January sales?

"Peter" wrote

The only places that need to have *sales* are those places that can't sell stuff week in week out. My shop doesn't need to have a *sale* - enough said!

John.

I seem to remember you saying that you hadn't sold any of certain locos in some time. It might be better to sell them at a discount rather than continue to hold them in stock even if you had a good turnover of stock generally.

Mark Thornton

"Mark Thornton" wrote

Why? They're paid for and don't need feeding. In two or three years the collectors will be crying out for models no longer in production.

John.

Even if you have paid for it, there is still the notional interest the money might otherwise be earning. Larger businesses have to justify the capital tied up in the business, and thus are under pressure to get rid of 'non performing' stock.

Speculating that the value will rise in the future. This may offset the cost of stock holding providing you guess correctly.

"The only places that need to have *sales* are those places that can't sell stuff week in week out."

This isn't true. Many businesses that are trading well will still find it useful to have a sale to get rid of stock that isn't otherwise shifting. While obviously it would be better to have not bought these items in the first place, you won't always know what will sell well and what will be a 'lemon'. As with cars it isn't always easy to get full list price for last years model.

Mark Thornton

"Mark Thornton" wrote

But many shops buy in stock specifically to sell in sales. A friend of mine works for one of the large electrical multiples and tells me that many lower spec items are brought in specifically to sell in sales. Lower spec equates to lower prices but similar (or even higher) profit levels. By having these lower spec items on sale in 'one of their branches' at a higher price means they can then circumvent legislations aimed at outlawing that practice.

John.

Presumably this explains why (slightly OT) a nearby shop offers "Save £ 1" on a camera costing over £ 1200 - so that they can discount it more at other branches at some time in the future ? Some shops sell at (relatively) "low" prices throughout the year and probably don't consider it necessary to have sales.

Bevan

Ah yes, that is a different category of 'sale'. It doesn't seem to apply to various model rail places that are having sales. Another valid reason for sale items is where the goods have been damaged in some way (e.g. the box isn't mint).

Mark

Hi, Is there a website for your shop, if so I could do with the link.

Cheers, Mickey

"Mickey" wrote

I you mean mine then it's

John.

In news:cqs7v7$r8n$ snipped-for-privacy@newsreaderg1.core.theplanet.net, John Turner blithered:

Comet used to use the store in Hull as their base store for'sale' prices. It was always cheaper someplace else!

"GbH" wrote

No further comment necessary.

John.

Many thanks, I'll look in.

Mickey