Rant and request

[jennywren]

glad your sorted, what I tend to do is stockpile, haveing once lost a good order due to no supplies. lesson learnt, I know its dead stock just wait but not as much of the stress of not having it, I keep large stock levels and some of it has sat there for a few months, but it will all be used up, the only advantage is that when price rises occur and then will do soon due to the change in china labour force prices will rises it, will save a bit.

[gstk]

Just an update to this...

Grahame @ the transfer press managed to get me the two boxes of drinks bottles from Europe and they arrived this morning a day earlier than he thought!!! Top marks and highly recommended!!

[jennywren]

I think what we have to remember is that the suppliers also now in this climate can not hold as much as they would like, all suppliers are holding less stock, all my suppliers ( Not sub dye)ie gifts clothing ect have a min spend before you can order £250 is the basic, some of the bigger suppliers want £500. But even they have dropped their min spend to £300. So when the sub dye suppliers let you have one or two of everything without a min spend we are very lucky, plus they send free samples. So we have to spare a kind thought to the suppliers when they don't have everything to hand beccause with out a min spend they can't plan their stock levels when orders are low. They don't even ask for trade references, that really sursprised me, because all the other wholesales do, so we have alot to be thankful.

[gstk]

I think what we have to remember is that the suppliers also now in this climate can not hold as much as they would like, all suppliers are holding less stock, all my suppliers ( Not sub dye)ie gifts clothing ect have a min spend before you can order £250 is the basic, some of the bigger suppliers want £500. But even they have dropped their min spend to £300. So when the sub dye suppliers let you have one or two of everything without a min spend we are very lucky, plus they send free samples. So we have to spare a kind thought to the suppliers when they don't have everything to hand beccause with out a min spend they can't plan their stock levels when orders are low. They don't even ask for trade references, that really sursprised me, because all the other wholesales do, so we have alot to be thankful.

I agree on part but then if you are a supplier you are a supplier. The minimum spend idea is a way of making people not buy too small amounts but remember the wholesaler makes a bigger margin on lesser volumes. In this climate you have to duck and dive everywhere and however you can. I must be ugly as I have never managed to get a free sample I don't think.

As for trade references, most suppliers don't give out accounts so why worry about trade references when you are paying up front. Dont even get me started with account facilities and the sole trader versus Limited company as that would get me ranting even more. (perhaps I have anger management issues ;0) )

[John G]

I buy certain stuff from litho supplies and they have just introduced a min spend, for free delivery, of £250 - under that there is a £25 delivery charge Looks like i'll be looking elsewhere then.