Enamel sublimation mugs.

[UK Printed Mugs]

We spoke with Neil this morning and he told us £750 is the minimum. We are already a customer of theirs needing to top up but even so he wouldn't budge. Would indeed be interested to hear from others about whether they have recently been able to order for less. Although some items from BS are below average, I would say the majority of main stream items such as unisub is exactly the same price as other suppliers.

Are you needing enamel mugs to forfill an order and if so how many? We or someone may be able to help with small numbers. If you are just thinking it would be a good item to start selling then that band wagon for Christmas, as you have found out, has already left the station. Most people we know stocked up on these about 6 weeks ago. It would be wise to wait until end of Jan, stock up from Xpres and then know you can forfill orders.

[Lucifax]

Why is it the suppliers fault that you have run out of stock?

I wasn't implying it's their fault if we run out of stock, it is however definately their fault if they run out of stock.

[socialgiraffe]

I don't think anyone here has either said they are out of stock, let alone blamed a supplier.
Personally, all I'm asking is some clarity - Buy sublimation say on the website min order £300. We have 2 other figures, £350 & £750. Which is correct? Their website says they have stock. They havent.
I don't think I'll be finding any enamel mugs any time soon.

Sorry Mode, should have pointed out that a) I think you was just asking the question and b) its probably what the website says as I was going on memory. Best advice there is to call them, although not much point if they are out of stock

I wasn't implying it's their fault if we run out of stock, it is however definately their fault if they run out of stock.

It is their fault, but how can they fix it? Do they order more stock and take a gamble of IF it will sell? Do they put the prices up so that they make enough money to warrant keeping stock on shelves for longer periods of time? I just can not see how they can cope with it, particularly as we want everything cheaper and considering how long it takes from ordering in the far east to arriving here.

I am having this exact conversation with a customer of mine right now. They want me to guarantee to have 1000 mugs in stock (all with a printed base), but they only want to call down 100 at a time and will pay as they call it down. It could take two - three months for 100 mugs to be sold...

[GoonerGary]

I am having this exact conversation with a customer of mine right now. They want me to guarantee to have 1000 mugs in stock (all with a printed base), but they only want to call down 100 at a time and will pay as they call it down. It could take two - three months for 100 mugs to be sold...

Amazon charge sellers for storing stock in their FBA warehouses. Add the same rate to his invoice.

[webtrekker]

I am having this exact conversation with a customer of mine right now. They want me to guarantee to have 1000 mugs in stock (all with a printed base), but they only want to call down 100 at a time and will pay as they call it down. It could take two - three months for 100 mugs to be sold...

Did you give them a discounted price for ordering 1,000 SG? Watch they don't try the old bait & switch tactic, ie. Taking half the order then cancelling, thus getting 500 mugs at the discounted price and leaving you with 500 for the skip.

[Lucifax]

It is their fault, but how can they fix it? Do they order more stock and take a gamble of IF it will sell? Do they put the prices up so that they make enough money to warrant keeping stock on shelves for longer periods of time? I just can not see how they can cope with it, particularly as we want everything cheaper and considering how long it takes from ordering in the far east to arriving here.

The same way as professional distributers in just about every other industry. By reviewing previous years' movement and creating stock/sales projections and maintaining an overspill of bread and butter items. It's basic stock control, not rocket science. Keeping overspill of their best selling mugs or Texprint paper isn't a gamble at all, yet they constantly run out. Are you seriously suggesting that it is our responsibility to hold massive stocks to maintain our lines so that the distributers don't have to? That's what we pay them to do. They have no actual purpose if they have no stock left. I can accept them running out of obscurities now and then, but mugs and paper? It's inexcusable both from a customers point of view and a profit making business' point of view, (If they don't have it, they can't sell it and customers will source elsewhere.) At the very least they should display stock quantities so we can see where we stand and have a clue that they are running low.

I doubt the distributers care when they run out, at least that's the impression I get when phoning. They capitolized on their investment, we will just have to wait until they restock. It's short sighted, amateurish and unprofessional in the extreme. It's akin to phoning Arthur Daley in his lock up hoping he's got some of those cushion covers left that he bought off Chinese Charlie down the docks last month.

[socialgiraffe]

I'm confused, they have run out of enamel mugs which are not exactly a massive seller (otherwise many other distributors would have them), they might be a good seller for you, and that's great, but you can not really suggest that these are a bread and butter item to a supplier.

If its inexcusable that they run out, then it is inexcusable that you run out as well. I am not saying you need to keep massive stocks on your shelf, however I am suggesting that you can not expect a supplier to have everything in stock all the time just in case you run out and order at the last minute. The exact same reasons why you run out also apply to a supplier, just bigger numbers (and more risk to them if you do not purchase).

With regards to Texprint paper, just get it from elsewhere, loads of people sell it don't they?

Accusing a supplier of being "short sighted, amateurish and unprofessional" is ridiculous and gob smacking. You have the hump because you have ordered at the last minute and the supplier has sold out and you want someone to blame.

There is an inherent problem with this industry in that it covers a wide range of companies, ranging from the guy in his spare room to large factories with hundreds of employees. Many of the larger companies still use the same suppliers as everyone else but they have contingencies so they do not run out. If they are marketing a particular product then you can bet that they have made sure it is readily available and in plentiful stock beforehand.

I agree with stock numbers on a website though, it is very frustrating that companies do not do this.

Did you give them a discounted price for ordering 1,000 SG? Watch they don't try the old bait & switch tactic, ie. Taking half the order then cancelling, thus getting 500 mugs at the discounted price and leaving you with 500 for the skip.

They get a good price anyway, and to be honest, this particular client will be fine as they will sign a "commit to buy" which will cover any blank stock left.

[Lucifax]

You are confused indeed, I haven't run out of tin mugs. I suspected they couldn't hold stock so resisted developing a range of them and that has proven justified.

If its inexcusable that they run out, then it is inexcusable that you run out as well.

No. I don't claim to be a distributor, or have customers relying on me to have the stock I need to earn a living. You seem to be confused as to the difference between a supplier/distributor and a manufacturer/retailer. No one elses livelihood is reliant upon anything I do. People however are reliant on the consistency of a supplier. Business basics, seriously.

With regards to Texprint paper, just get it from elsewhere, loads of people sell it don't they?

Again, presumption based on ignorance, you should assume less. I spent over a month unable to buy Texprint HR a3 paper from any distributer and eventually found a guy on ebay with a few overpriced boxes that saw me through, and you know as well as I do I'm sure that several suppliers run out of standard mugs on a regular basis. I had even tried Buy Sublimation accepting I'd have to buy £750 worth of TX Hr, and they had none. Subli kept telling me "next week", it took over a month.

Accusing a supplier of being "short sighted, amateurish and unprofessional" is ridiculous and gob smacking. You have the hump because you have ordered at the last minute and the supplier has sold out and you want someone to blame.

How self righteous are you? You pretty much lost me here with this arrogant and completely unfounded remark. It's very presumptious, since you know nothing about me. Try contacting SubliBlanks re a query, no one's picked up the phone in a week, stuff I relied on has just disappeared off their website out of the blue, but I've found another similar supply so I've no stock worries currently. I am incredibly busy though with the run up to Christmas and could do without spending hours hunting stock because my "supplier" didn't order enough.

You're happy, that's fine, good for you. Sometimes others have issues though and your speculative excuses and naive reasoning really haven't alayed any of mine. I appreciate you taking the time though.

[socialgiraffe]

All you seem to want to do is take cheap shots, nothing will ever be your fault and everyone else is to blame.

Must be nice and I bid you good day as we are never going to agree if you are never going to actually read what I said.

[GoonerGary]

SubliBlanks are in the middle of moving warehouses, so you have to give them a bit of slack if they can't pick up the phone. As for enamel mugs, well they have become fashionable on NOTHS I suspect; so that once obscure crap quality blank is now selling as a fashionable accessory with it's natural quirky flaws. I'm going to find a bearded hipster model, photograph him with his enamel mug with his outdoor boots and lumberjack coat and buy up all the stock when it arrives in March....ready for Christmas 2017.