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We have been running into a problem with a company that is suppose to be a wholesaler to the trade who lives & operates there business about 8 hours away but when they come to our area for VACATION they solicit business from the realestate people and sell them finished custom signs retail. Cutting into our market. AND THEY WONDER WHY WE REFUSE TO BUY FROM THEM AS A WHOLESALER? Is there anything we can do to equal the playing field. Or prevent them from being able to purchase wholesale? Any suggestions? I just needed to vent alittle.
Julie
------------------ Julie Beacon Images Tehkummah, ON Canada
Posts: 44 | From: Tehkummah, ON Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Duhhhh! Why let them wonder??? Tell them in no uncertain terms why!!! Then call EVERY shop in your area, and boycott them UNTIL they stop working against you! Maybe you should also start taking on customers in their area...that will get the message across!
------------------ Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA (714) 521-4810 ICQ # 330407 "SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
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Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Its amazing how many wholesalers consider it ok to compete with their customers at retail. Even some of the catalog companies will mail catalogs to your clients if you have material drop shipped. The good companies, Gemini to name one, adhere to strict policies of not selling at retail in competition with their customers.
When a vendor competes with you, that is their way of saying they do not appreciate your business, and the appropriate response is to refuse to buy from them.
This is one of life's little unfairnesses, and there is not a lot you can do about it.
Knocking a competitor is never productive. It always comes across at sour grapes.
If this competitors name comes up in a customer conversation, about all you should say is "We prefer not to do business with them" in as casual a way as possible. If the customer presses, say "It's just a business decision...we choose not to do business with them" Vic G
------------------ Victor Georgiou Bob Loves Signs Inc Danville, CA email blssign@pacbell.net
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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We ARE a ditributor, and I can tell you that the quickest way to stop this BS is to contact the supplier for whom they distribute and lodge a "competition" complaint. Watch how fast that crap stops!
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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Years back a friend of mine had a supply business. Great supplier. I loved the service. In the adjouning building they opened a sign shop. Same complaint as yours! The sign shops started going to the manufacturers and mentioned they can't compete pricewise with someone getting supplies at half their prices, and in very short order, the manufacturers put an end to all that.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Oh, for the faith of a spider! He begins his web without any thread.
Posts: 6810 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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You could be sitting in their backyard. You could be seeing other small guys quitting and going to work for them. You can't compete directly with them and they know it and so what if they step on YOUR toes, they have clients coast to coast and in Canada, not only wholesale but retail as well.. enough said...
Dave
------------------ Ace of Signs Selinsgrove, Pa. www.aceofsigns.com
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