Stores loose money on Boxing Day sales?

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by BlueWorldAquatic

I'd hate to say that, but I totally disagree.

The prime example is Big Al's Salt special. They use it as a loss leader, but many of the customers that showed up for it did not buy anything else. I was there in the morning and I saw a lot of people that would not shop there normally any other time of the year.

We can lower prices when our suppliers give us special deals (drystock), during holiday times, as they want to reduce their stock. Livestock prices almost never fluctuate during the year.

As for a store that increases prices just before these sales to show the special markdowns, buyer beware.


As for markups, they are needed to keep all stores in business. There are too many expenses to even name, everone gets a piece of the pie before we even see the products. A good guestimate of operating costs a store needs to make is at least $500 a day (Profit) to break even per day.

I remember this time last year, a canreefer said they can bring in pepermint shrimp and sell the from his house for $2 each, I told him I'd buy 500 alone for my store. That sale never happened, I wonder why?

LFS's are completely different than any other retail outlets, other companies can close for a week and do nothing and their inventory remains the same, try that with a LFS and you walk into a room as if someone just stolen from you. Apples and oranges people

Just my opinion..

Ken - BWA

exactly a year ago on boxing day. i went to big al's and bought a bucket of salt and started my first saltwater tank. i've spent thousands of dollars since then.

if not for the discounted bucket of salt, i may have never even switched to saltwater. im sure theres plenty of people that you dont know. i meet people with saltwater tanks on a weekly basis that dont know that any other saltwater store other than big als even exists in edmonton.

[BlueWorldAquatic]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

exactly a year ago on boxing day. i went to big al's and bought a bucket of salt and started my first saltwater tank. i've spent thousands of dollars since then.

if not for the discounted bucket of salt, i may have never even switched to saltwater. im sure theres plenty of people that you dont know. i meet people with saltwater tanks on a weekly basis that dont know that any other saltwater store other than big als even exists in edmonton.

That special doesn't retain customer loyalty though, they would have been bettter off selling it through the back for people that just wanted salt. Would have reduced the bottleneck at the register.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by BlueWorldAquatic

That special doesn't retain customer loyalty.

it gets people in the store.

i bet there are just as many people with tanks that arent on canreef than there are on canreef.

before i joined canreef i never knew about any other saltwater fish store other than big als

*edit* i agree, putting a doorcrasher at the front is retarded, the point of a door crasher is to make the customer to as far into the store as possible. not in and out without having a chance of seeing other things

[paddyob]

Geez. Ken and Marko.

Maybe take this PM. Almost getting a little much.

Ken as a retailer, best not to make yourself look too confrontational. Blogs can be easy to misinterpret. And this one is going that way fast.

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Geez. Ken and Marko.

Maybe take this PM. Almost getting a little much.

Ken as a retailer, best not to make yourself look too confrontational. Blogs can be easy to misinterpret. And this one is going that way fast.

pm doesnt increase post count

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

pm doesnt increase post count

Ha ha ha !

One more. Lol.

[lockrookie]

here is my 2 cents on the matter. if a store is losing money or making money due to a boxing day sale, or any sale, is really none of our buisness. thats the accountants problem not ours. to me a deal is a deal. if im able to save some money on one thing to buy more stuff im all for it. and in the end im thankfull to the company i purchase said sale item from for givingme the oportunity to save some cash. whether its a once a year thing or off and on in the year. in the end those few bucks i saved may help towards a cool controller or new skimmer. and i guarontee. the place that treated me with the most respect. will get me back there again. sale or no sale.

its a hobby/obsession/addiction...i have reefer ocd and its a problem im going to have to live with for the rest of my life. hell i didnt buy any rum for over chistmas/new years causse i could usethe money towards somethingfish related lol.

so i say who cares what the lfs/retailers financials are or methods for taking our money...enjoy it spend it..you cant take it ith you and your kids really dont need an inheritance anyways. lol

ps: i wanted another notch in my post count too

[Nate]

As consumers, you guys really don't know how spoiled you are. Especially in Calgary and Vancouver.

This is feeling like beating a dead horse though...