Chemical prices and secrecy

[Derrick Hughes]

Is this not about dealer and manufacture loyalty .difficult subject

 

[milkloss]

Get some grassland sprays on there and I'm all in! Keep pushing

 

[Clive]

Is this not about dealer and manufacture loyalty .difficult subject

no - kits more about hiding process so those that are paying way to much don't get to know that they are and controlling a market and its prices

Im really not sure its even legal, someone better resourced and qualified than me should investigate it from that aspect IMO

 

[Clive]

I'm not surprised in the slightest , scandalous .

indeed !

 

[Derrick Hughes]

no - kits more about hiding process so those that are paying way to much don't get to know that they are and controlling a market and its prices

Im really not sure its even legal, someone better resourced and qualified than me should investigate it from that aspect IMO

Most products are locked into a manufacturer seller loyalty .an independant seller just cant get hold of them at trade price

 

[Clive]

Most products are locked into a manufacturer seller loyalty .an independent seller just cant get hold of them at trade price

if only ag chems were that simple !

its all controlled by a few, small number of people / companies

independents actually do get hold of chemicals at cheaper prices - they just cant mention those prices if they don't want their lives made very hard

................... apparently

 

[Derrick Hughes]

,

 

[milkloss]

no - kits more about hiding process so those that are paying way to much don't get to know that they are and controlling a market and its prices

Im really not sure its even legal, someone better resourced and qualified than me should investigate it from that aspect IMO

Sounds like you've got a rare opportunity to get the evidence to show there is price fixing occurring. Make the most of it.

I know you are not a member but this is a great chance for the NFU to get involved and show just what it can do for its members and the greater good, what do you think @Guy Smith ?

 

[Steevo]

Can the products be put for sale at the keen prices, but the seller name be hidden? If and when it gets to a threshold where they are shifting enough they have power, then names can be revealed?

 

[Hampton]

would love to and tried very hard to get nationwide delivery, if we make this work in time we wil do but there are limits as to what logistics can be achieved at launch

as I say though please support the brands that have stuck their neck out here though via your more local suppliers - they really are on the farmers side and I applauded for that

I'm sure if prices are right I could put a large order of Macho together with @Wheatland, @silverfox and any othe Shropshire chaps. Would be willing to fetch it with in reason

 

[Goweresque]

Perhaps you ought to report your experiences to the Competition and Markets Authority:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority

 

[warksfarmer]

I've been saying this for years and got shot down or ignored. It's a cartel nothing less.

And about time these thieves are outed as they have conned farmers for 50 years at least. It's fraud.

 

[Hampton]

From what I could see you only had prices on 3 products. Hardly industry threatening!

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

How come other retailers are able to publish prices online?

 

[Clive]

I'm sure if prices are right I could put a large order of Macho together with @Wheatland, @silverfox and any othe Shropshire chaps. Would be willing to fetch it with in reason

prices were definitely right ! ............... too right for some it seems !

watch this space, we will find a way

 

[Feldspar]

Well this is high drama indeed. My inkling here is that this could back-fire rather badly if bullying tactics are being used. @Clive, keep a good record of the facts so that you are able to report them at the right time without fear of reprisal. Daylight is a great cleanser in these matters.

 

[Clive]

Trouble is as farmers we really don't help ourselves and we have a barter system deeply embedded

Rather Than just buying on Farm Marketplace at a price they like when they see it its seems a lot just wanna use the lower price to beat up their existing supplier asking them to match the MP price

when the supplier cant match it as they want to maintain their big margins they call their supplier or manufacturer and insist that MP supply is cut

This happened this week, farmer wants a big order of fertiliser, sees Farm marketplace price is £16/ below the price quoted by his usual merchant so calls them and asks them to match, they can't In this case I'm glad to say the MP manufacturer stood firm on their price

so what happens next ! does the farmer pay more than he needs to ? or does the order go through Farm Marketplace ?

I know as a farmer what I would do ! And from a manufacturer point of view the product will move regardless as the farmer wants it


We need a mindset change here as farmers, if you see a price you like then but at it, get away from the dutch auction style of doing business that does not benefit any of us in the long run

 

[Feldspar]

Trouble is as farmers we really don't help ourselves and we have a barter system deeply embedded

Rather Than just buying on Farm Marketplace at a price they like its seems a lot just wanna use it top beat up their existing supplier asking them ti match the MP price

when the supplier cant match it as they want to maintain their big margins they call their supplier of manufacturer and insist that MP supply is cut

This happened this week, farmer wants a big order of fertiliser, sees Farm marketplace price is £16/ below the price quoted by his usual merchant so calls them and asks them to match, they can't In this case I'm glad to say the MP supply stood firm on their price

so what happens next ! does the farmer pay more than he needs to ? or does the order go through Farm Marketplace ?

I know as a farmer what I would do !

The conundrum for the farmer who is reasonably savvy about their buying already is what do they do if they already have better prices than MP? I can see that it will be helpful to those who were getting relatively shafted before, but as I said with Yagro, we were already getting better prices than they could manage before. I didn't need to ring back the existing suppliers to beat them down in price.

I am, however, all for diversity, competition and openness. Also, very much against bullying, so if nefarious practices are happening then will switch to suppliers with fair play at the centre of their ethos, even if it means losing a few quid.

I was going to check the MP prices against what we have paid, but it seems that is not an option atm.

 

[Clive]

The conundrum for the farmer who is reasonably savvy about their buying already is what do they do if they already have better prices than MP? I can see that it will be helpful to those who were getting relatively shafted before, but as I said with Yagro, we were already getting better prices than they could manage before. I didn't need to ring back the existing suppliers to beat them down in price.

I was going to check the MP prices against what we have paid, but it seems that is not an option atm.

you wont get a better price than the chemical that WAS on Farm Market place - that was the issue, seems the competition don't actually like the idea of competing ! and remember the prices larger farms like you and I have access to are not the prices that others can get quoted, they pay way more so savings are even greater for them

Kalfos for example direct from manufacturer is £15-20 cheaper on MP than anywhere else per tonne

 

[Feldspar]

you wont get a better price than the chemical that WAS on Fram Market place - that was the issue, seems the competition don't actually like the idea of competing ! and remember the prices larger farms like you and I have access to are not the prices that others can get quoted, they pay way more so savings are even greater for them

Kalfos for example direct from manufacturer is £15-20 cheaper than anywhere else per tonne

So do you think the Chemical Price Tracker thread had much effect then? It seems like that should have had a similar effect, although probably only to bring the price down to the lowest level that others had been offered rather than breaking new ground.