DataAve 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Is this board strictly for DEALERS? Why can't common folk discuss pricing. You DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS have your own LOCKED THREAD where YOU discuss pricing...to see if you are getting ripped off-find better pricing. Apparently, the rest of us are allowed to get ripped off by dealers/distributors. I thought this was a forum of PUBLIC viewing where pros and non-pros can discuss CCTV-which includes one of the most important factors, PRICE! Not just the PRICE of DVR's, the pricing of jobs, cameras, installer pricing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Simply to allow Dealers to make a profit on items. There was spefic instance in which a customer went to a dealer from this forum, with dealer prices obtained from this forum and demanded that he be sold the items at cost. You can't make a living selling things at cost. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DataAve 0 Posted April 21, 2005 It does not matter what we do in life, there will always be bad apples. I have gotten ripped off by an Italian (which I am) so all Italians are thieves? Asking a Dealer for advice on price shouldn't be a crime. Be nice to know if I am going to pay $3000 for a DVR and there is someone here that can advise me that it sells for $2000 is not a bad thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas 0 Posted April 21, 2005 It's a matter of perspective. Is it bad for you? No. If that $2000 is the dealers cost, is it bad for him? Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AVCONSULTING 0 Posted April 21, 2005 If you look at a lot of the threads there are numerous references to sites that post prices. Plus any search on Google or Yahoo will bring up hundreds of places that sell CCTV products at dealer prices direct. No one is keeping you or anyone else from reading these threads or going to those sites. I'm not really sure what you are saying as far as not being able to access a myriad of places to compare pricing. Regarding distributors selling to end users, that is a different thing altogether. Distributors such as ADI, Alarmax, Tri-Ed, VSSI, etc will generally not sell to an end user. This is their policy and has nothing to do with the forum or the dealers posting on the forum. All distributors maintain web sites but most have password protected pricing for their dealer base only. With the advent of internet based selling, there are more sources for low cost CCTV products than ever in the history of CCTV. And that doesn't even include the stuff listed on Ebay. In reality the number of places you can buy CCTV at close to cost is overwhelming. The best course of action is to first find out what products are best by looking at the discussions here and then finding that product through an internet search. The forum is primarily a place for evaluation of products, and also help in planning systems. Pricing changes almost on a daily basis and the internet search engines, or Ebay is the best source for pricing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted April 21, 2005 I'm staying out of this one... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bryan1656 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Here's another example: Distributors of consumer goods sell at lower prices to retailers/dealers under an agreement of nondisclosure or confidentiality. I am familar with another forum, dealing with other types of goods, where a small independant retailer shared what their cost was by private message with certain members who requested it. A big name retail competitor took that information and told the distributor - who then quit selling to the smaller retailer - who was then sued for violation of various agreements and such. The small independent retailer couldn't afford to even fight the lawsuit. They had no assets. The whole point was to "sue the little guy out of business" - which they were successful in doing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AVCONSULTING 0 Posted April 21, 2005 There are no such restrictions in the CCTV distributor world about giving out costs but you will find that the majority of well established distributors will not reveal their costs to dealers or end users or each other since factories cut special deals based on volume or closeouts, etc. Some dealers are large enough to deal with the factory direct and can get better pricing or even the same pricing that they would get through a distributor. There are cases when a factory will even sell direct to the end user if the end user is large enough. Case in point is when Panasonic bypassed their reps, distributors, dealers, and sold equipment directly to the New York, New York casino in Las Vegas. Pricing is only one issue when considering a product. You also have to figure on the source of the product, how well it will be supported, what technical assistance you will get, etc. You can actually end up paying more by having to add on extra time just in getting things to work properly, especially on less well known suppliers who are your best bud's when it comes to selling and are no where to be found when you have a problem. Just look at some of the threads here by people who have bought questionable DVR boards on Ebay thinking they got a hot deal and in reality ended up with a useless piece of garbage. Same with some of the cameras. The forum is littered with stories of bad purchases. If you are an end user it is sometimes better to buy through a reputable local dealer than by buying from an unknown and untested internet supplier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VST_Man 1 Posted April 21, 2005 It's a matter of capitolism. Everyone has to earn a living and if that is asking too much in terms of managing a Company to support a family I am sorry that you feel left out. I've gotten over the fact that you are trying to save money. Just the way it is. did you complain at McDonald's? Local Gas station? The Doctors office? The grocery store? Did you ask them to see proffit margins so you could tell them how it is? did you have the local girl scouts arrested for trespassing on your property when they attempted to sell you cookies? did you wake up a free person this morning? and trust me, your not missing much. your assumptions are way off track as to what "we" are conspiring. it just is not happening the way you are saying it. and, this forum is priceless and is a very informative forum where idea's and hands on lessons learned are passed. you may not know it, but based on what I've read in this forum, you already have received a bargin. you just don't appreciate it very much. dealers, installers, consumers alike have took the time to answer hundreds of questions in the name of saving you time and money. open a business and maybe then you'll have a different perspective. And go look up the word entrepreneur in a dictionary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted April 21, 2005 did you have the local girl scouts arrested for trespassing on your property when they attempted to sell you cookies? did you wake up a free person this morning? Don’t get me started on those Girl Scouts!! Their ethics are below those of the average crack dealer. I mean they get you hooked on those cookies and then jack the price every year. Who makes those cookies anyway and why can’t I buy them directly from them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VJD 0 Posted April 21, 2005 I thought you were staying out of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted April 21, 2005 I thought you were staying out of it. Well, the Girl Scout issue is major and I couldn't help myself... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VJD 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Everyone has their hot buttons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Who makes those cookies anyway and why can’t I buy them directly from them? martha stewart .? i tough there mommies baked the cookies?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted April 21, 2005 (edited) i tough there mommies baked the cookies?? No way! It’s a professional operation. I don’t want to spread any rumors, but I have it on good authority that the cookies are made at some secret location in Mexico. The whole operation is overseen by some sort of mysterious Cookie Lord who has close ties to higher-ups in both the Mexican government and the DEA in the US. The profits are laundered through operatives in Las Vegas and then distributed to the TV networks to fund reality shows. There are evil forces out there trying to rot our teeth, expand our waistlines, and make us even dumberer. We all need CCTV systems so we can watch our own reality shows, not those funded by the government! (One of our cats already has a cult following.) Ok, I'm still going to try to stay out of this one... Edited April 21, 2005 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted April 21, 2005 ha ha ahhha hha ... hey we dont get no cookie pushers down here ... we got lots of JWs, PSs, and DDs .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cooperman 0 Posted April 21, 2005 You guys really take the biscuit So rory, what the heck are JWs, PSs, and DDs...???? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted April 21, 2005 You guys really take the biscuit So rory, what the heck are JWs, PSs, and DDs...???? jehova witness, peanut sellers, drug dealers ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bryan1656 0 Posted April 21, 2005 B U L L E T I N O F F I C E R S A F E T Y SOUTHERN BORDER REGION GULF COAST STATES Reports from numerous intelligence and information sources involved in the surveillance and investigation of Girl Scout’s of America (GSA) report the following: The recent GSA domination of Mexican organized crime territories previously controlled by rival criminal organizations (such as Fuentes Los Anos Nina – FLAN) has prompted rival Keebler Magic Elves (KME) to step up aggressive actions against the GSA to protect their territories and existing manufacturing and smuggling operations. Several GSA members have been observed in KME territories throughout the Continental United States, sometimes in residential areas, and often even at community Churches and schools. GSA is seeking to observe KME distribution networks and consumption. KME has been observed establishing manufacturing facilities in Mexico, and near border areas. It is anticipated that as GSA and KME encroach into each others territory seeking expansion, there will be violent incidents. This poses a significant risk to officer safety for any agents conducting enforcement actions targeting these Girl Scouts and Magic Elves. GSA members can be identified often through their distinctive display of the color green. Weapons are often concealed inside their berets and inside “cookie boxes†Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted April 21, 2005 You guys really take the biscuit For the non-British needing a translation: http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/ZT.HTM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted April 21, 2005 ha ha ha ha aaaahhha .. howd you find this one?? Take the biscuit is slang for to be regarded (by the speaker) as the most surprising thing that could have occurred. Cooperman, hey dont take the huff mon.. im soo tanked up right now im talking to the carpet!!!!! LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaysadeya 0 Posted April 21, 2005 B U L L E T I N O F F I C E R S A F E T Y SOUTHERN BORDER REGION GULF COAST STATES You heard it here first folks! This news should be national by this evening and world-wide by tomorrow morning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cooperman 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Not many peanut sellers around these parts rory; just plenty of nuts! bryan 1656, you're beginning to frighten me kaysadeya, so that's what it means! Great link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted April 21, 2005 Not many peanut sellers around these parts rory; just plenty of nuts! bryan 1656, you're beginning to frighten me kaysadeya, so that's what it means! Great link yeah they sell them IRIE nuts ... makes yah irie, its all natty dreads (wannabe dirty rastas) that sell them on da street here dred .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites