Suppliers

[Harry]

Is anyone else here constantly frustrated by the never ending "Out of Stock" situation certain suppliers have. They seem to let items go out of stock and they never replace them. I am constantly having to find alternatives for things that I used to get no problem and I can't believe I am alone in this view. Maybe I am just not aware of something going on in the background, but it seems to me to be a very strange way to do business. Can anyone shed any light on this?

 

[Neil]

Harry,

Sorry to say, in light of your post, but I dont have any major or repetitive issues. I think that you may be having problems with third tier suppliers, who are you having problems with?

 

[Bigblackdog]

it is very frustrating, particularly when you are only able to get half of what you wanted from large, established suppliers.

 

[wm460]

It pees me off when they have a sale and the 1/2 what you want is "Out of Stock"

 

[Grump]

They can only be out of stock if they had some in the first instance.
Those who carry no stock cant be out of it init?
Offering discounts on out of stock items is simply a sales ploy to get you looking at what they don't have.
By saying out of stock makes you think it is a popular item and you must have some rather than withdraw from sale makes you query what's wrong with the remaining few you have.
Sales techniques init?

Sorry I can't help any further as all items are now out of stock.

 

[Moondoggy]

Totally agree.
One example is Huts Plastic Polish, it seems to be like rocking horse poo.
If it's an issue with their suppliers, then they should remove it until it ceases to be an issue.
I've seen a couple of sites where Out Of Stock items are a real issue.
My answer is don't give them your business, but that doesn't help us when we are trying to source a product.
The other problem is the nature of our craft. Some people may buy in one's or two's to satisfy their hobby others buy in bulk to run a business.
I suppose the supplier's problem is he doesn't know who, when or how much someone is going to require, but hey, that's business.

 

[Penpal]

Two days after a sale I went into a store the assistant said just take 40% off thats the right price we have not had time to put the right prices back, so apparently sales are not always true sales.

Peter.

 

[Terry Q]

I am one of those suppliers. I make and sell serpentine blanks through ExoticBlanks.com. I look at the site and see out of stock and there isn't a thing I can do about it until my shoulder heals. It's very frustrating that I have to make customers wait.

 

[Bigblackdog]

i understand the small suppliers- stock may get wiped out by big orders. Some of the small suppliers, in turn have small suppliers supplying them, and things happen like described above. It is the likes of axminster, rutlands and the like that really annoy me.

 

[Doug]

Problem with big companies is they are always chasing profit which means they don't want to have capital tied up in large amounts of stock but as now a days most gear comes from China it's a 6 week delivery when they run out of stock & only then if the Chinese factory have It in stock.

Not easy but try buying European manufactured goods if what you want is available from that source, that is if you are willing to pay the extra, otherwise you'll have to wait for the boat to dock

 

[Neil]

Problem with big companies is they are always chasing profit which means they don't want to have capital tied up in large amounts of stock but as now a days most gear comes from China it's a 6 week delivery when they run out of stock & only then if the Chinese factory have It in stock.

Not easy but try buying European manufactured goods if what you want is available from that source, that is if you are willing to pay the extra, otherwise you'll have to wait for the boat to dock

Doug,

Some Chinese, I've only dealt with a few, are superb at shipping, I ordered from one last Tuesday, arrived in the UK late Thursday night and got to me half an hour ago having sat in Hemel Hempstead for four days! They were out of stock of Bolt Action pens but got 30 for me within twenty four hours. Ordered from them again last night, proforma paid this morning and been told that its packed and awaiting courier. Pretty good service.

 

[Doug]

Completely agree with you Neil, the problems occurr when using the likes of Rutlands & Axminster as they are shipping in by container & not individual items.

 

[rayf6604]

I've found that some of my suppliers are out of stock of things I want, some for a long time. I do know that one supplier is having problems with one item I want and its not their fault. Other times its been around March time and I've been told by one supplier they were running their stock down for the financial year end

 

[Woody]

I always keep a stock of what kits I want and do an order before I need them that way I never run out simple good stock control as some expect other's to do so are your customers saying the same about you as there supplier

 

[Harry]

I've seen items go out of stock about a year ago and have not been replaced. That is surely more than just slow delivery from their supplier!

 

[Neil]

Completely agree with you Neil, the problems occurr when using the likes of Rutlands & Axminster as they are shipping in by container & not individual items.

Doug, Right there, I suspect that the pen kits supplier for Axminster deliver to their machinery supplier and they pack in the same container. Buying in 20 Kg lumps from China costs a fortune with DHL but its quick and reliable.

 

[Jim]

I am one of those suppliers. I make and sell serpentine blanks through ExoticBlanks.com. I look at the site and see out of stock and there isn't a thing I can do about it until my shoulder heals. It's very frustrating that I have to make customers wait.

I would have thought he would remove the sale sign Terry, while you are unable to make up the stocks ..

 

[Penpal]

A simple explanation alongside the article should suffice in my world we all have health delays with your blanks I would think anyone would be sympathetic mate.

Peter.