Ordering direct usually doesn't give a cheaper price because companies really don't want to undercut their distributors (if they did, why would the distributors carry their product).
Instead, ordering direct is usually rewarded with promotional things (in the case of wizards, tournament prizes and stuff).
However, ordering direct usually comes at a cost to the store since if you order from a distributor in sufficient quantity, they typically run a discount based on how much you buy. So the store would not get that discount for the product ordered direct, and the product wouldn't aid in getting a discount on everything else.
So there's good reasons for ordering direct and through a distributor, but neither has enough impact to change the price at retail. (actually, what would change the retail price is a promotional allowance [sale]... I saw some information on the retailers page, perhaps you should point it out or send a link so he can consider it for his next round of advertising [sale prices must appear in advertising in order for him to get the discount and then pass on that savings])
-Evan (who knows too damn much on how the distribution industry works)
On 12/6/06, Kimberly Terrill <kiter5@xxxxxxxxx
> wrote:The game store I frequent orders Looney Lab Merchandise via a distributor. The guy I chatted briefly with (who is not in charge or ordering for the store) said he thought that maybe they didn't have big enough orders to order their merchandise directly through LL. I was curious as to whether there is a specific amount required for a store to order? Actually, the real destination to this inquiry is.. I wondered if I should mention to the store to purchase directly from LooneyLab. I would tend to think they would save money if they 'skipped the middle man'. Which could result in a slightly lower price on the store shelves; which customers would appriciate. Actually I have not purchased from them yet, becuase they stock so little I like there to be something on shelf when I am doing my little demos.
Though they did have a little more on the shelf last week. Maybe my demos generated some sales for them.
Oh, and they DO have one of those display cases (that I asked about earlier), they just don't use because they don't have they counter space. I asked him if they could use it on my next demo, so people interested could easily find them. (he said he'd get it out next time)
--Kimberly
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