BT3 Buying Group?

[SHADOWFOX]

I know Jeffrey Schronce mentioned this on one of his post. What do you guys think? It sounds like a great idea. We have a bunch of bargain hunters on this board, especially Jeffrey Schronce. For example, if there are at least 5 to 10 members ready to buy a Leigh dovetail jig, we might be able to work out a deal with some online retailers out there to give us a special price on the package. Even if we save $25.00 to $50.00 per jig, it would be worth it.

They are doing this in the Electronic & Appliance industry here in the US, mom & pop stores signing up with a buying group to compete with giant retailers such as BB and CC. Brand Source Expert Finance is one of the buying groups and it is huge.

In China, people are doing this as well especially when buying cars. The dealerships could not resist so they give these people good deals on cars.

What do you guys think?

[TheRic]

Sounds good to me, since I'm still new in woodworking there is a lot of stuff I need. Chances are if there are a bunch of people from this site wanting to buy something, then it must be decent items at a decent prices.

Down sides I see is logistics. Would everything be sent to one person, and then that person send out the items to 50 people across the US? Would shipping wipe out any savings we would get. Shipping a bandsaw across the US is not cheap. Would we send the money (for item and shipping) to that one person? Send money in what format?

If one person is doing the arrangements, I hope they know the magic words to say to get the prices knocked down. Seems to me I remember something about HDT being able to do something like that. I don't think he said it himself, as much as someone else suggested him. (If HDT is reading this jump on in one way or the other).

[Knottscott]

I believe Holbren already offers discounts to BT3 members. I know that there are retailers who offer discount to Woodnet members on regular priced items....I see nothing wrong with asking individual suppliers if such a discount is feasible using a specific code.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

There are a few ways that this can occur.

First would be similar to the Holbren discount code. Find retailers willing to extend % off. Woodnet has a discount code with Hartville, 10% normally. This would be nationwide and members would buy directly from the retailer and items would be shipped directly to the retailer. I noted that Groff and Groff lumber in Central PA has discounts for groups.

Second, work with someone like Mark at Heavy Duty Tools to purchase lots of specified items. Example, 20 members want to buy a Bosch Colt router. We contact Mark and ask him to see if he can put a deal together for us. Once agreement is struck Mark notifies contact point for BT3 and they alert members of buying pool on how to buy. Payment and shipping is on an individual basis.

Third, local buying groups formed online. Example, Rockler has Red Oak S3S for $2.00 bf when buying at least 500 bf. A few members get together, one buys the lot, takes his portion off the load and drives it to next member, who takes his and then passes the rest to the next member. Or a Central PA member can go to Pittsburgh Rockler and pick up 1000 bf of Red Oak and other members can come buy and pick it up at cost (wood cost + gas).

Fourth, lets say there is a BOGO offer on an item (say buy one Bosch router get one free ((ya baby sign me up for that one!!))). One member buys items , takes receipt and then ships other members item to him. Shipping cost will cut into discount but sometimes it may work out.

I guess this would involve creating a new section of BT3 if everyone want to proceed. One could post a "Hey anyone want to get down on a big 'ole load of Walnut?". Or "Hey I can get an awesome discount on volume hard wood sheet goods (ya thats right I think I found a good source) if we buy X number of sheets". Kind of like how they handle lumber runs in the members selling section of SMC.

[heavydutytools]

... let me know what I need to do

[SHADOWFOX]

... let me know what I need to do

Thank you, Mark!

[TheRic]

Mark, thanks for offering to help. Not sure what you have access to, and how much pull you have. To get something would we need to know first if you can get it and what price, or first find out how many people want one?

I do know 1 item that people here like, and several people are currently looking for at a good price (including me). The PC4212 Dovetail Jig.

[SHADOWFOX]

Maybe Jeff can start a poll of items that the community might be interested on working up a buy group deal. i.e. Bosch Colt VS Trim Router. Cordless Drills, PC Dovetail Jig, Sander, etc.

I was thinking of starting a poll but I can't figure out how to do it

[gettools]

I would be very inerested as well

Mark

[91FE]

In a previous life I used to get in on "group buys" all the time on a VW board. The way it normally worked was:

1. Somebody would post interest for starting a group buy for a particular part.

2. People would chime in with their interest. The originator, or someone else, would then contact vendors to inquire about quantity discounts.

3. The vendor would set the terms: min/max quantity, price, time line, payment, shipping...

4. Orders and money were normally sent to the group buy leader. When the min order was hit, he'd contact the vendor.

5. Vendor fills order and ships to GB leader.

6. GB Leader sends participant shipments out.

Some of the deals were great, others just so-so. I never headed one up, but I understand it was a lot of work. I'm interested in participating, depending on the item.

[heavydutytools]

Maybe Jeff can start a poll of items that the community might be interested on working up a buy group deal. i.e. Bosch Colt VS Trim Router. Cordless Drills, PC Dovetail Jig, Sander, etc.

I was thinking of starting a poll but I can't figure out how to do it

I haven't been around this board much lately , but we have discussed some of these tools over at the Woodnet forums. Here is a cut and paste from the Woodnet thread -->

Makita
733342-A 3 Piece Router Door Bit Kit
5007FK 7-1/4" Circular Saw Kit
LXT202 - 18 V Lithium Drill/Impact Kit
4"x24" Belt Sander
RF1101KIT2 ?Maybe?
6935FDWDEX ?Maybe? 14.4 Impact/Drill/Light Kit
Makita is the easiest for us to get deals with

Milwaukee
5625-20 Big Router
Pneumatic Nailers
6390-21 ?Maybe?
6140/6148/6153 Grinders ?Probably?
A V18 Cordless Deal ?Probably?

DeWalt
DW616 With Guide Or D-Handle Base - Still Working On It
D28770K - Deep Cut Portable BandSaw With Case
D28402 - 10 amp 4-1/2" Grinder
I will try to work on another DW618B3 deal
Let me know what other DeWalt stuff needs to be here

Delta
Working on it

Porter Cable
7518 Routers ?Maybe?
Let me know about more PC

Bosch
I will try to do something with Bosch Colts
PS10-2's ?hopefully?
Bosch is the hardest for us to get deals on

Kreg
Let me know what Kreg we need

[vaking]

My personal opinion:
Tools are one-time purchases. I need only one CMS, one trim router, etc. People new to this hobby are usually hungry for tools at the beginning but appetite shrinks as the time goes by. It will be difficult to get significant volume on tools. A tool retailer might be able to give you a 10% discount for the volume of 10 Bosch colts, doubt it is worth the hassle of organizing.
Different story is for "consumables". Consumables include wood, chemicals like stains and finishes, glue, sand paper, might be blades and bits, brushes for paint and glue, shopvac filters and bags. Everybody uses those regularly. Bulk purchase on consumables should be easier to organize. Wood would be my first choice to look into. Chemicals I would put next. Holbren already provides discount for BT forum members for blades and bits, so this need is kind of addressed already.

[heavydutytools]

.. points well taken Vaking.

... but - most of my customers are tool junkies . We have many,many customers with a dozen routers , 2 scms , 3 impact drivers , etc.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I agree, wood and sheetgoods are one of my primary concerns at this point.

I would like to put together a Rockler Red Oak run. $2 bf for surfaced wood that I can pick through is a deal.

[SHADOWFOX]

Makita is the easiest for us to get deals with

Milwaukee

Pneumatic Nailers

Bosch
I will try to do something with Bosch Colts
PS10-2's ?hopefully?
Bosch is the hardest for us to get deals on

Kreg
Let me know what Kreg we need

Mark,

In need of a framing nailer and about to bite the bullet on a Bostitch N88RH-2MCN but if you could swing a deal on the Makita AN922 RH framing nailer I'll buy this instead.

If you have any Bosch Colt VS deals count me in.

For Kreg stuff, if you can get a deal on the KMS7102, KMS7200, or the K3MS K3 Master PH System it would be awesome.

For Porter Cable stuff, if you can swing a deal on a PC 4212 Dovetail jig or even better if you can swing a deal on a PC 24" 7216 Omnijig it would be