Diary of a Demented Store Owner

Thursday 31 July 2008

The Ink Hasn't Even Dried On The Last Pricelist

Price increases just received from our OOCSGS on glass since May, 2008:

Bullseye- 5%
CPG 39 series clear textures- some up 24%
English Muffle (up 5-18% in May)- now up another 2-4%
float glass (up 20% in May)- now up another 20%
mirror- (up in May)- up another 14%
GNA- up 15%
Kokomo- up as much as 28%
MNA- up 11%
Spectrum- 12%
Uroboros (up 8% in May)- up another 10- 13%
Wissmach (up 7% in May)- up another 4%
Youghiogheny- up 11%


I know, transportation costs are up. But that doesn't explain why window glass (which is available locally) has increased as much as 40% from our OOCSGS recently (we also buy it locally- it really hasn't gone up at all in the last year). Actually, glass that we buy direct has become even cheaper in some cases due to a much stronger Canadian dollar now compensating for higher transportation costs.
What are we doing to try and offset this?
We begin a series of truck shipments from the U.S. with the first, from Bullseye arriving on Sept. 2. We've already determined our costs and see no changes in pricing (with some even dropping). Bullseye has had no factory price increase this year.
Following Bullseye, we've got a truck coming with glass and tools (such as circle lens cutters)(no CSA required). Three other U.S. sourced shipments follow in mid-September, but we'll fill you in on what's on these later... 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can see what the OOCSGS is doing- looks like he wants to rape us all, get as much money as he can and then walk awayleaving us holding the bag. That's what you get when you get an opportunistic owner who has no regard for this industry calling the shots. Seems there's only be one winner-him.
But Mike, you keep us informed please- I like to be informed as I'm being effed.
Sign me definitely Anon

Anonymous said...

How can anyone justify these price increases as anything but opportunistic?!
These increases, if true, are far and above whatever increases come from transportation and manufacturers increases!

Anonymous said...

Mike- you have to be happy about all this. Ho!@#$%'s actions will cause all your smaller competitors to fail, leaving you (with your strong independent streak) to pick up the pieces and clean up,
John S.

P.S. a big shame on all your competitors! Where are they? Leaving you all alone to speak the truth! How come they aren't saying anything- the gutless wonders!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to try my best to avoid buying from OOCSGS and do so shopping in the U.S.- if more people did this maybe they'll smarten up

FusedLight said...

Mr. Mikey:

Being dat I will be in duh immediate neighborhoods next week are you wishing dat I should be paying a friendly visit to duh folks at OOCSGS? Not dat I would be showing dem any of duh violence what folks are expecting from a visitor from The Other Country. Naw, I would be showing him a Very Revealing Spreadsheet what would indicate to him that the error of his ways are hurting the Family Profits of a number of fine Canadians. Of course, I could also suggest to him that he might wish to avoid Other Physical Uses for Notebook Computers, if you get my drift.

(signed)anonymous, what with me being in duh witness protection program and everything...

Anonymous said...

funny how shipping is now free to all customers of OOCSGS, but they use the excuse of transportation costs as one of the reasons glass prices are going up. Me thinks Mike and all the local guys are paying higher prices to subsidize our OOCSGS offering free shipping to out of town customers. So think about it next time we have to explain to our customers why they're paying $5/ft more for Uroboros!
Me

Anonymous said...

Good luck everyone! Our industry has changed drastically in the last couple of years making it harder to exist (see how many have gone out of business in the last while with NOT ONE NEW STORE COMING IN!). In another year or two it'll be OOCSGS and Mikey, with Mikey buying all his inventory in the States. We need to be a little more proactive here people! I'm ashamed of all my competitors and the passiveness they're exhibiting!
Gord

Anonymous said...

why are any of you buying from OOSGS? Seems to me that if you all shopped elsewhere, they just might smarten up?