Advice please...should I do this?

sisterpine · #1 03/08/08, 12:27 PM

I have been contacted again by a web store wanting to sell my knobs on their site. When I questioned how this is done I got this back.

"If you take a look at the other knobs products I sell, I post a price and discount down based on how many knobs a customer buys.

If you can give me a price for each style knob, I will mark it up by 100 percent for 1 to 5 knobs. I then discount 5%, 10%, and 20% based on the total order amount.

I do it this way because many times a person wants to buy only one knob to sample the line. A one knob purchase will not blow wind up my skirt, so I charge more. The discounted price is also a motivation for a person to purchase in the larger quantities. Maybe they will do the kitchen and bathroom cabinets too!

If you can give me a price list, permission to sell your products, permission to use photographs, and drop ship for me then I will take care of the rest."

Here is the question ... Is the price he is asking for -the wholesale or retail price? Is this something I should be doing to expand my business or not? thanks, sis

Ravenlost · #2 03/08/08, 12:54 PM

I think you should ask him.

CountryHaven · #3 03/08/08, 01:04 PM

Why not? I'd ask for a non-exclusive. That way he can try to sell, and you still get what you'd ask for them anyway, but if he doesn't have much luck, you can still sell on your side and continue on your merry way, or, you get both your sales and his sales and really make out.

PS--what are knobs anyway?

sisterpine · #4 03/08/08, 01:17 PM

LOL You know, those things you grab onto when you want to open a cabinet door or drawer! Those are good questions. Thanks a zillion! Moving forward for
www.montanasticksandstones.com no matter how frightening it is! sis

CountryHaven · #5 03/08/08, 01:24 PM

Oh, lol, okay, I kind of thought door knob, etc.. wasn't really thinking cabinet, but cool!!!

**Ross** · #6 03/08/08, 02:14 PM

Better ask how money is collected paid and returns and warrenty issues are managed.

hintonlady · #7 03/08/08, 02:51 PM

Be very careful of sending any product without legit payment.

I don't doubt you have a lovely product but there are a lot of unsavory people out there, even with a stable looking biz.

Contact their local BBB and see what their track record is like.

Put it in writing.

If you drop ship who pre pays the postage, you?

sisterpine · #8 03/08/08, 03:19 PM

I sent the guy back a letter explaining what i was willing to do etc and asked him to (if he agrees) sign it and send it to me snail mail. The letter covers all of the normal stuff, prices, wholesale prices, returns, payments,warantees etc. I also decided to check out a couple of other dealers to see if they would like to sell my stuff...getting braver by the year lol. sis

Maura · #9 03/09/08, 01:38 PM

Go to his site and see how people pay for the product. Chances are, a credit card company is used. I use a credit card company, not Paypal, to sell my knitting patterns. I do not receive the order in my email until the credit card has cleared. If your product is sold this way, I can't see how you can be cheated.

You are selling wholesale to him. Basicly, you charge enough to cover your costs and having decided how much you want to profit on them. I would expect that at wholesale, you would charge twice what it cost you to make them. He is then charging twice what it cost him as his full retail price. You can also price by what the market will bear, more or less than twice what it cost you to create the product. I charge way more than the cost of paper for my patterns because the customer is paying for original work and excellent instructions.