Online or LWS purchase for Plasma

[frank]

I buy BOTH online and LWS. ALL of my big purchases are from my LWS. I get online price quotes from about 5 or 6 OLS, print them out an go to my LWS. They have matched or beat the price every time. My co had been using Airgas for years an by changing to "my" LWS they cut the cost of welding consumables and assocated products by over 50%. I have brought many new customers to them simply because they want "my" bussiness. Good service, local location, honest people....what more could ask for.

Frank

[DDA52]

Hey, this thread got lighter...cool.


My take is go where you get the best bang for your buck. Give the LWS your consumable buys if they can't get the price down. I always will give them a chance, and act accordingly. My TB was about 15 bucks higher than online for the same unit...I could live with that. I didn't even tell them I was looking online either. I just said, give me your best price possible. That was all. I won't haggle. I don't like it when people do it to me, so I won't do it to others. Get them to give the best price first time and either take it or move on. That makes it simple.

[Pile Buck]

I was always taught to never “chop” bids. Meaning don’t run back and forth trying to drive the price / estimate down. Ask the supplier to give you his best shot, if not good enough, move on. When I bought my tractor, I wanted to buy here in town, so I shopped the whole area, got their prices first. Went into the local John Deere dealer, told them to sharpen their pencil I had been shopping. They asked to see all my bids, said they would meet any bid I got. I said nope, give me your best shot or I walk. I’ll be damn they were $500.00 lower than my lowest bid!

[joebass]

Whats the new machine Kevin?

[madam X]

Originally Posted by Pile Buck

Ask the supplier to give you his best shot, if not good enough, move on.

I was taught to buy antiques the same way. Ask politely "Can you do any better on this?" and if not, say *Thank you* and walk away. Everyone is happy.

When I bought my tractor, I wanted to buy here in town, so I shopped the whole area, got their prices first. Went into the local John Deere dealer, told them to sharpen their pencil I had been shopping. They asked to see all my bids, said they would meet any bid I got. I said nope, give me your best shot or I walk. I’ll be damn they were $500.00 lower than my lowest bid!

Good for YOU!!!

[cutter]

Originally Posted by joebass

Whats the new machine Kevin?

Just a wild guess - it's a GPS system.

[harcosparky]

Originally Posted by madam X

I was taught to buy antiques the same way. Ask politely "Can you do any better on this?" and if not, say *Thank you* and walk away. Everyone is happy.



Good for YOU!!!

There is no other way to buy an antique. It's not like there is an antique factory making identical antiques on which you could shop prices. Perhps on collectibles, memorabilia, and advertising. I used to run a business selling that stuff online for a friend who owns a couple of antique stores.


But as for "chopping" bids? Well there is nothing wrong with telling a vendor .... " look, I can get this for X$ from Joe, how close can you get to that? " Most vendors want to earn your business, unless thier name is Roberts ... they cannot discount UNTIL you tell them a competitors price as they are afraid they might give you too good a deal.

Or tell them, I want to buy this today and I am willing to pay $ ???? to make the deal right now.

Another rule I learned .... " the lowest price is not always the best deal "

[Tom Zachman]

There is some business you want your competitor to have.

[Crithpy Critter]

just bought a Bobcat 250 for $3300 total...the local guy knew I was in there buying C25 and rods etc. left and right....

all things considered, i was willing to go with the local guy since my machine would get repaired quicker than some rig bought on the internet and repaired under warranty..........

and he's always gives me discounts here and there......

sometimes a few dollars spent upfront will pay off when your rig is busted and you need it back quicko

shop the local guy since they really dont make much on hardware...they do well on gas if they can refill their in the shop and buy bulk gas from BOC or Airgas

[cutter]

Aww, good for you, Crithpy.
I hope it will live a long & happy life in your care.