Re: Great Boot Debate revisited (long)

In a message dated 96-06-20 07:36:36 EDT, you write:

>>You are correct here
>
>Actually, not. Let's not forget the "happy" retailer. With a cost of
>approximately $14 on a single, to sell them for $20 to $35, they are making
>out pret-ty good...
>
>-wf
>

That crossed me mind after I posted. Some of the "happiest" retailers sell at
the highest prices. I was lucky enough to have access to wholesale prices for
a brief while, and as a result, I can't bring myself to pay any retailer more
that $20-25 for singles. There are still a few (very few) who mark singles
$18-20.

A counter arguement can be made that it is the retailer, not the manufacturer
that is taking the greater risk of being busted, and therefore, they try to
justify the higher prices based on that, but I don't think it holds up. More
likely it that the once free flowing channels of wholesale sources has dried
up considerably, (and hopefully temporarily), and the product goes through a
larger number of hands (each taking their $ cut), before reaching the
consumer level. Thus, if the retailer is not well connected, he pays more,
passing the cost on to us. 

Happy happy, joy joy...

Kathy