pugdog
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Dec 12, 2005, 8:55 AM
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Silver Prices going up! Designers -- Lock in lower rates!
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As you know, silver prices are going up, following gold. Prices are up almost 30% this year, and were recently fixed at over $9 an ounce!
The investment firms are trying to stir this with stories about shortages, and more. If you really analyze the numbers, they don't seem to work out, *but* the bottom line is the prices are going up regardless.
We have a way to help combat that. We've offered a "Silver Club" program, where you can pre-purchase and lock in a lower rate on silver you are going to use, or are planning to use. Because you pick the silver yourself, and we don't have to pack and mail it, we allow you to come in and use your card (just like a gift card) to pick up the silver you need, when you need it. You don't have to buy excess parts, pieces or beads you don't need, or need now. It's something we can do, that mail order simply can't!!
Because of pricing from our main Bali supplier, if we can maintain certain minimums, they will offer additional discounts that total between 10-15%.
We'd like to get those discounts, and pass them on to our bulk customers.
I realize this isn't the best time to be doing this, but we are doing it _exactly_ because it isn't the best time. We wouldn't have to offer discount/incentive programs if prices were staying low, or even stable. But, this is about the only way to help reduce the costs of silver. We can't stop the price increases -- only work to keep them down as much as possible.
As we notified you by e-mail, we have orders coming in, and if you pre-purchase at least 100 grams, we'll give you a low price, and a preview period for first-dibs.
Our main supplier does that, and we'd like to be part of that group.
Our Bali is *REAL* Bali, from Indonesia. It's the ONLY place BALI beads can be made! There _IS_ a difference if you compare the beads side-by-side. Also, as I state many, many times, your purchase of REAL BALI beads helps Indonesia as a whole rebuild after the effects of the Tsunami.
We are adjusting our pricing to be similar to our main supplier(s).
1) Prices are going to change fairly regularly. We need to pass on price increases (and can pass on decreases) as silver fluctuates.
2) We can offer better discounts to larger, regular customers.
3) The more larger, regular customers who shop with us, the LOWER THE BASE PRICE of the silver is for EVERYONE, so the larger customers get their extra discounts off a LOWER base price!
4) It goes back to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BEAD SHOP!!
Simple economics: If the price of silver goes up, we can't afford to stock the variety we've started to carry. (Sure, it's not well organized, we agree, but there *IS* a pretty amazing, and increasing variety!).
The only way we can do this is if you commit your business to us.
There is also a major upside to this. Because we deal direct with the factory/maker of the beads, if there is a style you like, or a type you need, and you use a reasonable amount (not a HUGE amount, but a REASONABLE one) they will often make it special! The more we buy from them, the more they are willing to make special orders not in their existing or even old catalogs. If a certain piece needs a "fix" or certain size for you, they can adjust the process to accomodate you. Mail order-discount houses can't do that, because they can only survive by VOLUME, and the easier, cheaper and more quickly they can make a bead, the better. Special requests cost them. For our manufacturers, special requests are almost their bread and butter. What is in their catalog comes from what people buy _now_, so adding or changing their catalog is how they survive. It's not an imposition. But, they need to have a certain level of committment from us, or any other outlet, in order to do it.
So, we are offering you an incentive program, to help plan your silver purchases, and keep your costs as low as possible (This means ALL costs, from the actual price per gram you pay, to the amount of "excess" you have to carry to get that price.)
Because prices change so much, we can't post prices or savings, but we can give you an idea of the volume.
1) Per month usage: price breaks at 100, 250, and 500 grams a month. (Larger breaks are available). This requires a signed agreement, and an automatic billing. You can come in and pay before the billing date, or your credit card will be debited, and a Silver Club Card issued to your account. You can pick that up on your next visit.
2) Per-order breaks: price breaks at 500, 1000, and 3000 grams. Additional discounts would apply for large purchases over any 6-month calendar period.
3) Per-quarter breaks: purchase at least 1000 grams in any 3-calendar month period, and receive a certificate for free grams of silver to lower your overall cost per gram for volume. This discount is not as great as the pre-pay, but it's something extra to show we do appreciate your business, even without the committment :)
A calendar period is from the first of the first month, to the last day of the last month of that 3 or 6 month period.
I will be working on a pamphlet and on-line version of this over the next few days.
We know our customers use a lot of silver! We know you like our silver, and each of you have different likes and needs.
As prices go up, we are trying to come up with ways to keep REAL BALI silver locally available, and at the best prices we can for every size need.
We hope our new pricing system for silver, with the built-in discounts and incentives to pre-purchase, and buy larger amounts will pay off for EVERYONE! We'd love to offer wholesale pricing to everyone in this area, but we can't. It's not fair to the larger customers and commercial jewelry makers, and it's not economically possible with the current market conditions. So, we do the next best thing -- offer wholesale prices to wholesale customers!! :)
PS: Retail is not easy. Everyone compares prices on-line, and THINKS there is a better deal out there. Sometimes, there is, but that better deal always has costs. Usually, it's the local bead stores going out of business, then you are stuck ordering on-line. Saving a few pennies really cost you in local availability. We are here for the long run. We have families here in Pittsburgh. We have kids in local schools. We have ties to the community. We want to be YOUR LOCAL BEAD SOURCE! We can only do that if you feel that's something you want to support by NOT shopping on-line -- especially for things we can offer better! Many of our customers have told us they have stopped or limited their on-line shopping, because they don't see what they are getting. Especially with silver and gemstones. It's hard to gauge color, size, and quality on a computer monitor. Granted, Miyuki Seed Beads are the same no matter where you buy them (so we only stock a limited variety, and suggest discount mail order places to our customers). We are not stupid! Nor are we under the impression we can provide for all your needs all the time! But we do feel that we can provide a far better resource to you for some things -- like silver beads and findings and gemstones -- than you can get on-line. And, in the end, when you add up your satisfaction, your lower "excess" inventory, the benefits of being able to deal hands-on with your supplier, and all the other things we offer, you'll find you are getting a better VALUE -- and, even a great price! And, if there are certain Miyuki or other beads you use regularly, we'll stock them -- and maybe be able to offer a price competitive enough it's not worth ordering from a "discount" place. You won't know until you try!
PPS: Have a happy and safe holiday season! And we again thank you all for your support, and making us truly the fastest growing, and largest bead shop in the area. (We just knocked out another wall to make more room for beads, and we have over 1000 more square feet we can add if needed!).
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(This post was edited by pugdog on Dec 12, 2005, 8:56 AM)
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