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let's put a bell in the shops, those bells used for recognizing good service in restaurants.

When the "winner questions" come in (and leave) we can ring the bell can be rang...instead of ringing the customer's bell!
 
Originally posted by PaulSF:
If I sold them the stuff they wanted, I would have been left with very low stocks of some key
items. _________________________________________________

Wow Paul, if I operated on that concept, I'd never sell any glass, hardware, moulding, etc, because I might run out! Isn't that why we have weekly (or more often when necessary)
orders/deliveries available to us?

I'm with Jim, sell the stuff to the people! If you run out, you can run to the local hardware store yourself for wire until your weekly order makes it in. Plan ahead. We're in this biz for the biz, whether it be frames or wire, it's still biz.

Because you sold them what they needed when they needed it, wouldn't you rather have them remember you later, say, when they need some framing done? Or recommend you to the people they sold the paintings to? Instead, they will remember that you sent them away empty-handed. That doesn't seem like very good business practice to me.

Wire might seem like piddly stuff, but it's the overall picture...advertising! Something about biting off your own nose....or the hand that feeds you...or something!
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Val,

I wouldn't have known where to begin. They wanted big quantities of every size of offset clip and hanging hardware that I had. I don't sell that stuff in packets, it's just incorporated into the price of my work. I'd have to just make up a price for all this, and hope that it was enough. This had all the makings of a one-off transaction, setting up some people to slap a bunch of cheap canvases into ready-made frames that they could sell, before moving on to the next town along the highway.
 
Paul,
Think of it from the customer’s point of view.
IF you had sold them at least some of the stuff they needed and they never came back; 1) you made a couple of bucks. 2) They would never think twice at bad mouthing your business.
But now they wouldn't hesitate to say some un-kind words about you.

Take it as a lesson. Make up some prices for your parts and pieces. People WILL come in and ask for offset clips, wire, brads, glass etc. If you have to make up some prices on the spot, just do it. (Home Depot charges $1.99 for 8 clear bumpons.)

Sometimes... just sometimes it pays off. I had a guy in here a couple of weeks ago that needed "some of those thingy's that hold a canvas in a frame". I handed him a few offsets and screws with my business card and told him to remember me when he needed framing. You know what? he came in yesterday to have two paintings framed, just because I did that.
You will read stories like that all the time here and some people po-po them, but I believe what comes around...
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That's exactly what I do, if someone comes in asking for a few things. I have no problem giving away some picture hangers or wire, if it's clear someone needs it for personal use, because it's a goodwill thing. But this wasn't a personal use, thing. These people were going to sell a large quantity of canvasses, and wanted me to supply them. It's a completely different thing. It also wasn't entirely clear they were willing or able to pay. I think they were looking for a giveaway. I don't think they were interested in paying $300 for several hundred offset clips, a roll of wire, and various other assorted hardware.
 
Originally posted by PaulSF:
... I don't think they were interested in paying $300 for several hundred offset clips, a roll of wire, and various other assorted hardware.
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There's only one way to find out. Look them in the eye and give them the price. It should take only a few minutes with your United Mfrs. Suppliers catalog to determine a fair price.

If a customer wants to pay the price, why does it matter whether it's for personal use or commercial use?
 
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