Wholesale Advice: Seeds

[AJ Drew]

I have never liked the concept of wholesale pricing.  It seems so much like a scam to perpetuate higher prices.  Now volume pricing, that makes sense.  Of course is you are going to purchase by the case (or what ever) then giving you a break makes sense because there is less work if you dont have to bust up the case and repackage for the customer.  Walmart can sell for less because they buy for less due to volume.  It all makes sense.

So I am thinking about selling seed by the gram.  Probably count out to get an initial average so I can describe how many are typically in a gram.  Makes sense because no counting, no individual packages, of course it should be cheaper cause less work.

Other benefit, I'd have to buy a gram scale at the grow shop.  Absolutely sure that would dispell the myth that I am growing peppers.  Oh hell, who am I kidding.  I buy a MH bulb in the middle of the winter and nobody thinks I am growing peppers.

Thing is, it occurs to me that it seems nobody else is doing grams.  If I go to general seed shops, I often have a selection: Package or Gram.  Sometimes even 1/8 oz threw Oz.   Usually it is either a check box or drop down menu.  But not at sites that focus on pepper seeds.

Wondering if it is worth the work of changing things around.  Maybe there is a reason I dont see too many of those types of listings.

Thoughts?

 

[hogleg]

I think redwood city seeds (ecoseeds) does it that way and has been for many years. I think they do packs and by bulk weight though. Seems like a good idea to me? But you need to figure out if you'll lose any buyers if you eliminate the packs. Maybe do both, packs and weight one season and compare sales.

 

[spicefreak]

Oh please. I use fishing scales that measure to the hundredth to cheat at magic the gathering and noone thinks I deal drugs. Though I do keep getting offered them...

 

[austin87]

I have never liked the concept of wholesale pricing.  It seems so much like a scam to perpetuate higher prices.  Now volume pricing, that makes sense.  Of course is you are going to purchase by the case (or what ever) then giving you a break makes sense because there is less work if you dont have to bust up the case and repackage for the customer.  Walmart can sell for less because they buy for less due to volume.  It all makes sense.

So I am thinking about selling seed by the gram.  Probably count out to get an initial average so I can describe how many are typically in a gram.  Makes sense because no counting, no individual packages, of course it should be cheaper cause less work.

Other benefit, I'd have to buy a gram scale at the grow shop.  Absolutely sure that would dispell the myth that I am growing peppers.  Oh hell, who am I kidding.  I buy a MH bulb in the middle of the winter and nobody thinks I am growing peppers.

Thing is, it occurs to me that it seems nobody else is doing grams.  If I go to general seed shops, I often have a selection: Package or Gram.  Sometimes even 1/8 oz threw Oz.   Usually it is either a check box or drop down menu.  But not at sites that focus on pepper seeds.

Wondering if it is worth the work of changing things around.  Maybe there is a reason I dont see too many of those types of listings.

Thoughts?

 
I think it's a great idea. The only thing I would say is that a gram of seeds would probably count in the hundreds, seeds are VERY light. So if you sell a pack of 20 seeds for $5, you might need to count on a gram of seeds costing $25 (before marking down for the convenience of weighing it out, which is much faster than counting out seeds). 
 
Not sure how many people are growing in volume where buying 100+ seeds of a variety would make sense, or if people would be willing to spend that much for seeds they don't need. I think there are people who would prefer to buy seeds in smaller packs so they have more varieties, freshness ensured (even though properly stored seeds last a long time), etc.,. I would expect 100 seeds of a single variety to last me 10 years, assuming I start 10 per year and pick the 2-3 best looking plants for plant out.
 
Hope that helps. 

 

[juanitos]

packaging doesn't matter too much if you're using seed packing robot / machine and you are doing thousands of packs anyway.
 
i like to sell by the count, not the volume. as people who buy seeds (even in bulk) are buying a certain count of seeds to grow a certain amount of plants. 
 
Not many people are going to count a 1000 count seedpack to make sure you are close. and if you are a few off i don't think they will complain too much...  (or you just put a little extra to make sure you hit the count)
 
as far as why not many sell bulk. well you can charge more for retail than wholesale.
i don't think large farmers source their seeds from smaller vendors like us. They get treated, tested, disease resistant strains from monsanto etc.

 

[smokemaster]

Gotta remember,a Lot of people are selling Unstable or semi isolated seeds these days.
Most of the Hybrids these days go for a buck + a seed.
Mosy don't gtow true.
In reality,anyone could sell anything as some kind of unstable cross...
 
Depends on what you want to sell.
What you grow...
 
If it was me,I'd start with Landrace stuff.
Work the hybrids in on the side,
 
smoke
 
 
P.S.
Super hot powder used to go for $300. a LB.$30. now.
 
 
 

 

[AJ Drew]

Oh please. I use fishing scales that measure to the hundredth to cheat at magic the gathering and noone thinks I deal drugs. Though I do keep getting offered them...
 

I mainly get it in the winter time when I am buying grow stuff.  The wink wink nod nod for your winter tomato thing.  Think its my looks too.  That and in Kentucky, Willie Nelson is just about a role model.  It is kind of entertaining.  I sometimes get the feeling I am the only one not growing dope in my basement.

 

[AJ Drew]

Gotta remember,a Lot of people are selling Unstable or semi isolated seeds these days.

 
Isolation is why I asked if folk think it is a good idea.  We grow enough for our own seed needs and for what we currently sell ( 20 per pack ) with some of the simplest of efforts (bags, agricultural bridal cloth frames).  But selling by the gram would mean spending a bit of money to expand that effort and produce more seed.  A gram is a hell of a lot of pepper seeds.  Not sure anyone would want to grow hundreds of the same thing.