As you probably know most manufacturers have a minimum project order size where you can register the project with them and they'll give you a further discount to give you an edge and hopefully win the job. Supposedly no other bidders can register for the same project after you make the claim. There are minimums for the order which I have seen of $5K on the low side to upwards of $25K on the higher side. For this example say I'm bringing a project order to you with an opening order of say $25,000 in product. The absolute most we have received is 5% off with the average being 2-3%. I hardly think this is going to help me blow the doors off of other bidders. "Ok Company X, I decided to bring you to the table instead of Company Y (which I can buy for half off of your cost for a similar performing product) and thanks so much for that 2%!"
Another thing that really concerns me is that the contact at the company or anybody else that is privy to the information on the project could be telling their favorite vendor (my competitor) about the oppourtunity? All the insider has to do is call their favorite, tell them the exact cost they have to charge (for products) and level that playing field. It's also a win/win for them since both companies are coming in with the their product.
Without mentioning names we have been suspicious of this in the past and for this reason keep our projects to ourselves. They can keep their 2 points!
Anybody else with similar experiences?