computer consumables in spain
 

We are moving to Spain in September and will be running our little
UK EBAY shop and website. from there. (inland Malaga)

is there a market for Top Branded computer products at keen european prices...........? (HP, EPSON, :) LEXMARK ETC:)

we may also sell in Spain on Ebay and by advertising in Local Mags

any advice will be welcome.

paulnsoo :)

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

How are you planning to take payment from your spanish customers?
ISTM that credit cards aren't used as much as in the UK, tho' I don't
know about how much eBay is used.
Also, it seems to me that you may have more difficulty distributing stuff
as the postal service is not as fast/efficient.

I have heard from others that couriers are not as common in spain either.

Pete

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

thanks for that Pete,
i hear that "paquete azul" is quietly efficient as a means of distribution,
also we will take paypal (which i hear is growing in Spain)a great means of sending and receiving payments

i have done quite a lot of deliveries to Spain from The uk already
over the last 18 months or so.

i don't foresee to much difficulty.
i have suppliers already all over europe

cheers

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

Hiya

Were you aware that if people pay by paypal and you don't use a fully tracked delivery service, the receiver can claim non delivery and paypal will debit your account and credit the buyer automatically? Now, normally in the UK that is OK, but I can tell you that a tracked service from a to b internationally is hugely expensive. In the UK for instance a tracked item (camera lens) with a final signature (only to UK border) was £7.80 ish, but to get it tracked fully to destination overseas with signature cost over £35

I'm talking from experience because I used the tracked to border system for a shipment to the states, the buyer claimed it didn't arrive, and as I couldn't provide a complete tracking number my paypal was debited (into a minus figure) and frozen until I re credited it and the buyer was credited. For dishonest people its a real boon!!

You may be able to get around it using couriers, but it may be costly.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

hi there
thanks for your input............really appreciate it.
however i am a uk Powerseller so i know all about the first part as i have been caught a few times and have had to take hits on it.
its a source of much discussion in the forums......

as for international tracked i already do a lot of that so yes i do know how expensive it is.
if we open a Spanish Ebay shop too then we will be sending from within Spain as we are moving there in 6 weeks time. it will probably be in the new year after we've settled the uk operation down.
so the excess costs won't apply.

thanks again for the reply
paul

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

Plenty of opportunity to sell, E bay is very popular among the ex pats for getting things from the UK, we use it all the time, and to get inks etc for our printers. We've had no problems here, but haven't bought anything from a spanish e bayer as yet, we would always use paypal.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

thanks for the input!
sounds like there might be a market for us there already existing then.?

i do already deliver alot of original cartridges(and cd-r's) to spain anyway, (probably to the people you already describe.) so i could maybe be a little more competetive as i won't have to deliver from the UK..

cheers
paul

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

There are already a few people offering ink cartridges, but the local one is actually asking more than I can get them from the Uk for, including postage! :beer:

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

thats a good sign!

our aim in the uk is sell branded stuff cheap and sell lots of it.

thanks

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

Maybe they cost more to buy wholesale in Spain.

Watch out, too, for the surcharge on blank CDs and DVDs. I found it cheaper to ship from UK companies. Though now I'm working back in London near, allegedly, the cheapest PC media seller in the UK, I don't think I'll be having a problem.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

thanks again for the input.

yeah i have heard of the surcharge, don't know what its all about.
initially anyway we will continue only with our uk operation. Running it remotely from Spain. IF we open a Spanish EBAY STORE or even a .ES website (e-store) it will be selling mostly original branded inks and toners and photo paper.
although if its a level playing field then dvd's and CD-r's too because we can buy as well as anyone.
It may be slightly more expensive to Buy from Wholesalers in Spain, i'm not sure. But i buy most of my stuff even now from Holland and Belgium

so will be able to buy at the same prices, or maybe even cheaper as my supplier says that if i Pay in EUROS i can save a little more.

thanks again for the input and would be interested in who it is who thinks they are the cheapest in the UK????????????

PAUL

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

Just had a quote for a set of Epson inks for an R300, from the UK, postage £13.49!!, :eek:

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

I think you are onto a winner, computer parts are so expensive in Spain and also running a computer/Internet business is a good way of surviving in Spain as opposed to running a bar or becoming a builder, like everyone else does.

Mark

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

compatibles

i sell only originals on ebay but Compats inc p+p to Spain from me
is £12.00

thanks

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

or are you saying the postage alone was £13.49?

if so thats disgusting.

P+P from me is £5.00

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

can't say i didn't think of it,

but done bar work years agon too much like hard work!

and running/owning a bar < NO ESCAPE Very hard work
and i want to live among the Spanish not in the Middle of Little England

thanks Mark

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

Yes, postage was £13.49 :scared: :eek: :beer:

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

WOW

although couriers are Expensive to Spain( my minimum is £24.00 to Spain for up to 30 kilo's)

thats a little over the top for normal Postage.

I believe i have sent you a price on some inks on your direct email.

thanks

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

I can get 3 sets of 6 catridges for the R300 compatible for a tenner and they are great for my photos.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

I can get 3 sets of 6 catridges for the R300 compatible for a tenner and they are great for my photos.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

As some closely associated with the printer trade, I would advise anyone to use so called compatible cartridges with caution :eek: , while HP/Canon use a generic ink, which can be easily replicated with almost the same quality results. Companies such as Epson use a special type of ink designed solely for their range of printers, compatibles tend to either, confuse the printer into thinking the cartridge is empty when only half empty or cause blockage in the nozzles.
Its false economy if you have to buy a new printer every 14 months. plus my way of thinking is comparing compatibles with remold tyres, gets you out of a situation but should be replaced with the genuine article as soon as possible.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

I have been using compatible cartridges for my Epson R200 for 2 years. I pay less than £5 for the same set of 6 that Epson charge £66 for. If my printer goes belly up as a result I will buy another printer for £60 and carry on with the cheap cartridges. In 2 years I have saved 10 times the cost of a new printer.

It is a well known fact that the printer manufacturers make almost all their profit from the ink. They just give the printers away at less than cost price to encourage idiots to pay £66 for a set of cartridges.

I have never suffered from blocked nozzles and the cartridges last as long as the originals. In fact the Epson software tells you to replace the cartridge when it still has 20% left - another con.

The only time it is worth considering paying the premium for original ink is where you are looking for archive quality photo prints and this only applies to a small number of printers anyway.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

it a bit horses for courses really
i have been selling Compatibles (ribbons and inks) for over 20 years and myself for general use i always use Compatibles but for quality work of any kind i use Originals. i can the "see the Why pay 50 quid when you can get em for a fiver" sense, but i can tell you that i sell 2500 original ink cartridges (and more ) every month to those people who like the piece of mind of an original brand too. and I can sell you Photo paper (top grade) 260gsm for £1.25 for 50 6 x 4" but my EPSON photo paper outsells it by 20/1

I believe most people would prefer to use originals if they could.

i didn;t mean to cause such interesting discussions when i started the thread.

keep em coming

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

There is always an exception to the rule, and I get to hear all the excuses every day, when I have to repair printers damaged by 3rd party ink carts.
The chances are that you use twice as many compatibles to one genuine, so the savings are not that great, plus loss of quality and with the latest Epson inks, you also loose out with the anti fading element :)


Epsons never denied that their main line of business is the manufacture of ink, but, they also make what is considered in the graphics trade as the best inkjet printers. :)

My Uncle smoked like a chimney all his life, he died aged 90, but I still wouldn't smoke.

Yet another urban myth, yes some ink remains in the cartridge, but its closer to 3% and is there so that air is NOT drawn into the printhead, as that could cause damage. Its controlled by Firmware not software :)

Can't find fault in that statement :D

You really need to think about the whole concept, If Epson could market a quality ink and sell at the same price as the compatibles then of course they would do so, but as they have to bear the costs of producing a very stable and high quality product the prices are bound to be higher. You pay your money and take your chances.

:) :)

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

I think the point here is that the printer manufactures have chosen a business model where they sell the printers at well below cost just to make their profit from the supplies.

I cannot believe that Epson can produce a photo quality printer for €100 and make a profit on the hardware.

If they choose to make the profit on the ink then the sensible approach is buy the underpriced printer and use cheap compatible ink.

As I said before, if the printer screws up because of the ink I can easily afford to buy another one paid for by the savings on the ink. I have been using compatible cartridges or ink refills for over 10 years and have never had a problem.

As for your unsubstantiated comments suggesting that compatible cartridges do not last so long, so what! At 10% of the price or less should I be concerned?

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

Whilst I cannot obviously go into details I can assure you that Epson make a profit on their entire range of inkjets, be they "cheap throw away " as you describe them or professional large format. Epson did not become the top inkjet manufacturer by losing money just to sell ink :p
As printer support/repair has been my business since the seventies I think I possibly know more about the printer trade than the average user :D But I could be wrong :eek:

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

i also have been in the printer /consumer market since the late 70's and i think you are totally wrong............

i believe when pricing a printer they look at what they can make on consumables over a lifecycle not how much the printer costs.
Japanes inscrutability don't ya know.........
AH SO!

paul

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

I'm not disagreeing with your statement, of course they are looking to sell x number of carts over the lifetime of the printer, theres no question. but I was merely stating that Epson do not sell their printers at cost or as a loss leader as was suggested.
Have you always traded under your name as shown on your profile ? I was one of the very first people to setup a toner re-manufacturing business here in the midlands as opposed to the drill and fill brigade, who caused so much grief by bad work and sloppy refilling.

Re: computer consumables in spain
 

No Our trading name now is (PM me if you need it) ,but in the late 70's i worked in London and in the 80's too.

i used to get all My ribbons re-inked (before tomers really) by a company called KLEENSTRIKE uk they also were one of the first to set up re-inking ink carts and re-manufacturing of laser toner.

if you belong to any associations you'll know LAURA up there. she has won awards for her work and is as passionately against the drill and fill culture as anyone.
i think you're probably right about the printers and the profit thing. but its not where there main profit is thats obviously in the consumables......

not sure if i should mention names but we are not looking for business.