ChatterBank3 mins ago
Retailer re-selling Wilkinson's stock
My local postmaster owned sub-post office is selling a wide range of Wilkinson's stationery products. They are on sale at a substantial mark-up compared to the price at the nearest Wilkinson's store. For example, the Wilkinson's own version of Tippex is on sale at the post office for 99p which is not far off the price of the genuine stuff.
We don't have any discount shops in the area where the post office could be sourcing supplies from a third party and all the stuff on sale is currently available in our town's Wilkinson's store. The post office stock is also in just as good a condition as the stock sold at Wilkinson's.
I can only assume here that the post office owner is buying the stock at the local Wilkinson's and selling it on close to double the price at the post office. Could someone please tell me if it's legal for the sub post office to re-sell products in this manner. I realise that it's very difficult for retailers to make a tidy living nowadays but this seems to be profiteering to me.
Should I report this to anyone and if so, who?
Thanks
We don't have any discount shops in the area where the post office could be sourcing supplies from a third party and all the stuff on sale is currently available in our town's Wilkinson's store. The post office stock is also in just as good a condition as the stock sold at Wilkinson's.
I can only assume here that the post office owner is buying the stock at the local Wilkinson's and selling it on close to double the price at the post office. Could someone please tell me if it's legal for the sub post office to re-sell products in this manner. I realise that it's very difficult for retailers to make a tidy living nowadays but this seems to be profiteering to me.
Should I report this to anyone and if so, who?
Thanks
Answers
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It is a very common situation. The store associated with the post office can source its products from anywhere and sell them on for whatever it likes. Many people cannot get into town or it is not worth the time, trouble and cost to do so and are quite happy to pay a bit over the odds for the convenience of buying locally. THere is nothing illegal with it whatsoever.
Thanks for all your answers.
Reverendfunk, I've got no objection to anyone buying stuff in and selling it a profit. What I don't like is the idea of someone grossly profiteering on people simply because they cannot get to the retailer that sells it at a reasonable price. The product is around 50p in Wilkinson's so where's it going to all end? Clearly, there's nothing stopping the post office selling this stuff at five quid a bottle if they wanted to. So is it acceptable for the little old lady who needs the stuff to pay that sort of price for it?
Twenty20, having looked at the prices of Tippex and allied products in the catalogues of Viking Direct and other office suppliers, I don't know how Wilkinson's can sell this stuff for less than 50p a bottle. The wholesale price as bulk purchases with these suppliers works out at more than Wilkinson's sell it. It seems that buying from wholesalers is not always cheaper.
At the end of the day, I suppose if the stuff they sold was the true Tippex or Liquid Paper brand, no-one would know where they sourced the stuff and would expect it to be on sale at price to give a reasonable profit to the post office owner. What I find annoying here is that everyone knows that Wilkinson's is a national chain that sells stuff at very competitive prices, often selling at less than supermarkets Because of this, when one of their Wilko branded products is seen being re-sold elsewhere it looks straight away as if the consumer is being taken for a mug. Caveat emptor is one thing but morals are somethin else.
Reverendfunk, I've got no objection to anyone buying stuff in and selling it a profit. What I don't like is the idea of someone grossly profiteering on people simply because they cannot get to the retailer that sells it at a reasonable price. The product is around 50p in Wilkinson's so where's it going to all end? Clearly, there's nothing stopping the post office selling this stuff at five quid a bottle if they wanted to. So is it acceptable for the little old lady who needs the stuff to pay that sort of price for it?
Twenty20, having looked at the prices of Tippex and allied products in the catalogues of Viking Direct and other office suppliers, I don't know how Wilkinson's can sell this stuff for less than 50p a bottle. The wholesale price as bulk purchases with these suppliers works out at more than Wilkinson's sell it. It seems that buying from wholesalers is not always cheaper.
At the end of the day, I suppose if the stuff they sold was the true Tippex or Liquid Paper brand, no-one would know where they sourced the stuff and would expect it to be on sale at price to give a reasonable profit to the post office owner. What I find annoying here is that everyone knows that Wilkinson's is a national chain that sells stuff at very competitive prices, often selling at less than supermarkets Because of this, when one of their Wilko branded products is seen being re-sold elsewhere it looks straight away as if the consumer is being taken for a mug. Caveat emptor is one thing but morals are somethin else.
Yes, I know what you mean Reverandfunk. No offence taken.
Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere near a village shop that sold nothing but Tesco or Asda etc labelled products but I can see that some people would not think along the same lines as me and shop there regardless.
As I said earlier, I'm not against anyone making a living like this but it just seems a damn cheek selling stuff that's officially only on sale in one group of shops at a massive profit. These national companies can only afford to sell the stuff at these bargain prices because of the huge orders they place with the manufacturer. It seems my local post office has decided there's room for a cut for them too.
Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere near a village shop that sold nothing but Tesco or Asda etc labelled products but I can see that some people would not think along the same lines as me and shop there regardless.
As I said earlier, I'm not against anyone making a living like this but it just seems a damn cheek selling stuff that's officially only on sale in one group of shops at a massive profit. These national companies can only afford to sell the stuff at these bargain prices because of the huge orders they place with the manufacturer. It seems my local post office has decided there's room for a cut for them too.
i dont agree with what you are saying really - it is up to gullible people to beware really, not up to the shop to be nice to people. if the market conditions are such that people want the convenience of buying it in their local shop rather than paying say 10 in taxi fares so be it.
The shopkeeper has spent time nad money going to the shop and purchasing the stuff, all at risk to himself (after all if noone bought it, he'd still have paid for it!) s
The shopkeeper has spent time nad money going to the shop and purchasing the stuff, all at risk to himself (after all if noone bought it, he'd still have paid for it!) s
It's not true that the shopkeeper is taking a risk buying the stuff. Even at the price he's selling it, nothing stays on the shelves for long. There's a couple of primary schools nearby and nowhere else for the kids to go when they need this sort of stuff.
What is time? If someone guaranteed that I could make a minimum of 100% profit on an item by slipping a few miles up the road to the nearest Wilkinson's store, I'd be there like a shot. Remember, much of this type of stuff nowadays is carried by cash and carries and the retailer would have to go there anyway. That takes time. Yes, he could order from a mail order supplier or on the net but that takes time too as does discussing it all with a sales rep in the shop. Which is really easiest timewise?
Gullible people don't always beware especially when their in the lair of an rogue. Have you not watched rogue traders?
What is time? If someone guaranteed that I could make a minimum of 100% profit on an item by slipping a few miles up the road to the nearest Wilkinson's store, I'd be there like a shot. Remember, much of this type of stuff nowadays is carried by cash and carries and the retailer would have to go there anyway. That takes time. Yes, he could order from a mail order supplier or on the net but that takes time too as does discussing it all with a sales rep in the shop. Which is really easiest timewise?
Gullible people don't always beware especially when their in the lair of an rogue. Have you not watched rogue traders?
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