This week we had an old lady come in and request to buy a few thousand D Rings which was an odd request and why I was called in to sort out. Normally someone would not be buying a D Ring and let alone ask for a few thousand. The top request is for trampoline springs and never D Rings. For those that do not know a D Ring is what joins a trampoline mat to the main frame via the spring. The odd part of this request is a mat will have between 56 and 72 D Rings depending on the number of springs, but these D Rings are not loose and are professionally sewn in.
This lady was obviously buying for a competitor of ours as this was not for her own personal use due to the numbers. After a few more questions it turns out this business was linked to a group of ex employees who were fired for theft and was part of the reason for sending the business we now own into business rescue 10 years ago. I see them as the enemy and deserve no help eve if it would be a profitable sale.
Business is business, but in this case out of principle it was an easy pass and informed the lady who turned out to be a mother of an ex employee we could not supply them and would never supply them. I thought it was a bit of a cheek to even try and to send another family member thinking we are stupid or wouldn't put two and two together.
Knowing our competitors are struggling finding supplies is actually a good thing because of the plans we have lined up for next year which will decimate all the competition. If they close down now or later it makes no difference, but they will as their days are numbered. The only reason there is any competition is down to the business we now have being run so badly.
The few thousand D Rings they required would either be for trampoline mats being made up or repairs when they are being restitched. I would guess they have 30 or 40 orders to complete before the summer holidays and they are under pressure to source the materials required.
This enquiry made me look around at what options they have open to them and they are not great. Temu seems like their best option purchasing 20 D Rings for R8 each or $0.50c each. The problem is if you retail a replacement mat for $60 nearly 65% of your cost is now in D Rings and not viable. Another factor is you do not know the strength or quality of these items from Temu.
We have a current stock holding of nearly 250K D Rings and more than 500K of various spring sizes so we have sufficient stock for when we kick into gear before Easter next year. No doubt they would have wished they had stole some more when they had the chance to do so. The wheel always turns and why the first rule in life is you never burn your bridges.