UK Speedcube shop - Cheap cubes anyone?

[KongShou]

Hi I know quite a few people has posted about opening a cube shop based in the uk. Im thinking of the same thing but i promise the price will be cheaper than any other shop based in the uk. But i cant be certain on that because i have no idea how much cubes cost in uk speedcube shops nowdays. so im asking you lot how much everything cost, would i have a market.

my price will be cheaper because i can get cubes directly from China. but therefore i can only sell chinese cubes cheap. but ill try to get cubes like v cubes cheap though.

one more thing, Ebay or my own domain?

thanks for the help

 

[speedpicker]

Would love and would use a good UK shop. Ebay or own domain, makes no difference to me. But you would have at least one customer if the price was right.

 

[KongShou]

so for example how much is a zhanchi in UK as of right now?

 

[speedpicker]

PUZL will sell one for £12.99, amazon £10

 

[ThomasJE]

I think the only puzzle shop in the UK is Puzl.co.uk, and they have a Zhanchi for £12.99 (http://www.puzl.co.uk/black-current-world-record-speed-cube-dayan-zhanchi-p-399.html). I would be very supportive of this idea, and if you had free shipping to UK, and cheaper prices than in the US and China, I would definitely buy from you.

 

[KongShou]

well i can sell for less than 8-10 pound not including p&p so hows that?

or maybe i can post for free depends

right ill get my first batch of cubes soon im thinking of getting 10 - 20 of few different types of cubes
Zhanchi, guhong v2, witden 2x2, shengshou 4x4, shengshou 5x5? hows that?

 

[mark49152]

I'm a potential customer but here's some advice. Do your homework. You shouldn't compete only on price, and you'll come unstuck pretty quick unless you can find out for yourself about your competition.

Yesterday I placed two orders - a Ghosthand 2 and a DIY Guhong. Both from overseas because I couldn't find them in the UK. I don't care about price and would happily pay the same if not a little more to avoid the long wait for international shipping. So here's an idea: figure out what people want that is hard to find here, offer prompt and fast shipping, but price it about the same.

Also I bought some lube a few weeks back and had to get it from a model store because the UK cube suppliers don't sell it. I would have preferred to just add it to a cube order. So idea #2, why not offer Traxxas diff oil or similar as well, and maybe a pre-lubing service for a couple of quid extra. Nobody esle in the UK does that, AFAIK.

 

[ThomasJE]

well i can sell for less than 8-10 pound not including p&p so hows that?

£10 for a Zhanchi? That's a competitive price. Be careful to not go too high or low. Maybe price them higher firstly, and decrease the price a little when you have a larger product range and more customers

or maybe i can post for free depends

Maybe in UK.

right ill get my first batch of cubes soon im thinking of getting 10 - 20 of few different types of cubes
Zhanchi, guhong v2, witden 2x2, shengshou 4x4, shengshou 5x5? hows that?

Dayan Megaminx, Shengshou Pyraminx and maybe some other WCA puzzles. Also, some accessories would be nice. Lube, blindfolds, modifying tools and stackmat timers (WITH data ports) would be top of my list.

 

[NevinsCPH]

Lube, blindfolds, modifying tools and stackmat timers (WITH data ports) would be top of my list.

^This, and if possible, half bright stickers too. They seems to be chipping quick after a lot of solves and when they're left in the bag.

 

[5BLD]

Yet another new UK shop?

Stackmats that can connect to comp would be at the top of my list
And decent 3x3s like guhongs

 

[KongShou]

thanks for all the feedback ill see what i can do but im gonna start of small so probably no accessories like stackmats or midifying tools yet. but will see about lube blindfold and stickers

what lube is it thats so hard to find? ill try to add a request feature and definately pre-lubing service

 

[ThomasJE]

what lube is it thats so hard to find? ill try to add a request feature and definately pre-lubing service

I think you're talking about Traxxas. It comes on 30k and 50k weights, and they are both equally popular. Lubix and Z-lube are also popular.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

Traxxas also comes in 10k weight. Much lighter than the 50k in any case.

 

[ThomasJE]

Traxxas also comes in 10k weight. Much lighter than the 50k in any case.

I didn't know that, but it's not used much by cubers.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

I wanted a lighter Traxxas to go with the 50k lubix like for the core. The 50 is too heavy for the pieces of small cubes so I use the 10 there.

You can get it off ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/TOADZ-RC/_i.html?_nkw=traxxas+oil&submit=Search&_sid=727475660

If you find 50k too loose.. there is also 100k (wow, did not know that).

Very reliable folks, got the lube to here in 8 days.

 

[KongShou]

they would cost more than ebay or anyone else should i sell them i wonder if people will still buy them. as i said, i can only sell chinese cubes and lubes cheap.

 

[kinch2002]

If you lube one and send one to me I will review it and say how good it is if you want

 

[KongShou]

no i meant that i will sell some lubes and stuff i cant get hold of easily slightly expensive so i wonder if people will still buy them if they're more expensive

 

[bran]

I don't know about others but I would want to order all my stuff from one place even if it's a little expensive.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

Personally I don't like throwing my money down a pit if I don't have to