What is a wholesale customer
- Thread starter crocodilehntr24
- Start date
Well, I have always been a firm believer in selling only to store fronts. Coming from a retail background I only bought from wholesalers that didnt sell to (my customers). However I have recently had people that contact me trying to buy, that have ordered from (lets say a L.A. wholesaler) I am kindof torn because they can already buy from a wholesaler and have accounts set up with wholesalers and I feel that I am loosing out...however I need to support my Real stores that buy from me weekly by not selling to their customers. I guess I am just wondering if anyone has had to deal with this before and what they came up with.
the only real difference between a 'proper' retail customer that deserves lower pricing and an individual, from a wholesaler's p.o.v., is one of amount of goods being purchased-as it is with the rest of the retail/wholesale sector
you buy more, you get a volume discount
the 'bad blood' is more often an issue of both types of customers getting the same price break-e.g.: 'why should i give better monetary commitment/ support when it doesn't give me a better competetive edge over mr. joe private, who can then purchase directly from the same source as me ? '
however, there's no law compelling anyone to follow any set rule-a free market is a free market
you buy more, you get a volume discount
the 'bad blood' is more often an issue of both types of customers getting the same price break-e.g.: 'why should i give better monetary commitment/ support when it doesn't give me a better competetive edge over mr. joe private, who can then purchase directly from the same source as me ? '
however, there's no law compelling anyone to follow any set rule-a free market is a free market
Ultimately, the decision about how to run your business and whom to sell to, is yours.
If I were in your position, I'd consider a couple of things...
1) IF you were to sell to service companies and/or etailers, and your Brick and Mortars caught wind of it, would they dump you? If they did dump you, would the net loss of them as clients be offset by the purchases of those etailers and service companies? If the answer to that is no, then I'd probably opt not to sell to the etailers and service companies. IMO one good brick and mortar customer can order more in one week than many service companies will order in a month... depending on the size of the company.
2) Could it be that some of *your* customers, *are* your customers now and not customers of the "LA Wholesaler" because LA sells to the service companies and etailers, and you don't? Perhaps not the only deciding factor, quality and price have to speak for themselves also, of course, but for those of us who also look at the bigger picture, it's a consideration.
Business is business... but the bottom line is whether you will gain more than you stand to lose based on your decision.
HTH
Jenn
If I were in your position, I'd consider a couple of things...
1) IF you were to sell to service companies and/or etailers, and your Brick and Mortars caught wind of it, would they dump you? If they did dump you, would the net loss of them as clients be offset by the purchases of those etailers and service companies? If the answer to that is no, then I'd probably opt not to sell to the etailers and service companies. IMO one good brick and mortar customer can order more in one week than many service companies will order in a month... depending on the size of the company.
2) Could it be that some of *your* customers, *are* your customers now and not customers of the "LA Wholesaler" because LA sells to the service companies and etailers, and you don't? Perhaps not the only deciding factor, quality and price have to speak for themselves also, of course, but for those of us who also look at the bigger picture, it's a consideration.
Business is business... but the bottom line is whether you will gain more than you stand to lose based on your decision.
HTH
Jenn
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