Question About iboats Marine Store

[WillyBWright]

I see a lot of items with "Commission on sale given to: ...". And the first time I clicked on one particular item it showed one business, then I refreshed and it showed another that would get it instead. So I tried it again and again, and a different dealer showed up each time with a few repeats (like it was random from a list of a dozen dealers or so). What's up with that and how do I get in on this gravy train?

 

[JB]

Re: Question About iboats Marine Store

I think it is like this, but don't take it as gospel.<br /><br />iboats is a broker for many items. Doesn't stock or ship them but pays the organizations that do a commission for doing so. Other items are stocked in SLC and shipped from there.<br /><br />Some items I have bought from iboats came directly from iboats, some others direct from manufacturers or third party wholesalers.<br /><br />I think they must be contracted relationships and no "gravy train".

 

[KRS]

Re: Question About iboats Marine Store

ahhhhh, I've wondered too.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Question About iboats Marine Store

We should name this business practice...How about "Drop shipping"! Wouldn't it be neat you could run a distributorship with little or no inventory!!<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />Nah sombody probably already thought of it

 

[Link]

Re: Question About iboats Marine Store

Originally posted by neumanns:<br /> We should name this business practice...How about "Drop shipping"! Wouldn't it be neat you could run a distributorship with little or no inventory!!<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />Nah sombody probably already thought of it

Ya think! <br /><br />I would be leary of doing it with used items myself. (thats just me)<br />Drop shipping, a retailers dream come true!<br />For items that need to be ordered.<br />Better for the customer also.<br />They never has to leave thier house or place of business.<br />But still have you as a retailer to take care of any problems.<br />We set up a marine hardware store like that in the 80's.<br /><br />Darn.. we were the first ebay!

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Question About iboats Marine Store

That is what Amazon.com does. No inventory, not much overhead. Just act as a broker for stuff.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Question About iboats Marine Store

Quite a few E-Marine stores seem to operate the same way. Some even share the same on-line catalog format. I give Iboats credit, theirs seems to be somewhat proprietary.