Question on suppliers..

[whitewater]

Not sure if this is in the correct section..

We order from a supplier..we have been using them for 3 years...regular orders..well i order an emulsion from someone else..I wanted to move the emulsion to this company and i wanted them to send a sample of the emulsion. They said they don't have anything smaller than a quart. So i asked if they could send that.. they said "no"

I was sort of surprised. Its not like i'm new with the company and i show regular orders and i told them how how much emulsion i am going through..

Do you think i am being unreasonable?  If i am then fine..

[mk162]

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.  Supplier should carry sample emulsions that they can try and drum up business with, but maybe that's just me.

[balloonguy]

I would start looking for a new supplier. Like you said, it is not like you are some stranger off the street.

[3Deep]

wow I have suppliers send me stuff for free to check out all the time even when I tell them I like what I'm using already.  I wish I could buy everything I need from one supplier that would be nice....

Darryl

[Frog]

I agree that ir would be nice off all suppliers were either given samples by the manufacturers, or could eat the cost themselves. as part of their business model.
But, perhaps, you could still get what you want from the manufacturer.

And, @ Balloon Matt, like my first shirt distributor told me when I was just starting out (I confess to paraphrasing) "today's stranger on the street, may be tomorrows loyal high volume printer".

[whitewater]

I agree that ir would be nice off all suppliers were either given samples by the manufacturers, or could eat the cost themselves. as part of their business model.
But, perhaps, you could still get what you want from the manufacturer.

And, @ Balloon Matt, like my first shirt distributor told me when I was just starting out (I confess to paraphrasing) "today's stranger on the street, may be tomorrows loyal high volume printer".

im not a stranger i have history with them

[Frog]

I agree that ir would be nice off all suppliers were either given samples by the manufacturers, or could eat the cost themselves. as part of their business model.
But, perhaps, you could still get what you want from the manufacturer.

And, @ Balloon Matt, like my first shirt distributor told me when I was just starting out (I confess to paraphrasing) "today's stranger on the street, may be tomorrows loyal high volume printer".

im not a stranger i have history with them

Of course you do, I was just letting Matt know what the shirt guy told me when I started out, that not even a stranger should be treated as such.

[balloonguy]

@Frog You are very right indeed. Although as we all know that is not always the case. My point was mainly that Whitewater has been an established client for years. If one of my 3 year customers said they want to try a next level instead of a gildan I would put a couple in for free on the next order so they could try it out. On the purchasing side if I called any one of my reps for tees and said I need a sample of xxx brand shirt I am sure I would have it in no time. If not I might consider another vendor that is more keen on helping me spend more money with them.

[Homer]

Rob, sounds like you are just a customer number to them.  that's BS if you ask me. What's a quart of emulsion cost them vs loosing you as a customer? any supplier local to you?

we have a nice set up with our supplier. We tell them what we want, they stock it in my shop, like emulsion, inks, screen chemicals, tank solution, film, 4x8 sheets of coroplast, yada yada...once a month they take inventory, charge me for what I used and refill the stock. I always have 5-10 gallons of everything on hand...I will NEVER run out of anything. I just ask to try out something they do't stock, if I like it -I keep it. If not, they will take it back. They ordered me a 5'r of Wilflex Solar White- which is tits by the way....so now, they will put it on my inventory system and away we go.

[Binkspot]

I'd go higher on the food chain at the vendor or start looking for someone else. You can refuse to deal with your "local rep" and ask for someone else in the org to deal with. We had a similar issue a few years back and simply asked for another sales rep which turned out to be a great move and has enabled us built a nice relationship with the vendor.

[aauusa]

to me this is a little bit funny.

I understand samples and not being a new customer and the point you are making.

 but the thought that popped in my mind is....  My customer says hey you know I order shirts from you and I have another order but I want a sample of the tee shirts for the next order because it is different than the other tees.  I say no problem will get it in you you can look at it and feel it.  Customer I need to wear it so I know how it will wear and I will keep it .  And the shirt is a sample so he wants it for free.

just the way I see it.  But then I never ask for free samples,  just me

[mk162]

if the customer is getting a free $2 shirt for a 100 pc order, awesome, I will do that all day long(if it guarantees the order). 

[aauusa]

if the customer is getting a free $2 shirt for a 100 pc order, awesome, I will do that all day long(if it guarantees the order).

but not all shirts are $2   and for alll of your return customers.  to me once something is given for free it now has no value and is expected at the same price the next time. 

[dirkdiggler]

Rob, sounds like you are just a customer number to them.  that's BS if you ask me. What's a quart of emulsion cost them vs loosing you as a customer? any supplier local to you?

we have a nice set up with our supplier. We tell them what we want, they stock it in my shop, like emulsion, inks, screen chemicals, tank solution, film, 4x8 sheets of coroplast, yada yada...once a month they take inventory, charge me for what I used and refill the stock. I always have 5-10 gallons of everything on hand...I will NEVER run out of anything. I just ask to try out something they do't stock, if I like it -I keep it. If not, they will take it back. They ordered me a 5'r of Wilflex Solar White- which is tits by the way....so now, they will put it on my inventory system and away we go.

sounds like u use Nazdar, they did that at the old shop I worked for.  BTW, What is Solar White?

[Homer]

nope. I like Nazdar but these guys are local and i try to support them as much as I can. based off the nazdar model I'm sure. I like it, works great!

Solar white, it's stupid cheap! 5 gallons was around 200.00... google search got me this

http://store.commercialscreen.com/wilflex_solarwhite_5gal.aspx

sorry Rob, not to derail.