Once we have produced the parts and those in the group have recieved what they need for their own personal use, who would be willing to buy the remaining inventory for sale to other 55 owners?
Potential buying vendors
- Thread starter Trollhole
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Marshall, that really depends on the cost of the parts vs. the potential markup a vendor would be able to have and the amount of expected sales.
Folks need to remember that people like Marv at Spector Off Road NEED a good 50% or more markup just to stay in business. Marv and I talked briefly this past summer about the stock from PV Cruisers. He would have bought it but the amount that Seth wanted/needed made it so that he would be unable to have a sufficient markup. Remember these folks are laying out cash for the inventory that they need to pay interest on, buildings to store it in, salaries for the folks working there etc. etc.
The parts sales will need to be kept in the group and for sales outside the group we need to have folks patronize those vendors. If we do not do that, the vendors are not going to be too eager to buy our excess and then try to flog it for 50 - 100% more than we were offering. It would only serve to reinforce the notion that parts vendors are in for a "quick buck" something that they will NOT appreciate.
I think this is going to have to be a cardinal rule in this group. Prices and parts offerings are for group members ONLY!! Outsiders MUST buy from the vendors who buy our excess at whatever price those vendors decide they need to survive. To do otherwise will quickly cut off vendors from buying our excess, force us to smaller runs and potentially make parts reproductions uneconomically expensive due to those small runs.
Folks need to remember that people like Marv at Spector Off Road NEED a good 50% or more markup just to stay in business. Marv and I talked briefly this past summer about the stock from PV Cruisers. He would have bought it but the amount that Seth wanted/needed made it so that he would be unable to have a sufficient markup. Remember these folks are laying out cash for the inventory that they need to pay interest on, buildings to store it in, salaries for the folks working there etc. etc.
The parts sales will need to be kept in the group and for sales outside the group we need to have folks patronize those vendors. If we do not do that, the vendors are not going to be too eager to buy our excess and then try to flog it for 50 - 100% more than we were offering. It would only serve to reinforce the notion that parts vendors are in for a "quick buck" something that they will NOT appreciate.
I think this is going to have to be a cardinal rule in this group. Prices and parts offerings are for group members ONLY!! Outsiders MUST buy from the vendors who buy our excess at whatever price those vendors decide they need to survive. To do otherwise will quickly cut off vendors from buying our excess, force us to smaller runs and potentially make parts reproductions uneconomically expensive due to those small runs.
If we are stuck holding onto a bunch of parts that no vendor wants to buy we could sell the excess here on MUD and through a simple Web site and sink the money back into the collective toward the next part.
- Thread starter
- #4
I think the best thing is to figure out what we want. Then figure out how much it would cost for us to have it produced just for us or how much the min. would cost. Then contact vendors and see who wants to buy and how many. That way vendors have the ability to commit to a certain quantity. We would know up front if anyone was buying any. The deal is to give vendors a heck of a price. We have to look at this not as a money making venture but a way for us to cover costs and contribute a little bit to the pot for the next part. I say be up front with vendors with what our costs are and then let them decide what to pay us. You could also do exlusivity to one vendor for a part. That way they don't think everyone is trying to sell the same thing.
would a vendor be less likely to commit knowing that the hardcore "pigheads" already got their part thru the PPG?
Or is there truly a market for a substantial investment?
Or is there truly a market for a substantial investment?
This will certainly affect the decision of a potential vendor but I have made parts for '55's and some folks were asking long after the fact. I'd propose we make the part and PPG members would have a couple of weeks to "buy in" before the excess was shipped off.
To me it needs to be "You snooze, you lose!" That way the vendor knows that once the parts are in his hands, he's the sole supplier.
i agree with the time limit on purchasing. one thing to point out to the vendors is that, while it seems the opposite, a small percentage of cruiser owners are on this forum. there is still a large potential market. the fact that the 55 is a unique and rare vehicle will help and hinder us.
i also agree that one vendor gets sole contract on whatever parts they purchase from us, but that one vendor does not have to purchase all the parts...ex: sor may want door panels, but not floor sections. lance may want frame gussets and tailgate gears. ccot may want floor sections. each of those vendors get sole sales of the items they choose to sell.
potential vendors...in addition to sor, ccot and lance, there's also slocruiser and kurt williams. what about austrailian/non us vendors? are they a possibility?
i also agree that one vendor gets sole contract on whatever parts they purchase from us, but that one vendor does not have to purchase all the parts...ex: sor may want door panels, but not floor sections. lance may want frame gussets and tailgate gears. ccot may want floor sections. each of those vendors get sole sales of the items they choose to sell.
potential vendors...in addition to sor, ccot and lance, there's also slocruiser and kurt williams. what about austrailian/non us vendors? are they a possibility?