How to Properly Speak with Suppliers

[Castillo]

Hey guys! I have officially registered my business with the government, found the niche that I am going to pursue and have already emailed a few suppliers. I have a few questions since this is my first time...

Getting pricing - Is it rude to ask for pricing right away? Should I build a relationship with the client first?

Also pricing - Do most suppliers have a "catalogue" of the prices of their items, or is it kind of a flat markup percentage or does it depend on each supplier?

Is there anything that I should/shouldn't say in specific when initially emailing potential suppliers?

Oh also for you amazon people, If I'm from Canada do I have to sell on Amazon.ca or can I also sell in Amazon.com?


Thank you guys!

 

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[SteveO]

Every supplier will be different. I have many different suppliers for the golf business and talk to them frequently. Sometimes you can make demands if they really want your business. Other times you just have to suck it up. This is especially true if the supplier has robust business already.

Some have flexibility in pricing while others don't. Keep shopping around and figure out ALL of your options.

It is not rude to ask prices. This question sounds like you may be a bit intimidated by the process. Don't be. You are in the drivers seat. Make some calls. Make some mistakes. Find what works for you. Have some fun with it.

I spend at least 4 hours a week on parts/price shopping and supplier calls. It is part of my business. I constantly ask what it will take to get better breaks in pricing and let the vendor know how important it is to me. I have threatened to take my business elsewhere and sometimes do so without a discussion. I save thousands of dollars a month with this process.

 

[SteveO]

btw... drop the email process and pick up the phone. Relations are important most of the time.

 

[Azure]

Canadians can do Amazon.com.

You'll need a US bank account(rbc has a good option). And you'll want to use fba to take advantage of shipping discounts. Shipping from Canada is disgustingly expensive.

If you need more info on this let me know.

 

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[Castillo]

Every supplier will be different. I have many different suppliers for the golf business and talk to them frequently. Sometimes you can make demands if they really want your business. Other times you just have to suck it up. This is especially true if the supplier has robust business already.

Some have flexibility in pricing while others don't. Keep shopping around and figure out ALL of your options.

It is not rude to ask prices. This question sounds like you may be a bit intimidated by the process. Don't be. You are in the drivers seat. Make some calls. Make some mistakes. Find what works for you. Have some fun with it.

I spend at least 4 hours a week on parts/price shopping and supplier calls. It is part of my business. I constantly ask what it will take to get better breaks in pricing and let the vendor know how important it is to me. I have threatened to take my business elsewhere and sometimes do so without a discussion. I save thousands of dollars a month with this process.

I never really thought of it this way... I definitely am intimidated by it all. I've never done any type of sales, managing a company or anything like that. I'm trying to be as confident as I can when speaking to these people but since I'm 21, I have this feeling that I'll just sound like a kid to them. I guess they can't really tell over the phone but I'm sure they'd have an idea, that's why I decided to email... I'm going to try calling the next few days.

Since I'm starting an ecommerce site, I'm also not sure if these people are willing to dropship in Canada/US (I'm trying to source from Canada/US if possible) I have some funding, but I'm not sure how to successfully validate a product before purchasing... I know there's a need where I am but I'm just not sure exactly how to validate it.

And thanks @Azure, if I'm wanting to sell on Canada and US, will I have to sent fulfillment to both? I have a fulfillment center in my city which is nice. But Will I have to also send fulfillment to an American fulfillment center?

Thanks!

 

[Azure]

Think of .CA and .com as two different companies. You'll need to send to both fc separate.

Are you in Mississauga?

 

[Castillo]

Vancouver, BC.

 

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[SteveO]

Is experience from years of age or repetition?

 

[Castillo]

Is experience from years of age or repetition?

True that. Guess a 21 year old can be more experienced than a 40 year old. It's just the vibe a lot of people give off. I guess if I show that I'm willing to learn/know what I'm talking about, who can tell me different right?

 

[SteveO]

True that. Guess a 21 year old can be more experienced than a 40 year old. It's just the vibe a lot of people give off. I guess if I show that I'm willing to learn/know what I'm talking about, who can tell me different right?

Let me rephrase. You gain experience by doing, not by aging. You may come off as inexperienced until you are not. It is something that everyone goes through. Don't worry what others think.

 

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[biophase]

LOL, I need to cut and paste some of the emails I sent to them to show you how easy it is.

They go something like,

"Hello, I am interested in ordering your widget, please quote me 500 pieces. Thanks "

Or

"Please, quote 100 pieces of the attached photo, thanks"

I don't like messing around with companies that won't respond to me. Why send them more information than that?

 

[Castillo]

LOL, I need to cut and paste some of the emails I sent to them to show you how easy it is.

They go something like,

"Hello, I am interested in ordering your widget, please quote me 500 pieces. Thanks "

Or

"Please, quote 100 pieces of the attached photo, thanks"

I don't like messing around with companies that won't respond to me. Why send them more information than that?

Never knew it was that easy... Damn lol

As a person starting out, is it better to display yourself as an already well established business vs. a newbie starting out?

Let me rephrase. You gain experience by doing, not by aging. You may come off as inexperienced until you are not. It is something that everyone goes though. Don't worry what others think.

Awesome advice SteveO. I guess everyone has to start somewhere!

 

[maxwellc]

LOL, I need to cut and paste some of the emails I sent to them to show you how easy it is.

They go something like,

"Hello, I am interested in ordering your widget, please quote me 500 pieces. Thanks "

Or

"Please, quote 100 pieces of the attached photo, thanks"

I don't like messing around with companies that won't respond to me. Why send them more information than that?

Also, do you ever dropship with people? Or always have purchased wholesale? I don't just want to purchase 500 of an item if I have no idea it will sell... I'm not sure how to validate it


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[AgainstAllOdds]

Also, do you ever dropship with people? Or always have purchased wholesale? I don't just want to purchase 500 of an item if I have no idea it will sell... I'm not sure how to validate it


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Ask for samples.

 

[Castillo]

Ask for samples.

They give samples for free? Or you have to purchase?

 

[biophase]

They give samples for free? Or you have to purchase?

That's negotiable. I started a new thread with a bunch of screenshots of my China communications. You'll see how easy it is. They have no idea if I'm 19 or 30 years old. It doesn't matter.

 

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[Mattyg]

Your not the only one who is over thinking it!

I contacted a supplier and was asking what the minimum order was. I phoned at first but then emailed with the contact. She asked me what my plan was and I told her I was gonna have an ecommerce store.

Then she didn't respond and so I am not sure what to do next.

This the best supplier they do all in house private label, allows changes to product and shipping if needed. I have gotten intimidated as well with the initial process being a newbie. I have been pondering how to contact them and try this again. Maybe I will stop being a baby and just call them tomorrow and just see what happens!

 

[maxwellc]

That's negotiable. I started a new thread with a bunch of screenshots of my China communications. You'll see how easy it is. They have no idea if I'm 19 or 30 years old. It doesn't matter.

Link? [emoji3]


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[biophase]

Link? [emoji3]


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https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/co...tial-china-suppliers-dont-overthink-it.71537/

 

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[Vectra1]

That's negotiable. I started a new thread with a bunch of screenshots of my China communications. You'll see how easy it is. They have no idea if I'm 19 or 30 years old. It doesn't matter.

Or in my case, man or women, I've been dealing with our supplier now for nearly 3 months and she disclosed to me she thought I was a women. WTF !

She said I emailed like a women !

This all came about when I sent a video for some alterations I required on a product, simply clear way of communicating over long distances with language barriers thrown in the mix.

 

[Niptuck MD]

Thanks @biophase