GET junk!
FWIW,
Ed

(No, I would NOT bid). The same logic as I used at shows, if I could sell the kits for less, I would sell MORE of them. So, I have already established the "best price" for that quantity. Want 1000?? Talk to me, privately. I don't have a price for that, yet.
 
The vendors here ALREADY have the best price on items we all need. Pay the price they ask and you will be getting a good deal. Also, you will deal with the one who takes your order, packages your order, ships your order, and will directly answer your questions. Top shelf service at good prices...
 
I can speak from personal experience about buying products by bidding. You will get exactly what you pay for. I was the printer for a school system and every summer for the first 5 years I worked there, we would buy paper for the whole school system and the printing department, on bids, each yera,it was so frustrating for me because we would have to accept the lowest bid on each different paper that I used, and we would end up with papr that was not even fit to print on. It would lint up the ink rollers on the press so bad that I would have to hand clean the press every couple hours. Then after some research, we found a company that gave us very good paper at a great price, without bidding it out.
 
I can spend way too much time looking for someone to supply me, so why not try a little of the good ole' competitive spirit? Beside, I have about another 80 Jr series pens to be turning. Why waste time shopping?[/quote]

Well, I know if I was that pressed for saving time and didn't want to "waste time shopping" I would have typed a quick general letter requesting a quote & stating that I am price shopping & what i'm looking for...emailed it to several pen kit vendors with a few quick clicks (starting with the ones here on IAP) instead of spending time on forums.:smile: I believe I would have had my responses with their quotes back already. The vendors here will treat you right and although they might not always be the cheapest...the cheapest may not be what you really want. remember you get what you pay for! I do know you will get excellent service from the vendors here. I can say this from personal experience. just my 2 cents
 
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