Full Version: What's with suppliers.........
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#4]
22 Mar 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#2] 22 Mar 2007
Yeah, nuff said on the cost.
Service still a problem.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#5]
22 Mar 2007
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#3] 22 Mar 2007
Thanks, I will check them out since I don't use either of them.
Puck
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#6]
22 Mar 2007
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#5] 22 Mar 2007
JDS just sent me an e-mail stating that they'll be giving me next day service at no additional cost. Used to be two-days, but I had a few more hours to place the order.
JDS has contracted with a special service to provide you with Next Day Deliveries by UPS Ground. All you have to do is order by 1pm EST (12 noon CST) and your order will deliver the next business day via UPS Ground.
There are No Extra Charges to you. This service is provided to you “Courtesy of JDS”.
EDITED: 22 Mar 2007 by CSEWELL
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#7]
22 Mar 2007
To: Carl (CSEWELL) [#6] 22 Mar 2007
That sounds good. Been a few times I have needed that kind of quick service and paid highly for it.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#8]
22 Mar 2007
To: Carl (CSEWELL) [#6] 22 Mar 2007
Carl,
Is that an offer of 1-Day shipping everywhere in the U.S, or just your region? I'm 2-Day shipping from three different JDS warehouses. There have been many times that I would have ordered a particular item from JDS, but had to order locally from The Source, Marco or Continental.
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#9]
22 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#8] 22 Mar 2007
.... and if they'd fix their on-line tracking system! I've written and called them about it for months, but they still haven't fixed it. When you click on the tracking link on your order page, it is supposed to take you to the UPS site and show you the tracking status of your order. Almost, but not quite. It goes to the UPS site, but either UPS changed the format or JDS's scripting is messed up because it doesn't recognize the information that is sent.
And JDS doesn't include the tracking number, so the only way to track a shipment is by the "Track by Reference" feature and key in (or cut-n-paste) the order number for the reference number.
I still haven't figured out why they are ignoring me........
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#10]
22 Mar 2007
To: Carl (CSEWELL) [#6] 22 Mar 2007
EDITED: 22 Mar 2007 by DAVERJ
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#11]
22 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#10] 22 Mar 2007
Dave,
That is true. I now get UPS shipments to and from Omaha and Des Moines in one day. Last year it was two.
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#12]
22 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#10] 22 Mar 2007
Yes, I agree with you and David Takes - I now get UPS shipping from Dallas to Wichita in 1 day - I just wish St. Louis to Wichita was 1 day as well.
~
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#13]
22 Mar 2007
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#12] 22 Mar 2007
John,
Right on! :-)
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14]
22 Mar 2007
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 22 Mar 2007
Puck
I agree about the service thing. JDS and Johnson both offer EXCEPTIONAL service.
Service or lack there of is a sore point with me. Not just in this industry but in all business...it is something that is dying in America as companies struggle to keep the bottom line up.
What they do not realize however, is their bottom line would grow just as fast if not faster IF the proved the exceptional service of the two companies mentioned above.
I try to provide the best I can. I am currently reordering everything I need to redo a badge order for 32 badges.....that an emblem came off of. These badges are scattered all over the state right now, but I will be mailing them out, with a complimentary coffee mug eblazoned with the company logo and personalized with each persons name.....
I bring this up as an example of how superior service can actually be a great marketing tool.
Good Luck
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15]
22 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#11] 22 Mar 2007
:'-( :'-( :'-( :'-( :'-(
Best I can do is UPS ground...and it still costs anywhere from 80 to 120% of the cost of the order.....
:'-( :'-( :'-( :'-( :'-(
From: PenMan [#16]
22 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 22 Mar 2007
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#17]
22 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14] 22 Mar 2007
Not so with the suppliers these days. I am either getting the wrong item, double the order ($270.00 jumped to almost $550.00) or not receiving the order at all which does not seem to phase the suppliers as bad customer service. I can understand the once in a while mistake but at least stand up and take responsibility and quit trying to put the blame else where. If the suppliers would fix the problem they would keep the business but seems to me they are dropping the ball more and more and saying not our fault.
Your comment is so on that it is scary
Puck
From: Zonas [#18]
22 Mar 2007
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#1] 22 Mar 2007
I haven't read all the postings, so not sure if it is material, delivery or cost issues. I use lots of 1/8" clear/clear and I buy mine from Bur-Lane - and use their own brand. Their brand is more matte than Rowmarks, which is what I need for the jobs I'm doing. Not sure their current price, but do know you get free shipping with $250.00 order (the good days of $100.00 long gone). My problem is I use mostly 1/8" and Bur-Lane and Johnson are the only ones that stock this thickness, so it has nothing to do with JDS.
Zona
Topeka, KS
From: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#19]
22 Mar 2007
To: Zonas [#18] 22 Mar 2007
Zonas,
I was using Burlane for my matte/clear but the last batch I received had so many flaws in it that I went else where this last time for my large order. I did check with them and they were somewhere around $1.50 to $2.00 higher a sheet but the free shipping would have evened it out.
I do like the matte more on their brand than Rowmark but hate the flawed part. I might have to go back with their brand for the better matte when using it for the ADA signs but these last didn't require the ADA.
Thanks,
Puck
From: Jer (DIAMOND) [#20]
22 Mar 2007
To: Puck (PUCKERBRUSH) [#19] 22 Mar 2007
I would be surprised if JDS or Johnson Plastics would let you down. I have had almost no trouble out of either one. When there was a problem, it was fixed so fast that I did not even feel it.
By the way, has anyone noticed how quickly JDS can take an order? I placed a large order a couple of weeks back and my wife commented that I was on the phone just a few minutes. They don't mess around.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#21]
22 Mar 2007
To: Jer (DIAMOND) [#20] 22 Mar 2007
Jer,
Another example of JDS magic is when you place an order on their website, then remember ten minutes later that you could have ordered one other thing from them. You call them on the phone, they have the order right there and add the item with great pleasure. Their inventory and order system is industry leading.
It seems like such a simple thing, but makes for a great customer experience.
From: Jer (DIAMOND) [#22]
22 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#21] 22 Mar 2007
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#23]
22 Mar 2007
To: Jer (DIAMOND) [#22] 22 Mar 2007
That's the Advantage Program (AP) from JDS. You have to agree to buy at least $5,000 from them in a calendar year, but you get end-column pricing on all case quantity purchases. It doesn't take long for that to add up!
Up to this year, we spent less than $3k. This year, we'll more than double that amount.
JDS had a great show special in Vegas, and we took full advantage of it....buying about $2,000 worth of stuff for about $1,700 (PLUS free shipping). It's worth noting that some of the items were backordered, so they shipped everything to us when they got it in - and they still paid all of the freight.
For a small outfit like ours, that makes a world of difference.
To return to the "service" side of this thread......
Two of the absolute BEST suppliers that we deal with regularly are Zeit and Catania. I'm not even going to mention Engraving Concepts here, because I think we ALL know that they set the proverbial BAR for service (did I just mention them?).
Even though we're still pretty new, both of these companies treat us like we're their best and longest-standing customers. If I feel like I need to talk to the owner of either company, I know without a doubt that they'll be accessible to me (that matters!). Of course, I know it doesn't hurt that we always pay our bills on time. ;-)
Cody
EDITED: 22 Mar 2007 by BOBTNAILER