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How to instantly get credibility selling my own $2000 product? Suggestions please...

by Valtan
8 replies
Hi guys,


I'm humbly asking you for your expert opinion, since there are many people here with lots of experience.


Anyway what I'm selling is a camera dolly (Camera dolly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). I'm not just reselling this I'm actually producing this. The price for my product is just under $2.500.

I am based in European Union - Slovenia to be exact.
I have a credibility issue on many levels:
-first of all since I am not from Germany (a country that everybody knows), but a country called Slovenia (which borders Austria, Italy, Hungary and Croatia,... and is just a few hours drive away from Germany) I have a problem. Mostly all of the people do not know my country and they probably think that we are some Third World country and if they ordered such an expensive product,... they might be scammed
-since I'm just starting out,... of course I am somebody (and my company just the same) nobody knows so I have no credibility in that regard.

What do you think I should do?
Should I perhaps open a US-based company?
Should I add a 1 800-number and have calls forwarded to me?

Your help will be much much appreciated!

Thanks
#credibility #expensive #instantly #product #selling #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Valtan,

    I've been aware of Slovenia for many years, and my impression
    was never of it being a third world country.

    I would advise you to tell the truth. I just looked up Slovenia
    and found this which I did not know.

    "Today, Slovenia is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen area, NATO and OECD. Per capita, it is the richest Slavic nation-state, at 85.5% of the EU27 average GDP (PPP) per capita." -- Taken from Wikipedia.

    I do not know how you plan to market your product here in
    the US. If it's by a website, then have a section describing
    who you are and some facts about Slovenia. Do not phrase
    it as if you are defending anything, by the way.

    Just be upfront. If you have a good product at a good price,
    then it won't matter. But I would caution you about doing
    research and making sure your product does not already
    exist and is being sold here at a much lower price.

    Might want to see about patenting your product, also. I am
    not knowledgeable about these matters.

    There is a member here, Jim Straw, who used to run an ex-im
    business. He may be able to help you, but I don't know.

    Who Is J.F. (Jim) Straw?


    Ken
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    • Profile picture of the author Valtan
      Originally Posted by KenThompson View Post

      Valtan,

      I've been aware of Slovenia for many years, and my impression
      was never of it being a third world country.

      I would advise you to tell the truth. I just looked up Slovenia
      and found this which I did not know.

      "Today, Slovenia is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen area, NATO and OECD. Per capita, it is the richest Slavic nation-state, at 85.5% of the EU27 average GDP (PPP) per capita." -- Taken from Wikipedia.

      I do not know how you plan to market your product here in
      the US. If it's by a website, then have a section describing
      who you are and some facts about Slovenia. Do not phrase
      it as if you are defending anything, by the way.

      Just be upfront. If you have a good product at a good price,
      then it won't matter. But I would caution you about doing
      research and making sure your product does not already
      exist and is being sold here at a much lower price.

      Might want to see about patenting your product, also. I am
      not knowledgeable about these matters.

      There is a member here, Jim Straw, who used to run an ex-im
      business. He may be able to help you, but I don't know.

      Who Is J.F. (Jim) Straw?


      Ken
      Well you know... Not all men are created equal
      But yes you would be absolutely right... Slovenia is doing quite well.

      Great tip! I definitely plan on starting to market my product through a website... at least as a start. I will definitely include a section describing who I am and where does this product comes from.
      It is my strong opinion that being up front and honest is really the only way to succeed.
      No such product already exists, because this is an invention of mine and it is definitely something new on the market, nevertheless I'm also introducing a relatively low price for such a camera dolly package.

      I was playing with the idea about how to patent it and will definitely explore further. However this Jim Straw person does not have a contact information on that link you wrote.
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      • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
        Originally Posted by Valtan View Post

        I was playing with the idea about how to patent it and will definitely explore further.
        You need to be aware that there is a one year window from the time you first make a public offering for sale of the invention for you to be able to file a Patent Application. Blow that timeline and it's gone forever.

        Look back and document the first time you offered to sell one of your units so you are clear on the date.

        Patents are very expensive. They are not necessary to make money off your invention, but they can keep the competition from copying your design. They are critical if you want to raise Venture Capital money to grow. If you can't show an investor you have intellectual property rights for your product, they have no guarantee their investment will be exclusive.

        Whatever you do, stay away from any of these "We Help Inventors" businesses. They don't, they can't, and they won't. They are simply vehicles to suck your bank account dry.

        ~Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author tfos4941
    Your credibility would be greatly improved if you had some customers. I don't think the country where the item is coming from is an issue.

    You will have to work hard to get your first couple of sales.
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    • Profile picture of the author Valtan
      Originally Posted by tfos4941 View Post

      Your credibility would be greatly improved if you had some customers. I don't think the country where the item is coming from is an issue.

      You will have to work hard to get your first couple of sales.
      You are absolutely right,... after I get a first couple sales some written and some video testimonials none of this will actually matter anymore.

      I'm just pointing out that I have several credibility issues and being an unknown country (at least some people - and I think it's actually the majority that doesn't know my country) is just one of them.

      I guess it would be much easier to operate if I had a company in the US, I could probably go to the BBB and get their BBB logo on the site, to show to have and trusted company to do business with.
      It would probably be much easier if I had a (US) toll-free number so people could actually call and ask questions.

      What else could I do?
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  • Profile picture of the author pavionjsl
    Your shortest path may be establishing a working relationship with a trusted business in the market your after. A company with established trust and distribution channels. Your only goal is getting their trust and they then give you instant credibility by introducing your product or actually being the distribution channel you need.
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    • Profile picture of the author Valtan
      Originally Posted by pavionjsl View Post

      Your shortest path may be establishing a working relationship with a trusted business in the market your after. A company with established trust and distribution channels. Your only goal is getting their trust and they then give you instant credibility by introducing your product or actually being the distribution channel you need.
      Now that is a phenomenal advice!!
      This is what I was thinking about... as I am trying to establish a communication with a few strong and trusted bloggers in the film and video community that are doing reviews of such products all the time and that people not only trust but almost love

      The two guys I have reached are very much excited to get their hands on this innovative product... so I'm guessing it's only the matter of time.
      However it's always great to get some extra tips, to ask around better warriors then myself, so I can get some different perspective and perhaps get ideas that I haven't thought about.

      Thanks for the help everybody!
      All of your advice is much appreciated and will be put into practice immediately.
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Yes, definitely at least apply for a patent. You can still have some
    measure of protection with a 'patent pending' on your product - to
    the best of my knowledge.

    To contact Jim: Real Business Opportunities, Income Opportunities & Home Based Businesses

    His address and email are at the bottom. Don't let the old web design
    fool you. Jim is an old timer of business and direct response marketing.
    He's made hundreds of millions since the 60s, I believe. He's also a very
    nice guy.

    Another avenue is setting up a distributor agreement with a US based
    company that is related to your invention. That would give you near
    instant credibility if it's with a credible business. But do your homework
    very well and have everything in place (paperwork, contracts, agreements)
    so you're protected.


    Ken
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