Comments on: Your Guide to Outsourcing – Get the Best Rate the First Time You Ask http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/ Entrepreneurial Lessons and Adventures from the founder of United By Blue Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:04:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Brian http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 Brian Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:33:34 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-1044 Thanks Wolfgang! It really depends on who you are working with and what type of quotes they give you. Sometimes I don't go down on price at all, while others you can get 40% off sometimes. I would say you should always be able to get about 15% off if you push for it, but sometimes, if you have, or want, a good relationship, not being pushy about prices can be favorable in the long run. Thanks Wolfgang!
It really depends on who you are working with and what type of quotes they give you. Sometimes I don’t go down on price at all, while others you can get 40% off sometimes. I would say you should always be able to get about 15% off if you push for it, but sometimes, if you have, or want, a good relationship, not being pushy about prices can be favorable in the long run.

]]> By: Wolfgang Fuchs http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1043 Wolfgang Fuchs Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:03:48 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-1043 I am negotiating with suppliers in India for sourcing organic futons/cotton mats for yoga and bodywork therapies. I have received samples from the 3 suppliers on my shortlist. Next step is final negotiate on product details and prices. I will let them know that I have a few competitors on my shortlist. How much (in %) do you think are the prices negotiable from the first initial price offer they send to me? Thank you Cheers Wolfgang PS: Inspiring work, great brand concepts! I am negotiating with suppliers in India for sourcing organic futons/cotton mats for yoga and bodywork therapies.

I have received samples from the 3 suppliers on my shortlist. Next step is final negotiate on product details and prices. I will let them know that I have a few competitors on my shortlist. How much (in %) do you think are the prices negotiable from the first initial price offer they send to me?

Thank you
Cheers
Wolfgang

PS: Inspiring work, great brand concepts!

]]> By: Brian http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Brian Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:36:43 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-1011 Virginia, sorry for the late reply! Your comment slipped through the cracks. The book is complete but it hasn't been released. I plan on releasing it in 2010 once I have some more time to promote it. I'll let you know when you can get it. Thanks for your interest in outsourcing! Virginia, sorry for the late reply! Your comment slipped through the cracks. The book is complete but it hasn’t been released. I plan on releasing it in 2010 once I have some more time to promote it. I’ll let you know when you can get it. Thanks for your interest in outsourcing!

]]> By: Virginia Marcolin http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-980 Virginia Marcolin Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:20:39 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-980 Hi - I'm really enjoying your articles about sourcing overseas and entrepreneurship in general. Wondering if the online book about outsourcing you were writing has been released and how I can view it...thanks! Virginia Hi – I’m really enjoying your articles about sourcing overseas and entrepreneurship in general. Wondering if the online book about outsourcing you were writing has been released and how I can view it…thanks!

Virginia

]]> By: John Taylor http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-790 John Taylor Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:29:00 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-790 What a facinating article. I'm looking for a marketing expert to help with a project, could you help? What a facinating article. I’m looking for a marketing expert to help with a project, could you help?

]]> By: admin http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-787 admin Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:28:27 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-787 @Adam, Sorry for the delay responding to you, I've been without internet access at this tradeshow Im at in VA. Yes, I recommend quickbooks...best by far. I come up with wholesale prices to sell to the retailers by not only evaluating how much it costs to make the product, but also all other costs of operating a business need to be calculated in. Also, I evaluate what the market is willing to pay for a certain product. Also, how much I charge determines who my customer will be and what my brand will represent. Do I want to be high-end, low-end, mid-range...pricing determines all of this. Sand Shack is an affordable luxury, so I price it in the mid-range. I toyed with high end and decided that mid range is where I belong. So there are a lot of factors that go into product pricing...at the end of the day the main thing is you have to be making money. I give some retailers discounts, but this is a case by case basis. Most buy for the same wholesale price. Cheers, Brian @Adam,
Sorry for the delay responding to you, I’ve been without internet access at this tradeshow Im at in VA.
Yes, I recommend quickbooks…best by far.
I come up with wholesale prices to sell to the retailers by not only evaluating how much it costs to make the product, but also all other costs of operating a business need to be calculated in. Also, I evaluate what the market is willing to pay for a certain product. Also, how much I charge determines who my customer will be and what my brand will represent. Do I want to be high-end, low-end, mid-range…pricing determines all of this. Sand Shack is an affordable luxury, so I price it in the mid-range. I toyed with high end and decided that mid range is where I belong. So there are a lot of factors that go into product pricing…at the end of the day the main thing is you have to be making money.
I give some retailers discounts, but this is a case by case basis. Most buy for the same wholesale price.
Cheers,
Brian

]]> By: Adam http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-786 Adam Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:34:18 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-786 Cool man, good info. So I'm guessing you recommend Quickbooks, and also how do you come up with a price to sell to retailers? And do all retailers buy from you for the same price? I know you have to at least charge enough to cover production and shipping, but is there a specific way or percentage you use to come to an agreement on price? I know some of it has got to depend on your product, and how much you can mark it up depends on the demand and perceived value. Anyways, hope you're having a good weekend! -Adam Cool man, good info. So I’m guessing you recommend Quickbooks, and also how do you come up with a price to sell to retailers? And do all retailers buy from you for the same price? I know you have to at least charge enough to cover production and shipping, but is there a specific way or percentage you use to come to an agreement on price? I know some of it has got to depend on your product, and how much you can mark it up depends on the demand and perceived value.
Anyways, hope you’re having a good weekend!
-Adam

]]> By: admin http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-785 admin Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:54:49 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-785 @Adam, Yea, it is just carbon paper. I actually don't have any special invoice with company name on it...haven't really found the need for it. Just normal paper you buy at Staples is fine. Anyways, I fax them an official invoice within a few days after taking the order. Nope, no legal paperwork. Business is business, and there is a degree of trust in everything you do. The signature helps keep people from cancelling orders, but I do get canceled orders occasionally-which suck. Yes, and they can choose when they want the product, but when they preorder for the spring or summer the earliest they can get it this year is April 15. Cheers, Brian @Adam,
Yea, it is just carbon paper. I actually don’t have any special invoice with company name on it…haven’t really found the need for it. Just normal paper you buy at Staples is fine. Anyways, I fax them an official invoice within a few days after taking the order. Nope, no legal paperwork. Business is business, and there is a degree of trust in everything you do. The signature helps keep people from cancelling orders, but I do get canceled orders occasionally-which suck. Yes, and they can choose when they want the product, but when they preorder for the spring or summer the earliest they can get it this year is April 15.
Cheers,
Brian

]]> By: Adam http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-784 Adam Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:38:32 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-784 What does the handwritten invoice look like? Is it just carbon paper? Do you have specially printed invoices with your company name on it or is it just generic? Also I guess I'm seeing that there is no legal paperwork that is filed, you are just trusting them to pay you when you send them the product. Do you set dates when they want to receive the product by too? Thanks again, Adam What does the handwritten invoice look like? Is it just carbon paper? Do you have specially printed invoices with your company name on it or is it just generic?
Also I guess I’m seeing that there is no legal paperwork that is filed, you are just trusting them to pay you when you send them the product. Do you set dates when they want to receive the product by too?
Thanks again,
Adam

]]> By: admin http://brianlinton.com/your-guide-to-outsourcing-get-the-best-rate-the-first-time-you-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-783 admin Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:01:11 +0000 http://brianlinton.com/?p=826#comment-783 No worries Adam, Taking orders is quite simple. If I take an order in person, I will just fill out a handwritten invoice, give them a copy, but then once I plug it in the computer (quickbooks) I will fax them an official invoice for their records. When in person, if they are a new customer, I will just have them sign the bottom of the invoice to validate it...If I know them I won't do this. Retailers can also fax their orders in. I have downloadable order sheets, or they can simply use an invoice template of their own. They fill it out, so that is their validation in itself. They can also email it...yep...I've taken email orders, phone orders, faxes. Any way somebody wants to order product from me, I'll let them... After all, they are the customer, and you want to make it as easy as possible for them to order. Hope that helps, Brian No worries Adam,
Taking orders is quite simple. If I take an order in person, I will just fill out a handwritten invoice, give them a copy, but then once I plug it in the computer (quickbooks) I will fax them an official invoice for their records. When in person, if they are a new customer, I will just have them sign the bottom of the invoice to validate it…If I know them I won’t do this. Retailers can also fax their orders in. I have downloadable order sheets, or they can simply use an invoice template of their own. They fill it out, so that is their validation in itself. They can also email it…yep…I’ve taken email orders, phone orders, faxes. Any way somebody wants to order product from me, I’ll let them… After all, they are the customer, and you want to make it as easy as possible for them to order.

Hope that helps,
Brian

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