ericahayes
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posted on September 22, 2000 11:40:07 AM
I sell jewelry findings on the auction sites and I’m constantly being asked if I give dealer discounts, or discounts for larger quantities. I haven’t really had a policy. I’ve asked other companies for discounts and I’ve found that many give 50% discount off retail. Is this typical? How do some of you handle dealer discounts?
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reddeer
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posted on September 22, 2000 11:41:35 AM
Dealer discounts, is that a joke?
Never
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magazine_guy
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posted on September 22, 2000 11:49:12 AM
Yes.
I've always offered large quantity discounts; some of these have gone to other dealers. Generally 15 to 30% below "retail," and ususally only on certain things. This frees up working capital on things I've got in surplus.
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stockticker
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posted on September 22, 2000 12:07:57 PM
Where inventory permits, I am always happy to give dealer discounts if a minimum of 5 of any one item is ordered. I usually ask the potential buyer what minimum and maximum number he/she is interested in. Then I will e-mail back a table showing the discounted prices, assuming various quantities ordered. Most choose to order the maximum I offer to sell, even though initially they were looking at buying fewer. 
Over the last couple of years, I think I've sold quantities of 50 to 3 or 4 different customers, quantities of 20 to 2 customers, and lower quantities to perhaps a dozen other customers.
I usually use the money received to buy more of the same item from my supplier.
Irene
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jeanyu
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posted on September 22, 2000 12:43:55 PM
the most refreshing and wonderful aspect about on line selling--no more dealer discounts!! I have been in the biz for about 18 years and before on line selling--my credo was--I can always do better. But no more--I put items up for auction and what they bring is what they get. I do offer a discount on postage if multiple buys--but the days of "dealer discount" are over. If I have to do dealer discount--I'll go back to the fleas and shows. Hopefully never
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on September 22, 2000 12:57:56 PM
No discounts on the auctioned item, but for any additional items? Absolutely. If you can sell 10 items in one go, eliminating the need to list and manage each as an individual sale, why pass up the opportunity?
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macandjan
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posted on September 22, 2000 02:44:58 PM
[ edited by macandjan on Dec 3, 2000 08:18 PM ]
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networker67
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posted on September 22, 2000 04:31:10 PM
ericshayes - Depends heavily on the item. Say for isnatnce I happen to have 50 128 MB memory modules and I sell them on ebay at a pre-auction profit of 10 bucks each. All my listings start at an amount that allows for 15% to 33% profit when listed. If my average auction for the modules is $95.00. I would cheerfully get rid of them in lots of ten or more for a discount. The auction is pure speculation in many instances and subject to variances so my profit margin has always been fixed at listing with the auction format providing for extra profit potential.
So dealer or quantity discounts really depend on the item. If it is a seasonal item I would happily quantity discount it in volume to avoid possibly being stuck with it when the season ends. ebayers who won't are missing out on an opportunity. If you volume discounted at the 3D market why not volume discount at the 2D market.
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mballai
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posted on September 22, 2000 04:52:41 PM
Only if they pay my annual eBay fees in advance...
Much of what is sold on eBay goes dirt cheap. I can save people money if they ask about something I don't have currently on auction and if they want to get a break on multiple-item shipping--I do that anyway. However I get very few requests. People seem to prefer and wait for the auctions.
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Borillar
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posted on September 22, 2000 10:28:38 PM
We sell jewelry as well. Our profit margins are so small that any diuscounts would be very slight. We do give them, though, but usually in the form of free shipping.
Once in a while we get a quantity sale of something with a decent profit margin and we are able to give a bit better deal. But for most buyers who want to know if I wholesale or not, I reply to them that buying our items in the auctions is wholesale! Then I offer a discount for quantities.
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beaddreamer
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posted on September 23, 2000 09:05:31 AM
I also sell jewelry, beads and findings. I have had request for beads and findings at wholesale prices. I've also had people email me because they want to know who my supplier is or where I got that from.. If i'm in a nice mood I might tell them where I got a certain item, or I will tell them what I will sell it to them for. There I times I just ignore the email or I will answer it with a price that I think is fair for me.
I search the web for online catalogs and sources where I can buy beads and findings at a wholesale price for me, I auction off the rest that I don't need, it helps me pay for what I want.
If I have a bidder that has won an item ask if I have more and what I will sell it to them for, if I have more of that item I will sell it to them for what ever I start price would be on the auction. I figure it saves me listing and EOA fees.
Sue
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hamburgler
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posted on September 23, 2000 09:23:25 PM
As if Ebay prices on most items arent cheap enough? If you look through Ebay listings there are alot of items that go for what I would call DEALER DISCOUNTED ITEMS. Tell them you are a not a wholesaler and instead of buying things at DEALER DISCOUNTS they need to spend the money BUYING A CLUE! Some dealers have such a nerve to actually ASK for this type of personalized service. It is one thing (as listed before in this thread) if you offer dealer discounts....but to ASK FOR IT. HA!
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