I recently learned my local hydroponics store went out of business. I call it my "local" store only because it's 78 miles closer than the next one.
I knew the guy was suffering. He started out with the usual markup - which can be somewhat higher in markets like this one because hydroponics stores don't move as much volume as, say, a grocery store or Wal*Mart. Business wasn't great, so he started dropping his prices. It might have picked up a little, but not enough to matter, apparently, because he dropped them again once or twice across the board.
That's not including sales that he ran from time to time, BtW.
I've heard that some distributors set minimum pricing that the retailers agree not to sell under. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure that this guy was selling at the minimum before he went under.
This wasn't just some goof who decided to open a hydroponics store because he heard the money was good, either. He has education and experience in the horticultural field, and had made educational presentations to show people the hobby. He was passionate about growing, growing indoors, and hydroponics.
I remember being in there one day and a couple of guys were picking items up and almost shouting about how they could get the item cheaper on eBay (et cetera). <SHRUGS> I've got no problem with telling someone I can find better prices than they offer, but come on.
After the guys left, I jokingly said something to the owner - I could tell he was actually upset about it and it seemed like there was more to it than just losing a sale. He basically told me he didn't know what to do. His was a small shop (low population density area) and he was losing customers left and right to people that just had a website (or, worse, an eBay store page) and either used their basement for a "warehouse" or just took customers' money and then ordered the products that they'd paid for to be drop-shipped at the people's address.
This guy was nice, knowledgeable, employed people in the community (at least at first, think he had to start letting people go), was always bending over backwards for his customers. Not just passing out the samples that companies sent, I assume they all do that. He's told me, "You don't want to buy that here, you can get the same thing cheaper at..." He's stayed late for a $10 sale. I called once to see if he was open on Sundays and he said, "No, I'm home, this is my day to rest. But if you know what time you are coming I can go to the store." I've heard him give advice to people who thanked him - and then left to go buy the things he suggested on eBay or wherever, and I assume that wasn't the only time he gave free advice to someone who had no intention of spending a cent.
What I'm trying to say is... If you need something, check out our sponsors first. After all, they are the ones that keep our favorite site online and free for us to enjoy.
But if they don't have what you want... Folks, give your local retailer a shot. If you spend a dollar there he'll be far more likely to spend whatever his profit amounts to in the local community. Try the small places before you head into China*Mart. I understand that money doesn't grow on trees and that at times it's simply not feasible to do so. But when you can... please do. If nothing else, (politely) tell the person behind the counter that you saw the item at <wherever>. Tell him that you understand reality and know he can't match that price, but you were wondering if he could possibly meet you somewhere in the middle so that you can save a buck and he can still make one. While your at it, you might end up leaving with free samples, some new nutrients that he just got in and wants a report on, some nutrients that he mixes himself (if he does so), the bottle of super-hyper-potent flowering nutrients that he opened by mistake that morning when he meant to grab a bottle of vegetative nutrient to feed his store plants and can't sell now that it has been opened, the reflector that got bent when someone knocked it off the counter (but still works fine)... And knowledge.
Just... consider giving your money to the guy that's trying to run an actual business and who might actually care about his customers - instead of giving it to the faceless individual that takes your money, pushes a couple buttons on his computer, and then goes back into the other room to finish watching the game on television.
I felt the need to rant.
I knew the guy was suffering. He started out with the usual markup - which can be somewhat higher in markets like this one because hydroponics stores don't move as much volume as, say, a grocery store or Wal*Mart. Business wasn't great, so he started dropping his prices. It might have picked up a little, but not enough to matter, apparently, because he dropped them again once or twice across the board.
That's not including sales that he ran from time to time, BtW.
I've heard that some distributors set minimum pricing that the retailers agree not to sell under. If that's the case, I'm pretty sure that this guy was selling at the minimum before he went under.
This wasn't just some goof who decided to open a hydroponics store because he heard the money was good, either. He has education and experience in the horticultural field, and had made educational presentations to show people the hobby. He was passionate about growing, growing indoors, and hydroponics.
I remember being in there one day and a couple of guys were picking items up and almost shouting about how they could get the item cheaper on eBay (et cetera). <SHRUGS> I've got no problem with telling someone I can find better prices than they offer, but come on.
After the guys left, I jokingly said something to the owner - I could tell he was actually upset about it and it seemed like there was more to it than just losing a sale. He basically told me he didn't know what to do. His was a small shop (low population density area) and he was losing customers left and right to people that just had a website (or, worse, an eBay store page) and either used their basement for a "warehouse" or just took customers' money and then ordered the products that they'd paid for to be drop-shipped at the people's address.
This guy was nice, knowledgeable, employed people in the community (at least at first, think he had to start letting people go), was always bending over backwards for his customers. Not just passing out the samples that companies sent, I assume they all do that. He's told me, "You don't want to buy that here, you can get the same thing cheaper at..." He's stayed late for a $10 sale. I called once to see if he was open on Sundays and he said, "No, I'm home, this is my day to rest. But if you know what time you are coming I can go to the store." I've heard him give advice to people who thanked him - and then left to go buy the things he suggested on eBay or wherever, and I assume that wasn't the only time he gave free advice to someone who had no intention of spending a cent.
What I'm trying to say is... If you need something, check out our sponsors first. After all, they are the ones that keep our favorite site online and free for us to enjoy.
But if they don't have what you want... Folks, give your local retailer a shot. If you spend a dollar there he'll be far more likely to spend whatever his profit amounts to in the local community. Try the small places before you head into China*Mart. I understand that money doesn't grow on trees and that at times it's simply not feasible to do so. But when you can... please do. If nothing else, (politely) tell the person behind the counter that you saw the item at <wherever>. Tell him that you understand reality and know he can't match that price, but you were wondering if he could possibly meet you somewhere in the middle so that you can save a buck and he can still make one. While your at it, you might end up leaving with free samples, some new nutrients that he just got in and wants a report on, some nutrients that he mixes himself (if he does so), the bottle of super-hyper-potent flowering nutrients that he opened by mistake that morning when he meant to grab a bottle of vegetative nutrient to feed his store plants and can't sell now that it has been opened, the reflector that got bent when someone knocked it off the counter (but still works fine)... And knowledge.
Just... consider giving your money to the guy that's trying to run an actual business and who might actually care about his customers - instead of giving it to the faceless individual that takes your money, pushes a couple buttons on his computer, and then goes back into the other room to finish watching the game on television.
I felt the need to rant.
