Group purchasing

Sybarite

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A French forum "Hisse et Eau" is organizing group purchases of :

1) Liferafts (50 on the list)
2) EPIRB's
3) Satellite phones.

Why not do the same here?
 
Hello John,

last year the liferaft group ended up with >250 units (!) being bought; needless to say it stirred up a bit the trade side.

This year Epirb/plb just opened yesterday, more than 150 participants only in the first 24 hours.
 
Can work very well-a few years ago the VW owners club members bulk bought a lot of Propex Heater at about half retail price.
 
Previously seen them called bulk buys

Lotus 7 club of gb once organised at least a container full of stuff.

Should work well for common things.
 
A French forum "Hisse et Eau" is organizing group purchases of :

1) Liferafts (50 on the list)
2) EPIRB's
3) Satellite phones.

Why not do the same here?
The opportunities are endless... I posted the same thought a few days ago on a thread regarding insurance... there MUST be opportuniities to get some decent prices across a number of different areas...

There always seem to be people asking about new plotters and radars, ovens, and diesel heaters for example.
 
perhaps we should form a mutual aid cooperative society ?

Seriously, the skills are all around the members.


We could end up running a cooperative marina :)
 
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A French forum "Hisse et Eau" is organizing group purchases of :

1) Liferafts (50 on the list)
2) EPIRB's
3) Satellite phones.

Why not do the same here?
So how are they organising it?

Presumably, they set a specification (or a minimum one)?.. or do they pick a specific product first, and then seek prices on a specific item? or range of specific items, of which they'll chose the one with the best price?
Do they then ask for a financial commitment as a deposit to firm up participation, or is it done on an honour system?.. or is there a contract?
 
So how are they organising it?
Presumably, they set a specification (or a minimum one)?.. or do they pick a specific product first, and then seek prices on a specific item? or range of specific items, of which they'll chose the one with the best price?
Do they then ask for a financial commitment as a deposit to firm up participation, or is it done on an honour system?.. or is there a contract?

More here: https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/

Look for 'Achat Groupé'

From what I could make out, once they've got a sufficiently large number of buyers they start negotiating with the suppliers.
 
perhaps we should form a mutual aid cooperative society ?

Seriously, the skills are all around the members.


We could end up running a cooperative marina :)


In France, given the high premiums for motorbike insurance, an association was formed and they started their own cooperative insurance company which is probably the largest in that field now.
 
More here: https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/

Look for 'Achat Groupé'

From what I could make out, once they've got a sufficiently large number of buyers they start negotiating with the suppliers.

Here's the mechanism (in French) :

https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/forums/...1669083-achat-groupe-balises-de-detresse-2015

What I didn't know that there is a new regulation which requires an EPIRB on an offshore yacht. As these regulations are normally European, I suppose it's also or will be compulsory on British boats too??
 
So it appears that they suggest a product area (such as offshore liferaft), and wait until there are sufficient people that have formally expressed an interest, debate the criteria, and then select a model and vendor, or models and vendors, and issue an ITT (Invitation To Tender). Once tender responses have been received, then start taking orders. They have a minimum of 10 people expressing interest before they issue an ITT.

Sounds doable.

For big ticket items though, if you end up with a lot of orders, you'd need to move the money management to the vendor i'd guess, or its a big responsibility for the organiser... you could easily end up managing a quarter of a million pounds with the size of some of the deals they've put together!

I'd be happy to run a small one as a trial... for an item with lowish value.... so that the cash amount involved doesn't get too big*.... any suggestions for a category?

*If it comes to anything, we can have a public debate about how to manage the money transparently and safely.
 
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Even works with small numbers for higher priced items if supplier has surplus stock.

We approached a few marinas a couple of years ago and asked about reductions for 2-3 (poss. more) boats wintering ashore. It worked out well and the final deal on storage included some free time afloat, electricity, water, lift out/in and pressure wash. We were also charged at the rate for next size down, so worth the small amount of effort.

I was told that it wasn't worth repeating this year as local demand matches supply. Luckily, still managed to find a place with reasonable prices.
 
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