We used them for the first time. We are in Savannah GA. The quality was great but we ran low about the 3rd day. We were completey out and they had someone drive 5 hours with 2 more sets of merchandise. Really great customer service to be honest. I dont think i would want to take the time to go to the dollar store. I sent back 12 boxes so I would rather have the extra merchandise.
Overall they did a good job. Oh and the billing is what made it the easiest shop I have done yet. Yes you can throw away the broken items because you pay based on the total sold. Very easy!
We use them every year. They did have a change in ownership so they had a few bumps but overall it is still the best way to go. You do not have to count every item and I have never been charged extra or sent an outrageous bill. I have used other companies that have sent me bills after the fact and their was no way for me to argue my point because they had all the merchandise. Reindeer Lane is getting all new product and revamnping there price codes so I wouldnt sweat it. The post above said they were very nice even though they had a few bumps so I guess that says something.
We also buy our own inventory. I've found we have a much better selection and quality of merchandise-- we only sell out items from 1-5.00
But we are buying thing s from the Disney Store, JcPenny, Sears, KMart, Walmart and ToysRUs-- no dollar store items at all--- if you can't get a discount, it's no worth buying-- we shop after Fathers Day, Mother's Day, right after Christmas-- I've gotten watches from KMart for 3.00 (Timex) and Christmas sweatshirts for 2.25 each. Our Santa Shop is now known for its better quality gifts because of how we run the Shop-- the first years the hardest, but it gets easier year year and you get a better idea of kids are wanting when they come out to shop.
We used them in Dec. '06. While the no inventory on their end was simple for the end result billing - it was a nightmare of worry on mine. As treasurer, when they told us to toss out broken items & just make a note of it.... My head was spinning. Our billing ended out fine, but I was nervous about it until it came in.
The products on the original order were okay for the pricing we had, but it was the reorder that was a catastrophe. Most of the restock we wanted was out and what we got for the last day & 1/2 of our Holiday Boutique was CRAP. Most of it we didn't even put out. It was dirty, really cheap "stuff".
This past Dec. we used Fun Services which is "local" for us and had a much better experience. Inventory was easy, no worry that their numbers would be way different from mine, broken items went back - marked as such; reorder was most of the same product & what was given as replacement was similar products.
I wouldn't recommend unless you know you are getting exactly what you order - no substitutions allowed and even then, I worry about the billing with no inventory controls.
Never used a holiday shop. We go the dollar store route....get things right after Christmas at least 50% off not only from dollar stores but Walmart, Target, even the pharmacies....Another thing....check out Oriental Trading and other novelty places. We got some really cute and decent things at $75% off......Over 700 items for less than $100. Most can be sold for $1.00 and $2.00...some we will sell for .25 and .50....but still excellent profit.
