Offshoreonly.com - Trick Marine whats the deal?????????

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexone (Post 2365770)

Interesting perspective that I've not yet heard in all the Trick threads (at least the parts I've read). I on two different occasions denied distribution requests on our billet and stainless products from Fred for many reasons, most all of which have been covered including the ones you just posted. Along the lines of your post it's interesting what companies were quick to snap him up as a distributor even after others cut him off due to non payment and knowing his propensity to undercut pricing of other long time quality distributors of theirs. I can't help but notice these things and some manufacturers seemingly willingness to cut long time distributors throats in the interest of a short term buck. As a businessperson I tend to shy away from manufacturer's products that are bad risks simply because of those same manufacturer's distribution decisions. The Trick scenario is just one of many of these situations I've come across. Contrary to what many believe to be huge profit margins in the marine parts industry due to the fact a lot of the parts are expensive, nothing could be further from the truth in most cases. Mercury and a few large mfgs probably being the exception to that. So when a company comes along selling cheap and cutting those already relatively small margins I look at just who is supplying that product to them and many times make or alter my buying decisions accordingly. It does not make sense to me to support mfgs. that give no support back to distributors who actually "stock" and "invest" in their products vs. fly by night "drop shippers" operating out of their house with no investment in the product or the industry in general other than perhaps a cheap website and a few mag ads.

Case in point. We stopped selling CMI after probably a 15 year history with them when they took away some of our discount without notifying me and appointed 2 distributors at the time with longer deals, one being the subject of this thread. Granted we did not do the volume Teague did or Trick for that matter, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to give product away at near cost and move larger numbers at all other distributor's and dealer's expense. CMI didn't care, hence I no longer sell it. This was several years ago and before CompX purchased the company. Are they better off? I know I am for not wasting time and investment selling a high buck product against discounters and a mfg that didn't care to boot. I suspect I'm not the only dealer that stopped going out of their way to sell this and other products being discounted in favor of products they could actually make a couple bucks on.

Thank you for sharing with us the "manufacturer/distributor" point of view. Of particular interest is the decision of some manufacturer's to take the "low road" approach as I mentioned in my post. What really shakes out as you so noted in your post, is the numbers. Manufacturer's sometimes think that adding distribution is a quick fix for some product volume increase. Generally those increases are single digit percentages. In Trick's case, oh yea he may have been moving some big numbers, but what was really happening is nothing more than a shift in distribution. Those single digit increases partially came from the buyer who was "on the fence" because of the price point. Annual incentives from the manufacturer to the core distribution can solve that issue. Sometimes manufacturer's need to look at the auto industry for marketing advice. Picture Ford Motor Company needing to move some vehicles, so they add a dealership right within an established area--------NOT. They pull out the market play book, roll up their sleeves and work with their dealership network. That's called teamwork.

IMHO, purchase and support those manufacturer's, distributor's and vendors who support and really care about this industry and marketplace.

Sorry for not mentioning Rex Marine in my original post. Hmmmm, been in business since 1981. 26 years says something right there.