05/08/2018
This was brought to my attention today by someone here at the lake, so as the owner of PAWS PLACE I thought I would bring it to yours.
This is her word for word quote……."I have tried to buy something from them (Paws Place Thrift Store) for over a year marked $85 made them an offer of $65 and still wouldn't take my offer. That's BS in my book. Stuff that is donated and can't negotiate a fair price, no thank you. I don't do business there anymore." She also made the statement that she even sent in a friend to try and buy it for $75. That tells me it wasn't about the money, and how mad would she have been with us if we would have sold to her friend at a discount.
I just want to make something clear. First of all, not everything in my Thrift Store has been donated. I may buy something wholesale, at an auction or from an individual when inventory starts getting low. Second, just because the majority of items are donated doesn't mean it's cost-free to me. I have a lease for retail and stored items, insurance, utility bills, repair cost of broken items, transport cost, moving or free pick up service and that's not counting my labor. Last, my biggest cost, becoming legal to do what I do (A true no-kill animal rescue and shelter). All the different licensing, IRS status as a 501c3, tax exempt (I don't pay tax so I don't charge tax). Donated or not (no matter how low the cost) there is always a cost to do business. For example, I have NEVER paid for an unwanted or rescued animal and from day one my CPA (cost per animal) has always been more than my adoption fee. I don't negotiate the fee nor do I plan to start based on the animal is free to me. The fee is fair if anything it's too low.
Look, if you choose not to do business with us because of a dirty bathroom, or because the building stinks, or it's too cluttered, or not in your budget, etc. etc. etc. That's your business and I understand. I say that without worry because we are none of these things. But, I'm offended just because she thought she's entitled to get a discount base upon donated item's. That is just wrong, besides being insulting. Especially when anyone draws a negative conclusion or opinion never spending one minute in my shoes. We are a high-end thrift store and folks like the idea really nice things or like new stuff are donated to us, otherwise, they would be paying more. I know we have priced accordingly and fair because people tell us, based on the merchandise we carry. Matter of fact, other dealers and individuals buy from us to resell. I understand that we are not for everyone because everyone's budget is different. So when it comes to negotiating, we are not a typical thrift store, nor a yard sale or garage sale, nor a flea market, nor a junk dealer or a used car lot. You don't ask the clerk at Wal-Mart or other retail stores to negotiate, so don't ask mine. Now I will say this, I have 27 years in the auto and boat industry in sales and sales management. So if you have to negotiate, I will be happy to help you. Heck, I will be glad to negotiate everything in the store, the whole store or one item at a time. But, I will only do it in person and by my terms, so you better put your patient's hat on, because I can't be at the store all the time so you will be waiting on me most of the time.
