Quoted from Homertv:I am sure Art has a pile of really shitty bulbs he would sell you cheap.
Thousands actually that dont work...you can ask for some free with any order, you can take them apart, maybe fix them....about 80 factories sampled. Hundreds and hundreds that are just bad production. I have had staff at 3 shows, and 4 countries tested too!
James is right on, as is our friends at Nifty and CT....07 are rejects,,,they do exist.
Some info under TMI....
I can only share the following.
Each new bulb to stock is a minimum of 10K.
Customer service is 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. 120-150 email questions a day...you'll need 6 hours or more just for that. Employees, 4, salaries, insurance, rent.
Whether one is the largest or smallest company. it is more work and cost then most people realize.
Ill also add honestly, the variety of quality.....do you think the big players are buying at $.07 and selling for over $1.00?
Zizzle vs Stern. Rectified? Virgin resin? etc....
Many bulbs, with feet on the ground in China, have a 20%-50% markup here after import, so after all expenses and taxes, (6% shipping, 2.75% CC. Free shipping 3.3%, Cost of inventory, 10%, Labor cost 8%-12%, Operating costs, and taxes....About $.03 a bulb left for profit on the low end bulbs.
So, indeed OP, you can likely buy a few thousand, and save some money,,,about $50, for a thousand of one color one base, but turning ideas into a business is often misunderstood.
But you are right, more competition does bring better things, but ultimately, there has to be some return to function as a business.
After 38 years in my regular field of jewelry manufacturing, for TV, Department Stores, and retail stores,
I can share that price only..... kills an industry faster then anything.
So no discouragement here, please do try...just be prepared, ,....be ready for
100-120 work weeks! 
Art
