Machinery Rings & Buying Groups

[Eddie Twine]

It may have been posted before but I'd like to know what peoples views are of the Machinery Rings and Buying Groups?
Do they serve your needs?
Are they value for the membership?
Would you change any aspects and if so what?
Do you think they have any loyalty to members both suppliers and buyers?
Are you a member of more than one Ring/Group?

 

[steveR]

Was a member many years ago when they first took off. Pretty pleased initially, but over time, the emphasis moved from farmer to farmer, to ag contractor/commodity supplier to farmer.

I would love to think they had a role in the future once again, but.....

 

[Flat 10]

I’m a cynic. Have you seen all the people employed at places like AF? All on good money. Why not cut them out and deal straight with the suppliers??? The

 

[robs1]

I belong to a buying group for arable inputs, saves me a lot of money, I get the same rates as someone with several thousand acres. I also belong to mole valley, they seem to have lost the idea they were originally set up for, too much empire building going on

 

[adam_farming]

Would someone explain the concept of machinery rings please? Very familiar with buying groups but always wondered how a machinery ring is different.

 

[snipe]

Member of derwent buyer’s group For arable inputs. Saves time and money. Get some good offers. If there is a load of Fert that is stuck on a wagon or needs to be moved from a shed get a text with a good price for immediate delivery. i ring round 3 companies for red diesel. Can usually save a couple of pence with buyers group.

 

[David.]

Large part of it is only having one BACS a month to think about instead of maybe 25 invoices to settle.
Fuel is cheaper, pre-set discounts with suppliers etc.
I think it's worth it.

 

[Boysground]

I’m a member of a couple of groups. Good for sprays, fertiliser, electricity. Competitive but not always best for bulk feed, I use a decent amount of rape meal, palm fat and other feeds and the general trade is often better. I think it’s because of a very volatile market prices move too quickly for anybody to offer the best price every time.

Bg

 

[Farmer Fin]

Would someone explain the concept of machinery rings please? Very familiar with buying groups but always wondered how a machinery ring is different.

They were set up to share machinery and labour. They have a list of people with a baler, you need some bailing and they put out a man, tractor and baler. That was the initial idea. The one up here is now more of a buying group but also supplies a lot of labour for seasonal work.

 

[Bipper]

We work with a machinery ring for a lot of things, basically use them to do the stuff that takes too long and isn't worth it, so fuel, phones electricity, builders merchant all go to them, fert pretty much always there or there abouts, so it saves a load of time and hassle, one account ad one invoice to pay.

On the machinery and labour side, if we get a breakdown then again, better them working on finding somene than me trying to fdoit while busy doing other things. They know the local area too, so can help with other bits of info which are useful.

 

[Pan mixer]

I am a memeber of a buying group and it saves me lots of money on fuel and electricity. Occasionally I will still be contacted by one or another of the electricity switching companies which used to plague me when I dealt with my 4 accounts. Now i tell them that someone else sorts it out and put the phone down.

It has therefore helped my blood pressure too.

 

[Poncherello1976]

We are a member of a buying group. Mainly for Fuel and Chemicals directly, but a lot of other invoices go through them so, as said above, we only have 1 Direct Debit going out. They have a tie up with a machinery ring but I do not use it. I think they are pretty good with their prices and so are worth it.

 

[Eddie Twine]

Do they sell or offer to sell products on your behalf? For example straw or grain etc.?

 

[startinghandle]

There was talk of buying group starting on this site a while ago , did it take off ?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Would someone explain the concept of machinery rings please? Very familiar with buying groups but always wondered how a machinery ring is different.

They buy large amounts so get a better price
Eg . Cheaper on Roundup all last year that that this Market place . Cheaper on Slug Pellets . Miles cheaper than the co ops
And if you sell thought them you are almost guaranteed you payment without even having to invoice

 

[snarling bee]

I use the buying group for all sorts of things. Good for electric, fert, fuel, seed, sometimes chem., workshop gases, calor gas. Also heard they are good for concrete, but we use a local supplier who is an old mate. They are also handy as they have accounts in a lot of places so you get terms and less payment hassle.
Sometimes prices are a bit cheaper but the commission makes it similar or more expensive.
There really is no disadvantage to joining other than the purchase of a share.

 

[thesilentone]

Would someone explain the concept of machinery rings please? Very familiar with buying groups but always wondered how a machinery ring is different.

Initially set up to save the duplication of machinery. So, say you had a combine and you're neighbour didn't and used a contractor, you could do his combining and charge the machinery ring. In return, instead of cash, you would draw on the the rings services to also get work done in return with equipment you may not have, or at a time when an additional plough, baler, etc would come in handy.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

From a farmers point of view they are one more option to get a quote from . The more competion there is then it should mean better prices

 

[steveR]

I belong to a buying group for arable inputs, saves me a lot of money, I get the same rates as someone with several thousand acres. I also belong to mole valley, they seem to have lost the idea they were originally set up for, too much empire building going on

Been the case many times in my farming memory!

 

[Chae1]

There basically a middle man. Bit like a straw merchant.

We do a fair bit of business with the local machinery ring. Mainly as a demander. Good people, I've a lot of time for them. There a pleasure to deal with.


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