Buying Lotions From Ebay

[northtanman]

Originally Posted by Tanning Queen

He is just referring to me because I am on his case about being a home user on this site. Now he is saying he is starting out with one bed and seeing where it goes. Whatever. I dont h ave time for that shit anymore. This is why the industry will never get better. Anyone and their brother thinks it is an easy business to get into and dont care how it might hurt the industry when they default on loans, burn people, are dirty, never change lamps, under price tanning and lotions, etc. I might not have a salon anymore, but I sure as hell still am active and have a passion for this industry. I hate to see it ruined...

Amen!

[thenewsundeck]

You asked questions, and are getting replies from seasoned veteran salon owners. The information you are getting for free is from those that have "been there" and are "doing that". They are answering questions and posing "what ifs" for you to consider. If you cannot take the heat while you are "researching", then reconsider your venture.

I don't have "1000 posts", but have learned to listen...and currently own.

Those that own/used to own have great advice to give, so listen up! Business isn't all "warm and fuzzy". Get used to it.

[Jones]

Kamila,
When I first decided to add tanning to my salon...(many moons ago) I started with only 4 low pressure tanning machines. It's OK to start small and build...some of the best businesses are built on a solid foundation such as this. Since what you are considering doing, I have done before I think I will have some insight for you to pull from. I would suggest if you want to add tanning in todays market you must "do it correctly" because adding only low pressure and 4 beds won't do you or your clients justice. Keep educating yourself and make sure to find a distributor that will help you put together a great range of equipment.

PS...Do not purchase supplies from any source that you can not validate the authenticity of the product...that is a huge liability on your part if someone got hurt from a product you sold to them. I am assuming you wouldn't buy a hair product from ebay and re-sell it...do not do it with a tanning product either.

[Kathe]

You newbies who think you are going into the tanning business would be well advised to listen to the experienced owners on this site. Most of them are quite frank but would you rather have someone tell a sweet lie to you and then you fall flat on your face. Many of us have been in business over 10 years and we have seen it all, including people like you, come and go. There is a lot of good advice underneath the frank comments you are getting. My advice is listen to it.

As for buying lotions on ebay. I'll never forget the customer who brought a lotion into me to ask me if I would trade it for them. It wasn't a lotion I sold and I asked where they bought it. Ebay. I poured some out and it was nasty. No way was it the original lotion. It was watery, green and smelled gross.

I buy my lotions from a professional distributor that will buy them back if there is any problem with them. They are guaranteed to be good product.

The main reason everyone is up in arms at you is that you are trying to cheapen our industry and we, the veterans, are the ones who have been on the front lines trying to build this industry. We won't tolerate very well someone coming in trying to do what the low lifes did 15 years ago that got us where we are today. Either be professional or do something else.

This is a tough industry to be involved in. I remember pre-9/11 when we were raking in tons of money. That time is pretty much gone unless something really big happens with this Vitamin D push. This is an industry that is still evolving and in order for it to grow in the right way we need to get rid of people with mentalities like yours. Sorry if that seems harsh but it is the truth. We need professionals who are willing to invest in their businesses and this industry.

Kathe
Owner since 1994

[northtanman]

Well said besttan! With so many bad salons already not doing their share...educating the general public...then comes along someone with no knowledge...How can it ever get better? Its turned into a fight and ONLY the strong survive? Maybe only the salons that saved some of the profits of the 90's and early 2000's...those were the days...damn it!

[coldgyn]

Just this weekend I had a customer tell me they bought xyz lotion on ebay for 1/2 what I sell it for. I just had her smell it and she said "well mine doesn't smell like that". I just said, "imagine that".

[EliteMike]

this crap needs to stop. or at least sell it for what it is worth.

Home beds need to be banned. We can be regulated, but the houses never can be.

[Beach Bum]

A decent bed that will provide you customers with a quality tan will cost at least $6k to $8k. If your buying something for less your buying junk. Also, the beds will need to be wired properly for the bed to function properly. You can expect to spend a few hundred dollars on the electric, depending on your exisiting electric service panel. If you want to add 4 tanning beds, it will cost some $$ to do it right. If you try to do it on a cut-rate budget you won't be providing quality.

If you do it right, provide quality service and educated yourself on providing responsible and safe tanning practices you will be welcome within this community. But members are sceptical because some many people think they can just buy a cheap beds and send people back to tan without any supervision. Ex. : your busy cutting hair, so you tell the customer to just go on back and tan.

The fact you are on this site does indicate you are trying to learn the industry. That's more than most!