[photo-3d] Wholesale / Retail

[markaren@xxxxxxxxx]

I'm teaming up with a pro 2D photographer to offer supplemental stereo
images for select jobs. These jobs may range from weddings, gift shops,
corporate, docummentation etc. Here is my problem...my rant....etc. 
Almost every stereo product is sold to the photographer as the end user
or consumer. There is no"wholesale" source of supply for viewers, mounts
etc and this forces me to price my package too high, merely breaking
even on supplies. I would like to find folding viewers, plain ( no
printing on them...perhaps patent # only) so I can apply my own
labels..or my customers labels to the viewers. My price let's say $2.00
and resell them for $2.50+ images etc. Or an illuminated viewer for
under $100 with achromats, resale for $100-175 etc. After retail plus
shipping.......it's nearly impossible for me to remain competitive and
make a profit on viewers and supplies. The customer expects to pay a
premium for stereo......but not above 25-30% 
over 2D prices.( a rough estimate) While quoting a customer $11.00 each
for an RBT viewer ( he wanted plain...no printing) and offering quantity
discounts, he doubled over laughing! :-) I had to show him Jon's price
list, divulge my source, and step away from retailing the viewers. " Now
there's your problem" he said with a smile." Your cost of doing this is
too high."  
So.......with dollar stores selling everything from A-Z, products
involving apparently higher mfg levels of sophistication, why can't a
paper viewer be made and sold for under $2.00? An illuminated viewer for
under $85.00? I guess it's a supply and demand thing. Anyone want to
start a buyers ring and fly to China to get this stuff made cheap? Put
me down for 20,000 viewers here. :-)                            Mark
Dottle 


http://community.webtv.net/markaren/USVIEWSExchangeFolio