posted on October 9, 2001 09:57:18 PM
I'm currently selling a new old stock item that was discontinued about 4 years ago. I've had very good luck with this item. One customer seems to want to buy all I have, and doesn't really let anyone out bid him.
Today I recevied this email from him.
Hi Xxxxx that will be great. If you do not mind me asking how did you come
across these widgets? I think XYZ Company quit making these. Were these old store stock that you bought?
Thanks, Xxxxxxx
This person is really a good customer and has paid on time. How do I gently let him down and not divulge my source without offending him? Thanks in advance!
posted on October 10, 2001 07:53:03 AM
"My items are sourced from a variety of closeout and frontline vendors".
And if they press, I say something like, "Sorry, but I do not give out my sources. I spent many hours and dollars to develop my current list of vendors and I consider that to be a valuable asset of my business. As well, it's clearly detrimental to my business if I reveal my sources and thus facilitate competition."
posted on October 10, 2001 09:10:05 AM
"Give them a phoney source"
Interesting idea. Could be taken a step further. Give them the phony source, and an e-mail contact, except give them an e-mail that leads back to you. Go set up a free e-mail somewhere that forwards to you, and you'll see soon enough if their intent was to double-cross you.
posted on October 10, 2001 11:12:59 AM
REAMOND, it may not always be the case. Alternative answers may include that they were concerned about the authenticity of the item, they were just curious about the item's history, to know where the item was manufactured, and I'm sure there are dozens of other alternative answers. Since the original question involved a good customer, it's best not to assume anything bad, but to tread lightly.
posted on October 10, 2001 11:17:41 AM
another possible reason-if you have many ,then why bother to bid high??
also if he wants to resell your items,how many you have on hand and how many more where it comes from will help him evaluate how many he should buy from you and if it is really worth reselling without having to compete with you or others who bot from the same source-you or your source
posted on October 10, 2001 12:16:43 PM
when I read his request I don't see anything sinister about it He is just aking how you came upon them
I had a similar situation cusomer asked where I picked them up and I responded with the truth " a second hand shop" not which one ect.
I would just respond in a freindly manner with a very generic description of where you got it. Such as Garage sale, Second hand shop Consignment shop, Supply house, Wholesaler ect ect ect
By the way where DID you get them
spock here......
Live long and Prosper
posted on October 10, 2001 03:36:10 PM
It was a simple, innocent question, one I would have answered with a simple "yes, they are new old stock that I was lucky enough to find".
Actually, my customer wouldn't have had to ask because I would have stated in the ad that I was lucky enough to find some new-old stock and therefore the item the customer was buying was brand new, never been used. Its a good selling point!
posted on October 10, 2001 03:58:53 PM
"Well... it should be clear that someone asking for your source is looking to by-pass you."
Why assume the worst about people? Maybe he's a collector and is simply curious. Maybe the info will help him appreciate his items more. I collect a certain antique widget, and whenever I get one I always ask the seller who or where it came from, provenance adds to its value.
Especially if you have accumulated all of the NOS stock from your source, it won't hurt to be specific.
posted on October 10, 2001 04:17:27 PM
I get people like this every once in a while and really it's none of their damn business where it comes from as long as it is not stolen. I would like for someone to walk into discount chain or dress shop and want to know where do you buy all our stuff and while your at it can I have their phone number?
1) I bought a storage locker that was full of stuff from a gift store when the stuff is gone it's gone.
2) I bought them from a discount table at _________________.
3) I actually sell consignments from time to time and these are not mine so other than the info on the auction I don't know much.
4) I bought a few boxes at a garage sale and they are just about gone.
Never give the source even if the particular item is retired or discontinued, I just love that a few of my sources are advertised in other people auctions sometimes saying that this is retired from XYZ. If your looking for sources it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that XYZ probably sells hundreds of great items and I need more for my store.
I've spent weeks tracking down companies and I'm really good at it. There was one company that took me over a month to track down because the name and other information on the packaging I was using is an abbreviation. Funny thing about it is once I found them I also found a few other items that I had given up on looking for. Needless to say that this is one of our best selling lines because they are hard to track down so we have little to no competition.
eBay fees are like being slowly pecked to death by chickens!!!
posted on October 11, 2001 08:37:28 AM
My 86 year old mother was recently asked her age by an acquaintance. She whispered in his ear, "Can you keep a secret?" and he indicated he could. She then said, "So can I."
posted on October 11, 2001 08:55:08 AM
Answer as you would a child. If a 4 year old wants to know where babies come from, mommy's tummy seems to be an answer that satisfies them. Don't lie, but give them enough information to answer without giving away anything, and if they want to ask more specifically, then you can decide what to do. My parents sell on Ebay, and they get this question from people.
posted on October 11, 2001 10:28:50 AM
I acquire my products from a variety of sources. It would be great to know where I could dependably find such items whenever I or one of my customers wanted them, but it just doesn't work out that way. Certainly would make my life easier if it were. Thanks again for your interest and I hope to be able to work with you again as your business is greatly appreciated.
posted on October 11, 2001 06:24:46 PM
sounds like jrome is one of the people that is always asking for your source. I can live with the karma, I can't live if all my items start selling for 1.00 over cost.
now you are getting sleeeeeeeeeeeepy..........sleeeeeeeeeeeeeepy............now when I snap my fingers you will tell me all you know...........your 800 numbers for all your suppliers.............your PayPal account information..................your bank account information.................
Oh BTW I found a new supplier today, only one other person sold some of this stuff over 2 weeks ago every item he listed sold and it sold for 3-4 times the cost. I hope he just isn't restocking because I just placed a 1,800 dollar order today, good news is it should all sell in about one week because it is only 2 of each of the better items in that catalogue. So if someone asked you for your source on this would you give it out? not on your life baby!
eBay fees are like being slowly pecked to death by chickens!!!
posted on October 11, 2001 06:34:49 PM
Sorry Wranglers, I don't think you understood my post. I didn't say that the source should be revealed; rather, I just said be honest. Either tell him your source, or don't. There's no need to make up an elaborate story. Or tell only part of it.
I was taking issue with those, "My brother-in-law went out of business and this is what he had left..."
Obviously, this person is a good customer; why would you want to do something that might tick him off? Trust me, any lie will be really clear.
You can ask him why he wants to know, tell him you can't reveal the direct source b/c it is your livelihood, etc. But making up shallow lies is not only obnoxious, but it's usually self apparent.
And no, I've never asked for anyone's source. I just read AW for entertainment purposes.
posted on October 11, 2001 07:47:23 PMOne customer seems to want to buy all I have, and doesn't really let anyone out bid him
And you don't know what to do in a case like this???
Make a Deal. I'm serious, if he want's 'em bad enough to keep buying all he can at better prices than anyone else, Make a Deal. Sell him 1000 of them if you got em, and he wants 'em. Follow the money.
[ edited by Microbes on Oct 11, 2001 07:48 PM ]
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