How much would a buyer make at Vistek?

01/21/2005 09:55:34 AM · #1

Here's a very specific question that I am not too hopeful that someone will know the answer to, but it's worth a shot.

Does anybody from Canada happen to know how much money I could expect to earn if I was a buyer at Vistek in Toronto?

I've been a Category Manager (buyer) for a few years for a retail chain but I was wondering if this would be a good move for me...I'm guessing it's a bit less money than I make now but it would be for a photography retailer!

Shot in the dark...

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

01/21/2005 10:04:42 AM · #2

probably about $26000-30000 a year im guessing

01/21/2005 10:09:30 AM · #3

I hope you're guessing US dollars!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/21/2005 10:15:29 AM · #4

I would have to assume that most wages up here in the "igloo country" start about $43,000. Thats like $5.00 american but everything is cheaper up here. My suggest to you is to come take a look and see if you like it here. We also have full nudity strip joints. lol

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

01/21/2005 10:18:40 AM · #5

That was Pre Double Ya. He managed to decrease the value of the US dollar big time.

Originally posted by notonline:

Thats like $5.00 american but everything is cheaper up here.

01/21/2005 10:18:48 AM · #6

Well, I live in Southwestern Ontario (about an hour from Toronto) and work in London. I was looking for specific information about this particular position.

I'm fairly aware of the money being made in Purchasing and Category Management (decent, nothing crazy) since that's what I do...I was just wondering about Vistek themselves (or equivalent) and if any Canucks had any contacts there to find out...

01/21/2005 10:29:02 AM · #7

if you give me a number I will call. just leave me a number and what the position is called and I will phone them> :D

No balls, no glorry.

01/21/2005 10:37:57 AM · #8

Originally posted by notonline:

if you give me a number I will call. just leave me a number and what the position is called and I will phone them> :D

No balls, no glorry.

I e-mailed them in a professional manner...but maybe a quick anonymous phone call will do the trick...unfortunately I'm at work right now.

Remember, the wages will likely be negotiable based on experience and education so I'm just looking for a range.

Vistek Ltd.
Ph: 416-365-1777

Thanks notonline, I owe ya!

Let me know!

Message edited by author 2005-01-21 10:38:16.

01/21/2005 10:46:55 AM · #9

In the Metro Detroit area a Purchasing Agent/Buyer will make from $45 to $65K to start. I discovered that through an online web-site that details salary averages based upon positions.

The above numbers are referring to a single buyer for a small to medium sized corporation. One which has no other buyers. In a multiple buyer shop, one might expect to make a bit less.

The best thing to do would be to obtain an interview and be sketchy about your current salary and make them provide the initial offer. I understand that it is often quite beneficial to the interviewee to make the interviewer make the first offer of salary. When I used that trick, I obtain a five dollar per hour raise and better medical coverage then through a previous job.

Hopefully helpful!

01/21/2005 10:49:38 AM · #10

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by notonline:
if you give me a number I will call. just leave me a number and what the position is called and I will phone them> :D

No balls, no glorry.

I e-mailed them in a professional manner...but maybe a quick anonymous phone call will do the trick...unfortunately I'm at work right now.

Remember, the wages will likely be negotiable based on experience and education so I'm just looking for a range.

Vistek Ltd.
Ph: 416-365-1777

Thanks notonline, I owe ya!

Let me know!

I got the voice mail of Maria ? in purchasing. Not sure if thats the department but I will try again shortly.

01/21/2005 10:50:12 AM · #11

Yeah, I might go for it...I just don't want to waste my time if they're offering a lot less than what I make now since I've got great opportunities in the future here...

01/21/2005 10:50:30 AM · #12

Originally posted by notonline:

I got the voice mail of Maria ? in purchasing. Not sure if thats the department but I will try again shortly.

Thank you...

01/21/2005 10:53:02 AM · #13

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Yeah, I might go for it...I just don't want to waste my time if they're offering a lot less than what I make now since I've got great opportunities in the future here...

If you are happy where you are, why move? You don't fix things that aren't broken, why would you 'fix' your life if it is working well?

I can understand if things are stale and you are looking at never going anywhere in your current job, but if you have prospects for great improvement and are happy with what you have, work it.

Of course, by considering a move, you might not be so happy about where you are at...

01/21/2005 10:56:05 AM · #14

I'm incredibly happy with my current job. The only future plans (professionally speaking) I have are to advance my career here and/or get involved in professional photography.

All things being equal, this position would allow me to gain a lot of knowledge and contacts in Purchasing and Photography. That's why I would pursue it...

Edit: Oh, and I'm constantly "fixing things that aren't broken"...it's called improvement, and I wouldn't be taking photographs if I always left things the way they were. I think that "don't fix what isn't broken" is a proverb that should be very limited in it's application.

Message edited by author 2005-01-21 10:59:42.

01/21/2005 10:57:55 AM · #15

lol I left a message for her to call me back. I am THE most impatient person. lol

01/21/2005 10:58:59 AM · #16

Originally posted by notonline:

lol I left a message for her to call me back. I am THE most impatient person. lol

hehe...try human resources...

Edit: This isn't costing you long distance money is it?

Message edited by author 2005-01-21 10:59:19.

01/21/2005 11:00:36 AM · #17

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by notonline:
lol I left a message for her to call me back. I am THE most impatient person. lol

hehe...try human resources...

Edit: This isn't costing you long distance money is it?

Nope, I'm local... well not crazy but within the same area code.

01/21/2005 11:24:58 AM · #18

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

I'm incredibly happy with my current job. The only future plans I have are to advance my career here and/or get involved in professional photography.

All things being equal, this position would allow me to gain a lot of knowledge and contacts in Purchasing and Photography. That's why I would pursue it...

Edit: Oh, and I'm constantly "fixing things that aren't broken"...it's called improvement, and I wouldn't be taking photographs if I didn't have an attitude of improvement.

Those aren't bad reasons, although I am not certain that there would be much more to learn from being a purchasing agent at a camera retailer then there would be in being a serious hobbyist.

My experience in purchasing is that when I deal with Salespeople and they either lie through their teeth or stick to the Advertising material, which isn't typically as heavy on the technical aspects as I am interested or need in being both a hobbyist and a professional in a few of the areas that I purchase in.

The statement about 'not fixing something that isn't broken' has nothing to do with self improvement. To take your suggestion to its logical conclusion, one would have to 'improve' a happy, longstanding marriage by leaving the marriage and finding someone else. Even a 'perfect' marriage has room for improvement, which is something you alluded to regarding having great opportunities for improvement at your current workplace.

Hopefully, that clarifies my statement more accurately.

01/21/2005 11:30:05 AM · #19

Originally posted by Nelzie:

My experience in purchasing is that when I deal with Salespeople and they either lie through their teeth or stick to the Advertising material, which isn't typically as heavy on the technical aspects as I am interested or need in being both a hobbyist and a professional in a few of the areas that I purchase in.

The statement about 'not fixing something that isn't broken' has nothing to do with self improvement. To take your suggestion to its logical conclusion, one would have to 'improve' a happy, longstanding marriage by leaving the marriage and finding someone else. Even a 'perfect' marriage has room for improvement, which is something you alluded to regarding having great opportunities for improvement at your current workplace.

Hopefully, that clarifies my statement more accurately.

Salespeople lying through their teeth in a professional purchasing environment? I rarely run into that. It would ruin the vendor/buyer relationship and they would lose the business...That sounds more like a stereotype than anything, unless you're doing small-scale, cold call purchasing...

Your statement is clarified, but still doesn't hit home with me. A purchasing agent can learn an immense amount about the products he/she is purchasing...in fact, it's absolutely necessary.

I have a bunch of contacts in the automotive sector for which I currently purchase retail products...if I was purchasing for a photography retailer it would follow that I could establish more contacts in that field. I'm not sure what your experience in professional purchasing has been (and I don't intend to insult you) but you sound rather uninformed.

Edit: All that being said, I agree that there's merit in sticking with a company and developing your career there. I've been with my current company for almost 8 years, starting part-time in high school...

Message edited by author 2005-01-21 11:32:07.

01/21/2005 12:00:13 PM · #20

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

It's not a very common thing. When it does happen it usually involves technology salespeople who have this misconception that we have no clue regarding Information Technology. I clear that up pretty quick and advise them that they shouldn't call us again.

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

I have a bunch of contacts in the automotive sector for which I currently purchase retail products...if I was purchasing for a photography retailer it would follow that I could establish more contacts in that field. I'm not sure what your experience in professional purchasing has been (and I don't intend to insult you) but you sound rather uninformed.

There's no reason for me to be insulted, I wrongly assumed that retail purchasing was extremely similar to manufacturing purchasing and you likely figured that I was discussing the same type of purchasing you take part in. Obviously there are some differences between the two that I wasn't quite aware of.

This has been an informative discussion.

01/21/2005 12:10:34 PM · #21

No, it's not extremely similar...but in the manufacturing side, the supplier/buyer relationship has to be even stronger although the contacts made likely wouldn't be quite as helpful in advancing your career.

Anyhow, I wonder how notonline is doing! Any news yet?

01/21/2005 12:20:10 PM · #22

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Nah, I even called back but she must still be on lunch or something. If you listen to hear voice mail she sounds sick (as in cold/flu).

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

01/21/2005 12:21:25 PM · #23

Originally posted by notonline:

If you listen to her voice mail she sounds sick (as in cold/flu).

LOL glad you qualified that! ;) LOL

01/21/2005 12:23:51 PM · #24

Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by notonline:
If you listen to her voice mail she sounds sick (as in cold/flu).

LOL glad you qualified that! ;) LOL

well she sounds all messed up. You phone and see what I mean. Maybe you can give her something. :D lol