People give out info they're not supposed to give all the time. Seems plausible to me.That story doesn’t make sense. No airline is going to tell anybody anything without an airbill number.
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People give out info they're not supposed to give all the time. Seems plausible to me.That story doesn’t make sense. No airline is going to tell anybody anything without an airbill number.
I suppose that's possible, yeah.People give out info they're not supposed to give all the time. Seems plausible to me.
So, I recently asked a vendor (won't name names) where they sourced their fish from (which wholesaler, etc), and they declined to tell me. This is the first time I had asked a vendor this, and was wondering if it was typical for them to be secretive about this, or if this is a red flag.
To me, I don't think such transparency is too much to ask, but perhaps this is typical behavior that I'm just not used to? What have been your experiences?
Thanks for sharing your perspective. This is helpful to know.1: I used to work in a pet store, and some of their vendors were a hush hush topic. As crazy as it seems, there were two shops in town, and each shop accused the other of "spying", so naturally, there was some paranoia among the owners. They owners I worked for would have seen such a question as competitor activity on their own turf.
2: Almost weekly, out saltwater supplier would ask us "Do you know this person, or that person"? We usually did, and our sales rep would tell us that they had applied for an account as a new "aquarium maintenance" business. They were almost always new customers that had just started their own saltwater tanks, and just wanted to stock up on the cheap. That question may have made you appear as a person that wants advice and connections, but doesn't want to support the local business.
3: We were always happy to share some vendor info. For instance, we advertised ORA stuff. We would say, "Indo", or "Red Sea" as a matter of good practice. We even went as far as to specify local trade in, or locally raised - but never who the actual distributor was.
Yeah, that's a more extreme example, though. Asking for straight up numbers behind the store's back is totally not ok. I would never dream of asking for margins details or anything like that. To me, as someone not in the business, asking for a supplier's name seemed as innocent as asking what brand a particular dry good is. I have learned more intricacies of the situation through this thread, which has been helpful.I work in distribution of hard goods (lights, tanks, dry food, stands, ect) and some people are CRAZY with what they want to know.
I was helping a new account at their "open house" sale. Mainly just helping customers find what they need, and showing some sample filters I had and the differences between "good", "better", and "best" options I had.
Customers would almost demand to know what the store was paying for items. It was absolutely absurd to ask. People in business are there to make money, just like me, I'm in sales to make money. Do I sell stuff I like, sure, but I'm still working to sell it at the highest margin possible.
Most of my accounts mark up saltwater fish 2.0-2.5x what they paid for it. Some lower and some higher. Coral, I'm not sure of since prices are all over the place.
Live goods are where the margin is, most of the time. Dry goods are usually in the 20-50% margin range, with it really depending on brand and geographical location. Large bulky items are generally less margin than small items.
Yeah, that's a more extreme example, though. Asking for straight up numbers behind the store's back is totally not ok. I would never dream of asking for margins details or anything like that. To me, as someone not in the business, asking for a supplier's name seemed as innocent as asking what brand a particular dry good is. I have learned more intricacies of the situation through this thread, which has been helpful.
What’s crazy to me is the dry goods prices I see in Petco.I work in distribution of hard goods (lights, tanks, dry food, stands, ect) and some people are CRAZY with what they want to know.
I was helping a new account at their "open house" sale. Mainly just helping customers find what they need, and showing some sample filters I had and the differences between "good", "better", and "best" options I had.
Customers would almost demand to know what the store was paying for items. It was absolutely absurd to ask. People in business are there to make money, just like me, I'm in sales to make money. Do I sell stuff I like, sure, but I'm still working to sell it at the highest margin possible.
Most of my accounts mark up saltwater fish 2.0-2.5x what they paid for it. Some lower and some higher. Coral, I'm not sure of since prices are all over the place.
Live goods are where the margin is, most of the time. Dry goods are usually in the 20-50% margin range, with it really depending on brand and geographical location. Large bulky items are generally less margin than small items.
Some things have changed over the years in re: to getting a wholesale account. In some ways, it has gotten easier, due to there essentially just being more suppliers and the line between supplier and e-comm vendor being blurred.
There are some e-comm vendors and small wholesalers that probably don’t require more than just a resale license.
In other ways, it has gotten harder. The really good, and reputable, suppliers just about require a DNA profile and passing a polygraph to get an account these days. For example, ORA requires all licensure, trade references, invoices from other suppliers, and pictures of your store to give an account.
As far as people asking how much I make on livestock, I just say ‘pretty much the same as everybody else’.
I understand that markups tend to be extreme. They need to be in order to pay bills and taxes. Plus, if they want good employees, they have to provide them incentives to stay - such as health benefits and such (Which I know at least one of my LFS does). I have asked before just out of curiosity what the markup was. I have also told them that they have to make money too when they've given me discounts that I didn't think were appropriate. I think they realize I'm not going to take advantage of them and that I was asking sheerly out of curiosity.
Sure, the interpersonal relationship you have with them is a big factor.It depends on the retailer really, if I just walked into a store I wouldn't come out right away and ask what his markup is on a given product (and having worked in the industry I already have a good idea anyway) but if it's someone I have a good working/professional relationship with I may casually ask. Usually if this comes up it's out of curiosity and not from anyone that I may appear to be undercutting or in competition with. I was "talking shop" and getting into nostalgia with the owner of a local FW centered shop recently and casually asked a ballpark and he answered me without hesitation, but he has known me as a regular for years, and there were no customers present other than me at the time.
1: I used to work in a pet store, and some of their vendors were a hush hush topic. As crazy as it seems, there were two shops in town, and each shop accused the other of "spying", so naturally, there was some paranoia among the owners. They owners I worked for would have seen such a question as competitor activity on their own turf.
2: Almost weekly, out saltwater supplier would ask us "Do you know this person, or that person"? We usually did, and our sales rep would tell us that they had applied for an account as a new "aquarium maintenance" business. They were almost always new customers that had just started their own saltwater tanks, and just wanted to stock up on the cheap. That question may have made you appear as a person that wants advice and connections, but doesn't want to support the local business.
3: We were always happy to share some vendor info. For instance, we advertised ORA stuff. We would say, "Indo", or "Red Sea" as a matter of good practice. We even went as far as to specify local trade in, or locally raised - but never who the actual distributor was.
I had a similar experience at a frag swap recently. A vendor was selling a Chicago Sunburst anemone for current market value. I was interested and asked for proof of lineage/or explanation of lineage as I feel this is important for 'branded' livestock. The vendor refused and I walked. Caught me by surprise as most people selling legit high end items typically brag about the validity of the items lineage.
Why were you asking - curious?So, I recently asked a vendor (won't name names) where they sourced their fish from (which wholesaler, etc), and they declined to tell me. This is the first time I had asked a vendor this, and was wondering if it was typical for them to be secretive about this, or if this is a red flag.
To me, I don't think such transparency is too much to ask, but perhaps this is typical behavior that I'm just not used to? What have been your experiences?
I always slant an eyebrow about things like this. They likely get it from somewhere questionable, or somewhere that you could also order from if they react like this. All the successful shops I deal with have absolutely no problem stating sources, and often bring it up without asking- most places know the market is highly competitive and will be glad to let you know where things come from. Especially when it comes to aquacultured or locally bred stuff.