[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Doug @ 12 Nov 2006, 00:48) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>When will the UK shops realise that people are buying the same products they sell overseas? If they dropped their prices by only a couple of pounds, they would gain a whole lot more customers.

I'm just waiting for a JadlamRacing for DCC.

If only,

A retailer (model railway) works on a margin of 25% - still potential customes say the price is too high compared to L****** for example. Even if he drops his margin to 20 or even 15% he is still often higher priced.

I suspect that as regards wholesale prices the palying field is not level.

best regards
Brian

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Mark Thornton @ 12 Nov 2006, 11:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Why should it be? It seems reasonable for a manufacturer to give a discount for quantity.

OK - time to "break cover". I am a retailer, now I know for an absolute fact what the trade prices of (for example) 3 major european manufacturers & what additional discounts are available for stocking this, stocking that, attending this course, attending that course & so on. I am also aware of the maximum discount available when you hit the maximum sales figures required.

On this basis, some of the margins have just got to be 5% or less, so the big just get bigger & the small just about survive & eventually dissapear.

All the time people want the absolute minimum price, even down to 1% differance it will drive more local models shops into demise (see the thread I started earlier regarding this subject). Mail order/internet sales are all very well, but when you have to wait a couple of days or so to get those fishplate/joiners to finish part of your project because your local shop is long gone................

best regards
Brian