What's going to be interesting is the future. I think with E-tailing if price is the bottom line to the consumer, it's going to come down to shipping costs (all other things being somewhat equal) as all those getting product legitimately will be selling on minimal margins in order to be competitive with other E-tail-ers. Thus at the end of the day, whomever has the cheapest shipping to the customer, will likely win the day (on good sized orders anyway). This will then force consumers to possibly do their E-tailing locally due to shipping charges being the major difference in cost. And with E-tailing, store fronts for mom and pop shops (maybe even bigger stuff too.... who knows) and the overhead necessary to maintain such may be go bye-bye. Isn't this somewhat already happening. There seem to be less and less shops available. And then we'll start seeing bookings for custom work run out of some guy's basement and a cube van that comes to your house or place of work to do the actual work/install !!! Kinda like Home Renovations....... setup on your lawn...... fibreglass/mdf/aluminum/plastic/etc dust flying everywhere. Sweeeeeeeeet.

My concern for my business is manufacturers going direct to dealers or even consumer sales. Will we see manufacturers going direct to this and cutting out distributors completely? Is the distributor really adding value enough that we can be sustained in the future as a viable part of the business chain or we just another anchour to be abandoned in the streamlining process ????


Lastly, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I also believe just because someone is not doing exactly what I'm doing, they still may have valuable insight from a perspective I don't have. So let's keep this cool and under control. I think it's one of the better threads in a long while.

BTW Rob, you type a lot of stuff. Shouldn't you be working or something !?!?!?!?? (just kidding)

[ July 20, 2005, 10:11 AM: Message edited by: dawgsbreakfast ]

 

And with so many of them (Mitek and RF plus more) having a online store and a ebay store, your concerns might not be far off. While all the product is "b" stock and or refurbs...........it wouldn't take much more to increase the price a bit and sell it for "cost"...........they still make the same money and there is less overhead.....................both the RF and Mitek online eBay stores are not titled as such but everyone knows it's them.....................

Race to zero................just another way to get to it...............

 

Paul, again your point of view is noted and listened to as I have said all along, however it is not how I nor others choose to run our businesses. The original question had nothing to do with the inner workings of my store at all, you have spun your ideals of how to run a business into how you expect me to run mine. I disagree with your opinion and fully understand that you are entitled to it as well, however, I believe that I own a great business that does quite well and will continue to do great business in the future based on how I choose to dictate the path it takes.

 

Not to mention if you want to get product lines it's almost impossible...............everyone I have talked to and am dealing with or thought of dealing with all asked if I had a retail store, home garage or was internet based...............it's a big deal..................