Subscriber Discussion

I'm Riding The Hikvision Train And We Are Going Full Steam Ahead

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 21, 2017

We got a call yesterday from one of their inside sales people which is a first. I had a feeling there was going to be a discount coming up. KOA (distributor) sent out an email at the end of last week advertising a 15% off sale. Hikvision is following Macy's/JCPenny sale pattern of sales everyday 24/7 for 365 days a year. Can't complain about that aspect. 

The discounts give us an extra of padding so when things hit a bump during a project, it helps our bottom line. I'm riding the Hikvision train and we are going full steam ahead.

FYI for any federal projects we do, Hikvision has and will never ever be quoted. 

NOTICE: This comment was moved from an existing discussion: Failing At Marketing, "ALL HIKVISION PRODUCTS" On Sale

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JB
Jason Brown
Apr 24, 2017

All these discounts do is give you a reason to never have any inventory in stock. And to never give your customer line item pricing.

Don't stock it because if you buy it now, it will just be 5% cheaper the next time you need to buy it. 

Don't provide pricing because if the job takes several months, maybe it will be on sale somewhere at or below your cost when you send them the final bill.

Or even worse, if you quote a job 2 weeks before your competitor does, and the product goes on sale, then your competitor has a 10-15% price advantage. If the client doesn't give you a chance to re-bid, then the discount you're so proud of right now will have just stabbed you in the back.

These price fluctuations are good for no one. Did you really list JC Penny and Macy's pricing strategy as a good thing? You know they're both on their way to going out of business, right? Macy's has been down every quarter for the past 2 years and JC Penney has been down every quarter since 2012! Both have closed dozens of stores and laid off thousands of people. So if that's your recipe for success, I suggest you think again.

Macys Sales Data

JC Penney Revenue (Forbes)

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 24, 2017

I never said I used sale pricing when I quote the projects out. If budget is a tight fit, then I'm quoting TVI anyway so pricing is just general lower in the first place. I know Hikvision  likes to trick people into sale pricing so I know the lineup backwards and forwards so I know $102 is a good price for their 2MP dome but not $120.00. We stock over $100k in inventory so getting five $100.00 cameras is nothing for us. 

I'm not worried about the competition at all. I have to focus on myself and crews to make sure the project gets done right. If someone wants to go low ball them, be my guest (not the Beauty and Beast song).

There's a big difference installing cameras vs JCPenney and Macy's sucking at selling clothes. My point was Hikvision's adverting is now very similar in how every day is a sale day when it's really not. I meant the extra discount help us out when a tech messes up on a project. We are in a totally different market than retail and you know that.... If Hikvision isn't make as much money as should be, that's not my problem. I am here to make money for me, not Hikvision. But bless their heart for discounting quality equipment and not having to do the run-around for project pricing. That saves me so much time. 

 

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Apr 24, 2017

I'm sorry but project pricing on Hik makes me giggle. Surely they can't give away even more discount than they already do anyway. We've seen the first predominantly Hik distributor 'rescued' by another distributor, I'm sure they are not the first and definitely not the last. Margins must be incredibly thin on Hik and with their kit being for sale everywhere I'm not sure how long suppliers can afford to be on that same train.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Apr 24, 2017

I've only done it once and it ended up being higher than sale pricing. Now it's a different story with other manufacturer's project pricing...usually.

U
Undisclosed #3
Apr 24, 2017
IPVMU Certified

Casey Jones you better watch your speed.

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