"If you give the vendors a wish list, please buy the items." Topic

At Recon people gave Denis, the marketing director, a wish list of items they wanted the vendors to carry. Among other items requested were Corvus Belli and Blue Moon 15mm figures. I invested a considerable amount of money in those items. One person bought some Corvus Belli, no one bought anything else. In the future if you want me to bring something special please contact me and order it. I will bring it to the con.

that's inconsiderate, to say the least

I often pre-order from a vendor to pick up product at the convention. Most of the time I pre-pay for the items as well. Problem solved.

As a photographer at sporting events I've heard "take pictures of my kid, I'll buy them all!" And never seen the parents again. Everyone says they want stuff, no one wants to buy. Prepay or don't expect to see special order items!

Never buy stock based on feedback like that. Great way to go broke fast. Feedback like that means they want to look at it, maybe buy it. If it is stuff you stock, okay.

But especially Blue Moon, where the Old Glory Army card applies…

The trick to selling Old Glory 25's stuff with the Army card is to carry odds and ends and a pack of certain figures for the person that needs to flesh out a unit, or is looking for special items and doesn't want to make a large order or pay for shipping. Also not everyone buys the Army card. With Blue moon I picked up those kinds of packs. The rub is you try to do a favor for people. I have talked to other vendors from Recon and they feel the same way I do. So fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Anyone who wants me to bring specific stuff to cons will have to pre=order and pre-pay.

^^^ I think that is how to do it unless it is stuff you are going to bring anyway.

I would agree that's the way to handle it but I don't think most consumers would feel any obligation to buy stuff in the situation you described and I don't think they should.

If they wanted to commit to something, they would tell you to hold it for them. If they don't, it's not an obligation in their minds.

Everyone says they want stuff, no one wants to buy.

If all the people on TMP that said would buy something when it becomes available did, I would be better off than I am now.
From talking to other companies, so would they too.

As for shows/cons.
Unless you pay in advance it is not held back for you.
You really want it?
Pay before and collect on the day.
I won't turn people away from my stand when they have cash because someone said they would get the last of my whatever but would not pay in advance.
Tough, harsh, not trusting?
Maybe, but I have bills to pay and my bank/creditors won't be as generous…

If all the people on TMP that said would buy something when it becomes available did, I would be better off than I am now.
From talking to other companies, so would they too.

Any time I order something I pay for it in advance. I think it's bad business not to take at least a deposit. If I want it, I have to pay for it. May as well pay for it first and get that out of the way.

Angel Barracks – I think you are being completely reasonable. Unless the guy is a personal friend of yours, you would be foolish to hold something for someone who wouldn't pay up front.

I think some of you are missing the point. People go to conventions to buy from vendors if the vendors have what they are looking for. They don' feel they should have to pre order. They also want to check out prices and hope at least 2 vendors have what they want so they can try to play them off each other for a lower price. At our cons we have had basically the same vendors bringing relatively the same products to all the cons. the wish list was to try to get vendors to bring other items. To me that's ok. I don't mind fulfilling customer wishes. I was just disappointed that this happened at our con. I also think that marketing directors who issue the wish list know who asked for the items and should stress that these people should commit to what they asked for. Otherwise wish lists will be ignored in the future. If I submit an item on a wish list for vendors I fully expect to buy it. I am thankful that the vendor went out of his/her way to get the item. I have asked vendors to bring things in the past and I have always bought them. I thought others thought the way I do. I now know they don't. I accept this, but I am still disappointed in those gamers. A lot of gamers also have limited funds and tend to visit the flea market before they buy from vendors. It does set up additional competition. If they find what they want there, they then forget about thw wish list.

Oh, so it is about 3rd party stockists being asked to order some stock from a supplier because people asked for it, and then the people that asked for it don't buy it?

Nick, sometimes I have wanted an item and the vendors don't bring some items because of space, but I wanted to see the item before purchase. So two people were disappointed, but you got to do what you got to do. It's your business and your money. If everything was displayed there probably wouldn't be a problem, but that's a wish list in itself.

I bring quite a bit of merchandise to all the shows I attend that is preordered by customers who are attending, have had one or two people not show up, but they made good afterward and I shipped the items.

Would never make someone prepay unless they wanted to; that said, ask me once to order something I don't normally stock and bring it to a show and then not stop by to pick it up or make good afterward; there won't be a second time…………….

There's multiple definitions of "Wish List" here. To me:

A Wish List is not an order. It's what you would like to see the vendors bring so you can look at it and decide in the flesh. You are more pre-disposed to buying it but if you knew for sure you wanted it, you would have actually ordered it so you knew you would get it.

If I want to order something, I ORDER it and specify I will pick it up at the show.

I have asked vendors to bring things in the past and I have always bought them. I thought others thought the way I do. I now know they don't. I accept this, but I am still disappointed in those gamers

Is that a realistic expectation? If I ask you to bring something and then don't even show up to your both that is discourteous. If I don't like the product, then I'm under no obligation to buy.

Would never make someone prepay unless they wanted to….

I leave that to the vendor. After all, it is a business to them and they should run it accordingly.

A Wish List is not an order. It's what you would like to see the vendors bring so you can look at it and decide in the flesh……….If I want to order something, I ORDER it and specify I will pick it up at the show.

Exactly my thoughts.

If I were a vendor I might BRING items that I normally stock but that I don't normally take to conventions, but I don't think I would order things that I don't usually carry just for one show. Well, unless I was pretty certain it would be a hot seller, but only for a limited time.