40 replies to this topic

[Admin]

This is a multiple choice poll. When choosing a supplier to work with, what factors are most important to you?

[dbl a]

Admin said:

This is a multiple choice poll. When choosing a supplier to work with, what factors are most important to you?

When we first started we did worry about price and still sdo to a certain extent, but I found our real quick that if my supplier cannot service me no matter what price is they are hurting our business greatly.

[Ellen Perrin]

Reliability and ease of reaching someone in customer service is also very important. I can think of a number of suppliers who excell in quality, reliability and their customer service people are well trained, however, I don't use them because I sit on hold for so long waiting for service that it actuially eats into my profits. Time is $$$ in any sales business. Time spent on hold is a waste of money.


If they are so busy, maybe they need more help.

[dbl a]

I do agree with you on that factor very strongly. I have waited on hold so many times and finally just gave up. I was leaving messages on two big companies but not getting a call back.
Too me customer service is one of the biggest things I have to sell.

larry

[Greyhill124]

Rewards points are nice, but top-tier customer service is probably of the greatest importance to me. I am not a huge distributor, but my clients shouldn't know that... they should except the best service and turn-around time regardless, so I look for suppliers that will treat me like (and my clients) like we are a priority.

[tedp]

Interesting poll results. I wonder if Norwood's watching... :)

[tedp]

By the way, that comment was in reference to the rewards programs.

[dbl a]

I have had a few people write me, nore and more I wonder what is going on with different companies. There is no doubt that we must take care of our companies. We are death on it. I have dropped to faily large suppliers this year just because of slow service or not answering faxes or phone message. We are trying to grow and we have so far this year. After four month of 05 we have increased 38% and had two additional suppliers call us to state we are now EQP. But it is based on customer service, not waiting on the phone 25min or never having a call returned.

Larry
Dble A Marketing
Very happy in Iowa. ( but cold)

[promoguy]

Good thing I didn't have any coffee in my mouth when I read that. LOL


" And we al know that clients and customers try to fit 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag every day!"

[Ray E]

Attn: Administrator, The factors listed to vote on do not cover the relationship that should exist between distributors and suppliers. One of the most improtant is to have a respectful attitude toward each other. I mean both parties should know how their employees are performing on the phone, e mail, faxes in every way. After a few tangles one soon learns that more bee's will come to honey.
This web site DistributorTalk is a good example. I haven't been involved long but from what I have been reading there are a large number of fairly new people getting into the business and that is good. However, the hardest lesson people have to learn is mistakes will happen but you can not make a mistake. I know it sounds strange but customers do not care who makes the mistake they do not like to pay for mistakes. So the big supprise for a new distributor is that they have to pay the supplier and not get paid by their customer. Education is the most important thing a new person can do. Especially the basics that PPAI offers toward CAS &MAS this is a minimum requirement. This industry is realy different than any other and most people who stay in the industry learn the unique rules.
RayE

[Joe Denhoff]

We need quality product delivered when promised 100% of the time. Also, good customer service. Good customer service consists of nice people with no poor attitudes. They have to get back to us when promised also, within a few hours unless they tell us it will take longer. I leave suppliers who have customer servcice reps who treat me rudely.

[maxrscharf]

The most important that comes to my mind is an intelligent, responsive and decision making customer service department.
The next is high quality products and service.
Without these traits the supplier is doomed to mediocrity.
Max

[Tom Aufman]

chadman said:

I love Norwood rewards. I just recived my first 2 orders from them.

As far as what I look for out of a supplier. I think you have to have a supplier that is a printer first. If you have a cheap product and you put a great imprint on it, you have a good promotional product.

I also need a supplier that has a great rep, and customer service team. I have had customer service people tell me in the past that they didnâ??t know who there rep is. Thatâ??s a freaking joke!

I also need to have a supplier who thinks my client is just as important as me. We are middle men, and as such, we get treated like middle men. I go to bat as the liaison from my client to the manufacture every day. I like suppliers that ask questions about what my client is trying to accomplish. And we al know that clients and customers try to fit 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag every day!

I would like to take this one step further and list my top 5 reps. By doing so I would hope that other people will contact them if they ever need help. I would like to say if you have any negative comments then keep it to yourself! This is not a place to bad mouth them!

1.) Kevin Wicks (Norwood)

2.) Jason Emery (Logo Mark) Jason was with Tag Master. He was recognized as an Industry Top 25 up and comings in 2004 and started as a distributor rep working for my family business.

3.) Brain Bradford (B&B Group)

4.) Chris Erickson (KC Caps)

5.) Mike Witte (The Witte Group)

Nothing negitive, I have never heard of any of them.

In My Humble Opinion, The best Multi Line Rep is K C Fields.

Tom Aufman

[Tom Aufman]

chadman said:

Sorry Tom but these are Midwest Reps. I should have mentioned that in my post. :lol:

Chad,
That is probably why I never heard of them.
Tom Aufman

[Tom Aufman]

Greyhill124 said:

Rewards points are nice, but top-tier customer service is probably of the greatest importance to me. I am not a huge distributor, but my clients shouldn't know that... they should except the best service and turn-around time regardless, so I look for suppliers that will treat me like (and my clients) like we are a priority.

I don't want Reward Points. Let me make more profit.....I will Reward Myself..
Tom Aufman

[Allan]

Rewards are a pain. Just one more thing to keep up with. I don;t shop to get anything but the best price and great service. Sometimes those two are not found together, so I will take service over price because with great service I can promise something to my customer and it will usually come through.

[Tom Aufman]

chadman said:

I love Norwood rewards. I just recived my first 2 orders from them.

As far as what I look for out of a supplier. I think you have to have a supplier that is a printer first. If you have a cheap product and you put a great imprint on it, you have a good promotional product.

I also need a supplier that has a great rep, and customer service team. I have had customer service people tell me in the past that they didnâ??t know who there rep is. Thatâ??s a freaking joke!

I also need to have a supplier who thinks my client is just as important as me. We are middle men, and as such, we get treated like middle men. I go to bat as the liaison from my client to the manufacture every day. I like suppliers that ask questions about what my client is trying to accomplish. And we al know that clients and customers try to fit 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag every day!

I would like to take this one step further and list my top 5 reps. By doing so I would hope that other people will contact them if they ever need help. I would like to say if you have any negative comments then keep it to yourself! This is not a place to bad mouth them!

1.) Kevin Wicks (Norwood)

2.) Jason Emery (Logo Mark) Jason was with Tag Master. He was recognized as an Industry Top 25 up and comings in 2004 and started as a distributor rep working for my family business.

3.) Brain Bradford (B&B Group)

4.) Chris Erickson (KC Caps)

5.) Mike Witte (The Witte Group)

TagMaster is the only one of that group I deal with. They do a Great Job for me. Their Computer update caused them fits, But are just about through that. Nobody cares more about distributors than TagMaster.
Tom

[Tom Aufman]

tedp said:

By the way, that comment was in reference to the rewards programs.

Ted,

I want my Awards and Rewards put into the bess possible discounts I can get.

I am quite capabile of giving myself a reward on the profits I make.