LED GROUP BUY 2008 - L.E.D.s Read Only. No more posting. - PlanetChristmas! Forums. Read Only. We've moved to http://talk.planetchristmas.com - The Forums of PlanetChristmas have moved to http://talk.PlanetChristmas.com
I think many of us are thinking this, but I'm going to come out and say it....
*We* are the consumers, and *we* gather ourselves together holding out our money willing to make a purchase. And in doing so, *we* are making things a lot easier for online retailers who are still making an easy profit as they walk by the line we have formed and take our money.
So instead of sitting here hoping and dreaming that the laws of economics will again hold true this year... I hope *we* as a collective group can cheerfully announce our economic demand, and then wait and see who offers the nicest economic supply.
There are already at least a few PC members in direct negotiations with companies in China to provide LED purchase opportunities, using our collective buying power. And these PC members have openly disclosed they do so not for profit, but because this is Christmas and we are a Christmas light/display community.
I spent a ghastly amount of money switching to LED this year, and my budget for next year is already carefully hidden from my wife. Of course I'm going to buy what I need, and of course I'm going to consider price and customer service. But I'm also going to stay with this group so we can all benefit from the best deal offered to *us*
I do *not* recommend people start shouting out the amount of money they are going to spend - but I'm going to disclose my purchase will be in the $10,000 range and 1) I'm not going to beg or kiss someone's behind to get a deal, and 2) I'm only purchasing from someone who gives the same deal to all PC members. Because *we* are the customers.
Ok back to work for me - thanks for reading. Group Buy 2008 unite!
Ok - I just got chastised by Medman for not having a special E-mail list to him for the upcoming LED pre-order event I will be offering in January - even though he doesn't understand that we are in the middle of an extensive year end inventory along with the day to day opperations that go with running a business and trying to get pricing and samples for an upcoming Christmas show in January.
Let me explain (clarify) something to you Medman, just because someone has found a vender in China that is willing to send out piecemeal orders at reduced cost to you, doesn't mean that you are getting a quality product. Even though you may get samples from a vender, they may be sending you samples of someone else's product and than sending you an inferior product. I've seen that happen over and over. In fact, I remember reading someone's post right here about getting LED flood lights directly from a China vender that were inferior. You have to know who you are working with. Most reputable companies won't even take less than container orders. To do business with China, all monies must be paid in advance, with no repercusion once the goods are sent (if indeed they get sent). If they don't get sent, you're out the money and try to hire a lawyer to handle that one! With that said, buy your products from China with the feeling "buyer be wear".
I've been to the LED factories (I do business with) in China. I have a Chinese partner in China to supervise my purchases and I have full coverage from start to finish of the products I purchase. I sell a full wave, LED product, that I direct import myself - no middle man mark up. I am a full time Christmas store. That means that the majority of the year (or at least half the year) I really don't generate money. Try that one on for size! I am sorry I can't send you an Email for the sale, but I will give everyone plenty of heads up. Sorry for my rant - Everyone have a great Christmas and happy new year. You will be hearing from me soon.
Hrm. I didn't mention your name Paul. I gave you my feedback regarding our exchange in private. That was out of respect for you as a professional. I also respect your right to bring our exchange into public, though I suppose I would have appreciated you showing me the same respect I showed to you. You've disclosed you are too busy to maintain a customer email list, and that's you're right as seller. No harm no foul.
Regardless, you already know that practically every PC member here appreciates you and your service - and I apologize if my opinion regarding our buying power as a group of consumers was offensive to you as a reseller.
If anyone is interested in joining together to form a buying group that will allow negotiation of best prices for a quality product, I would suggest we keep the thread as it was intended.
If this thread was meant to be advertising for Paul's sale, exclusive of any other purchasing power we might have as a group, then I apologize to the forum as well.
I was more then happy to buy from Paul earlier this year
I knew I was buying from someone with a good reputation who stands behind his product & has looked into the supplier in depth
I'm hoping to place another order in 2008, as long as I find a job by then
Ron I am just curious, where are you going to put more lights, the house, the yard, I think it is all covered. BTW that mega tree is way cool, I love it and cannot wait to hear how you did it.
Now back to the topic. I have never purchased from Paul, but from everything I read from the PC family I would mcuh rather purchase from someone like Paul that is known that venture outside and take a risk of getting burnt. That being said I sure hope I can snag a few things in his sale.
medman2000 wrote: I do *not* recommend people start shouting out the amount of money they are going to spend - but I'm going to disclose my purchase will be in the $10,000 range and 1) I'm not going to beg or kiss someone's behind to get a deal, and 2) I'm only purchasing from someone who gives the same deal to all PC members. Because *we* are the customers.
I did qualify in the 3rd post of this thread with 'IF' in reference to the GB of Creative Displays. This thread may have turned into a Paul lovefest, so be it.
I agree with some of your viewpoints as a consumer. But the seller also have their POV, and it's based on profit. CD is a company, not a non-profit org. You can go to his website to see his regular prices. Paul in his GB, posted his prices on this site. They are good prices, but not 'dirt-cheap I'm not making profit' prices like the retail end of Christmas sales. It's a great product, compared to what I saw in the stores. I spent a small fortune (4me) this year, and combined with everyone else's order I'm assuming Paul got discounts which is what he passed on to us as a group.
1) Paul posted his prices. You want some, order some. No begging or kissing involved. He even took special orders for different light counts. If you look on his LED page, he has some orange 70cnt for sale. He used to have different colors, 35/70/100 cnts. These were the extras he had to order (and keep on his balance sheets) to satisfy these requests. It's nice to see he finally sold most of them, especially since I was responsible for some of the 35cnts!
2) As far as I know, everyone got the same deal. Maybe I could have negotiated, maybe not. Oh well, I'm still happy.
3) Referencing his lack of email notification. Might be bad business practice, maybe something he should look into. But he posted everything here, deadlines, prices. You as a consumer need to check this site now and then since you now know he doesn't have a mailing list. But from another viewpoint, posting here is more fair, since you don't have to be on 'the list' to be 'in' or know about it. Deals aren't always presented to you on a silver platter.
4) Nobody is twisting your arm to go with one GB or the other. Nor should there be only one GB. It's a democracy, anyone can put one together. Go with the one you feel comfortable with.
5) I sent Paul an email that I had some bad strands. Same day he shipped me new ones. No questions, no hoops to jump thru. Doubt you will get the same service from a private GB.
Ok this clearly has gotten personal and it wasn't inteded that way. I'm not sure I need to have other people jumping in and throwing jabs at me, that is counterproductive and inflammatory. I'm outta here (so save your negative comments) - see ya next year, Merry Christmas and good luck with Paul's sale.
As 2007 winds down, it is a time to thank everyone for your support and put bygones in the past. I think this blog has served its purpose and it is now time to move on. THANKS TO EVERYONE - HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Ok, back to counting widgets.
I really don't like to step into threads... but we're on the edge of breaking the "positive" rule at PlanetChristmas. There are tons of places to get bent out of shape on the Internet... PlanetChristmas isn't one of them. We're here to support each other by positive reenforcement.
Hint, hint.
____________________ Chuck Smith at http://www.PlanetChristmas.com
Don't forget our three PlanetChristmas rules: Positive, family friendly and Christmas centric
I'm primarily interested in the LED replacement C9 bulbs, as I'd like to cut down my power usage considerably on the roof bulbs.
Does anyone know what the minimum buy for LED C9 replacements might be? I really only need 139 bulbs ... but with 50 per box, I need to figure out what the best color(s) to go with would be. Ideally, my roof C9 will just be one channel on LOR in 12/2008.
If you had to just choose 1,2 or 3 colors for C9 LEDs .. which would it be? To me, the whites and blues are most striking. Plus the wife being a big Dallas (cowboy) fan, doesn't hurt either.
Keep in mind the C-9 and C-7 LED lamps are for static use only and that the LOR and Animated boxes will ruin them. Also, there will be multi colored C-6 and M-5 mini's available.
BTW that mega tree is way cool, I love it and cannot wait to hear how you did it. 
