Welder Sales?

[zx9]

I agree with Matt and Paul but back to the OP I can not see Tec Arc / Portamig / Oxford having a 'sale' on items that have a four to six week waiting list and are in most part built to order. Same as the car analogy, when mass market cars were pre registered you could get bargain prices on new cars if you did not mind been the second keeper, similar discounts could not be had on even mass market cars built to order.

 

[tlovatt]

Particularly with Tec Arc / Portamig / Oxford as most of the sellers are simply acting as agents, to take your order and then get the factory to ship a unit direct. The seller provides the torch / reg etc but the bulk of the money is in the main welder and I suspect they do not make much. I did do a deal with Mig Tig Arc for mine, but depending upon the size different suppliers seem to be a bit cheaper. Cornish Welding often has good prices.

 

[MarkG]

From a suppliers point of view, it depends on what deals we get from our suppliers..

TecArc they work on a NETT price, so agents mark up what they like.

ESAB, Lincoln etc etc all have their own list price and agents get discounts from that. They will either give you a percentage off list, or put a percentage on cost.

No such thing as a January sale in this game TBH.

 

[TechnicAl]

The whole list price less discount is a bit traditional. It was originally put in place so the Manufacturers could supply both End Users and Distributors. The big end users would get a big discount. Far more than the distributor so they couldnt get a look in. The recession took hold (one of the older ones) and the definition of a big end user changed and Buyers became a job. As a result of this and other changes the market has become more biased towards the Distributor. Its a bit like cars and food, you dont go to a Ford Garage and then a VW Garage to look at a car. Nowadays you go to a garage that does multi-brands because its easier. You dont go to the Butcher and then the Baker you go to a supermarket because its easier.

The Distributors have also changed. They dont buy anything anymore. They make a sale and then sell that sale to the manufacturer. As MarkG above says "Agents".

Its progress, in some cases good and in some cases bad. Prices have fallen as a result but so has the expertise of the people selling the goods. Too many can only offer to supply cheaper than whoever is selling it now and that applies to both manufacturers and distributors or agents. Some of the crap spewed out by some of these "salesmen" is hilarious but its also dangerous.

I could go on all night

 

[Welderpaul]

The Distributors have also changed. They dont buy anything anymore. They make a sale and then sell that sale to the manufacturer.

Then, in my experience, the manufacturer sends his rep round and says cut out the distributor and buy direct from us next time, we can give you a bigger discount...

 

[emmo1210]

Thanks all for the solid input and psychology lesson too . No, I agree there is much less chance of a discount on made to order machines. Thats not to say some of the suppliers may have been willing to forego some of their margin to attract sales in the January scams. Cash isn't really an option for me being NI based. I will phone some of the oxford suppliers to see what discount I can get them to agree on, perhaps with some David Blaine sorcery to get them to think about the same number as me without actually saying it to them.

 

[TechnicAl]

Then, in my experience, the manufacturer sends his rep round and says cut out the distributor and buy direct from us next time, we can give you a bigger discount...

That probably depends on the relationship............its so complex these days.............who has nicked whos customer etc etc

I used to spend most of my time fending off irate agents.........some of whom had a valid point many didnt. What used to get my goat is that these agents often blamed me (or us) if a customer went elsewhere............as if it was our decision from whom they bought

 

[ukracer]

From a suppliers point of view, it depends on what deals we get from our suppliers..

TecArc they work on a NETT price, so agents mark up what they like.

ESAB, Lincoln etc etc all have their own list price and agents get discounts from that. They will either give you a percentage off list, or put a percentage on cost.

No such thing as a January sale in this game TBH.

Obviously these are on New machines. I have a 3 phase FRO with remote wire feed unit. It will weld all day long quite large steel and one of the guys who used it a few weeks ago was forced to use a good quality single phase unit to do the same job. God was he cussing and swearing. After 2 jobs it was steaming. Had to let it cool down. Now mine is 3 phase and obviously a quality welder in its hayday. OK so its older now but still does a better job than any single phase machine I have seen.

Now we come to the crunch as its 3 phase there is less of a market as its generally a business purchase and they offset it against tax. So If I advertise it at £800 quid its over priced....hoping to get £500.....which is closer to its true value. BUT if I advertise it at £500 happy to take £400 it seems that potential buyers think its knackered as its a low price......they seem oblivious I would really like to keep it but I dont have 3 phase at home and I just closed my unit. lol

I just fail to see why someone would rather pay 2 grand out to get it back in tax?? When the welds it produces are so smooth and consistent it blows any cheap single phase into the weeds.