17 replies to this topic

[ProPrinters]

This drives me nuts. Why must I need an account to get a price on an item? I also want a sample but I need an account.

This leads me to believe that some of these vendors have open accounts on their books with no activity.

My only reason for initially calling is you may have one item that I might have some interest in buying, not for sure though. The same way with pricing. How do I know I want an account if what I find out about the supplier will not fit into my strategic plan.

Give me a break, this.

Derek

[AdmanGR]

They don't know you sell 500K. They are not nimble, They don't like tire kickers....who knows?? Maybe they want to protect you too...

[ProPrinters]

I am only kicking tires, if I have serious interest on the part of my clients. I don't have time to waste wondering how much a widget costs. Today I wanted to get a sample for a 175 piece self promo for a golf outing, oh but you must have an account.

Give me a break

[Pin Doctor]

There is much talk in this forum about the large number of less than qualified people entering the market as Distributors. The havoc they cause by unprofessional behavior, price cutting, etc. is decried frequently. My take is that the Supplier in question is trying to respond to that influx and limit their new accounts to serious industry participants as a service to their existing Distributors. I would think that Distributors would applaud such an initiative. If this is the wrong approach, please give us (Suppliers) a better approach. Simply requiring an industry identification code does little to limit the market, as they are so easy to acquire.

[ProPrinters]

yes, but what stops an unathorized person from opening an account. I mean I don't want to go through the mental gymnastics just to get a price or a catalog or sample, and then not be an active account.

[djoctagone]

I applaud suppliers that refuse to give out information on products without verifying the inquirer's account status.

I even further applaud suppliers whose account registration process truly vets the distributor.

I've suggested elsewhere that accounts shouldn't be established by industry suppliers until any combination of the following is assured:

--Valid reseller's tax exemption certificate is provided

--Credit rating review of the inquirer (which also uncovers a lot about the inquirer's nature of business)

--Valid industry identifier (UPIC, PPAI, SAGE, ASI, etc.) is provided

While the above tactics aren't foolproof, the process will certainly help protect the interests of distributors.

The most popular tag on this forum is "selling direct".

The above seems like a great way to prevent such.

[epicemb]

Derek - How would you feel if your customer called and bluffed their way into getting a price on an item that you showed them - my guess is that you would go ballistic. Unfortunately the only way that companies in a closed marketplace can control info is to qualify customers - it might be a pain, but it is needed.

This is probably the one instance that paying for an ASI # is worth the money. I have been in this position a couple of times and have been able to give my ASI # - they have quickly verified who I am and gave me the info without having to open an account.

ProPrinters said:

This drives me nuts. Why must I need an account to get a price on an item? I also want a sample but I need an account.

This leads me to believe that some of these vendors have open accounts on their books with no activity.

My only reason for initially calling is you may have one item that I might have some interest in buying, not for sure though. The same way with pricing. How do I know I want an account if what I find out about the supplier will not fit into my strategic plan.

Give me a break, this.

Derek

[krier32]

I agree with the tax certificate and Industry identifier. Don't agree with the credit check, I think this could be bad for people that operate as sole proprietor. (Credit check is ok only if you are applying for open account terms).

For those people that partner with the larger distributors, then I think that you would need to give your dealer or account number.

djoctagone said:

I applaud suppliers that refuse to give out information on products without verifying the inquirer's account status.

I even further applaud suppliers whose account registration process truly vets the distributor.

I've suggested elsewhere that accounts shouldn't be established by industry suppliers until any combination of the following is assured:

--Valid reseller's tax exemption certificate is provided

--Credit rating review of the inquirer (which also uncovers a lot about the inquirer's nature of business)

--Valid industry identifier (UPIC, PPAI, SAGE, ASI, etc.) is provided

While the above tactics aren't foolproof, the process will certainly help protect the interests of distributors.

The most popular tag on this forum is "selling direct".

The above seems like a great way to prevent such.

[djoctagone]

krier32 said:

I agree with the tax certificate and Industry identifier. Don't agree with the credit check, I think this could be bad for people that operate as sole proprietor. (Credit check is ok only if you are applying for open account terms).

You'd quote a prospect on a large project without running a credit check? I'd be OK quoting a small project without running a credit check, but I'd at least ask for a standard sheet of credit references (again, from which I could glean a lot of info about the true nature of their business). Smart businesses should already have such a document prepared to readily email to me.

Suppliers should be no different in quoting large projects--no pricing given until the inquirer's credit is reviewed. If two parties are inquiring for the same project and one has outstanding credit and the other poor credit (or little to no history), I feel that the pricing and/or terms should favor the entity with outstanding credit.

[epicemb]

I do not think that this makes any sense - why would you go to the expense and time to simply give or get a price? I agree that qualifying customers is important but this is putting the cart in front of the horse.

The one instance where I would agree is if you were going to need to spend a great deal of time working on the quote - researching options, getting samples and preparing a detailed proposal, then you would likely want to further qualify the customer.

djoctagone said:

You'd quote a prospect on a large project without running a credit check? I'd be OK quoting a small project without running a credit check, but I'd at least ask for a standard sheet of credit references (again, from which I could glean a lot of info about the true nature of their business). Smart businesses should already have such a document prepared to readily email to me.

Suppliers should be no different in quoting large projects--no pricing given until the inquirer's credit is reviewed. If two parties are inquiring for the same project and one has outstanding credit and the other poor credit (or little to no history), I feel that the pricing and/or terms should favor the entity with outstanding credit.

[djoctagone]

Steve--

I'm in agreement that not a lot of time should be spent by any party to give or get a price on small projects.

However, it'd be a red flag for me if the business I was dealing with didn't have a prepared credit references sheet. If they can't be prepared in that regard, are they going to be prepared to appropriately respond when it really matters? Are they going to be prepared enough to remain a viable business and someone I can still work with next year or are they going to fail and go out of business?

One doesn't necessarily have to contact the sources listed on the credit references sheet in order to give/get a price--just obtaining such a document helps with the vetting of a prospect.

It should be noted that any business legitimately reselling promotional products can obtain a UPIC. You don't have to be a member of ASI or PPAI. As a distributor, you can view your own UPIC credit report for free, and suppliers can obviously benefit from the credit reporting data.

[epicemb]

I have found that having a UPIC is sort of like having a Discover Card - many places know what it is but do not use it, and even places that do use it at times can have problems with it. I have found my ASI # is more like a Visa card - accepted and understood just about everywhere.

While I can see your point about having a list of credit references I do not really agree. While the goal for any order is to develop a long term business relationship I do not take it for granted, nor would I feel comfortable asking a potential customer for a list of credit references right out of the shoot - especially if they made it clear that they would be pre-paying either by CC or check. I do not think that having such a list means much of anything - I bet that Bernie Madoff had some pretty swank printed brochures and put together a nice monthly statement for all of his customers.

djoctagone said:

It should be noted that any business legitimately reselling promotional products can obtain a UPIC. You don't have to be a member of ASI or PPAI. As a distributor, you can view your own UPIC credit report for free, and suppliers can obviously benefit from the credit reporting data.

[abaker64]

I have had this issue with a 3000 piece cap order, one company wanted me to open an account, they had my upic, ppai number, sage number, address etc. Knew i was going to pay by credit card, yet still wanted me to open an account, they have all the information they need to check me out without the account. However they wouldnt give me the price without opening an account.

So guess what , went to three other cap companies and got the quote i needed, will hear tomorrow if i got the order. But one company didnt get the chance.

[krier32]

djoctagone said:

You'd quote a prospect on a large project without running a credit check? I'd be OK quoting a small project without running a credit check, but I'd at least ask for a standard sheet of credit references (again, from which I could glean a lot of info about the true nature of their business). Smart businesses should already have such a document prepared to readily email to me.

Suppliers should be no different in quoting large projects--no pricing given until the inquirer's credit is reviewed. If two parties are inquiring for the same project and one has outstanding credit and the other poor credit (or little to no history), I feel that the pricing and/or terms should favor the entity with outstanding credit.

Scott,

If I'm not offering terms to a client....no credit check. Likewise, if I'm paying up front and not requesting terms from a supplier, my credit history is none of their business regardless of the size of the order. In this case there is absolutely no reason for them to have all of my personal information. If I provide my UPIC and my sales tax ID then I have proven I am in the industry. Honestly, if you told me I need to let you run a credit check on me before you quote me something, I can guarantee you that your competitor would be getting my business.

Just my thoughts.

[rosec]

Hi,

I'll make sure you are a distribuitor. A couple of quick questions work. On a sample, most companies need to put you into their computer system "set-up an account" to be able to ship something out their door. I do not at all think there would be a problem with a supplier qualifying a distribuitor if someone is serious about purchasing their product before you start sending samples. Again a couple of quick questions. There is quite an expense to sending samples that drives prices up.
Running a credit check is on a whole different level. This for me is on large projects after a relationship is established, not on a "I need to check your credit before we quote or look at doing business together".

Just my .02.
Rose

Edited by rosec, 27 March 2009 - 05:26 AM.
typo

[djoctagone]

I still like to obtain credit references for a customer . . . just to be prepared to have Indoff run credit checks when necessary. It's one less hurdle I have to clear when that rush project comes along and I already have that document with the customer's permission to contact their listed credit references.

But . . . if I were wearing the hat of a supplier (which is what this thread is about) and I was vetting the customer asking for pricing, asking for a standard sheet of credit references and simply seeing the credit references listed could go a long way in determining the inquirer's role in commerce.

For example, Indoff's standard credit references sheet lists SanMar, Sweda, Leed's Gemline, Pro Golf Premiums, among others. To any industry supplier, that should be an automatic that we're legit resellers in the promo industry. The supplier doesn't necessarily have to spend the time to contact those companies and ask about Indoff--just reviewing the document (which also lists our ASI, PPAI and UPIC identifiers) and the attached reseller's tax exemption certificate should be sufficient evidence for them to create an account and therefore give us pricing as requested.

[kristiy]

I ONLY have this happen with wearables suppliers- why is this??

If I had never done business with say, Prime or Lanco, or whoever.. say I call to ask for a price on something (which usually won't have to anyway, as their prices are published, but wearables are not always.. )
so you call Prime or Lanco or Magnet LLC... you give them your company name or ASI/uPIC/sAGE etc - (BUT most suppliers customer service reps can tell if you are a legit PPD by speaking to you for 30 seconds- been there when I was a supplier)- but they will quote you coded pricing at least. You are off the phone in 1 minute.

HOWEVER--You call a wearables supplier- need a quick sample, and a price on it..
If you don't already have an account set up, you are going to be on the phone with them for 30-45 minutes getting your "account" set up, so they can tell you anything. I think it is bunk myself. I hate calling a new wearable supplier!

[ScottH]

kristiy said:

I ONLY have this happen with wearables suppliers- why is this??

If I had never done business with say, Prime or Lanco, or whoever.. say I call to ask for a price on something (which usually won't have to anyway, as their prices are published, but wearables are not always.. )
so you call Prime or Lanco or Magnet LLC... you give them your company name or ASI/uPIC/sAGE etc - (BUT most suppliers customer service reps can tell if you are a legit PPD by speaking to you for 30 seconds- been there when I was a supplier)- but they will quote you coded pricing at least. You are off the phone in 1 minute.

HOWEVER--You call a wearables supplier- need a quick sample, and a price on it..
If you don't already have an account set up, you are going to be on the phone with them for 30-45 minutes getting your "account" set up, so they can tell you anything. I think it is bunk myself. I hate calling a new wearable supplier!

No s&*%!
There's a certain north of the border wearables supplier that I needed sample from. Client saw the shirt and was interested in it-I would have never shown it. Not only did they want me to set up an account, but I couldn't get just one sample - I had to buy a whole sample kit. I think it was $75.00. BS. Took my order elsewhere. Then they called me every day trying to get me to order the sample kit. Finally had to threaten them that I would report them for harassment.