No ARC discount

[rdnelson]

Acroholic;1015681 wrote: Shaq should just raise his prices 10%, then give everyone 10% off. Problem solved.

Any sponsor is welcome to set their prices however they see fit. As long as everyone pays that price and ARC members get 10% off that price they are within the agreement. However, if they raise them only for ARC members so they can give the discount then they are breaking the agreement.

The concept behind this is that a sponsor gives preferential treatment to ARC members in return for ARC giving them preferential treatment by allowing them to have a forum with which to sell there goods. Direct access to all members. The ability to mail all members twice a year. And a discounted rate on booth rental at the expo. That seems like a fair deal to me but if they don't agree, they should not get the same benefits as those who do.

I must say, I am having a difficult time understanding where the problem is here. All potential sponsors are made aware of the agreement before becoming a sponsor. If they think the payback is worth it, they pursue becoming a sponsor. If they dont think it is worth it they don't become a sponsor. But once an agreement is entered into, shouldn't both parties live up to that agreement?

I will say this one more time in hopes that all will understand. I spoke with the sponsor in question. I was made aware that there was a misunderstanding and I clarified the terms of the agreement. The sponsor understands and the matter has been addressed. Where exactly is the problem?

 

[jdavid]

Juicy

 

[franciscosalazar]

This is unfortunate...

 

[j_b_]

So, since this thread is in the Reef Shac SPONSORforum that still exists, and the "misunderstanding" has been addressed...lol...bunch of potatoes

 

[tonymission]

porpoiseaquatics;1015696 wrote: However, it is against the rules to raise the prices in order to give the discount. Catch 22

I thought they just couldn't raise the prices for members and have the lower price for non members. At least that was the verbiage one of yall posted yesterday.

All these stores are factoring in extra knowing many of their customers are arc members and the ones who aren't probably don't know better.

It's pretty obvious when you compare some of the shelf prices to online pricing. It's almost a 10% difference in most cases, which I'm sure running a brick and mortar also has some influence on.

 

[rdnelson]

tonymission;1015730 wrote: I thought they just couldn't raise the prices for members and have the lower price for non members. At least that was the verbiage one of yall posted yesterday.

All these stores are factoring in extra knowing many of their customers are arc members and the ones who aren't probably don't know better.

It's pretty obvious when you compare some of the shelf prices to online pricing. It's almost a 10% difference in most cases, which I'm sure running a brick and mortar also has some influence on.

With all due respect, that is speculation on your part I believe. I don't think it is productive to make a statement like that, portraying it as fact, with no facts to back it up. In my opinion, a 10% difference can easily be explained. The costs of running a brick and mortar store with a small geographical customer base as compared to an Internet based business with the world as its customer base hardly indicates they have built in an unneeded buffer. Have you ever looked at what retail space rents for?

 

[acroholic]

I did not say to just raise prices to ARC members. Raise prices 10% across the board, then give everyone a 10% discount, whether they are ARC members or not. No one can tell a retailer who they can or cannot give a discount to.

Petland does not have a specific "ARC Discount," for example. Petland just gives ARC Members a Club Pet Membership, which is free and given to anyone that wants one, ARC Member or not. It is just like a Pet Perks from PetSmart. Why should Reef Shac or any other Sponsor not be able to do the same thing?

If Petland Dunwoody can operate this way, then why not any other Sponsor? Club Pet Membership is available free from Petland to anyone that wants it regardless of ARC Membership status or not, so a lot of Petland customers that are not ARC Members pay the same exact price at Petland as any ARC Member does, so where is the special ARC Privilege there? And if that does not meet ARC Sponsor requirements, then should not Petland Dunwoody's Sponsor status be re-evaluated as well?

 

[tonymission]

rdnelson99;1015735 wrote: With all due respect, that is speculation on your part I believe. I don't think it is productive to make a statement like that, portraying it as fact, with no facts to back it up. In my opinion, a 10% difference can easily be explained. The costs of running a brick and mortar store with a small geographical customer base as compared to an Internet based business with the world as its customer base hardly indicates they have built in an unneeded buffer. Have you ever looked at what retail space rents for?

I mentioned that... Maybe not very clearly.

I've had multiple commercial leases and own the largest business in my industry (Atlanta) so I have at least a basic understanding of these concepts.

And sure it's speculation, but as Joe random user here I'm not sure it's detrimental at all and do think it has something to do with the conversation. The standards to which I'm held are going to be different than you or anyone on the board. That's what's great about discussion boards... We can speculate. Or I can. (Until you ban me)

I was basically saying Shac should just do what everyone else does rather than making a big deal about selling at "wholesale prices". Whether I'm right or wrong there about "everyone else"-- we can agree that no other stores are saying they can't honor ARC discount because they're selling at wholesale prices.

There's a reason they're called wholesale prices and that term is generally not used in a retail setting.

 

[rdnelson]

Ah but you, and apparently many others keep ignoring (or not hearing) what has been said. Just now you said "Shac should just do...." I have mentioned many times in this thread and in others, "there was a misunderstanding, I spoke with the sponsor in question and the issue has been resolved". Sure doesn't sound to me like anyone is refusing to live up to an agreement.

My point is that when people speculate, but do not make it clear that they are speculating, many take it as fact. If no one disputes it, they take it as confirmation. That is how misconceptions fuel unfounded opinions and accusations.

 

[ecoreefguy]

Stop arguing and gimme corals

 

[tonymission]

rdnelson99;1015750 wrote: I have mentioned many times in this thread and in others, "there was a misunderstanding, I spoke with the sponsor in question and the issue has been resolved". Sure doesn't sound to me like anyone is refusing to live up to an agreement.

Sounded very much like a refusal and less of a misunderstanding. Do you mean misunderstanding in the context of "he didn't know there were repercussions for not following the rules?"

rdnelson99;1015750 wrote: My point is that when people speculate, but do not make it clear that they are speculating, many take it as fact. If no one disputes it, they take it as confirmation. That is how misconceptions fuel unfounded opinions and accusations.

That's a fair point. Unless supported by facts, you'd think speculation was implied or assumed by others. Unfounded opinions are most opinions, but I'll stand corrected here.

Just chit-chatting for the heck of it. Since, you know, there's a thread here to talk about it.

 

[Reefplumber13]

...

 

[tbub1221]

tonymission;1015730 wrote:
All these stores are factoring in extra knowing many of their customers are arc members and the ones who aren't probably don't know better.

It's pretty obvious when you compare some of the shelf prices to online pricing. It's almost a 10% difference in most cases, which I'm sure running a brick and mortar also has some influence on.

Bingo

 

[nasa_tiger]

This is getting old and needs to stop... I am not a paid member but I was intending to this weekend. Now I am not so sure. IT is real simple, discount or not, you have the option to shop wherever you want to. I know without a membership, Shac still has the best prices in town (by far), has amazing customer service, and cares about his customers. All of those completely outweigh any 10% discount. I choose to only shop at 2 stores, Reef Shac and Atlanta Aquarium, because Shac and Rit know how to treat their customers. And some simple math, a coral frag that would go for $20 at most stores are being sold by Shac at $10... That is a 50% discount... Just saying.

Shac, keep up the good work, you have a lifelong customer here. Thanks for all you have done.:yay::thumbs:

 

[dawgface]

NASA_Tiger;1015794 wrote: This is getting old and needs to stop... I am not a paid member but I was intending to this weekend. Now I am not so sure. IT is real simple, discount or not

Agreed! Just needs to end!

NASA_Tiger;1015794 wrote:
you have the option to shop wherever you want to. I know without a membership, Shac still has the best prices in town (by far), has amazing customer service, and cares about his customers. All of those completely outweigh any 10% discount. I choose to only shop at 2 stores, Reef Shac and Atlanta Aquarium, because Shac and Rit know how to treat their customers. And some simple math, a coral frag that would go for $20 at most stores are being sold by Shac at $10... That is a 50% discount... Just saying.

This misses the point of the ARC. With 800 give or take paid members and even more unpaid it is supposed to be a beneficial trade to both sponsor and ARC member. If not then either can separate. Being a non member with sponsors that don't have that agreement does no make it condusive to becoming a member.

NASA_Tiger;1015794 wrote:
Shac, keep up the good work, you have a lifelong customer here. Thanks for all you have done.:yay::thumbs:

Certainly agree here.

 

[redstang]

Geez guys, it was a misunderstanding. We're not going to go into the details of the misunderstanding as that's not fair to the sponsor or anyone else involved. No reason to blame someone or be mad at anyone.

To the OP, you're forgiven lol! As Stacy said apparently us guys can stir up more drama than the girls can. I guess we're passionate about our fish and corals!

FWIW, I've been to Shac's place and will go back. I do my absolute best to support the local economy in general and the ARC's sponsors in particular. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

RedStang;1015826 wrote: Geez guys, it was a misunderstanding. We're not going to go into the details of the misunderstanding as that's not fair to the sponsor or anyone else involved. No reason to blame someone or be mad at anyone.

To the OP, you're forgiven lol! As Stacy said apparently us guys can stir up more drama than the girls can. I guess we're passionate about our fish and corals!

FWIW, I've been to Shac's place and will go back. I do my absolute best to support the local economy in general and the ARC's sponsors in particular. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

I can't believe that this still has life and that some of the people involved are the exact ones that claim they don't like the drama of this site. THEN STOP IT!!!!

It's resolved now show some trust in the leadership and move on.

 

[shac]

So I was in the process of replying to a post that a LOYAL customer left on this thread a few minutes ago. I went to reply and it was removed, I can only assume that this thread is for the negative only. The issue has been address and 10% discount will be applied with presentation of membership card. As the owner of the store I want to make sure I don't cross this line again because it seems like I was under attack, so If an ARC member walks in and gets $200 worth of merchandise but wants to negotiate the price and I decide to give it to them for $175. Now at checkout they still want the additional 10% discount, How does that work?

 

[wildernets]

shac;1016173 wrote: So I was in the process of replying to a post that a LOYAL customer left on this thread a few minutes ago. I went to reply and it was removed, I can only assume that this thread is for the negative only. The issue has been address and 10% discount will be applied with presentation of membership card. As the owner of the store I want to make sure I don't cross this line again because it seems like I was under attack, so If an ARC member walks in and gets $200 worth of merchandise but wants to negotiate the price and I decide to give it to them for $175. Now at checkout they still want the additional 10% discount, How does that work?

Nope. Removed the post because it had nothing to do with this thread. I sent the OP a PM with the full text so he could simply copy and paste you a new post. Which he has done. You should have no problem replying to him there. Others may want to jump on that order so it will be easier for you to track it in a clean post without all that is in this one. This is the one and ONLY time I will justify my actions. Don't buy into the hype man. We are not out to make the world an angry place.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

shac;1016173 wrote: So I was in the process of replying to a post that a LOYAL customer left on this thread a few minutes ago. I went to reply and it was removed, I can only assume that this thread is for the negative only. The issue has been address and 10% discount will be applied with presentation of membership card. As the owner of the store I want to make sure I don't cross this line again because it seems like I was under attack, so If an ARC member walks in and gets $200 worth of merchandise but wants to negotiate the price and I decide to give it to them for $175. Now at checkout they still want the additional 10% discount, How does that work?

They don't get the discount. The discount ONLY applies to full priced merchandise. If you negotiate a lower price, that's your deal as the store owner.

Shac...the post was moved to your store thread where it should've been.