M-14b

NNTW;
"It depends on what's important to Marstar as a business and, for that matter, how loyal Marstar customers are."
First and foremost we want to provide our customers with quality products at the best possible price, products on which we can apply our warranty policy

"Then maybe it eats the wholesale increase and doesn't make as much profit on a few items, viewing it as a short term issue to meet long term objectives."
You seem to think that there is a huge mark-up on merchandise ?? I'm afraid that perhaps you did not understand what I was trying to say, maybe I did not explain it clearly, most of the products we offer we have input in the QC, after all we will warranty the product(s).... If we obtain a substitute from another provider what assurances do we have that it will meet our specs and our customers expectations ?? Regardless of price ??

"And if Marstar's got the customer loyalty, people may well pay the 20% extra you theorize, because Marstar service, etc, is worth it to them."
While we enjoy a very high level of customer loyalty I really doubt that they will pay an extra 20% just so they can buy from us.... I know I would not buy my new car from a dealer I like if he were charging an extra 20%.

after all one of the main reasons people shop at Marstar is because we offer some of the best deals, best prices, best warranty police and best service in Canada....

Regards
John
 
"You seem to think that there is a huge mark-up on merchandise ?? I'm afraid that perhaps you did not understand what I was trying to say, maybe I did not explain it clearly, most of the products we offer we have input in the QC, after all we will warranty the product(s).... If we obtain a substitute from another provider what assurances do we have that it will meet our specs and our customers expectations ?? Regardless of price ??"

no need to be condescending, John- i don't think i ever made comments about your margins. nor have we discussed QC before. i talked about market share and overall strategy.


"I know I would not buy my new car from a dealer I like if he were charging an extra 20%."

20% price difference? I'm unlikely to pay 20% more on a new car, but on a $30 magazine? Maybe.

Best deals and best service? From what I can see, the vast majority of your customers are happy. And yet it also seems there's room for improvement.
 
NNTW;
"I am curious how much analysis you've done on your business- parts vs ammo vs equipment etc- and if you've evaluated where your best returns are, and what your optimum product mix should be, ie, how you should focus your efforts.

Lets take a moment to consider the nature of the surplus business.... Last year for instance two governments contacted us with 7.62x39 ammo, as with all surplus deals you take it all, or you take nothing.... We can't say that we have evaluated our needs and only sell X per month so we will re-order as needed.... NO it does not work like that you accept the offer, sign the contracts and pay for it.... As a result 20 container loads arrived on our doorstep....
We recently signed contracts for thousand of SKS rifles, why ? simply because they were available....
How do you anticipate what will be available in the surplus world this year ?? Or the next several years for that matter....
You speak of parts versus other items for example, late last year we had the opportunity to purchase two warehouses in Greece, 10 x 40ft container loads of premium parts
How would you go about studying the market for these items considering most have NOT been avaialable in any quantities since the 1950s....

" and what your optimum product mix should be, ie, how you should focus your efforts."
I would really like to know how one can do this in the surplus business ?? One never knows what will show up or when, you simply have to be ready....

"I'm guessing small parts (including magazines) are not really a core part of your business."
Well now I don't really know how you define "core part".... Lets see at any given time we have between 25,000 & 30,000 magazines in stock.... We just purchased 500,000 more this past week
Our parts section holds between 100,000 & 125,000 bits and pieces at any given moment.... We are always adding
Parts and magazine are a good example of buying when you can, if I am offered some brand new parts for WW-11 weapons, whose production ended with the war, I'll buy them

" I am curious how much analysis you've done on your business"
Interesting, in 1984 I decided to go into the surplus weapons and munitions business....
We hade VERY limited resourses as I had just been screwed out of my share of another business....
In the past 25 years we have managed to become the largest surplus arms dealer in Canada, a major player in the US market, a prime supplier to many governments....
Our company has become a multi million dollar entity, we have millions of dollars in paid up inventory in Canada and off shore
Marstar does not use credit facilities, we are completely self financing, this way we can negotiate the best possible deals from vendors.
No I do not have any business degrees, but I am a graduate of the school of hard knocks
Hell I must have done something right ??
John
 
Hi John:

You're a successful enterpreneur who flies by the seat of his pants.

You've got a lifetime of practical experience in a rather obscure, hard-to-predict business.

You're presented with opportunities where you've got to make a snap go/no go decision based on your experience and gut feel.

You've led Marstar and made it a huge success.

Sound about right?


... all I can say, it sounds more and more like an awesome case study for a bunch of bright-eyed, bushy tailed business students. I'm sure they could learn a lot from you, and maybe even make a few suggestions.
 
Max Owner said:
Johnone; there will always be people who will gripe and complain. Don't waste your time on them. Let them take their "hard earned" cash elsewhere.
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That's the thing that I'm impressed with John's character. He allows individuals who assume they know more to entertain him on their business experience only to open a can of cold hard reality on them. Considering that he RUNS a company like Marstar, it's amazing that he's willing to go tete a tete with average Joe is something you're not gonna find with many companies nowadays who use university educated mathematics to cover up bad business sense. The internet has allowed people to whine and complain and prop themselves on how super smart they are without really having pass the teenage phase of realizing the world does not revolve around them. It takes someone like John to humble these individuals.

And it's always a good read :) Like the super huge but obscure firearms importer who can ship in SKS's for $50 a piece :D
 
=(M-1)= said:
Yes it is entirly possable to do an very basic E-mail preorder set up, just because its simple doesnt mean it wouldnt work. They said that upon the arrival of the rifles that they would contact you to conferm your place in line, that is when they COULD HAVE taken proper documentation. and being as they only ask for a "Note" that is how I assumed it would work. After all It was not specified that you had to fill out a form. Read the opening post, it says nothing to that point, read the web sight, it doesn’t either. I just did as it instructed when when no other specifications were stated. technically I was the only one to follow the instructions exactly it seems.
But whatever, its sorted out now. I know for next time.
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ok if say it is possable I'll have to take your word for it. Everyplace I have done a preorder from has wanted all the info up front before they will put you on the list/order it for you.
 
I should probably go back and read all 13 pages but why bother....

John has been great to deal with. I have bought 3 guns from Marstar and never had a problem. I for one appreciate a dealer who brings in large quantities of interesting products and chooses to sell them a very good prices... if that doesn't say that Marstar cares about it's customers I'm not sure what does.

Maybe John should take on 5 more full-time employees and charge an extra $100.00 per gun to keep the high maintenance customers happy?
 
sirren said:
ok if say it is possable I'll have to take your word for it. Everyplace I have done a preorder from has wanted all the info up front before they will put you on the list/order it for you.
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Yep it seems to be. I had just done an Email 'note only' pre-order for a M-14 class stock, It wont arrive from the U.S for three more weeks. It was through another non-CGN supplier that I won't mention on the Marstar sight. and all he ask was for an E-mail stating my intentions to purchase, to which he sent a reply stating I was in line to receive the rifle stock.

secondgen said:
I should probably go back and read all 13 pages but why bother....

John has been great to deal with. I have bought 3 guns from Marstar and never had a problem. I for one appreciate a dealer who brings in large quantities of interesting products and chooses to sell them a very good prices... if that doesn't say that Marstar cares about it's customers I'm not sure what does.

Maybe John should take on 5 more full-time employees and charge an extra $100.00 per gun to keep the high maintenance customers happy?
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You dont need more employees than is necessary to get a job done. You just need to get your moneys worth from the ones you have. And raising customer cost just drops sales and turns more of your happy customers into high maintenance customers. Because when they pay more for an Item they expect more from it. But if you pay a junk price, and get junk, at least your not disappointed. LOL. :D
Not to say Marstar sells junk. But they do offer the junk price. so we should all cut them a little slack.
 
=(M-1)= said:
Yep it seems to be. I had just done an Email 'note only' pre-order for a M-14 class stock, It wont arrive from the U.S for three more weeks. It was through another non-CGN supplier that I won't mention on the Marstar sight. and all he ask was for an E-mail stating my intentions to purchase, to which he sent a reply stating I was in line to receive the rifle stock....
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That is really excellent customer service! Not only from the USPS, Canada Post, CBSA, the licenced exporter, but from DFAIT for your IIC, and US DOS for the export permit as well!
 
tiriaq said:
That is really excellent customer service! Not only from the USPS, Canada Post, CBSA, the licenced exporter, but from DFAIT for your IIC, and US DOS for the export permit as well!
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The Canadian wholesaler is the only one I'm dealing with. He' can have fun with all the rest of those agencys. And he is deffinetly having fun. The U.S export requires him to recieve the rifle stocks short of being completely manufactued to function with a rifle,(dont ask me why I dont have a clue :confused: ) so he has a little bit of machining to do before he can ship them out.
 
I have to agree 100% with TIRIAQ, first time dealing for tis product with this dealer/exporter, three weeks is a miracle....

Grtting the IIC takes 3-5 working days....

Getting your formal purchase order, your DSP5 declaration, end-user statement and your IIC into the hands of the exporter
and THEN he files all the above for his DSP84 export docs at State, that slone normally takes 3-6 weeks....

I would certainly like to talk with this fellow, it is obvious both our company and several of our US suppliers have not been doing it properly
John
 
johnone said:
I have to agree 100% with TIRIAQ, first time dealing for tis product with this dealer/exporter, three weeks is a miracle....

Grtting the IIC takes 3-5 working days....

Getting your formal purchase order, your DSP5 declaration, end-user statement and your IIC into the hands of the exporter
and THEN he files all the above for his DSP84 export docs at State, that slone normally takes 3-6 weeks....

I would certainly like to talk with this fellow, it is obvious both our company and several of our US suppliers have not been doing it properly
John
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Well don’t take my word for it, I am just the guy telling half a story that I don't know the half of. I don’t entirely understand what you guys have to go through to get the 'goodies' up here. but it sounds to me like its a royal pain in the ass.
I did not fully grasp what the guy was talking about when it came to having to machine certain parts before he could ship them out, sort of completing a last step in the manufacturing process, It was just something he briefly mentioned when I spoke with him on the phone, he then instructed me to send an E-mail to confirm my pre order, and he would contact me in three weeks when they arrived, However, I did not order a rifle stock and have him tell me it would take three weeks to get here. But rather, he’s an official Canadian supplier and takes large shipments just like you I suspect. I just happened to call when his shipment was just three weeks away. But I would imagine he has to jump through all the same hoops as anyone.

Its really not that imporant that I go on and on about it tieing up your M-305b pre-order thread. All I did was pre-order a rifle stock that I have wanted for years now from a Canadian wholesaler that imports it, and It was catalogued VIA: 'E-mail note.' (no big deal) Its not relly even a subject for this forum but it just seems to drag on, sorry about the mess I've made here. But I'm sure Marstar will be getting plenty of my busness in the future, especally now that I have grasped the basic concept of pre-ordering. :D
 
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a0jc said:
That's the thing that I'm impressed with John's character. He allows individuals who assume they know more to entertain him on their business experience only to open a can of cold hard reality on them. Considering that he RUNS a company like Marstar, it's amazing that he's willing to go tete a tete with average Joe is something you're not gonna find with many companies nowadays who use university educated mathematics to cover up bad business sense. The internet has allowed people to whine and complain and prop themselves on how super smart they are without really having pass the teenage phase of realizing the world does not revolve around them. It takes someone like John to humble these individuals.

And it's always a good read :) Like the super huge but obscure firearms importer who can ship in SKS's for $50 a piece :D
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hmmm..

I'm definitely not running a company like Marstar. And I find it quite interesting- both the product, and speculating about the behind-the-scenes activity that John alludes to in his posts.

I don't think that Marstar can be all things to all people- by that I mean I think its core competency really is finding awesome surplus deals and great deals on Norinco. That seems to be what gets the CGN'ers all excited, and me too, quite frankly.

But it can be hard to figure out what Marstar has, at times. It can be done, but it's not intuitive to get to the CQ pre-order page, for instance. And yes you can phone- I'm interested in placing a pre-order, and when I called, the person I talked to seemed disinterested, so I decided to consider it further before committing.

Milsurp parts? I think it's one of Marstar's strengths... but a lot of things show as being out of stock, although reading posts in this forum, there are things that Marstar HAS, that aren't listed on the web.

Is Marstar's strength its handgun magazines? Maybe not, if it has one supplier, and can't guarantee when it will get new stock. But that's okay if it's not "core" to the business. John says he's got 000's of magazines, and I believe him- it's unfortunate that about 1/2 the items on the web page show out of stock, however.

What about its used guns, be they pistol or rifle? Some really neat items. But maybe 3/'4 of the items are sold- yet are still on the web, and have been for months or years after they're gone. This probably isn't the focus of the business, so again, that's probably okay- it's an interesting read.

So maybe this is the biggest issue- Marstar's website. It's a cornucopia of goodies- but it's also a convoluted maze, hard to navigate, and definitely not intuitive. Maybe this really is an area that deserves some attention- because whether you're trying to pre-order an M14B, or find a magazine release for a Lee-Enfield, it's nice to be able to get where you want to go easily.


So, am I a business genius? Nope- never said I was. And should I presume to tell John what to do? Of course not. But I do have a business degree, and I have learned that sometimes a fresh perspective can be helpful, as it can be to any situation in life.

I find what Marstar does interesting. I'm also a customer. If I can't find what I want on the website, or if what I need is not available, well maybe I'll go elsewhere for that item, which I regret because I do like the fact that Marstar's around and would like to patronize it. For some things, Marstar really is the only option, and to give them credit, they don't exploit the fact.
 
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John, your company provides a great service to canadian gun owners. But I'm sure that you are loosing many impulse buys by not having MANY things in stock at all times. I for one would of made 2 more firearm purchases if the model I wanted at the time would of been in stock.

I don't know $hit about running a business, but as a shopper, stores like yours and Le Baron are highly frustrating. The good thing about you is that you actually try to satisfie your customers and solve problems. The pre-order strategy seems to be more customer friendly than the old mythical waiting list.

Keep at it :)
 
Hungry said:
Hang in there John!! We luv ya! :evil:

Your efforts to prevent #### loss are priceless!! :D

Peace be to journey!

Barney
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of COURSE we love John!

...I don't think we need to worry; he's too big a man, and too successful an enterpreneur, to get his nose out of joint over some posts from some 'armchair quarterbacks'.
 
I love the fact that John does explain what he does. I don't always agree with his opinions, but I sure have learned a bunch reading them.

What I'd really like, is to remove some of the impediments to John bringing in even more cool stuff (NRCan sucks!!!)
 
I was going to preorder a m14-b from the website, could not figure out how, lost my impulse buy mood. Will have to call when I have a chance.
 
What i want to know is when the book is coming out!

Good products great people what more can you say!
 
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