Is this good business practice?

[waterinthefuel]

I needed a part for my motorcycle and I found two places that sold it, one, a big company, and the second was a small company with a small simple website, a one-man operation type deal.

Well, I'm always one to support small business, as I'd rather them get my money than a big company that could care less. So I emailed the "little" guy and told him that I found the product for this price at this website, with this shipping, and if he could match it, I would but it from him.

Well, after the item's cost and shipping were added together, the "little" guy was 93 cents more than the big company. He said that yes, he would meet their price. I said ok. Then I asked in another email about returning incase I couldn't get it to work (a long story, as I'm not using the item for its intended purpose, but I am not modifying it if it doesn't work, it will be in new condition if I can't get it to work, but he knows all this already) and he said sure, but since I asked him to meet the big companies price, he went to their website and downloaded the big companies return policy and said, well if you ask me to meet their price, I'm going to use their return policy, which includes paying the shipping for the return item, a 15% restocking fee, etc etc.

For a little guy trying to get business, doesn't this seem a little....well....bent? I just don't see that as being good for business.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Is this good business practice?

Yes, if he ships the part you ordered & you decide you don't want it, why should he lose time & money?.....
It is not unreasonable, IMHO......​

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Is this good business practice?

No offense but you bent him over for 93 cents then when he actually "matched" the deal, you question his business savy? Terms are part of the price of the purchase. His costs are not the same as the "big" guy. You asked him to match the deal - He did. Sounds like good business to me. Selling is one thing, lending is another.

The best thing he can do is stay in business to service you down the road. That takes money.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is this good business practice?

I am curious what you would think would be fair regarding returns. You would agree to the shipping right?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Is this good business practice?

I think that he is doing the right thing. He matched the price even if it was just 93 cents. Gave you the same return policy so you get the same deal either way. Seems like a fair deal to me.
What price was the item you are buying for 93 cents to be such an issue ??? or are you buying multiple items of the same thing.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Is this good business practice?

You are using it for an unintended purpose and you have the audacity to expect to be able to return it if your experiment doesn't work? In my book, you assume any risk anytime you deviate from normal. In essence, you are asking him to guarantee the success of your project. Sorry, but he doesn't have to guarantee your work. If I were in his position, you bought it. Period. I wouldn't accept return unless you could show me that the part was defective, not merely unsuitable. It also depends on if it's a in-stock part or something that has to be ordered. If it's in stock and an over-the-counter transaction, I'd be willing to let you size things up for a reasonable amount of time. If I have to order it, you bought it. If I have to ship it, you bought it.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Is this good business practice?

It's a topcase rack. It's the part that holds a trunk to the back of the bike. The total came to 105 bucks. I couldn't find the price on his website, so I just emailed him and told him their total and said if you can match this you got my business, this was all not knowing his price. All in the same email he told me his price, that he would go down 93 cents and that he would then base his return policy on another companys' return policy. My jaw dropped.

I agree with paying to ship the item back, that's normal. But he stuck me with a 15 percent restocking fee that wasn't there 93 cents prior. I think it's pretty cruel to do that. Like my boss always told me, "You gotta remember who's the customer. You don't **** that person off, lest you lose your job." He needs to understand I don't need him, but he does need me. I'm paying to put food on his table, not the other way around. I'm risking dealing with a little company that may not be there next week. He should compensate me a little bit for that by not changing his own policies over 93 cents. I later found out that the item price was identical, he just charges more for shipping. That pisses me off as you aren't supposed to make money on shipping, and if one company can get it to me for one price, so can he. It's the same item. I got screwed on Ebay shipping once and so now shipping cost can make or break a deal for me, and has many times in the past.

I thought I'd be honest and let him know what website I was getting my prices off of, so he didn't think I was trying to screw him. I did that to show honesty on my part, not so he could try to make money off of me knowing that there is a slim chance I wouldn't be able to get it to work.

I still think changing your policy to increase your profit in the event of a return is crooked.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Is this good business practice?

Hello Water, I stopped reading your last post when you mentioned that the 15% restocking fee was cruel. Time is money for anyone, especially for a one man distributor. If dont buy from him hes wasted time and effort and he needs to make money in his business. Otherwise he wouldnt be in business. Big warehouse's with a big inventory requires labor,equipment, to manage. A one man shop has to buy from the big distributor at a discount, pay the shipping to his place and then sell to you. IF you return it he has to do the same thing or stack it behind the counter with every other misc. part that customers may return. I have had alot of success with small distributors because they build their business buy going the extra mile to please you because they need your business. Big distributors are often a pain because of all the different peoples working there not knowing what the big picture is or where your part was last time they checked or you asked. Hey sometimes they are not the lowest price, but it will arrive of the date promised.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Is this good business practice?

I emailed him this morning and asked him why he changed his policy on me and he said he didn't, he hasn't estabilished a set return policy yet, and that he goes on a case-by-case basis. That's why he used that companies return policy for my order.

Kinda funny.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is this good business practice?

Just buy it from a someone local then that would allow you to take it back. Of course, they probably charge 15% more in the first place.

 

[88wellcraft]

Re: Is this good business practice?

I believe....(isn't that a blue collar thing?) If the product is defective...you should not be charged for return shipping or restocking etc. If one is using the product just to see if it will work for something it isn't meant to do or for a product that it is not specifically for...the buyer should be charged for his/her experiment......Just my $.02

 

[Twidget]

Re: Is this good business practice?

a 15% restock fee is pretty much a standard. Paying return shipping is also a norm.

You asked him to play by a set of rules(price of a big supplier) and he in returned asked you to play by the same set of rules(return policy of the same supplier). Seems fair to me, but then if I were doing an experiment and using a part for something it wasn't designed to do, I wouldn't have the cajones to try and return it if it didn't work. That is just me though.