Janet Puistonen wrote:
> Alex Rast wrote:
>> at Sat, 16 Apr 2005 05:13:59 GMT in
>> >, (Karstens
>> Rage) wrote :
>>
>>> Ive ordered quite a bit from Chocosphere and am pleased both with
>>> their selection and customer service. I was just curious if there
>>> were any other online distributors? It doesnt seem like there would
>>> be much of a market to support many distributors and I dont get the
>>> impression the markup is too high so there is little wiggle room to
>>> compete on price.
>>>
>>> k
>>
>> There are many more than you (probably) care to imagine. Geoff's list
>> gives you the idea, and there is also http://www.echocolates.com
>> (good chocolate but *terrible* web site setup and customer service
>> that doesn't seem to know which end is up),
>> http://www.chocolateman.net (great selection of bulk chocolates for
>> baking and confectionery at very cheap prices),
>> http://www.bakerscandc.com (similar to chocolateman.net in format),
>> http://www.chocolates-elrey.com (the best place to order El Rey if
>> you need total selection and/or wholesale quantities),
>> http://www.cooksshophere.com (nice selection, if not the best
>> prices).
>>
>> But really, there is no compare to Chocosphere. They are just head
>> and shoulders above the competition in every way - number of brands
>> carried, quality of the brands they choose, customer service, Web
>> site setup, shipping policies. There's little need to go anywhere
>> else unless somebody else has something specific you need that they
>> happen not to have.
>
> Just a note on El Rey: when I was originally looking for a place to
> buy it in wholesale quantities, I found that it was actually cheaper
> to deal with a distributor in the next state. Buying directly meant
> paying a lot more in shipping costs. Like $50 instead of $10. I get
> El Rey discos from Chocolate by Sparrow in Massachusetts. The
> situation may have changed, but it is worth checking before assuming
> that the manufacturer is actually cheaper. (I use four different El
> Rey chocolates, but it is true that my distributor does not carry
> their newer, less expensive line.)

I just checked the El Rey website. They have changed their pricing structure
considerably, including free shipping on large orders some of the time
(beware the $25 surcharge after May 1!). But basically, you can't match
Sparrow's price unless you buy 44 lb cases of discos of one type.
--
Janet

Dear Artemesia! Poetry's a Sna/Bedlam has many Mansions:have a
ca/ Your Muse diverts you, makes the Reader sad:/ You think your
self inspir'd; He thinks you mad.