This isn’t a moan about Sofirn’s pricing in general, this is just the struggle a reseller faces selling the Sofirn brand.
The one thing that upsets me being a reseller for Sofirn, in New Zealand, is the very real struggle of people buying direct for less not quite sure what to do about it. There’s a few here and there that’ll value local warranty, but the majority will favor the cheaper prices. I understand that if the store doesn’t have a certain model or if the prices are ridiculously higher.
The wholesale rates aren’t much less than what’s advertised for you guys (sometimes no discount with coupons) and then the bulk express shipping increases the cost above that. Direct orders plus free China Post shipping works out much less than wholesale. A guy on reddit, can’t remember where from, encountered this same problem with only Sofirn.
With Convoy, the prices for wholesale are quite a lot less. I’ve had to recently drop most Sofirn models to cost or near cost as they’re just sitting there, even at cost it’s higher, so people still buy direct. I’ve had a chat with them and the rates are the lowest possible. Strangely they have different teams for the various platforms and they all have different wholesale rates, it’s very odd.
AliExpress wholesale team has lower prices, but Barry explained that the Sofirnlight team has better customer service with higher prices….I don’t understand this. Wholesale should be the lowest possible rates regardless. When Sofirn is discontinuing a model, the discount price they give me is way lower than the normal wholesale price, it should be nearer this from the start.
Any ideas? Do I drop Sofirn?
I should add that Wurkkos is the same and perhaps it’s because the Sofirn factory is making their flashlights.
Funtastic it’s typical for Chinese manufacturers when they are also selling something directly, I’ve been trying a few times to establish local distribution in Poland as a hub for some other EU countries, but in the end, they were selling at the same rates to other sellers regardless of the quantity. In general - If you don’t have your own brand, you will be f…. or s…. by your Chinese suppliers selling directly or selling to some other distributors. In my opinion, trying to sell any popular Chinese brand locally is a waste of time and money.
Any supplier of yours who does not give you enough dealer protection in their pricing scheme and instead compete by selling directly should be dropped like a hot potato, otherwise it’s either you are a philanthropist or a masochist.
Not a retailer, but I bought a Sofirn D25LR for a discounted price of $21.19 in Jan. Then in Feb. I bought 3 Rantizon 2L2 headlights (exactly the same, except for 2 white LEDs instead of a warm white and a 660nm red) for $28.23(9.41 ea). All four lights are identical, other than the LEDs.
Their dive lights are the only thing they do that is notably beyond other brands. And the people who really need those might also be willing to pay a smidge more for fast-turnaround local warranty.
The whole idea of actually trusting a Chinese dive light is fairly new.
I’ve actually stopped stocking the Sofirn dive models due to leaking and corrosion. Since the body carries the negative current, if it’s scratched, it’ll corrode. I’ve seen quite a few mentions of this after a few months of frequent use
I appreciate all the replies. I’m just going to stock the Lanterns since they do still sell.
I find hunters will pay good money for the Convoy models for mounting on a rifle and headlamps sell quite well if they have a red LED, so might stock the D25LR. All general use models just sit there
I would not trust a Chinese dive light under water, your life is at stake. If you can’t afford better lights then you should avoid diving.
Its just too dangerous imo.
Resellers typically order large quantities to get a discount. If you don’t get a discount with a 5000 to 10000 flashlight order, you should drop them. If you are ordering 10 and 20 flashlights at a time, you are really not buying wholesale quantities.
Doesn’t matter what quantity though, Sofirn have a set list for resellers.
If I look at my Skilhunt price list, the pricing under 50pcs is only a difference of $2 each. Thankfully Skilhunt offer a good discount though. Cyansky are much the same.
Skilhunt offers some very competitive shipping rates which makes it an awesome deal. Sofirn don’t have the same carriers, through the Christmas period an 8kg box was going to cost 175 usd. I hadn’t restocked Sofirn since November. Shipping has reduced a bit just now, but was undecided about getting more.
not quite sure what to do about it. There’s a few here and there that’ll value local warranty, but the majority will favor the cheaper prices. I understand that if the store doesn’t have a certain model or if the prices are ridiculously higher.
