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| | | Author: | Apocalypse  | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 01:14 | | Subject: | Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 145 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| The thread SDF_Bricks started “Buyers asking for a discount” (https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1385426)
got me wondering (enough to stop lurking,) sellers what do you consider a “large
order”?
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
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| | | | | Author: | maxx3001 | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 02:49 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, Apocalypse writes:
A large order is an order that has enough room to give a discount.
So you buy certain parts for €100, I have room to give you some discount or maybe
free shipping.
But you buy a €500 set from me that I paid €475 on, I don’t have any wiggle room
to give you a discount.
Hope that helps?
| |
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
|
See above.
| |
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
|
I am more inclined to discount a lot if you have an order with me or are a regular
buyer.
| |
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
|
No, as a seller, I sometimes have added a lot a long time ago and prices change.
So if you have a €1000 order with me (see above) I certainly will offer the extra
part at a discount.
I might even put them in for free depending if my wiggle room allows for it.
| |
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
|
Different countries have different thoughts about haggling, in some countries
it is the norm and expected.
In other countries you almost insult the seller.
In Dutch the saying is, nee heb je, ja kun je krijgen.
(if you do not ask, the answer is always no, but if you ask it might be yes)
| |
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
|
How much did I pay for said part versus what can I sell it for.
This is the final measurement for me to say yes or no to your question.
| | This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
|
I hope my answers have helped you a little bit in understanding why or why not
I would/could give a buyer a discount.
Happy shopping 
Maxx
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| | | | | | | Author: | Apocalypse | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 11:42 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| This is absolutely helpful. It makes sense on all counts.
I’m still a bit unsure about if/when I should message. My main concern is being
respectful of people’s income (whether they are hobbyist or a big business,)
they aren’t doing this to give away Lego. Well, if anyone does want to give away
Lego I’m sure you’ll have folks lined up for blocks as the joke goes. ;P
What I’ve learned from your post is, at least when shopping at Dutch sellers,
a polite request is probably the best option.
In General, maxx3001 writes:
| | In General, Apocalypse writes:
A large order is an order that has enough room to give a discount.
So you buy certain parts for €100, I have room to give you some discount or maybe
free shipping.
But you buy a €500 set from me that I paid €475 on, I don’t have any wiggle room
to give you a discount.
Hope that helps?
| |
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
|
See above.
| |
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
|
I am more inclined to discount a lot if you have an order with me or are a regular
buyer.
| |
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
|
No, as a seller, I sometimes have added a lot a long time ago and prices change.
So if you have a €1000 order with me (see above) I certainly will offer the extra
part at a discount.
I might even put them in for free depending if my wiggle room allows for it.
| |
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
|
Different countries have different thoughts about haggling, in some countries
it is the norm and expected.
In other countries you almost insult the seller.
In Dutch the saying is, nee heb je, ja kun je krijgen.
(if you do not ask, the answer is always no, but if you ask it might be yes)
| |
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
|
How much did I pay for said part versus what can I sell it for.
This is the final measurement for me to say yes or no to your question.
| | This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
|
I hope my answers have helped you a little bit in understanding why or why not
I would/could give a buyer a discount.
Happy shopping
Maxx
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| | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 04:11 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| | | worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
|
I would imagine it depends on how many of the part costing 3c over someone else
you want to order and what the base price is. If it is 10 or 100, fine. But if
it is a 4c part that is selling incredibly well to other buyers and you want
100000 of them at 75% discount, probably not. Especially if the 1c seller only
has one of them.
If someone is asking for a specific discount, they should be clear with the seller
about how much they are wanting to order. In this case they would as you want
the lot but for a hypothetical question it is hard to say.
|
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| | | | | | | Author: | Apocalypse | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 11:53 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 29 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| Excellent point and you articulated my thoughts/concerns better than I did. It
is a mathematics question at the end of the day. My question stems from not knowing
some of those variables (e.g. it can be difficult to know how long a lot has
sat in inventory) that has me wondering.
To use a more real example :
I was looking at a store and had already built a cart for ~$500. I wanted to
additionally buy 10,000 of a part they had but their price was $0.10 per part
whereas a few other stores had the same part (same condition) in the same quantities
for as low as $0.05. I wouldn’t dare ask someone for a 50% discount on a part,
but if they could e.g. get closer to $0.07 then I could make it work. I would
then complete the order at $1200 total. Without a discount it would be $1500
total. I can imagine scenarios where this would be insulting/unfair to a seller,
but also scenarios where perhaps a a seller would rather have the $1200 than
for me to “walk away”
Any reasonable person would say, surely you can just go buy the 10,000 parts
from the seller with them at $0.05 and save even more, which is true, but in
this scenario I would then have to go to 5 or 10 other stores to find the same
set of parts that perhaps that one store had.
I realize this is the game one has to play when buying on Bricklink (honestly,
I think it is a pretty fun game to play.)
In General, yorbrick writes:
| | | | worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
|
I would imagine it depends on how many of the part costing 3c over someone else
you want to order and what the base price is. If it is 10 or 100, fine. But if
it is a 4c part that is selling incredibly well to other buyers and you want
100000 of them at 75% discount, probably not. Especially if the 1c seller only
has one of them.
If someone is asking for a specific discount, they should be clear with the seller
about how much they are wanting to order. In this case they would as you want
the lot but for a hypothetical question it is hard to say.
|
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | Hal8472 | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 20:46 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| I actually don’t understand. Why not but the parts from the vendor you want,
less that one item? It’s two shipments instead of one but shipping cost wouldn’t
be a significant factor. Then go to the several five cent vendors and ask who
would be willing to take the order at one cent less. Not sure why you would
walk away from the one vender who was everything else you want.
General, Apocalypse writes:
| | Excellent point and you articulated my thoughts/concerns better than I did. It
is a mathematics question at the end of the day. My question stems from not knowing
some of those variables (e.g. it can be difficult to know how long a lot has
sat in inventory) that has me wondering.
To use a more real example :
I was looking at a store and had already built a cart for ~$500. I wanted to
additionally buy 10,000 of a part they had but their price was $0.10 per part
whereas a few other stores had the same part (same condition) in the same quantities
for as low as $0.05. I wouldn’t dare ask someone for a 50% discount on a part,
but if they could e.g. get closer to $0.07 then I could make it work. I would
then complete the order at $1200 total. Without a discount it would be $1500
total. I can imagine scenarios where this would be insulting/unfair to a seller,
but also scenarios where perhaps a a seller would rather have the $1200 than
for me to “walk away”
Any reasonable person would say, surely you can just go buy the 10,000 parts
from the seller with them at $0.05 and save even more, which is true, but in
this scenario I would then have to go to 5 or 10 other stores to find the same
set of parts that perhaps that one store had.
I realize this is the game one has to play when buying on Bricklink (honestly,
I think it is a pretty fun game to play.)
In General, yorbrick writes:
| | | | worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
|
I would imagine it depends on how many of the part costing 3c over someone else
you want to order and what the base price is. If it is 10 or 100, fine. But if
it is a 4c part that is selling incredibly well to other buyers and you want
100000 of them at 75% discount, probably not. Especially if the 1c seller only
has one of them.
If someone is asking for a specific discount, they should be clear with the seller
about how much they are wanting to order. In this case they would as you want
the lot but for a hypothetical question it is hard to say.
|
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Apocalypse | | Posted: | Jan 8, 2023 01:36 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| You’re right, it can make sense to just buy the parts less that one item and
then buy the remaining item elsewhere at a lower price.
Using my contrived example from before, I could place that $500 order and then
go somewhere else and buy the 10K parts at $0.05 and pay another $500. The cumulative
total across 2 orders is $1000. I probably haven’t been careful enough in constructing
this example and so I’ve not talked much about all the additional fees (e.g.
shipping PayPal, etc,) but I can say in real cases the numbers work out such
that if I could spend $1200 with one seller that is preferable to spending (let’s
say) $1000 with 2 sellers.
Your point stands though, it can make sense to just buy the lowest cost parts
combination across sellers, and not worry about discounts.
In General, Hal8472 writes:
| | I actually don’t understand. Why not but the parts from the vendor you want,
less that one item? It’s two shipments instead of one but shipping cost wouldn’t
be a significant factor. Then go to the several five cent vendors and ask who
would be willing to take the order at one cent less. Not sure why you would
walk away from the one vender who was everything else you want.
General, Apocalypse writes:
| | Excellent point and you articulated my thoughts/concerns better than I did. It
is a mathematics question at the end of the day. My question stems from not knowing
some of those variables (e.g. it can be difficult to know how long a lot has
sat in inventory) that has me wondering.
To use a more real example :
I was looking at a store and had already built a cart for ~$500. I wanted to
additionally buy 10,000 of a part they had but their price was $0.10 per part
whereas a few other stores had the same part (same condition) in the same quantities
for as low as $0.05. I wouldn’t dare ask someone for a 50% discount on a part,
but if they could e.g. get closer to $0.07 then I could make it work. I would
then complete the order at $1200 total. Without a discount it would be $1500
total. I can imagine scenarios where this would be insulting/unfair to a seller,
but also scenarios where perhaps a a seller would rather have the $1200 than
for me to “walk away”
Any reasonable person would say, surely you can just go buy the 10,000 parts
from the seller with them at $0.05 and save even more, which is true, but in
this scenario I would then have to go to 5 or 10 other stores to find the same
set of parts that perhaps that one store had.
I realize this is the game one has to play when buying on Bricklink (honestly,
I think it is a pretty fun game to play.)
In General, yorbrick writes:
| | | | worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
|
I would imagine it depends on how many of the part costing 3c over someone else
you want to order and what the base price is. If it is 10 or 100, fine. But if
it is a 4c part that is selling incredibly well to other buyers and you want
100000 of them at 75% discount, probably not. Especially if the 1c seller only
has one of them.
If someone is asking for a specific discount, they should be clear with the seller
about how much they are wanting to order. In this case they would as you want
the lot but for a hypothetical question it is hard to say.
|
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Jan 8, 2023 08:32 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 36 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| In General, Apocalypse writes:
| | Excellent point and you articulated my thoughts/concerns better than I did. It
is a mathematics question at the end of the day. My question stems from not knowing
some of those variables (e.g. it can be difficult to know how long a lot has
sat in inventory) that has me wondering.
To use a more real example :
I was looking at a store and had already built a cart for ~$500. I wanted to
additionally buy 10,000 of a part they had but their price was $0.10 per part
whereas a few other stores had the same part (same condition) in the same quantities
for as low as $0.05. I wouldn’t dare ask someone for a 50% discount on a part,
but if they could e.g. get closer to $0.07 then I could make it work. I would
then complete the order at $1200 total. Without a discount it would be $1500
total. I can imagine scenarios where this would be insulting/unfair to a seller,
but also scenarios where perhaps a a seller would rather have the $1200 than
for me to “walk away”
Any reasonable person would say, surely you can just go buy the 10,000 parts
from the seller with them at $0.05 and save even more, which is true, but in
this scenario I would then have to go to 5 or 10 other stores to find the same
set of parts that perhaps that one store had.
|
This is why bigger stores with both breadth and depth can get away for charging
more for parts wanted in bulk. If those sellers charging $0.05 had the volume,
you are better off buying there. But chances are the $0.10 seller knows that
he doesn't need to price match cheap store selling a handful of parts.
The seller will know how well those parts are selling. If they are selling well,
I doubt they would give a $300 discount on a $1500 order.
Personally, when I am shopping, I aim to first find the cheapest seller for the
most expensive part times qty needed before seeing what else they have.
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | Apocalypse | | Posted: | Jan 8, 2023 12:37 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| Ya, that makes absolute sense. I wouldn’t question it, except that I see sometimes
vague mentions of discounts, or statements alluding to “if I had known that doing
XYZ would have facilitated the sale…” even from relatively large sellers.
It’s really this ambiguous area I’ve been wondering about. But your’s and the
other helpful comments here have given me a better sense of things.
In General, yorbrick writes:
| | In General, Apocalypse writes:
| | Excellent point and you articulated my thoughts/concerns better than I did. It
is a mathematics question at the end of the day. My question stems from not knowing
some of those variables (e.g. it can be difficult to know how long a lot has
sat in inventory) that has me wondering.
To use a more real example :
I was looking at a store and had already built a cart for ~$500. I wanted to
additionally buy 10,000 of a part they had but their price was $0.10 per part
whereas a few other stores had the same part (same condition) in the same quantities
for as low as $0.05. I wouldn’t dare ask someone for a 50% discount on a part,
but if they could e.g. get closer to $0.07 then I could make it work. I would
then complete the order at $1200 total. Without a discount it would be $1500
total. I can imagine scenarios where this would be insulting/unfair to a seller,
but also scenarios where perhaps a a seller would rather have the $1200 than
for me to “walk away”
Any reasonable person would say, surely you can just go buy the 10,000 parts
from the seller with them at $0.05 and save even more, which is true, but in
this scenario I would then have to go to 5 or 10 other stores to find the same
set of parts that perhaps that one store had.
|
This is why bigger stores with both breadth and depth can get away for charging
more for parts wanted in bulk. If those sellers charging $0.05 had the volume,
you are better off buying there. But chances are the $0.10 seller knows that
he doesn't need to price match cheap store selling a handful of parts.
The seller will know how well those parts are selling. If they are selling well,
I doubt they would give a $300 discount on a $1500 order.
Personally, when I am shopping, I aim to first find the cheapest seller for the
most expensive part times qty needed before seeing what else they have.
|
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| | | | | Author: | infinibrix | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 06:13 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| In General, Apocalypse writes:
| | The thread SDF_Bricks started “Buyers asking for a discount” (https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1385426)
got me wondering (enough to stop lurking,) sellers what do you consider a “large
order”?
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
|
There is no harm in asking after all what's the worst that can happen apart
from being told No!
If the seller takes offence or ignores you then they're probably not worth
dealing with in the first place but if you want to avoid this situation in the
first place just consider what you feel is a reasonable request and you can't
go far wrong!
Offering to buy 100x of a £1 part is likely to be deemed a worthy discount request
even if the seller chooses not to accept it, on the same token looking for a
discount for buying 100x of a 5p part is likely to make you look like a bit of
a penny pincher/time waster!
If your looking to spend £100 or more on parts its probably well worth asking
the question whereas if your placing a routine £10-20 order it would be better
not to ask!
Either way if you'd rather not suggest a discount proposal yourself maybe
put it back to the seller by simply asking them if they offer discounts on large
orders and if so how much would you need to spend?
That way it would be hard to offend any seller because it will be they themselves
setting the bar as to what they feel warrants a discount be that spending £20,
£50, £100, £1000 etc etc...
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| | | | | | | Author: | Apocalypse | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 11:57 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | General | |
|
| Thank you for the concrete rubric. I realize every seller will be different,
but the £100 threshold makes sense.
I really like your solution:
| | | | asking them if they offer discounts on large
orders and if so how much would you need to spend?
|
|
In General, infinibrix writes:
| | In General, Apocalypse writes:
| | The thread SDF_Bricks started “Buyers asking for a discount” (https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1385426)
got me wondering (enough to stop lurking,) sellers what do you consider a “large
order”?
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
|
There is no harm in asking after all what's the worst that can happen apart
from being told No!
If the seller takes offence or ignores you then they're probably not worth
dealing with in the first place but if you want to avoid this situation in the
first place just consider what you feel is a reasonable request and you can't
go far wrong!
Offering to buy 100x of a £1 part is likely to be deemed a worthy discount request
even if the seller chooses not to accept it, on the same token looking for a
discount for buying 100x of a 5p part is likely to make you look like a bit of
a penny pincher/time waster!
If your looking to spend £100 or more on parts its probably well worth asking
the question whereas if your placing a routine £10-20 order it would be better
not to ask!
Either way if you'd rather not suggest a discount proposal yourself maybe
put it back to the seller by simply asking them if they offer discounts on large
orders and if so how much would you need to spend?
That way it would be hard to offend any seller because it will be they themselves
setting the bar as to what they feel warrants a discount be that spending £20,
£50, £100, £1000 etc etc...
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| | | | | Author: | rab1234 | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 09:29 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| I never give discounts. If a buyer calls out something that's priced too
high for some reason, I'll probably lower it, but in general, I price things
to sell within 3-6 months anyway, so if the current buyer doesn't get it,
someone else will. I've literally had someone ask for a discount on a set
and, after politely saying no, it sold the same day to a different buyer at the
original price.
While not universal, I'd say most sellers have their items priced at a number
where they're happy for the frequency of sales and profit that comes from
that price, so there's not much incentive to discount it on someone else's
timetable.
In General, Apocalypse writes:
| | The thread SDF_Bricks started “Buyers asking for a discount” (https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1385426)
got me wondering (enough to stop lurking,) sellers what do you consider a “large
order”?
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
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| | | | | | | Author: | Apocalypse | | Posted: | Jan 7, 2023 12:05 | | Subject: | Re: Discount Discussion | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| This makes sense to me.
I don’t think I said it well in my original message but my questions really only
make sense in cases where a seller hasn’t stated one way or the other if they
are open to discounts.
Your reply makes me think perhaps the best option is to “err on the side of caution”
and not ask if the seller(‘s terms) don’t indicate any openness to discounts.
In General, rab1234 writes:
| | I never give discounts. If a buyer calls out something that's priced too
high for some reason, I'll probably lower it, but in general, I price things
to sell within 3-6 months anyway, so if the current buyer doesn't get it,
someone else will. I've literally had someone ask for a discount on a set
and, after politely saying no, it sold the same day to a different buyer at the
original price.
While not universal, I'd say most sellers have their items priced at a number
where they're happy for the frequency of sales and profit that comes from
that price, so there's not much incentive to discount it on someone else's
timetable.
In General, Apocalypse writes:
| | The thread SDF_Bricks started “Buyers asking for a discount” (https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1385426)
got me wondering (enough to stop lurking,) sellers what do you consider a “large
order”?
I’ve seen in some store terms, in various forum posts generally, and in the aforementioned
post in particular, that some sellers are open to offering discounts when e.g.
a buyer is buying a large quantity, if the buyer is buying entire lots, or over
some monetary threshold.
I am particularly intrigued by comments that some sellers would consider offering
a discount in the event that a buyer would otherwise walk away from a store because
one lot is not cost-competitive where others might be. I find myself in that
situation somewhat frequently, where I want to buy (or buy more) from a store,
but because one lot is not cost-competitive I don’t proceed with that store.
But what is rarely clear to me is what those thresholds are. I suppose I should
just message sellers that mention this but I am always afraid this will be insulting
to the seller. I hope to be respectful to the many great sellers here. I am especially
worried that such messages could seem like extortion and disrespectful even if
worded carefully: “I want to buy $1000 dollars worth of parts from you, including
buying all of your part XYZ. Your part XYZ is $0.03 more than what I am seeing
available in the market…” maybe I just don’t know how to word such messages.
I imagine a seller getting such a message would say “then go buy somewhere else…”
and stoplist me.
On the other hand I have bought what I feel are large quantities from really
great and fair sellers and I wouldn’t feel right asking for a discount as I think
they are already offering fair prices and I want to fairly value their costs
and efforts. In the cases where I feel the price is fine, the choice to buy is
obvious (and I have done so,) but I am wondering about the other cases.
I realize there are many factors that might play into what a store considered
a large order:
Type of store (parts-focused, sets-focused, mix)
Size of store
Length in business
Time of year
Location
This is of course a non-exhaustive list.
Apologies for a rambling message but I suppose I’m hoping for more discussion.
Thanks for reading and considering my questions/thoughts.
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USA, Idaho
Netherlands, Utrecht
United Kingdom, England
Canada, Ontario
