3 ms·
So, if you knew anything about the commercial market and the relationship between wholesalers and retailers, you would know that a 3x markup is actually about t
by bradknowles 5y ago
So, if you knew anything about the commercial market and the relationship between wholesalers and retailers, you would know that a 3x markup is actually about the smallest you typically see.
Those jewelers you see with those three balls hanging outside their door? That's a statement by the jeweler that they are "triple-key", which means that they intentionally limit themselves to 3x markup on most items (the expensive ones). It used to be that many jewelers had a much larger markup that they typically charged, and many still do.
So, if you want to spend your time dealing with a wholesaler that might or might not be the same supplier that iFixit uses, and you want to take your chances on whether you're getting dodgy equipment from some fly-by-night Chinese company that has copied the look of the quality tools you might otherwise get from a trusted retailer, then more power to you.
I'll stick with the trusted retailer, myself. I think iFixit is one of the few relatively honest companies left in the business, and I'd prefer to continue to support them with my business.
- arein3 5y agoThat's not true. Luxury jewelers have a pretty high markup because of the brand. Do not mix reselling stuff from china and jewellery business. Usual jewelers keep prices depending on the price of material and the weight, not at 3x markup. When buying from aliexpress/ebay you are buying a single piece, like from a retailer, same process as from ifixit. So by you logic if every retailer has 3X markup, but iFixit has price 3 times higher than the aliexpress retailer, it means that iFixit has at least 9X markup. You also see reviews, and based on them you can decide who you trust. That is time consuming, and I would prefer to be a place where I can buy without having to worry, however also don't try to rip me off because they thought I would pay anything for cheap stuff imported from china.
- bradknowles 5y agoAliexpress is not a retailer. They are another outlet for the manufacturer -- not even the wholesaler. So, you're cutting out at least two layers of the traditional sales channel. It makes sense that their stuff would be much, much cheaper. You cannot reasonably compare their prices with any other wholesaler or manufacturer. But you do you.