Author Topic: Are you guys interested in participating in a buying coop? (Read 4914 times)

litifeta · « **on:** July 19, 2007, 18:25 »

There are heaps of major suppliers around the world with whom I believe we could jag some awesome deals from.

Currently Leaf has 700 odd members, but I am sure we could easily find 2000 stockies to join us.

My idea is we approach a number of major suppliers and get them to submit a price list for a period of 6 months at a time in $USD.

We then choose the supplier for the next 6 months from whom we will agree to purchase from, and to send leads to.

What we are in effect doing is becoming the retailer ourselves.

My friend at a camera store tells me the margins in Australia are 35% on RRP. Plus they get up to 15% in rebates which are disguised as "advertising" etc.

Importing of course means you may incur Customs Duty in your country, however, this also means the supplier is able to discount the goods and services tax in their originating country because the product is export.

I would like to hear back from you on this.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2007, 23:13 »

litefeta, sounds like an interesting idea! I just have to get some info on the Custom duty as you said, since I believe Europe is certainly not the cheapest for camera equipment.
What do you mean with supplier? Canon? or something like B&H photo?
I guess major suppliers have experience to send overseas, so they know what custom paperwork they have to fill out I guess.

leaf · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2007, 08:47 »

this WOULD be a cool idea if it worked. it would have to big a fairly large chain though to get a good price and so that they would have a variety of things. If BH photo could work out such a deal that would be pretty cool.

We might have to have some sort of a 'club' for that to work with paid membership - otherwise what would some every joe from joining the buying coop to get the discount.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2007, 09:05 »

litifeta.... very interesting..... and I concur with leaf, might need to have some formal foundation.... sad to see only 3 responses to this though... don't understand why either, next to 'free', 'discounted' is my favorite price.

-tom

litifeta · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2007, 16:45 »

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on July 21, 2007, 09:05

litifeta.... very interesting..... and I concur with leaf, might need to have some formal foundation.... sad to see only 3 responses to this though... don't understand why either, next to 'free', 'discounted' is my favorite price. -tom

"From little things, big things grow" (Quote Paul Kelly)

Yes we would have to work on a few people to gain memberships.

I think a nominal "membership fee" would suffice. What is most important I think is having some sort of foundation, and Leaf already has that: The MicroStock Group.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2007, 04:40 »

I just checked, there seem to be people who buy photography equipment from B&H in Germany. After tax and shipping it looks like you pay the same price as in a German shop, but if we get a decent rabate it would be cheaper, so I am in. Whats the fee where should I sign

litifeta · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2007, 22:36 »

bashing my head against a wall ...

been in touch with a stack of suppliers and nobody wants to supply ...

however ... I have the Canon 30D down to $AUD1206, which is approx US$1061