Group buys ?

[Clive]

Forums were made for this IMO - I've been involved with many on other (none farming) forums over the years and saved myself some ££'s via various group buys

FarmDeals has a new feature that allows it to organise a group buy ( called collective deals) The idea is that members pick product, say how much they will need so collectively that larger requirement can be tendered to potential suppliers getting everyone taking part a better price that they could get individually

The new software makes getting involved with and organising this really easy now, you don't have to commit, just let the software know your potential requirements before the close date and it will come back to you with prices, if you like the price you then commit to buy and the product turns up

The first few group buys are running now and building into good orders that should attract some sharp pricing when they end, products like glyphosate, MOP, TSP, milk powder etc - my question is though what inputs (or products). would you like to see group buys set up on ?

If you are not a member and wonder what on earth I'm on about the FarmDeals website is here FarmDeals will explain more (its free !) and for (logged in) members collective deals already running here Collective Deals

 

[DrDunc]

Bale plastic, 750mm rolls, 40 to the pallet

It's becoming tiring listening to the excuses fabricated each year for the eye watering price increases

Realise the buying group is aimed predominantly at arable farmers, but us planet killing cattle farmers need all the help we can get

 

[Clive]

Bale plastic, 750mm rolls, 40 to the pallet

It's becoming tiring listening to the excuses fabricated each year for the eye watering price increases

Realise the buying group is aimed predominantly at arable farmers, but us planet killing cattle farmers need all the help we can get

not aimed at arable - they are for everyone, in fact FarmDeals probably works better for livestock than arable farmers at the moment


Bale wrap is a great idea - educated me please ? any particular brands to avoid or higher / lower quality etc or is it just bought on price ?

net, wrap or both ? and what does a good price look like and who are the big manufactures / importers or retailers ?

 

[Daniel]

Soya meal, a lorry load a month.

 

[neilo]

I've signed up on a couple of the deals but how exactly does it work if those that do so aren't obliged to go through with it? Surely if the group gets a good price based on (say) selling 10,000 litres of glyphosate, but then the members only actually purchase 5,000 litres, whoever is supplying isn't going to be happy?

I can understand it if those registering are obliged to purchase their stated quantity, but that would require a lot of trust and confidence that the tendered price would actually be competitive.

 

[Goffer]

Another here for 750 bale wrap /green/ by the pallet.

 

[DrDunc]

not aimed at arable - they are for everyone, in fact FarmDeals probably works better for livestock than arable farmers at the moment


Bale wrap is a great idea - educated me please ? any particular brands to avoid or higher / lower quality etc or is it just bought on price ?

net, wrap or both ? and what does a good price look like and who are the big manufactures / importers or retailers ?

Netwrap by the pallet will likely only be big contractors (or retailers), and every baler seems to work best with a different brand, making bulk purchasing tricky

750mm plastic (predominantly black, thoughv also available in green, white, and a short lived experimental clear) is used to seal bales of haylage/silage

No idea on current prices, silotite regarded as premium, cotesi a hundred quid cheaper per pallet nearly as good but can be variable translucency, or stuff like "farmer" brand aimed squarely at the cheapskates baling thistles and weeds

 

[ollie989898]

Buying some random milk powder in the name of a cost saving is madness.

 

[Clive]

Soya meal, a lorry load a month.

bulk I assume ? will get them on that one as we already have suppliers that could quote that I think

 

[Clive]

Buying some random milk powder in the name of a cost saving is madness.

The milk powder is branded I believe

 

[ollie989898]

The milk powder is branded I believe

Most of the brands will do a range in quality within in their product range, it is a specialist product and quite unlike a pallet of roundup.

 

[Clive]

I've signed up on a couple of the deals but how exactly does it work if those that do so aren't obliged to go through with it? Surely if the group gets a good price based on (say) selling 10,000 litres of glyphosate, but then the members only actually purchase 5,000 litres, whoever is supplying isn't going to be happy?

I can understand it if those registering are obliged to purchase their stated quantity, but that would require a lot of trust and confidence that the tendered price would actually be competitive.

your not committed until the group buy ends, the deal is then tendered and if you like the price you then commit - if lots dropped out then it would probably kill the deal as you suggest but with a good collective order we can be confident that those wanting the product will not drop out as the price WILL be good ! better than any but the biggest buyers would get as individual

Collective farmer power is what this is about !

 

[Clive]

Most of the brands will do a range in quality within in their product range, it is a specialist product and quite unlike a pallet of roundup.

the full spec and detail is on the deal page - there is no mystery or secret around it all

 

[Daniel]

bulk I assume ? will get them on that one as we already have suppliers that could quote that I think

Full lorry loads blown in. Currently I buy from Duffields in Norfolk.

 

[Spencer]

Pallets of wrap +3

 

[Cab-over Pete]

And once again, when the big deal is done and the big companies have got it all sewn up, the small suppliers who can’t compete will go to the wall.

And a few farmers will be ever so happy they’ve got a good if short term deal.

And the big companies will be ever so happy that another small thorn in their side has been extracted so that the farmers have less suppliers to choose from.

Ever was it so and ever will it be until you’re all beholden to large corporations who will screw you next time.

Loosen your belts.

 

[Hilly]

Concrete ??

 

[JP1]

Netwrap by the pallet will likely only be big contractors (or retailers), and every baler seems to work best with a different brand, making bulk purchasing tricky

750mm plastic (predominantly black, thoughv also available in green, white, and a short lived experimental clear) is used to seal bales of haylage/silage

No idea on current prices, silotite regarded as premium, cotesi a hundred quid cheaper per pallet nearly as good but can be variable translucency, or stuff like "farmer" brand aimed squarely at the cheapskates baling thistles and weeds

Silotite 1800 x 500 black or green wrap would be handy

 

[Henarar]

And once again, when the big deal is done and the big companies have got it all sewn up, the small suppliers who can’t compete will go to the wall.

And a few farmers will be ever so happy they’ve got a good if short term deal.

And the big companies will be ever so happy that another small thorn in their side has been extracted so that the farmers have less suppliers to choose from.

Ever was it so and ever will it be until you’re all beholden to large corporations who will screw you next time.

Loosen your belts.

There is somthing in what you say Pete but what if folk already deal with a big company like say Mole Valley for bale wrap, would it be OK to change to another big company ?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Farmers can deal with whoever they like, but then they can’t expect to complain when prices are controlled by ever bigger companies.