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Re: Why Does Moss Do That

To: goforit@ecn.net.au
Subject: Re: Why Does Moss Do That
From: mgbob@juno.com (ROBERT G. HOWARD)
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 09:02:32 EDT
Murray,
  Seems to me that your point about the markup on small, slow-selling
items is the valid one to make in this discussion.
  Example,  I'm just completing an engine rebuild for XPAG-TD3 engine. 
Everything has come from Moss.  Just recently, a posting showed Crane
cams available from Crane for less than the Moss-supplied Crane.  Do I
feel taken advantage of? No; it was delivered in two or three days.
  Of all the bits and pieces ordered for this rebuild, too many to list
now and too many to want to have the SO know about, only one (1) item has
been backordered. Generator brushes.  Pistons, bearings, pushrods, you
name it--everythign to make the engine go came quickly.
  Let's face it, nobody is going to sell a whole bunch of the three
different size whitworth-thread oil pump bolts, yet Moss had them in
stock.
Bob

On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 07:36:11 +1000 "Murray Arundell" <goforit@ecn.net.au>
writes:
>Gee Jack,
>
>You sure do seem to have it in for Moss.  My experience in an industry 
>(not
>auto) where spare parts is a large part of a companies business tells 
>me
>that if you were marking up ONLY 35% across the board you'd soon be 
>out of
>business.
>
>You got to remember that a lot of their inventory would sit around for
>6,12,18 months before it gets sold.  Also a lot of their stuff,
>particularly the items you are referring to are "small ticket" items.  
>Not
>thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment.
>
>Just my 2c worth.  Have interest or connection etc.  Struth, I've 
>never
>even bought anything off them directly.
>
>Murray Arundell
>Brisbane - Australia
>
>----------
>> From: Feldman, Jack (Jack) <jack@lucent.com>
>> To: 'hdrsons@iamerica.net'
>> Cc: 'mgs@autox.team.net'; 'healeys@autox.team.net'
>> Subject: RE: Why Does Moss Do That
>> Date: Saturday, 13 June 1998 0:53
>> 
>> Even if they buy them from CCC (and Ed is right about that) at list
>price,
>> which they don't, 35% is a bit high for profit. I have had two jobs 
>that
>> have given me the experience to make that statement. One was for a
>> pioneering discount broker where list price on expensive radios were
>marked
>> up 20%, and 10 years as a Product Manger for AT&T Computer systems 
>where
>we
>> had to set prices to meet competition. 
>> 
>> A pricing policy like that seems to reflect an attitude that I 
>question.
>> There is no such thing as list price, but if they want happy 
>customers
>there
>> should be that price differential. It is the usual customer beware. 
>Moss
>has
>> a good reputation, but the prices they want for some items that are
>> available elsewhere are laughable. Why buy from them and pay so much
>more.
>> How does the customer feel if they buy something that costs them 
>dollars
>> more ($36 almost anywhere vs. $72 for the same fuel pump, $150 for a
>> retractable 3 point seat belt vs. $90.). We aren't talking quality
>> differences here, we are talking the exact same item. 
>> 
>> Just wanted to warn people to do some careful comparison shopping.
>> 
>> 
>> Jack
>> > ----------
>> > From:      Hal Rogers[SMTP:hdrsons@iamerica.net]
>> > Reply To:  hdrsons@iamerica.net
>> > Sent:      Friday, June 12, 1998 9:27 AM
>> > To:        Feldman, Jack (Jack)
>> > Cc:        'mgs@autox.team.net'; 'healeys@autox.team.net'
>> > Subject:   Re: Why Does Moss Do That
>> > 
>> > I guess that the term "rip off" is a little over the edge in my
>opinion.
>> > Pricing differences are just a natural course of business. There 
>are
>> > plenty of reputable companies (including Moss..who incidentally is 
>in
>> > some ways largely responsible in the beginning for the good supply 
>and
>> > reproduction of spares which were not available anywhere else in 
>the
>> > days before British Heritage, etc, etc.) 
>> > 
>> > Moss pricing could reflect any number of reasons. Perhaps they 
>don't
>buy
>> > the model direct from the manufacturer..they may purchase from a
>> > distributor which raises their cost. They may also hold a higher 
>profit
>> > margin to support their overall philosophy of having parts 
>reproduced
>> > that aren't available. Contrary to opinion, just because a company 
>is
>> > like Moss is "big" by our standards doesn't mean they are big 
>model
>> > sellers. Anyway you look at it, they are simply offering a product 
>at a
>> > price they feel fits with their overall image. There will always 
>be
>> > companies like Triple C who also come into the market and do an
>> > excellent job with certain niche products. Perhaps Phil (the 
>owner, I
>do
>> > know him) at Triple C has a lower profit margin and doesn't have 
>to
>> > answer to stockholders and makes a living to his liking. Perhaps 
>he
>buys
>> > direct because he is a specialist in models. All sorts of 
>scenarios
>come
>> > to mind. Short answer: That's competition. Isn't it wonderful!    
>> > 
>> > Regards, 
>> > Hal Rogers
>> > H.D. Rogers & Sons
>> > Import Auto Specialists 
>> > 3418 Barksdale Blvd.
>> > Bossier City LA 71112 USA
>> > (318) 742-3651 phone           (318) 742-5044 fax
>> > http://www.hdrogers.com
>> > 
>


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