Do retailers and wholesalers rip us off?

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#2177190 12-Feb-2019 15:07

Rikkitic:

Price is a big factor and it is what mainly motivates me, but the discussion has broadened into how retail can compete, and service is one way. There will always be customers who can afford the best and are prepared to pay extra for super service. That is one area in which businesses can specialise. But even normal retail can do better at attracting and retaining customers who prefer to buy local by at least providing decent minimum service without putting people through hell over things like CGA claims. There is definitely room for improvement.

Like many people, I balance things like price and service when making purchasing decisions. For expensive items I don't like the risk of overseas shopping so will buy local unless the price difference is so great that I just can't justify it. For the many smaller $20-$30 things I buy, the risk is well worth it.

The big problem with buying anything from China is really the wait. Often it takes 3-6 weeks and sometime it doesn't arrive at all. Then it can be damaged as they often don't pack things well. So sometimes it just isn't worth it. Kiwis tend to want things now and many can be too lazy to shop around. So if something is discounted, psychologically they tend to think it is a deal. This is why these retailers that often run discount promotions do so well, and good on them too.

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#2177203 12-Feb-2019 15:43

I do not think America is the be-all and end-all of everything, but they are pretty good at innovating. One thing I remember from my time there is no frills 'warehouses', where stuff is just laid out on pallets and there is zero service and you have to rummage around to find what you want but prices are rock-bottom. There are also places like this for food shopping. I haven't seen anything like that in NZ so that would be one place to start. Another would be locating such places far out in the country where land is cheaper. This is a car-based country anyway so that shouldn't be an objection. Drive 30 kilometres out of town to get stuff 20% off (real discount, not phoney 'sale'). I'm sure there are plenty of other things that can be tried.

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#2177204 12-Feb-2019 15:45

mattwnz:

The big problem with buying anything from China is really the wait. Often it takes 3-6 weeks and sometime it doesn't arrive at all. Then it can be damaged as they often don't pack things well. So sometimes it just isn't worth it. Kiwis tend to want things now and many can be too lazy to shop around. So if something is discounted, psychologically they tend to think it is a deal. This is why these retailers that often run discount promotions do so well, and good on them too.

I haven't had that experience. Nearly everything I buy gets here faster from China than it does from Auckland, sometimes within a week, rarely more than two.

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mattwnz

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#2177205 12-Feb-2019 15:53

Rikkitic:

mattwnz:

The big problem with buying anything from China is really the wait. Often it takes 3-6 weeks and sometime it doesn't arrive at all. Then it can be damaged as they often don't pack things well. So sometimes it just isn't worth it. Kiwis tend to want things now and many can be too lazy to shop around. So if something is discounted, psychologically they tend to think it is a deal. This is why these retailers that often run discount promotions do so well, and good on them too.

I haven't had that experience. Nearly everything I buy gets here faster from China than it does from Auckland, sometimes within a week, rarely more than two.

Are you paying more for shipping to get it faster from china? The default free or lower cost shipping seem to take around a month.

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#2177214 12-Feb-2019 16:10

Not my experience. All were free shipping from different sellers. A couple items took a long time but that was the exception.

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#2177217 12-Feb-2019 16:22

Rikkitic:

Not my experience. All were free shipping from different sellers. A couple items took a long time but that was the exception.

It takes longer to get from the airport to me than it does from China to Auckland Airport.

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#2177394 12-Feb-2019 22:44

tdgeek:

I have no issue with anyone innovating. But the bottom line is most buy on price, they need to innovate a permanent 30% off the RRP somehow. There are a few topics here where there are all sorts of banter, arguments, etc, and it always ends up being about price once the dust settles.

You keep asserting this over and over as though doing nothing and continuing to hope for more fools is a viable strategy. There are people interested in premium products, better service, and what not. And there are places delivering on this desire. It might not be what the majority requires day-to-day, for example, but there are money-making opportunities available for those targeting the minority with money to spend. The likes of Paperplus and Whitcoulls (I go back to these two all the time because they are such great examples of this laziness) are on borrowed time, unless somehow NZ gets isolated from the internet and the rest of the world forever. Really, when was the time they sold any of their core products competitively and with any kind of service, even when compared to other retailers (e.g. the Warehouse)? There are expensive independent bookshops but the right ones opening in the right places are still thriving. Why? Because some people do value service, a pleasant shopping environment (for example, my wife and I refuse to shop at Pak n Save despite the savings, because we don't enjoy being around pent up aggressive asses throwing their alcohol-filled, stuffed to the brim trolleys around), and other intangibles. Premium grocers like Nosh are further examples.

You don't have to target the masses only to thrive.

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#2177396 12-Feb-2019 22:52

I just find the slackness of both mitre10 and bunnings special orders to be amazing. Particularly when the thing I want is often on amazon for less than they want me to pay, and they want me to pay delivery to the store where I have to go and pick it up from, because they cant ship straight to my house because that would be too easy.

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#2177397 12-Feb-2019 22:53

mattwnz:

The big problem with buying anything from China is really the wait. Often it takes 3-6 weeks and sometime it doesn't arrive at all. Then it can be damaged as they often don't pack things well. So sometimes it just isn't worth it. Kiwis tend to want things now and many can be too lazy to shop around. So if something is discounted, psychologically they tend to think it is a deal. This is why these retailers that often run discount promotions do so well, and good on them too.

Also often it is quite clearly a second that couldn't go to the real resellers of the item, like I have had wallets where the screenprinting is 1mm or so off for one of the colours, some where they used a wrong colour thread when sewing it up etc.

Sure, I can send it back as not being happy for a refund except it was only $5 and NZpost want $15 to get it there.

Richard rich.ms

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#2177405 12-Feb-2019 23:06

dejadeadnz:

tdgeek:

I have no issue with anyone innovating. But the bottom line is most buy on price, they need to innovate a permanent 30% off the RRP somehow. There are a few topics here where there are all sorts of banter, arguments, etc, and it always ends up being about price once the dust settles.

You keep asserting this over and over as though doing nothing and continuing to hope for more fools is a viable strategy. There are people interested in premium products, better service, and what not. And there are places delivering on this desire. It might not be what the majority requires day-to-day, for example, but there are money-making opportunities available for those targeting the minority with money to spend. The likes of Paperplus and Whitcoulls (I go back to these two all the time because they are such great examples of this laziness) are on borrowed time, unless somehow NZ gets isolated from the internet and the rest of the world forever. Really, when was the time they sold any of their core products competitively and with any kind of service, even when compared to other retailers (e.g. the Warehouse)? There are expensive independent bookshops but the right ones opening in the right places are still thriving. Why? Because some people do value service, a pleasant shopping environment (for example, my wife and I refuse to shop at Pak n Save despite the savings, because we don't enjoy being around pent up aggressive asses throwing their alcohol-filled, stuffed to the brim trolleys around), and other intangibles. Premium grocers like Nosh are further examples.

You don't have to target the masses only to thrive.

It's an interesting point you make about Pak n Save, I hadn't been to one in like.. 15 years? However, we were in CHCH recently and Riccarton PNS was the closest. I was super impressed actually. I normally shop at either New World or Farro/Nosh type places, my local butcher because he will do cuts of meat for me I struggle to get elsewhere and the like. At least in Riccarton, PNS has really lifted it's game. I didn't notice anyone misbehaving though I wasn't really paying attention to that, but certainly, the quality of the Butchery, Bakery and Vege sections were a far cry from my last experiences where I swore I'd never return. I'd even go so far as to say the selection and appearance were superior to my own New World. We are going to take a look at the Mt Albert one to see if it's similar.

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#2177420 13-Feb-2019 07:15

dejadeadnz: for example, my wife and I refuse to shop at Pak n Save despite the savings, because we don't enjoy being around pent up aggressive asses throwing their alcohol-filled, stuffed to the brim trolleys around

Try a Pak n Save in a dry area or licensing trust area ; ).

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landcruiserguy

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#2177429 13-Feb-2019 07:45

Pack N Save is awesome at 7:00am on the way to work and crap in the afternoon on dole payment day.

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#2177432 13-Feb-2019 07:53

landcruiserguy:

Pack N Save is awesome at 7:00am on the way to work and crap in the afternoon on dole payment day.

Probably what most think but are afraid to say. If the PNS at Riccarton is good, I suspect thats because its in Westfield Mall, needs a certain standard of appearance/furbishment

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#2177467 13-Feb-2019 09:14

Not all Pak'n'Saves are the same. They are owner operated, and whilst they must conform to what Foodstuffs is promoting, the owner can stamp their personality on the store.

Napier is a case in point - there are two Pak'n'Saves there (Tamatea and Napier City). One is a far superior shopping experience to the other, through quality of produce, feel of the store and the amount of ferals in pyjamas hanging around.

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#2177474 13-Feb-2019 09:34

mattwnz:

Are you paying more for shipping to get it faster from china? The default free or lower cost shipping seem to take around a month.

That's been my experience ordering from Aliexpress with their free shipping, 4 - 5 weeks. I think I once had something arrive in 2 weeks and I was really surprised.

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