How expensive is this country?

[Gin]

Some of you may recall I've been searching for cap retainers ( bit of cord or bungy with clips each end to secure sailing cap to shirt/jacket).

I finally found one in Germany at 4.35 Euros retail, so I e-mailed the manufacturer and asked either to buy direct or for a connection to their UK wholesaler- they opted for the latter.

The UK company tell me that as yet their dealer website has not been constructed but, yes they can supply me with 50 items as a starter, but I would have to pay their retail website price.

'£10 each' . Heaven knows what they propose to reduce this to for wholesale distribution but clearly they will not sell any at the retail price, nor any to me at wholesale.

Who in their right mind would spend a tenner on something which cost probably no more than £0.50 to produce??

What a rip-off!!!!

Another similar product from an unknown manufacturer, retails here at £2.99 and it is that baseline that I'm looking to discount down from

 

[richardabeattie]

Why not use a piece of string?

 

[Gin]

We've already been down that road on an earlier thread- as you will see I'm looking for 50 to provide to our Club members at cost- this is a non-profit making enterprise but even so I doubt that a bit of knotted string will fit the bill.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Presume you've been back to the UK distie and used words along the lines of "You must be effing joking, doncha know there's a recession on? Beat £2.99 or whistle."

 

[Salty John]

You may have already checked this out, but Chisco and their sister company Chums in the USA market them. They retail at $3.99, I don't know their trade price. Worth an email?
http://www.chisco.com/

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

At £2.99 each retail I am slightly puzzled why you don't just buy them retail and get on with it. You may well be able to save a few pence each by spending hours of your time, but is that worth it?

For a really cheap solution buy some crocodile clips, and some coloured string and make your own.

 

[Gin]

Thanks folks,

1) I didn't reply to them since it would be a waste of time
2) I shall have a look at the US website- thanks
3) I omitted to say that the £2.99 items in a chandlers (i.e. a boaty item) looks exactly the same as a previously seen ski item, which clearly said on the packaging "not rustproof" , so I'm reluctant to take a chance on that.
4) What I really seek and cannot yet find is a supply like my own, bought some years ago, a nice pretty bit of coiled bungy with positive lock abs clips each end- these cost £3.95 retail and would be great if I can get them for our members at £2- £2.50 a go.
5) Time wasted- yes but I don't mind

 

[Malish]

would suggest an e-mail to the manufacturer in Germany, expaining that their UK distributor is taking the p*ss and not to expect too many orders

 

[Gin]

Yes, that may be worth a try

 

[tross]

Why don't you talk to some of the promotional gift companies - you may be able to get the clip hat and embroidery for that price. At the moment things are pretty dire in that market so could be a good time to bargain with them.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Hopeless, I agree.

Try the BURNSCO site (NZ) They'll mail you a couple, no doubt.

PWG

 

[Largslout]

They need to cap their prices. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Gin]

Thanks- we have a very nice supplier of baseball caps with embroidered Club logo who is trying to source this additional item but so far without success.

If they are not successful I shall not try another since I wouldn't want to renege on an agreed supply line just for the sake of this minor additional item

 

[NickNap]

Henri Lloyd cap retainer with stainless steel claws for £5.00 at speedsails.co.uk

 

[Sanderling_]

What about these at 59p each for 100 plus a length of Bungy?

 

[lille_bee]

I've just bought one of these at ExCel today for £4, all-plastic clips:

Sold by Ship-Shape of Wells, Somerset; tel. 01749 678035 ; Is this the sort of thing you were after?