Wholesale Question, please help!

[Former_Member]

Got a request for 50 skeleton keys all different colors.

$3.75 each

What is a decent discount?

[BizzieLizzie]

For an order of 50 - I do 50% off. Your price point is so low though - I'm not sure that will help you.

[Former_Member]

Exactly.They keys were purchased wholesale at $.38 each with nothing done to them. They have to be scrubbed clean, apply patina, buffed and then sealed.

The money is in time,purchase of the keys, sealer and patina solution.

[BizzieLizzie]

That's a lotta work, Earz! Make sure it's worth your while. Do you think she'll be a repeat customer?

[Former_Member]

I don't know. I have had several ask about wholesale and after I say 30% off, they never purchase.

It is a lot of work, as not really many people would know that. If I do them all at once, it might be worth it. Maybe. When I do them in batches, it's less time consuming because I just do it like an assembly line. If it is the same item and color. Not so bad.

[IslandGirlPottery]

You don't have to discount 50 % at all. Just do what is comfortable to you. I only offer 20 percent off wholesale. My prices, like yours are low as it is, if people who inquire don't like it I don't care. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I even let them know about it being more of a time thing rather than supplies.

[Former_Member]

dang islandgirl..........you have a lot of sales!

I want wholesale really bad, but not when it doesn't profit me hardly anything.

[IslandGirlPottery]

thanks and back at you.

You shop is beautiful BTW. Your photo skills are amazing as is your work. Amen to making a profit. It doesn't make sense to do wholesale otherwise.

[Former_Member]

Make sure you tell what all is involved in the process and then give a discount that you feel is fair to both of you. If she doesn't think it enough of a discount than sorry about her luck.

[Former_Member]

Just think if it's not worth your while percentage wise then don't worry about losing the sale. Like island said, do what ever is right for you. :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks all.
Thanks Island!

I tell them the discount percentage first and then the process. Should I switch it around?

[BizzieLizzie]

Absolutely, Earz - switch it around!

I pick and choose wholesale AND do a sliding scale. I only offer zippered pouches - any size, key fobs and tissue covers. No bags and def no wallets! I'd lose out the ying yang! AND probably hate it!

[Former_Member]

You should consider who the customer is as well. A bride looking for deals on favors shouldn't get the same discount as someone who plans on using them for resale and maybe repurchasing. 50% sounds like a lot though. I think 30% sounded better. Hope you get it all figured out!

[Former_Member]

Honestly I think 30% is right on the mark for what you have to go through, and you would be able to do them in batches which would help you. At the end of the day the sale isn't worth making if you don't come out of it feeling satisfied with it.

[Former_Member]

Earz - no advice for you, but I love your shop! Hearted it :)

[SavoyFaire]

Are they a store or a customer? Customers will think 30% is fine while a store may want 40%.

[PosyPop]

Just out of curiosity, do you make your non-wholesale items in batches already? Or are they nade to order?

[Former_Member]

I thought this was dead and decided to check on it. Sorry for my later response.

When I start running low on one particular charm or pendant and someone buys one or a few, I just go ahead and make extras just in case I get another order.

The person that inquired did not mention what they were doing with them.

[Former_Member]

Depends on what I am selling and how much work goes into it. For 50 of them I knock 40 or at least 35% off. That just me though. But I find it much easier to to make bulk then one at a time.

[Former_Member]

when you talk about the work that goes into it...

thats also not enough of an order to really get a big discount. lets say you shop at a major "wholesale" bead shop, for example. if you buy 18 items you get i think a 10% discount. then you get 20% at 50 items, then 30% at 200.

never do they go past that 30% mark. after that point if you want more you have to buy in bulk from the manufacturer. and while you arent EXACTLY the manufacturer, your supplies would qualify as hand altered so you should bulk charge as if you were a manufacturer. i would say if they wanted 200 you could give them 30% lol.

supplies are not THAT negotiable.

[Former_Member]

thats also not enough of an order to really get a big discount. lets say you shop at a major "wholesale" bead shop, for example. if you buy 18 items you get i think a 10% discount. then you get 20% at 50 items, then 30% at 200.
__________________

Yes i so agree, i never knew why people want to do 50% off, when i'm shopping at big bead stores it's never that much off. So why should u give that much off, your not as big as they are.

[Former_Member]

I offer 25% wholesale, see if you can do that?

[Former_Member]

Okay, so I did offer 30% off the 40 keys. I am at $105 before shipping now and customer wants priority International which is $30 apparently. Customer said yes and to proceed.

So I guess all is well. I can make at least 10 together, four times.

[Former_Member]

Congrats on your wholesale order -- glad everything worked out!