shopping around for the best quote.....

[joshdaniels]

Hello again DUC,

Here is my plight.......

I have written up my spec list for a new studio set-up, and have trawled through the usual channels to find the best prices. Obviously, I have found some nice prices for each individual component, but when I received quotes for the whole spec, individual retailers have quoted more than the TOTAL if I got them seperately.

Now, call me thick, but I would expect that a retailer wanting my £8.5k's worth of business (that is the 'individual quote' total) to go out of his way to secure my custom by beating it(and then some?)

However, what I am finding is that I get a 'shirty' response when the retailer announces he can do my order for £9,600 and I say I can get the components for £8,200.

Therefore, I would like the DUC's feedback on the following:

1) Am I 'off-side' for expecting a better price?
2)If not, just what sort of scope would you think I have regarding the 'haggling'process.
3) Anyone have any similar experiences? If so, what happened.

BTW, I am purchasing Mac G4 dual 500, DIGI 001, Pinnacle miroMOTION DC30 plus, Sony e500e 21" monitor, Korg triton, 8x8x24YamahaCDRW, HR824's (thanks to a previous posting on the DUC!)and a Rode NT2, so I realise that no single retailer has all those items to hand. Also, I have no worries configuring the system myself. I just feel I could get a better price by 'bundling' my spec through one retailer.

Please help DUC! These retail guys are making me feel like ermmmmm.......SCHOM???

Maybe I am like SCHOM? DOH!

Regards

Josh Daniels

[Jules]

It's a good idea to get it all from one place, that way there cand offload blame onto another shops stuff...etc etc....
Some super big stores bulk buy and smaller (nice) stores cant beat the huge stores prices. This is frustrating for the cool small guys, but, think of this, would you like to spend all day in tech support que or just phone a local guy if you have problems... Go for the 'all in one' option, perhaps localy, try to cut em down hard and persistantly, but ease off after a while...they got to make a living too!

Jules

[joshdaniels]

Jules,

Thanks for the advice!

Josh Daniels

[Shawn Parr]

Sometimes it is not how much you are currently spending, but the potential of how much you may spend in the future. My day job is with a performing arts center, and this approach works well for me. I have on occasion recieved better quotes from the local guy than from big warehouse places.

[This message has been edited by Shawn Parr (edited September 04, 2000).]