Thread: Magazines - get a better deal.

Go for it!! If they play us for suckers, it's nice to even up the odds a bit.

P

The way I see it you have 2 choices

1 Drops lots of hints about their name
2 Ask people to PM you if they want the name

One point though when buying machinery made in Asia you can be sure the markup on the wholesale price is at least 100% so dont believe what they say about slom margins

Ross

Is that sort of behaviour missleading?

Read the short notice on the ACCC website.

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index...romItemId/3871

Sure looks like it.

Originally Posted by Different

you can be sure the markup on the wholesale price is at least 100% so dont believe what they say about slom margins

Ross, Ross, Ross.... Why is it that so many people confuse markup with profit??

I don't know if you've tried to rent a shed lately, or hire staff, or pay for advertising in glossy magazines, but I would just like you to know that all of that costs just a bit more than you think, and in fact I'd be surprised if the true "margin" ran to double figures.

I don't have an interest in selling machinery, but I have had a bit of retail experience... and I can tell you that a 10% discount could make a loss despite a 100% mark-up.

When margins are small retailers need volume to stay alive.

This thread really isn't about what "they" can afford though, it's about their dishonest and morally deceptive conduct, and we need to know who they are so we can take our business elsewhere, or pool our resources and post to this thread their monthly specials from all magazines!

Cheers,

P

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

This thread really isn't about what "they" can afford though, it's about their dishonest and morally deceptive conduct, and we need to know who they are so we can take our business elsewhere, or pool our resources and post to this thread their monthly specials from all magazines!

P

PM me, and I'll pass it on. Later, if the forum admin approves, I'll post the name of the firm. Having read previous post by the admin on this topic, I best wait.

Appart from that disclaimer, I fully agree with you. It is about dishonesty, and morally deceotive behaviour.

From the cluetrain manifesto - www.cluetrain.com

"A powerful global conversation has begun. Through the Internet, people are discovering and inventing new ways to share relevant knowledge with blinding speed. As a direct result, markets are getting smarter—and getting smarter faster than most companies"

Read the 95 thesis
Cheers

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Ross, Ross, Ross.... Why is it that so many people confuse markup with profit??

I don't know if you've tried to rent a shed lately, or hire staff, or pay for advertising in glossy magazines, but I would just like you to know that all of that costs just a bit more than you think, and in fact I'd be surprised if the true "margin" ran to double figures.

I don't have an interest in selling machinery, but I have had a bit of retail experience... and I can tell you that a 10% discount could make a loss despite a 100% mark-up.

When margins are small retailers need volume to stay alive.

This thread really isn't about what "they" can afford though, it's about their dishonest and morally deceptive conduct, and we need to know who they are so we can take our business elsewhere, or pool our resources and post to this thread their monthly specials from all magazines!

Cheers,

P

OK OK OK You are right as usual but as you say they are still ripping people off and you cant tell me that $40 is the best they can do.

Ross

Originally Posted by Different

OK OK OK You are right as usual but as you say they are still ripping people off and you cant tell me that $40 is the best they can do.

Ross

No. I don't believe it's a rip off. Don't begrudge a company wanting to maximise their profits. Business is tough. Companies can ask as much as they like, I do. If I don't like the price, I'll shop around. If they don't make a profit, they won't be there to service or repair the thing they sold you.

Just don't lie and misslead. Act in an ethical manner. Otherwise, I, and may others will take their business elsewhere. We might even sic the dogs (ACCC, Office of Fair Trading, etc.) on them.

BTW. Are you still getting quotes from companies that are EX GST? Sure, we all know that we have o fork out 10% for GST, but according to the Trade Practices act, they must state the final price including GST, either as a GST inclusive price, or as an EX GST price + the amount in dollars of GST payable. Seems like the gov feels it's okay for us to add 2 numbers together, but we can't workout how much an extra 10% will make it cost.

Go figure.

I can't understand why so many people think that businesses should be giving away any profits just because we think they have room to move with their pricing. Remember that they are in business to make money which in turn employs some locals who in turn earn some money and spend it in the community. Why should they give you discount just because you are buying a machine from them? What would you say to your boss if he/she came to you and said I have someone else here that is willing to work for $100 per week less than you? I don't think that you would be offering to undercut that person would you? Yet you expect retailers to under cut each other just so you pay as little as possible for what you want. Gess what if everyone played that game and retailers participated we would soon be forced to buy via mail order or over the internet because there wouldn't be any real stores left in Australia. Before anyone askes or assumes. I am not a woodwork equipment retail, I am not even in the industry. I just know how hard it is to run a business and the stress it brings to the owners and their families. Remember these people have everything on the line just to serve us. My message is this. If you are not happy with the price, shop around if you find something you like at a price you like buy it if not go without. Leave the retailers alone to serve us best with pricing that makes them some money and keeps them in business to keep serving us for years to come.
I will hop off my shop box now, thankyou.
Vasco from Fremantle Western Australia

Vasco,

Well said mate, I couldn't have said it better. My old view....life is about choices...........you choose to buy what you want where you want and if the dealer's service stinks, his price is too high or the quality is poor....then excercise your right of choice...........go elsewhere. Whenever we sell an item we want top dollar for it but when we buy....the seller must almost pay us to take the item away. We want a top dollar wage but whenever we employ someone we want it as cheap as we can. In business I was always asked for a special deal, how about an extra bit of discount...meanwhile I have to pay full price for all my comodities, electricity, fuel, rates, taxes, clothes...no special deals for me. Come on guys get real, excercise your rights......if you don't like the deal, laugh it off and hunt for a better one. When you get your pay at the end of the week, will you spare a few bucks for your nice dealer....I think not., so can you expect him to give you what he thinks he is entitled to for his investment and effort.
Is it really wrong for the dealer to advertise an item at a special price to readers of one magazine and not offer it to everybody. I don't think so. The dealer pays for the advert and makes a decision that for the readers of XYZ magazine he is going to sell it for $x, he doesn't offer the item at said price for all and sundry. Therefor if you are not a reader of the magazine, it was not offered to you at the special price. The dealer has put a condition in the special price offer, i.e. if you read xyz magazine you get the discount, if you don't read it you don't get the discount. He has not offered you anything which he hasn't fulfilled. After all it is his property and he can decide who buys at what price. If you conform you get it, if not you don't. This sort of thing happens almost daily on TV........"the first 100 callers will get $100 discount". If you did not watch the program, how can you claim the discount?

Come on mate get real!

Have a good weekend guys!

Originally Posted by gatiep

Vasco,

Is it really wrong for the dealer to advertise an item at a special price to readers of one magazine and not offer it to everybody. I don't think so

It's wrong for the dealer to lie and misslead. Sure, advertise at as many different prices as they want. However, businesses that feel they have to lie an misslead customers in order to maximise their profits are in breach of the trade practrices act. It's illegal, and its unethical.

If I or you ask a dealer for a discount, all they need to do is say "No. That's the best we are prepared to offer you". Why lie and misslead?

Hmmm.....

Monoman,

have you considered that you are pi$$ed off because you didn't do your research to start with? I recently baught some machinery from a company in Melbourne, possibly the same one you are reffering to. I knew what the machines were selling at all locations before I aproached the sales staff. I did get a small discount but was also able to get a further discount (of sorts) by having other things thrown in, extra blades and other fittings. Did you ask about these?

Just because you didn't do your research (reading the magazine before) doesn't mean you were misled.

Vasco and Gatiep,

I am reminded of a seen in monty pythons life of Brian, "You gotta hagel". I'm not begrudging the dealer to get maximum return for his investment but the same consideration should be given to the consumer. After all the consumer works bloody hard for his/her money as well and shouldn't be expected to part with it without any question or maybe feel like they got something extra.

It should be a win-win situation, you may not be happy about people asking for that bit extra but if you give it you will have customers coming back and bringing their friends.

OK I'm going back to my coffee now,

Himzo.

Originally Posted by gatiep

Vasco,

Is it really wrong for the dealer to advertise an item at a special price to readers of one magazine and not offer it to everybody. I don't think so

It's wrong for the dealer to lie and misslead. Sure, advertise at as many different prices as they want. However, businesses that feel they have to lie an misslead customers in order to maximise their profits are in breach of the trade practrices act. It's illegal, and its unethical.

If I or you ask a dealer for a discount, all they need to do is say "No. That's the best we are prepared to offer you". Why lie and misslead?

Originally Posted by himzol

Hmmm.....

Monoman,

have you considered that you are pi$$ed off because you didn't do your research to start with?

Himzo.

What I've raised has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with researching prices, or discounts, or how much a company wishes to charge for their products, or how much margin they want. It has everything to do with ethical business behaviour, and more importantly, legal compliance.

As a customer, I expect, no demand, that I will be treated fairly and honestly, and in full compliance with the law.

I would much rather buy a product from a company which is ethical an honest, even if it means paying more.

Price reductions are interesting things.

I get a discount on my car hire because i'm registered with a (free) frequent flier program and I know the magic code to quote.

I used to get a discount on a particular brand of new cars because I had a relative who worked for the manufacturer and I had a little card that I could wave at the dealer.

In bunnings we can get a discount if we can prove that the price is matchable somewhere else.

In these cases the actual amount of discount is preset - its existence is advertised and I get it because I ask for it. Sometimes I haven't got the discount because I've forgot to ask and the firm offering the discount haven't prompted me or because I can't prove i'm entitled to the discount.

Sometimes I've got a discount even after I've been initially refused it because I've been able to prove that the product meets the advertised conditions ( had a disagreement with k-mart over a portable gas barbecue which they reckoned didn't qualify for 25% off all gas barbecues - I won but only after escalating it to the manager of the store).

It probably isn't fair that my car hire costs less than your car hire because I know the secret code. But its clear to everyone concerned WHY I'm getting the discount on the advertised price.

If the advert says "this is a special price for the readers of this magazine and is only available if you bring this advertisment to the store" then I don't see a problem. Advertising a product in a magazine at one price and pricing it at another price in the shop does however seem a little dodgy to me.

A business isn't obligated to haggle - which is what we're doing when we ask for the best price ... and we aren't obligated to buy from them if they don't want to haggle.