Re: [CR]Re: Hidden Inventory

> great post, gilbert.
> come to think of it, in my line of work, i almost
> ALWAYS sell something i do not have. the client
> is investing in my time spent at some later date. i
> see a similarity to the ebay seller that was referenced
> at the genesis of this thread.
> e-RICHIE
> Richard Sachs Cycles
> No.9, North Main Street
> Chester, CT 06412 USA
> http://www.richardsachs.com
> Tel. 860.526.2059
>
> On Sun, 17 Nov 2002 17:45:44 EST CYCLESTORE@aol.com writes:
> > Hello Jan, Steve and all,
> >
> > Selling inventory you don't have.
> > I think we would be suprised how many times some of the big mail
> > order houses
> > do this and it seems almost all manufacturers do this as a general
> > course of
> > business everyday.
> >
> > Most listee's would be suprised to learn that I have seen lots of
> > the big
> > bicycle mail houses selling things in this fashion on a day to day
> > basis and
> > I think this should actually be considered normal procedure and the
> > large
> > ticket in stock (ON THEIR PREMISES) items should be considered
> > exceptions in
> > many cases.
> >
> > I see nothing inherently wrong with selling something not in your
> > personal
> > inventory as long as your supply is reliable and delivery somewhat
> > predictable. The problems start when these two elements are
> > lacking.
> >
> > I import specialty bicycles from Europe regularly. It is very
> > expensive with
> > lots of overt and hidden up front costs. All my inventory is heavily
> >
> > customized for me or my customers. While I stock what I can I am
> > actively
> > selling on a daily basis. The factories I deal with have no surplus
> > stock.
> > It's a you buy, we will build arrangement. To keep costs down,
> > quickens
> > delivery and get the best price I pay for most of my product in
> > advance and
> > the saving are passed along to the ultimate owner. I have several
> > credit
> > lines with the manufacturers and banks but do not rely on them very
> > much as
> > bank charges on their end increases their cost (and mine and my
> > customers
> > prices) and bank charges on my end are very erosive to my puny
> > bottom line.
> >
> > Do I sell what I do not have? Every day, Do I sell what I can
> > deliver? Every
> > day. D0 you pay in advance when you deal with a large mail-order
> > concern that
> > has not their advertised inventory? Most certainly sometimes, do you
> > know
> > that before or after the transaction, rarely. Many seem to be less
> > than
> > willing for an accurate disclosure.
> >
> > I recently received a very limitedly available (1 in the USA)
> > frameset from a
> > major mail order concern in the bicycle industry that stated it was
> > in their
> > warehouse ready to ship. They ship in stock parts overnight if
> > needed so how
> > suprised were we when an hour after the customer bought the frame
> > (not
> > through us but in our store on our phone), the rare item disappeared
> > from
> > inventory at the importers. Shipping departure time for the in stock
> > frame
> > next day departure started 6 days later and arrived 11 days after
> > the
> > transaction began. It was in a factory sealed box so no time delay
> > in prep
> > before shipping was performed. I call back was explained away as
> > processing
> > time.
> >
> > Deliberate misrepresentation is another matter; full disclosure
> > however,
> > where does it start and where does it end. I've had some customers
> > demand I
> > chase all over gods green earth for something obscure (none of the
> > Cr's) and
> > demand I supply everything from my mother's maiden name to my tax
> > returns
> > before they would want to transact business over the phone. All this
> > and they
> > will not supply a last name or phone number to me to even contact
> > them or
> > file the request, "I'll call back", they say. I tell em don't
> > bother, I mean
> > unless there is some legitimate concern I don't have time for
> > foolishness. At
> > our shop we have a constant backlog of real business and people that
> > transact
> > business in a business like fashion, and supply real name, address
> > and phone
> > numbers (personal information we do not sell or share).
> >
> >
> > Endo rant!
> >
> >
> > Gilbert Anderson
> >
> > The North Road Bicycle Company ( lots of stock, sometimes on hand )
> > your bicycle outfitter
> > 519 W. North St.
> > Raleigh, NC 27603
> > USA
> > ph toll free in USA :800/321-5511
> > Local ph: 919/828-8999
> > E-Mail: cyclestore@aol.com
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 11/17/02 10:25:39 AM,
> > classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> >
> > << Message: 8
> >
> > From: "Steve Neago" <questor@cinci.rr.com>
> >
> > To: "Jan Heine" <heine@mindspring.com>,
> >
> > <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> >
> > Subject: Re: [CR]Selling inventory that isn't - unethical ebay
> > brokers/sellers
> >
> > Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 19:20:13 -0500
> >
> >
> > <<Selling inventory that isn't: As long as the seller makes it
> > clear
> >
> > that this is the case, I don't have a problem with it.>>
> >
> >
> > I believe that ebay does have a problem with broker/seller auctions
> > based on
> >
> > speculation where the broker does not have legal title nor
> > authorization to
> >
> > put the item up for auction. I also view speculation auctions as
> > deceptive
> >
> > to the potential buyer because they make available the bidders ebay
> > name and
> >
> > possibly address contact info when they bid on an item that may not
> > really
> >
> > available. This provides the unethical broker/seller with a
> > marketing
> >
> > contact list without selling the item and without paying full ebay
> > fees for
> >
> > future sales based on their names obtained through ebay.
> >
> >
> > There are unethical sellers who place a highly desired auction item
> > on ebay,
> >
> > set an extremely high reserve price that is not disclosed and likely
> > not
> >
> > met, then troll for ebay bidder names to add to their third party
> > sales mail
> >
> > list as the auction progresses. Other unethical sellers also use
> > this high
> >
> > reserve amount method to avoid ebay auction fees on a high-bidder
> > below
> >
> > reserve auction by contacting the bidders after the auction has
> > ended and
> >
> > offering to sell the original or similar items outside of ebay to
> > avoid ebay
> >
> > fees. Buyers who choose to go this route risk possible deception
> > with no
> >
> > recourse for help from ebay, limited as it may be, because the
> > transaction
> >
> > was completed outside of ebay.
> >
> >
> > The following is taken from the current ebay user agreement...
> >
> >
> > Ebay Listing and Selling.
> >
> > 5.1 Listing Description. You must be legally able to sell the
> > item(s) you
> >
> > list for sale on our site. You must describe your item and all terms
> > of sale
> >
> > on the listing page of our site. Your listings may only include
> > text
> >
> > descriptions, graphics, pictures and other content relevant to the
> > sale of
> >
> > that item.
> >
> >
> > Regards, Steve Neago
> >
> > "Getting use to cold weather in Cincinnati, OH"
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > From: "Jan Heine" <heine@mindspring.com>
> >
> > To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> >
> > Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 2:24 PM
> >
> > Subject: [CR]Selling inventory that isn't
> >
> >
> >
> > Selling inventory that isn't: As long as the seller makes it clear
> >
> > that this is the case, I don't have a problem with it. When I go to
> > a
> >
> > bike shop to buy something, they often special-order it.
> >
> >
> > If somebody finds a stash of stuff, but is afraid to buy because
> > they
> >
> > don't know what the market value is, I don't mind if they propose
> > the
> >
> > items, as long as they say "I think I can get this. Are you
> >
> > insterested?" Of course, publicly advertising something for sale
> > that
> >
> > you don't own is a different story.
> >
> > >>