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BYOAC Discounts With Vendors?
DashRendar:
I suppose it comes down to budgets.
If I have $75 available for my project, the cost of the items I need will determine how that budget is allocated.
I agree, a 5% or 10% discount doesn't change much if it's a $30 joystick we're talking about. But if it's a $500 arcade monitor, or a $150 control panel, it can help.
It gets down to business models I guess. Some people raise the price of their items, understanding they'll sell fewer but will make up for it by getting more off each sale. Others lower the price of their items, understanding they'll sell more, and will thus make profits from volume.
It's an interesting discussion though. I've only been around for 7 months or so. I can only imagine what it was like when this hobby first began. We are starting to see some competition now (encoders, side art, cabinets, etc).
CheffoJeffo:
I totally applaud small-budget projects ... I can build a MAME box that would satisfy 95% of the population for the cost of a JPac, ArcadeVGA and an audio amplifier. There is at least one forum master around that I respect, but who I believe lacks an understanding of building within a small budget.
:cheers:
If you can find me a discount on a $500 arcade monitor ... wait ... $500 is too much to spend on an arcade monitor in the first place ... I told you that we were a bunch of cheap ---smurfs--- !
And, yes, it is an interesting discussion.
I'm all for discounts, but how many ever support those who offer them ?
Did you subscribe to GRM because they offer a discount ?
No ?
Didn't think so.
:dunno
Epyx:
Im just happy there are people out there supporting our hobby period. Rather than worry about a 5% to 10% discount, my main concern is to spread my arcade $$ between as many of them as I can. I will buy from a vendor like Ultimarc and then purposely buy something else I need from a vendor like GroovyGameGear just to give them all a bit of my $$ pie.
I appreciate what they do and realize the niche market they are catering to, for some of the items/services these guys offer 5 to 10% can make the difference between making money and breaking even.
Ginsu Victim:
Yep. I respect Ultimarc's products enough that I bought the Aimtrak before anyone had one. I was just happy to have a vendor to buy from that supported this hobby the way Andy does. A discount is always nice, I won't disagree with that, but it's not going to stop me from buying from one vendor over another.
Turnarcades:
Speaking as a hobbyist, I feel it's good to get stuff at a consistently good price an quality, rather than be priced as such that they have to run discounts just to get sales. However, obviously not everyone shares this idea as a recent thread I started about researching parts for new fabrication and aiming to bringing them out to customers at a consistently cheaper price than is currently available was mostly met with " oh I'm just happy to get them from the same source everyone else does, even though they're pricey...".
So it seems to me most hobbyists here either have money to burn or just can't be bothered to shop around, feeling a kinship if going with the masses.
As a vendor it's difficult to judge the benefits of the type of discounts the original poster has in mind, as we are not currently a parts supplier - supplying full machines obviously means our business model is very different as it does not depend on high-selling, low-profit margin goods. Indeed, most arcade builders have gone to the other extreme:
--- Quote ---It gets down to business models I guess. Some people raise the price of their items, understanding they'll sell fewer but will make up for it by getting more off each sale. Others lower the price of their items, understanding they'll sell more, and will thus make profits from volume.
--- End quote ---
This point is true for most large parts suppliers or cabinet builders, who have low-selling goods so just try to slap on massive profit margins to compensate for this. We've always tried to stay at the other end of this though which is why we continue to thrive - we are possibly the cheapest 'hand-built cabinet' builders in Europe and although the cut isn't massive, we've found the right balance to be cheaper than the rest and encorage more sales, but still take a decent cut for the service without having to 'up prices' or run huge specials.
I did consider running a BYOAC member discount but our target demographic is mostly novices just getting into the hobby or casual gamers, not experienced builders as we all are here. The only offer we consistently run is really a 'word of mouth' encouragement, where previous customers or new buyers recommending a friend, the recommending customer gets up to a £50 reward/discount whilst the recommended friend gets up to the same as a discount off their order. It encourages joint orders and repeat business.
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