Orlando gun show life lesson learned

[RobertJ]

I get a call to go to the Orlando Show, that there is a table there selling USGI First aid supplies and Kit. I get there and sure enough an individual is selling at internet or under pricing for USMC combat medic kit $150.00. IFAK $50.00, 6" izzy bandages $10.00 each, Quick clot combat guaze 3"x4yds 10.00ea, Molee skin, triangle bandages, and much more. I was there with only 100.00 in my budget and needed to add to my first aid supplies, especially a trauma kit for gsw.
Thats when I saw the rifle plates for 300-400 dollars new. then on the floor balistic rated molly carriers in ODgreen,ACU, for $300. I look at my walk around money and then my emergency money $200.00 total :(
I ask if they took credit cards... I wanted that vest!! The vest was pistol rated just for the soft armor, front and rear and cumberbun add the plates later on n it would be perfect. Theses were new and he had 2 pallets stacked 3 feet high with them. Well his answer to the credit card question was a resounding "NO"... I take cash only. Saddened I purchase my IFAK a complete refill for it for 15 dollars izzy bandage and quick clot. We commense to walk the rest of the show and nothing caught my eye. We decided to go back and get a few more Items and ask for a business card and if they had a storefront. The guy who seemed to be in charge said annoyingly "NO business cards", i asked twice more about a store front and that I wanted to purchase the vest. I dont know if he didnt hear me, ignored me, or just plain didnt care. I was gonna press the issue when my friend walked me over to the side and said "drop it dude" I was like ????
We walked away and he saw the confusion on my face and said... add it up no business cards, cash only, USGI pluss he was talking about the DMRO at Ft.benning, this stuff prolly "fell off the truck"...
Then he proceeds to tell me... $100 emergency money will only get you one nights stay possibly two at a low end hotell, fill your tank once, etc. you need at least $300.00 preferably $400.00 and if you had you would have been able to get the vest or plate today... Lesson learned... everything was New that he had as well... shouldnt complain though I got what I went for. He offered some cash but I declined... I realized my budget comes before a want but 300.00 for an 800.00 or more vest was a steal.

[Long Shot]

I think you did the right thing. I doubt that if fell of a truck. Probably fell of a pallet rack into the dude's pick up at the warehouse where he works.

[1Admin]

The prices weren't really as dazzling as they might have seemed.....Sorry.

Yes, CASH rules in business 99% of the time.

Back in the day, everyone showed up to gunshows, Preparedness Expos, etc. with cash. Now a days, someone says "can you run a card?" for a $5. purchase at these. We typically just respond "sure we can run a card here as long as it's over $200." The average consumer has no idea how many expenses a business has now a days and how much you normally have to cut prices to make sales. Then to lose an additional 3-4% on it? Hard to do sometimes.

Similar dude at a show in Macon this weekend. Had an assortment of various surplus, none of it at prices that got me to buy though. Wanted $200. for two six by six Sapi Plates, that's frickin crazy when metal plates can be had for about 1/4 of that AND you will know the history of them then, not have a question mark there.

The Fairgrounds in Orlando is in an old building, but I'm sure if you looked around you probably could have found an ATM somewhere. Although for what he was charging.....

[RobertJ]

Thanks 1admin,Long shot
Yes two ATMs there,a both blinking "No cash Available" I tried that route. plus that machine charges 5 dollars to use IT then my bank gets me for a dollar.
but I learned my lesson with cash on hand (walking around money) and need vs.want. sigh

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

This is one area I still just don't do yet... CASH, I hardly ever carry it (mostly because I spend it if I have it). But after all the examples I see (Sandy, Katrina and etc.) I really should walk around with cash on hand at all times.

[610Alpha]

This is one area I still just don't do yet... CASH, I hardly ever carry it (mostly because I spend it if I have it). But after all the examples I see (Sandy, Katrina and etc.) I really should walk around with cash on hand at all times.

Cash is King...for now that is :)

Ever try getting a deal from a private seller by waving around a credit card? Try waving around $100 bills and I'll bet you can get a deal! Cash is immediate and evokes an emotional response that plastic cannot. In fact it is this separation from cash that is causing so many problems for people...i.e. too much credit card debt.

I came to this understanding by listening to Dave Ramsey.

[1Admin]

Folks, keep in mind almost any small business will react to CASH i.e, FRN's, Cash American dollars, etc. differently than a credit card, check, etc.

Here's how a business owner looks at each-
Credit card- "oh great, I've discounted this thing XX dollars already and now I gotta lose 3-5% MORE for this card."
Check- "well hopefully this one won't bounce and become a part of my file of NSF checks and I won't have to go through all the rickama roll of going through the courts for this one."

CASH- "OK, he's serious, let's wheel and deal."

Also folks, keep things in CONTEXT. What you see as a "big purchase" -and it probably IS a big purchase- is not looked at by the business owner as a total dollar amount. I get this all the time with NV sales. The customer says "well it's a $3K purchase." Yes, it's a lot of money, but it's not $3,000 profit. It's actually a relatively SMALL profit, especially in comparison to what others sell it for. Yet people catch sales on them for $500. off and then want more on top of that. Understand that IN GENERAL, their isn't a boatload of profit on many items out there now a days. In our other business, prices are pretty much fixed for a set period of time, yet inflation being what it is, EVERY single thing that goes into that business has went up in price in the last 5-6 years. However I don't feel the time is right to raise prices. And that's paid off cause while my competitors have raised prices, they aren't selling nearly as much as I am. However that business (1 of a couple we own) operates on a relatively small margin. Workable? Yes, but doesn't make for much flexibility.

When approaching a business owner for a discount, special terms, etc. keep in mind that YOU need to bring something to the table as well. Just "making the sale" rarely cuts it now a days. What can you bring to the table to sweeten the deal or get the discount/extra item/special terms, etc. that you want?

Think of wording like "we are READY TO BUY (key words, but you have to actually be ready and willing or you won't be taken seriously) but we wanted to see if you could work with us (sounds less confrontational) on INSERT concession (price, terms, throw in something, etc.)"

The reason most people do NOT get the "deals" they think they should, is they approach it ALL WRONG- confrontational, a "I'm buying something therefore I OWN YOU" attitude, etc. Try to act and present your deal in a way that sounds good to BOTH PARTIES. If you act like all the power is on your side of the table, your apt to get refused or LESS OF A DEAL from the business owner. I can't tell you how many guys called me up, BS'ed for a while, told me how they had "saved up for a while for this", etc. that I just gave a further discount to just cause I liked them, liked their tone, etc. Sounds stupid but it happens. Bought a specialized optic the other day, one place was out of it, another place said 3 months. Emailed one place, they could get it in a week or so, called them up. Was willing to pay their full boat price, BS'ed with the guy a bit, said "Hey, ABC International has these for X dollars, can you match that?" Guy didn't flinch and said sure. A couple minutes later and more BS'ing he said "we'll pick up the shipping on that also." I've been on the other end of the phone a couple hundred thousand times, I KNOW that if I had approached with a jerk'ish attitude I would have paid full price and paid for the shipping. I took 5 minutes out of my day to BS with the guy a little bit, act nice and I saved a couple hundred bucks.

Most people are not good at "hard ball" negotiations and honestly, many business owners are so done with that sort of crap it will get you flatly refused. "Hard ball" is where you come with usually a ridiculous offer and take a "take it or leave it" type stance. Even when it does work, it leaves long term animosity and resentment. Keep in mind you might NEED that person/business again in the future. Don't burn bridges and this sort of cheap tactic DOES burn bridges.

Sort for the negotiation/sales rant. I have two passions in life, one is Survival and preparedness, the other is sales and marketing ;)

[1Admin]

Cash is King...for now that is :)

Ever try getting a deal from a private seller by waving around a credit card? Try waving around $100 bills and I'll bet you can get a deal! Cash is immediate and evokes an emotional response that plastic cannot. In fact it is this separation from cash that is causing so many problems for people...i.e. too much credit card debt.

I came to this understanding by listening to Dave Ramsey.

+1,000,000 Dave Ramsey is dead on.

However it will have better effects at a small business/Mom and Pops type place versus a large retail store- i.e, Walmart, Lowes like the illustration he uses in the books/videos. The 18 year old kid working at Best Buy as an assistant manager doesn't really understand nor get why the company would want cash, and a large company it ain't gonna matter much. To "Jimbo" owner of Jimbo's Gun and Tackle shop, waving a handful of $100's WILL HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT ;)

[610Alpha]

Spot on 1Admin!! Most people don't realize the hassles that small businesses face with credit cards and checks. Attitude is everything in negotiating.

Those big box stores usually don't do the cash discount...however a business that uses sales reps that get paid on commission do "feel" seeing a wad of $100 bills and might be persuaded (attitude towards them) to give a discount.

Excellent example on the NV. just because the price tag is $3K doesn't mean that you clear that much as profit.

[Rmplstlskn]

Most people are not good at "hard ball" negotiations and honestly, many business owners are so done with that sort of crap it will get you flatly refused.

Depending where you are... In many foreign countries, especially 3rd world, hardball bargaining is EXPECTED, and often the business owner feels dis'ed if you don't negotiate down his inflated price to a good price... Funny how things are in different places...

Rmpl

[MustangGal]

I know this is kinda off topic, but I always try to pay my local businesses with cash or a check (well, I try to always use cash). Either way, they aren't getting stuck with the credit/debit card fees. Why do you think banks promote the daily use of plastic? Remember those commercials where the line as being held up by someone paying with cash or a check? IT MAKES THEM MONEY!!

[Gonzo]

... Remember those commercials where the line as being held up by someone paying with cash or a check? ...

Yup! And then I remember all those realities of standing in line with a fist full of cash, waiting for four different people ahead of me, to try 3 different cards each before their plastic was approved...

Cash - it's everywhere I want to be. :cool:

G

[Grinnan Barrett]

It is like buying a car over the internet. You hope you get a good deal and it shows up with all the paint on it. I really try to buy from folks I know. If JRH has it I tend to buy it there. I have known them to be honest to a fault. there are some local dealers I also buy stuff from but they are friends as well. Stick with people you know and trust and you cannot go wrong. Best wishes. GB

[EX121]

Another thing is I let locals know that I don't mind paying a bit more if it saves me time, gas & aggrivation of the drive to the big box places. I find that once you establish a relationship of mutual trusts, they will cut their margin as close as possible.