Facing such a person, Yu Zhou naturally showed outward respect.
However, when it came to practical execution, wanting to gain some benefits from him was something that the current Yu Zhou could not directly agree to.
It wasn't that he was stingy, but rather that the overall situation was like this. Even if you wanted to understand everything involved, it was fundamentally impossible to do so without paying a price.
Liu Hanshan clearly understood this principle. It was unreasonable to expect Yu Zhou to agree to his demands just by saying a few words after showing up unannounced.
Even if he knew he had a lot of nerve, he certainly wouldn't imagine that his nerve could extend to this degree.
Benefits should be given, but it also depended on how much Yu Zhou was willing to concede.
Therefore, Liu Hanshan appeared quite conflicted at this moment. Finally, he spoke, "How about this, I can raise the ex-factory price to 1.7 yuan per bag. At this price, I'm barely making any profit."
"If that's still not enough, then in terms of procurement, I doubt anyone can offer a better price than me."
Liu Hanshan was actually being quite honest. The previous ex-factory price was 1.5 yuan per bag for intermediaries. This price was certainly cheaper than dealing directly with supermarkets or supply and marketing cooperatives.
But you couldn't expect them to make no profit, could you? Thus, setting the price at 1.5 yuan was something Yu Zhou had considered.
Both the supply and marketing cooperatives and those dealing directly with supermarkets were given a price of 1.7 yuan.
Now, he was opening with a price that matched that of supermarkets and cooperatives. It was impossible for him to make much profit at this rate.
After all, the retail price of melon seeds was only 2.5 yuan. The price that these intermediaries offered to supermarkets and cooperatives would not exceed 2 yuan.
It could be said that the price he offered was already very sincere, and at least, Yu Zhou himself felt his sincerity.
"It's really not about the money. If it were just a matter of price, wouldn't it be better for me to supply directly to the supply and marketing cooperatives and supermarkets?"
"They would definitely charge you considerably more than if you bought from me."
"It's simply due to limited production capacity, and we can't achieve sufficient supply!"
"We are currently working hard to build a new factory and expand our production capacity. It will only take a few months. Can't you wait for these few months?"
Yu Zhou wore a wry smile. This situation involved more than just production capacity.
However, he would not reveal everything openly.
He wanted to control the procurement volume of intermediaries, keeping it within a certain range, which would be the best outcome. But he couldn't say such things to an intermediary like the one in front of him.
Yu Zhou had his own strategic layout, and under this layout, everything had to give way. Many of these plans could not be broken.
In this regard, even if Yu Zhou wanted to help, it was impossible.
Zhang Dongliang, listening to their conversation, had a flicker of envy in his eyes.
To do business to Yu Zhou's extent was indeed enough to be moved.
One must understand that this era was different from later times. For a businessman, especially one who owned a factory, to have complete control over these intermediaries was akin to a fantasy.
Because if they stopped buying from you, you would have a large inventory of goods.
In such an environment, couldn't they do whatever they pleased?
Delaying payments and lowering prices were just routine operations.
Sometimes, they could even cripple your entire factory just because you didn't follow their rules.
This era was one where intermediaries set the rules, but Yu Zhou managed to set his own.
Why? Because his products were immensely popular. Especially with the advertising support, the 'Hutou Melon Seeds' were not necessarily known by everyone, but it was no exaggeration to say that the market was booming.
It was precisely because they saw such huge profits that these intermediaries lowered their stance and genuinely approached him for cooperation.
Could such a thing truly be achieved? In Zhang Dongliang's mind, it was difficult, and even if it were achieved, it would only be in name, with people giving him a little face.
But seeing the intermediary's humble attitude and Yu Zhou's lack of regard today, Zhang Dongliang finally believed that Yu Zhou had truly achieved what he had never dared to imagine.
Even if he wasn't given much face, and only a symbolic amount of goods was offered, the intermediary still appeared eager to please. This was the gap in strength.
If your products were also this popular, causing all end markets to want more, even at the cost of their own profits, then you could also achieve what Yu Zhou had, completely disregarding these so-called intermediaries.
However, achieving this was incredibly difficult.
Yu Zhou had always pursued the path of supply and marketing cooperatives and supermarkets, and had never begged these intermediaries. This was how he could truly ignore them.
Of course, he still had to give some face.
As a result, even though Yu Zhou spoke impolitely, he still made some concessions.
He didn't give the other party too much shipment volume, but he did offer some.
Of course, for the portion he offered, Yu Zhou didn't argue over every single detail to demand a higher price.
Under the premise that neither party was entirely satisfied, but without creating enmity, Yu Zhou and his team managed to send the other party away.
Yes, many things are like this. I cannot fulfill your request, but if I give no benefit at all, then the final outcome may not be as you expect.
Yu Zhou knew very well that he couldn't completely do without intermediaries at this moment. Since that was the case, he could only offer convenience where possible.
The other party also understood very well that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." Since he had made the trip, Yu Zhou, as a businessman, would not let him leave empty-handed.
Therefore, he had increased the shipment volume significantly. He hadn't held out much hope for this initially, but the current outcome was already quite good.
"I only now understand what it means to do business! To own a factory and reach the level you have, Mr. Yu, is something I never imagined before."
Zhang Dongliang looked at Yu Zhou and said with emotion.
No wonder Yu Zhou made money. Was such boldness something an ordinary person could possess?
Moreover, in many situations, things that they had always found helpless became entirely different once they held the initiative in their own hands.