Rant and request

[gstk]

I know this is my first proper post after intro but I really have a rant that needs expelling. Two years ago we got an order in May for 2000 aluminium water bottles for a rail network. The deal was there to be signed but no supplies had any stock of the bottles. Consequently we lost the order - HOW FRUSTRATING IS THAT!!!!!! Also in June now no one has stock again until end of July. End of July is about end of the season realistically.

They don't go off. They don't rot. I have an order for 40 bottles this morning and I cant fullfill it. It makes me look a berk and more importantly its a sale that has slipped away. I have tried my list of suppliers and all say the same. If this was in July I could understand it.

Of course if anyone has 40 600 ml white bottles they want to sell at a reasonable cost I would be interested.

Rant over and I commend this to the house....

[Andrew]

It is one of the those products that often have limited supply. Not that popular on a whole and possibly slightly expensive for what it is. I love them and if I could get them a bit cheaper I could go through loads. Looks great when printed, especially the 750ml. The problem is that there are only a couple of main importers of these I believe in Europe so little control for the suppliers many of us deal with. When stock start to run low there are a couple of months needed to ship them and so on so guess they keep getting caught out.

[Kaz]

White or silver water bottles 500ml

http://www.hometogifts.co.uk/water_bottle.htm

600ml water bottles


http://www.thetransferpress.co.uk/acata ... ttles.html (http://www.thetransferpress.co.uk/acatalog/Water_bottles.html)

[gstk]

White or silver water bottles 500ml

http://www.hometogifts.co.uk/water_bottle.htm

600ml water bottles


http://www.thetransferpress.co.uk/acata ... ttles.html (http://www.thetransferpress.co.uk/acatalog/Water_bottles.html)

They all have them on the websites but none for sale when you call - another annoying aspect!!

Thanks

[gstk]

actually just spoken to one and theres a slim chance! so many thanks ;0)

I love forums

[Kaz]

What about these guys?

http://www.listawoodtradesupplies.co.uk ... section=54 (http://www.listawoodtradesupplies.co.uk/products.php?category=2&section=54)

[gstk]

What about these guys?

http://www.listawoodtradesupplies.co.uk ... section=54 (http://www.listawoodtradesupplies.co.uk/products.php?category=2&section=54)
Listawood - no

Thanks

[John G]

If there's always going to be a problem with supply just don't offer them. Far rather not sell them at all, than offer them, then look daft by not being able to fulfill the order. IMO - Cut the line and look for something else to market.

Cheers John

[gstk]

@John

I hear what you say but if you applied that to everything you'd never sell anything and the world would be boring. We steadily sell them during the year but it just seems crazy that at the time when they really are a likely to sell no one has any. I have just made a note for next year to buy more in in the spring.

And also may I recommend Graham @ Transferpress who has managed to get me some from Europe for next Wednesday/Thursday and at a great price. So problem solved POWER TO THE FORUM and thanks for all the input.

[John G]

Hi Tony, Glad you got sorted - I had a similar problem a few years ago when I had a good selling line but had major problems with stock. Sourced the stock from another country, they supplied then let me down on the next order. Same happened to the next supplier and then the next - in the end I was spending that much time tracing stock I wasn't getting any printing done. Had to cut the line as it just wasn't worth it.

Now when I offer anything printed I make sure I either hold the stocks or can get hold of the stocks, next day, without hassle.

Cheers John

[jennywren]

glad your sorted, what I tend to do is stockpile, haveing once lost a good order due to no supplies. lesson learnt, I know its dead stock just wait but not as much of the stress of not having it, I keep large stock levels and some of it has sat there for a few months, but it will all be used up, the only advantage is that when price rises occur and then will do soon due to the change in china labour force prices will rises it, will save a bit.

[gstk]

Just an update to this...

Grahame @ the transfer press managed to get me the two boxes of drinks bottles from Europe and they arrived this morning a day earlier than he thought!!! Top marks and highly recommended!!

[jennywren]

I think what we have to remember is that the suppliers also now in this climate can not hold as much as they would like, all suppliers are holding less stock, all my suppliers ( Not sub dye)ie gifts clothing ect have a min spend before you can order £250 is the basic, some of the bigger suppliers want £500. But even they have dropped their min spend to £300. So when the sub dye suppliers let you have one or two of everything without a min spend we are very lucky, plus they send free samples. So we have to spare a kind thought to the suppliers when they don't have everything to hand beccause with out a min spend they can't plan their stock levels when orders are low. They don't even ask for trade references, that really sursprised me, because all the other wholesales do, so we have alot to be thankful.

[gstk]

I think what we have to remember is that the suppliers also now in this climate can not hold as much as they would like, all suppliers are holding less stock, all my suppliers ( Not sub dye)ie gifts clothing ect have a min spend before you can order £250 is the basic, some of the bigger suppliers want £500. But even they have dropped their min spend to £300. So when the sub dye suppliers let you have one or two of everything without a min spend we are very lucky, plus they send free samples. So we have to spare a kind thought to the suppliers when they don't have everything to hand beccause with out a min spend they can't plan their stock levels when orders are low. They don't even ask for trade references, that really sursprised me, because all the other wholesales do, so we have alot to be thankful.

I agree on part but then if you are a supplier you are a supplier. The minimum spend idea is a way of making people not buy too small amounts but remember the wholesaler makes a bigger margin on lesser volumes. In this climate you have to duck and dive everywhere and however you can. I must be ugly as I have never managed to get a free sample I don't think.

As for trade references, most suppliers don't give out accounts so why worry about trade references when you are paying up front. Dont even get me started with account facilities and the sole trader versus Limited company as that would get me ranting even more. (perhaps I have anger management issues ;0) )

[John G]

I buy certain stuff from litho supplies and they have just introduced a min spend, for free delivery, of £250 - under that there is a £25 delivery charge :shock: Looks like i'll be looking elsewhere then. :evil: