Buy in Bulk Club. BIBC. Do we need one ?..

Paddy20

You know if a group of people who wish to buy the same item all order together as a club. They can usually buy at trade prices from wholesalers or direct from manufacturers, and the true cash savings can be enormous and its legal.

Do you think we should be encouraging this type of local initiative. In order to stop the members being Ripped-Off.

Maybe, a poll is needed on this one. So, I will open one, please use your vote!.

Special Note:- This is a multiple choice poll. This means that you CAN vote for more than just [1] one answer!.

P.:ninja:

Victor

I think there is too much potential for abuse with it and can have it's own inefficiencies.

Paddy20

Victor,

Do you not think that a large forum such as Boards.ie. Could not operate such a scheme on behalf of its members, thereby reducing any "abuse" risks, while raising funds for itself, at the same time as saving members real hard earned cash ?..

P.:ninja:

sinclair

I support your idea Paddy20 but dont you need to have access to a wholesalers first?

Paddy20

sinclair,

Business is Business, just ask any businessman. The idea behind Buy in Bulk Clubs [BIBCs] is not new.

Wholesalers exist to sell goods in bulk, normally at what are referred to as "Trade only prices". These goods are then stacked on shelves and sold mainly through stores at so called retail prices, generally to the public, and the retailer/shop pockets the profit, after overheads etc, have been deducted.

However, the way people are purchasing goods of all types is rapidly changing. The number of people now purchasing all types of goods directly from- online stores- and even from some manufacturerers, has increased dramatically in the very recent past.

This, I believe opens new opportunities for organisations to be set up as Not- For Profit Companies, offering well known brand name goods at fair prices. While still allowing these organisations/companies to make a reasonable profit, that can then be used for the benefit of all.

The Worldwide Co-operative movement {Founded in Ireland} was started with similar principles, and became a success all over the world. Co- operatives have become a massive force to be reckoned with in the business community.

I hope the above helps to explain to you , the concept behind my suggestion.

P.

Paddy20

You know, it has suddenly struck me that Boards.ie is as far as I am aware a registered Limited business/company. As such, as long as it has a V.A.T. number, it can trade in goods & services of all types.

If for instance 50 members wanted a particular DVD Player at a reasonable price. Then Boards.ie Ltd, could purchase these items on behalf of its members, thereby helping to cover the overheads/expenses of running what must be just about the most popular website in Ireland, which certainly has no shortage of brain power behind it, and amongst its members and moderators etc,.

This fact, combined with its growing membership gives Boards a lot of purchasing muscle. Certainly, imho no manufacturing business, wholesale warehouse or service provider,i s going to turn away "business" from an organisation with such a "Large" customer base.

It would really be a win- win for all, and would help stop many of the blatant Rip-Offs which gave birth to Rip-OFFIreland. Boards has already got a shop selling promotional products!, why not expand this in to a much larger operation for the benefit of its members, particularly those members who could officially support Boards by becoming "subscribing" Shopper members. I am sure members would save the small subs cost very quickly by making savings on products, goods and even services?... and as an added benefit Boards could actually create real jobs at the same time!.

Just my 2cs worth. Hope, somebody likes it.

P.:ninja:

BluE-WinG

This is a VERY GOOD idea, and the savings are Huge.

We no longer have to get ripped off on Toothpaste, Deodrant, Showergel and so much more.

I Hate paying supermarket prices for stuff that should be so much cheaper.

Good idea, Hope we can do it.

DaithiSurfer

isnt this the idea behind buy4now.ie or something similar.

BuffyBot

isnt this the idea behind buy4now.ie or something similar.

I think you mean letsbuyit.com

..and look what happened to them.

DaithiSurfer

thats the one.
Needless to say i've heard nothing about it since.

sceptre

Originally posted by BuffyBot
..and look what happened to them.

I still have a copy of their "OMFG WE'RE SO BROKE PLEASE INVEST IN OUR SECOND PUBLIC OFFERING" prospectus. Makes funny reading really.

Paddy20

sceptre,

"OMFG WERE SO BROKE PLEASE INVEST IN OUR SECOND PUBLIC OFFERING". "makes for funny reading really".

So if its so funny. Why not post it, so that we can all have a good laugh ?... if it is relevant.

P.:ninja:

sceptre

Originally posted by Paddy20
So if its so funny. Why not post it, so that we can all have a good laugh ?... if it is relevant.

It's a big paper prospectus. If I can find an electronic copy I'll bung it up but it's rather too much to scan.

Worth doing a google for "letsbuyit" though. Makes interesting reading though it doesn't really affect the idea you're discussing (some of the problems to overcome would be the same though so it's worth looking up to see how they managed to sort some of them)

byte

Letsbuyit.com is still online and in business. Their IE part closed however, though they're looking for partners in Ireland...

Beëlzebooze

this is a good idea in theory, but maybe a bit impractical to realize.

You would need a person in fulltime employment to take care of the buisiness of ordering and dispatching, chasing up payments etc. This person (or maybe even people) would need to be payed. This would add significantly to the cost of the products.

I don't think the user base of boards is quite large enough for this to get of the ground sucsessfully. But it is still a good idea none the less.

Paddy20

B,

The current basic registered Boards.ie membership is as far as I am aware, around 9,000 in total. In Marketing circles one member is usually interpreted as being part of a household of around 3/4 potential customers.

So, if the same principle is applied to Boards.ie members, then we can assume we are starting with a potential "Customer base" of around "35,000" possible buyers, all of whom have consumer needs.

My home town has a population of around 3,000. Yet that is enough to support over 30 well established thriving business outlets, catering for all types of consumer needs. I would hope that Boards.ie would be in a position to employ a professional "Buyer" for puchasing goods at "real trade" prices, and in relation to distribution of products a number of options would be available.

As an "Online" organisation responding to "customer needs", rather than trying to sell un-requested goods is also a great commercial advantage. I would love to see a professional buyer, and an Online store specialist/consultant, express their views on this thread. Which I sincerely believe could help Boards members and others in a number of ways, apart from just saving money on goods. While allowing Boards.ie, the opportunity to show a worthwhile profit from this endeavour.

P.:ninja:

RainyDay

I don't think this is a runner. If you set up a business/organisation which buys products from manufacturers or wholesalers and sells them to consumers, you are in fact setting up a retail business.

You will have legal obligations to your consumers, e.g. right to return goods which are not fit for the purpose & not of merchantable quality, obligation to charge VAT. You will need to store the goods somewhere in the interim period between recieving the goods & passing them on, therefore you will need to pay rent, insurance, security etc. You will need to collect payments from your consumers, therefore you will need bank account, bookeeper(s), accountant(s).

How are you going to pay for these services except by charging a margin on top of the amount charged by the supplier. How are you going to pay for your own time in organising & managing this, except by charging a margin on top of the amount charged by the supplier to pay you a salary.

Hey presto - you have just become a shop.

Paddy20

Rainyday,

Have you not noticed that Boards.ie "Already" has an "online shop"!. Also, who ever suggested that Boards should sell products without making a reasonable profit, that would be plainly stupid.

For an organisation like Boards to sell requested goods to members and make [a reasonable profit] to cover administrative costs, and help cover its normal and no doubt increasing overheads is imho only sensible.

As regards your second paragraph, well I do not know who you believe you are addressing, but it contains nothing that anyone with a sniffle of understanding about business basics, would not already understand, and it is nowhere as complicated or discouraging, as you make it sound.

If most people had such a negative outlook. We would have very few business operations in this Country.

Most Organisations need a source of funding. How would you suggest Boards covers its increasing overheads. IMHO jumping on the "Rip-OFF Merchants" in a manner which also helps members and others is a very honourable route, or have you never heard of the Co-operative movement.

P.:ninja: :rolleyes:

RainyDay

Originally posted by Paddy20
IMHO jumping on the "Rip-OFF Merchants" in a manner which also helps members and others is a very honourable route, or have you never heard of the Co-operative movement.

I agree that it is a very honourable route - it is just totally impractical. Where is the co-operative movement today? The farmers sold their co-ops for a quick buck to the plc's in the 80's & 90's. The only effective co-op movement in Ireland today is the Credit Union. Every other attempt at doing this kind of thing commercially has failed.

Tell you what Paddy, I bet you a €100 donation to the registered charity of your choosing that you won't have an effective BIBC club operating in six months from now - Are you on?

Paddy20

Rainyday,

Tell you what Paddy, I bet you €100 donation to the registered charity of your choosing that you will not have an effective BIBC club operating in six months from now - Are you on ?

I simply can not believe that you again underline your negativity by asking me such a silly and inappropriate question. Where did I "personally" suggest that I was going to set up a BIBC ?.. That question is simply unworthy of me answering it. As the answer is clearly already enshrined in the "title" of this thread.

You also state "Where is the Co-operative today ?. Well may I suggest that you adopt a less blinkered view of a movement that has contributed enormously on a Worldwide basis to the well being of ordinary citizens, and is more active in all walks of life than ever before. There are numerous books on the current success of the Co-operative movement, may I suggest you read one.

Finally, the question posed in this thread and poll is pretty straightforward to those who understand the concept and are prepared to support it in order to help themselves while supporting Boards.ie.

Be lucky.

Paddy20:ninja:

RainyDay

Do you think we should be encouraging this type of local initiative. In order to stop the members being Ripped-Off.

Paddy - you asked the question, so I gave you the answer. Don't shoot the messenger if you don't like the answer.

Or maybe you only wanted 'yes' answers. Why didn't you create a poll with just one response, something like 'Yes, Paddy, this is a great idea, and you are charming, good-looking and attractive to the opposite sex (or the same sex if that happens to be your preference)'.

Villain

Originally posted by Paddy20

Finally, the question posed in this thread and poll is pretty straightforward to those who understand the concept and are prepared to support it in order to help themselves while supporting Boards.ie.

Originally posted by RainyDay

(or the same sex if that happens to be your preference)'.

RainyDay that is sad ignorant reply.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

RainyDay

Originally posted by irish1
RainyDay that is sad ignorant reply.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Thanks for your feedback. I'll give it all the attention it deserves.

Villain

Originally posted by RainyDay
Thanks for your feedback. I'll give it all the attention it deserves.

:cool: :cool:

Paddy20

Rainyday,

Rainyday, " Yes, Paddy, This is a great idea, and you are charming , good-looking and attractive to the opposite sex "

HOW TRUE, How true!.

Welcome to the Paddy20 Fan Club. I am a mere Male who lusts after Females, are you a woman by any chance ?..

P.:ninja:

sceptre

Originally posted by irish1
RainyDay that is sad ignorant reply.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

No it isn't.

Villain

Originally posted by sceptre
No it isn't.

Don't like going off topic but can you tell me what has Paddy20's sexual habits got to do with his opinion??

RainyDay

Originally posted by irish1
Don't like going off topic but can you tell me what has Paddy20's sexual habits got to do with his opinion??

There was no judgement on Paddy's sexual habits contained in my quip. In fact, if you look really closely at the whole statement

this is a great idea, and you are charming, good-looking and attractive to the opposite sex (or the same sex if that happens to be your preference)'

(and not just the few words you pulled out of context), you will see there was a specific openness to any/all sexual habits in my quip.

Villain

Originally posted by RainyDay
(and not just the few words you pulled out of context), you will see there was a specific openness to any/all sexual habits in my quip.

I took the words out of the brackets you had them in

:cool:

Sorry for going off topic again, last time.

RainyDay

Originally posted by irish1
I took the words out of the brackets you had them in

And you removed my reference to 'opposite sex', leaving only my reference to same sex.

Paddy20

Now can we please get back to the main topic of this thread & poll. Forget this Paddy20 character whoever the hell he is!.

I want to save money by being able to post what I want to buy on a "Wish list" Forum. Then if Boards.ie want to make that product or service available to me at a fair {Non Rip-OFF} price, while making a fair profit for themselves, which can only benefit everyone. Then so be it.

So, keep voting for Gods sake. Or are most Boards.ie members just to damn wealthy to care ?..

P.:ninja: :cool:

ronano

Originally posted by irish1
RainyDay that is sad ignorant reply.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

You show yourself to be just as ignorant when you only find the homosexual remark offensive and not the general idea of goin over the line

Villain

Originally posted by ronano
You show yourself to be just as ignorant when you only find the homosexual remark offensive and not the general idea of goin over the line

Willing to respond but not in this thread.

Pm me or start a thread.

Syth

I think we should have some sort of buying in bulk club and I can't really see the problem with one. Is there any negative consequences?

Hyzepher

What might be a good place to start is to advertise in the Wanted forum that you intend to buy a product from a certain supplier and ask if anyone else is interested in the same product - leave it open for a few weeks.

If there is enough interest then go to the supplier and organise a discount for bulk order - everyone can meet up and collect the product from the supplier and pay individually.

This would at least give us some indication whether a bulk-buying club would interest the Boards.ie membership.

Hyzepher