Aloha Everyone, We have several types of gem shows here in Hawaii.
Many people believe that “all gem shows” are at wholesale prices,
then why a company rep. attempts to sell that person, the person
retorts with, “I bought it at wholesale price.”
In Hawaii, if you sell wholesale, you must charge wholesale tax.
That tax is $0.005 on the value of what was sold. People who said
they attended an true gem show, were asked the following questions:
1-Did you need to have a business card?
2-Did you need to show prove of business by a bank check with the
company’s name on it?
3-Do you have a valid license ID#?
4-What is the position you have for it is printed on the badge.
The individuals I have been training for the company were
dumbfounded when they realized that no all shows are open to the
public. The is stored in a special Gem Show software
program to identify the person the next time he or she attends.
In understanding the various types of business, one company can be a
manufacturer, a wholesale company, and also retail. The ideal is,
not to undersell the retail price below what the wholesale price
would be.
In attending several shows myself, I always ask for the best break.
There are only a hand full of dealers we purchase from, because we
know it is a great wholesale price.
Let me give you an example: Amber. At the gem shows here listed for
trade people only, one amber dealer was selling their amber with
insects (upon scrutiny it was just wood caught in the tree’s resin)
sold that amber for $80.00 per gram. Their regular wholesale prices
were 5 times as high as the other vendors who sold at the show.
Regular nugget style amber necklaces were wholesaled at $2.00 per
gram, pushing the price to over $10.00 wholesale price per necklace.
We know this is not a good deal from experience.
For those we formerly purchased from, they gave us wholesale prices,
but to the people of their own race, those people got the wholesale
price though it was truly a retail sale. When asked about the price
difference, the native language was spoken, then the dealer gave us
a flippant answer. We no longer buy from this dealer.
Every time we attend a show, arms loaded with bags, and walk pass
his booth, he has not traffic, people sitting there with sour
looking faces, and then the look more sick when we say “HI” and walk
pass them. We do this for a reason. To teach that if you sale you
are a wholesale, the play fairly, if not suffer the consequences.
Once we stopped purchasing a variety of goods from him, checking his
site, his auctions, and other areas he sells on, there has be a
downward trend in the amount he once pulled in and what he pulls in
now.
Before purchasing from any seller simply ask one question, “If I
find this same product at this show for a lower price, will you beat
that price, refund my money, or at least match that price?” The
seller doesn’t want to lose the sale. What may happen is that the
seller will calculate the difference in price, and ask you to select
more items that make up the difference. Herein lies the dilemma,
how do you know it is a true wholesale price?
Sellers like selling to the same purchasers. We missed 2 shows, and
one woman we purchase many bags of gemstone beads from, was a bit
miffed at us because we were not there when she was. Being upset,
she upped the price of the beads by a dollar or two. Understand, at
those prices, no one else could match it so we purchased from her
again.
The next time we smoozed the sellers, gave them soda, shells, hand
made visors, and all of a sudden we were their "BEST CUSTOMER EVER"
prices dropped and the dollar stretched longer.
Once we did this, if the prices were lower somewhere else, or we
purchased too much of one thing and at the next show, the vendors
allowed us to exchange it. They also gave us better price breaks.
Why isn’t a Gem Trade Show considered as a large flea market?
People from different cultures do business differently. Why is
wrong to buying something for a great price, taking it to your
booth, then reselling it? This is what many businesses do.
Protect yourself by asking questions prior to purchasing. Make the
vendors accountable. Ask for a refund. If no refund, then the
vendor is in a precarious position because the seller knows many
potential buyers that could negatively impact the vendor’s sales.
TAX IS COLLECTED EVEN ON WHOLESALE. In Hawaii we must pay tax for
items brought in and pay wholesale tax if a licensed business buys
wholesale from us. Should we ship to the Mainland or around the
world, the local tax office will still see it as a sale and taxes
must be paid. The thing that changes is the percentage of tax.
So ASK THE VENDOR FOR A GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU FIND THE ITEM LOWER,
HAVE A RECEIPT TO PROVE IT, WILL THEY REFUND YOUR MONEY?
If the answer is “NO”, then go early, and walk to the specifically
targeted items you are interested in, review the vendors
merchandise, ask the questions, prior to purchasing.
Our favorite time is closing? Why, vendors do not like carrying or
packing up large amounts of stock. Therefore, the vendor will give
fantastic prices if you purchase a bunch of pearls or beads,
whatever is in stock. Those are the greatest dollar stretching
techniques.
Good luck to every one. We wish you all much happiness, health, and
wealth.
Waynette
HQCE
Buyer