Do you use a buying group?

[Phil P]

So, sticking along the lines of the “Sacking my Agronomist” thread, something else I’ve been considering is joining a buying group.
Mainly for if I move away from serviced agronomy it will help to cut out the leg work shopping round for chem prices.

But those of you who are members, do you see a decent return on your membership fee? Or is it more of a convenience thing?

I have one in mind that’s been recommended, however feel free to recommend any you think are good to deal with.

All advice and opinions welcome
Thanks again.

 

[Matt77]

The yearly fee for ours is covered with the discount fuel we get each year so everything else is a bonus, it’s also very convenient. Struggle to think of a negative, just don’t go buying a 90p bolt on it as you’ll still get the invoice charge which will be more than the bolt!

 

[teslacoils]

There are few things easier than one direct debit a month with all my bills on it. I put everything, bar mobile phone and rent, on the Woldmarsh.

 

[An Gof]

I use one but get frustrated when I can buy goods cheaper than the buying group price.
Sourcing best deals on electric and mobiles is a mind numbing task as an individual so I’m happy to leave that to the buying group.
Guess you need trust that they ALWAYS do the best for you. Give them everything and it’s can be too easy for them to become lazy and not drive a hard enough deal.
Some take on a huge cost structure that reduces competitiveness. If you want an example of how the ethos can change and go sour look at what Mole Valley started out as and what they have now become. The ethos has changed dramatically.

 

[Bald Rick]

Fram Farmers

They let me join ... nuff said

 

[teslacoils]

One big and unexpected plus comes from their knowledge. When I get a text saying "buy fert" from my coop, I'm inclined to follow their advice rather than a merchant.

Fee is very low.

 

[Goffer]

Joined one,big one too . Could do better myself and their overhead charge just brought discounted prices in line with over the counter terms . Offer to pay on the nail and you’d be surprised what discount you can get . One big machinery dealer actually asked if we could continue trading direct as deal with buying group for them was a pain in the arse . 10% discount immediately on our account and continued as before . I hasten to add we pay our bills ASAP

 

[principal skinner]

All pesticides come from the buying group, priced some seed wheat with them and was very very shocked at the price compared with some of the big agri firms, shocked in the right way too, nearly £100/ton

 

[T Hectares]

Seed, fert and Chem through my group.

It just works...

Very good on fert

Some very knowledgeable people on the end of the phone for advice too.

Won't be in your area unfortunately @Phil P

 

[Barleymow]

I've though of joining but no one will tell me how much cheaper things are

 

[David.]

If you were to use Tag NIAB Agronomy, they have their own regional chem buying groups.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

I've though of joining but no one will tell me how much cheaper things are

if you have time to haggle and shop around you may stuff as cheap if not cheaper, im a small farm so cant really justify the fee, and haggle/shop around so often get stuff as cheap (we had another farm in partnership so could compare that was in group)

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

There's a few things my buying group get genuine discount on for me ,over and above what I could negotiate for myself , which I hope covers the annual membership fee. A good marquee from them, at our local show , tips the balance in there favour

 

[SilliamWhale]

If you were to use Tag NIAB Agronomy, they have their own regional chem buying groups.

News to me

 

[rusty]

Use one , mostly for fertiliser, agchems and cereal seeds. They are way out on diesel prices in our area but save enough on NMR milk recording fees alone to pay annual membership. Being dairy with only 70 acres wholecrop wheat I save significantly on the agchems. The fertiliser is little saving but I get their advice on when to buy which is probably more important than price on the day.

 

[Boysground]

Use a couple one for agchems fert and seed. The other for electric diesel and some feed. Happy with prices and ease of use.

Bg

 

[David.]

News to me

Not quite the same as a buying group as such, because we remain liable to pay individual suppliers ourself. But agronomist has a monthly price lists, drawn up from about 8 suppliers national and local, and advises best buys for whatever chems required.

 

[Against_the_grain]

Use framfarmers and they are fantastic! They have dedicated teams working to get you the best deal. They have every incentive to maximise discount and although they cant be the cheapest all the time everytime, they are always there or there abouts saving a lot of my time. I can call them up ask for anything from a cube of concrete to a hire tractor for a season and leave them to it. They come back with the best deals they can get. Simplest.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Fram works well for me too.
Use them for all sorts of stuff but special mention must go to the pig feed buying group and the pig veterinary products group. The latter has really stirred up the vaccine supply sector nationally.

 

[An Gof]

News to me

..and me