Thread: Q.O.T.W. - Would you deal with a supplier if you knew they also sold direct?

Originally Posted by ScreenPlay

Interesting thread! I am a contract screen-printer, and when I first purchased my company 7 years ago, the previous owners did both direct and contract work. I have always thought that it was a conflict of interest, and decided right at the beginning to become strictly contract. I now do work for some of the largest promo companies in my area.

Some of the plusses of being strictly contract include only having to deal with end customers when asked by my contract clients. I'm at the point where I don't even like doing things for family because it just takes so much extra time. I almost always get paid, although it's mostly on terms. I am able to focus on efficiency and processes, which is what I'm good at.

Some customers have a hard time making us part of the process, or treat their printer/embroiderer like a retail store. I've even had customers try to return product that we custom printed because they didn't like the color that they picked. I've always looked at this as more of a partnership, where both parties need to make sure the customer is happy, and the best way to accomplish this is to ask for and the opinion of your printer.

A relationship built on trust and knowledge of that person and company is easily built over a short time if both parties enter into the relationship with an understanding of how they would like it to develop. From the sounds of your post it looks like you want to develop the kind of relationship that a Distributor could trust. If you were closer I would be happy to deal with you. However, I am not sure very many regular local suppliers always do business the way you do. Both parties have to produce efficently to make the deal work right. If the distributor keeps you busy then you won't need to look past him for business. Good luck to you

I know this thread was started awhile back but it makes me wonder if Suppliers could take legal action on bad scores given to them by Distributors on SAGE (or similar) or if Suppliers have to sign an agreement with SAGE that would prevent the Supplier from taking action on this.

Originally Posted by rjswave

I know this thread was started awhile back but it makes me wonder if Suppliers could take legal action on bad scores given to them by Distributors on SAGE (or similar) or if Suppliers have to sign an agreement with SAGE that would prevent the Supplier from taking action on this.

How could they take legal action if a distributor is honest? Experiences are just that-if an order arrived late or it was incorrect, that is usually "prove-able", I would think. I don't think ASI would put us all in the potential position of being sued. I, for one, am aggravated that

I am aggravated that we can't rate suppliers we haven't transacted with yet, because sometimes, the lack of customer service causes us not to use the supplier. We should be able to report that. I have gone back and forth with Tim Andrews over this, but he isn't inclined to change the system. Maybe if enough people address this point, he will.

I only use them if I have to.