Group buys or purchases...

WonderMonkey

WonderMonkey

Joined
Apr 18, 2007
Messages
101
There is a small survival item I am considering buying and know it is a fairly popular thing around here. I am thinking of buying a sizable lot from the manufacturer and would like to pass on the savings to this forum, which has helped me tons. Is there a problem with posting the item, costs, etc. and seeing how many would want one?

Also, if there is no policy how about starting one where the group buy item is marked up a small percentage and that is donated back to the forum?
 
Group buys get proposed every now and then. Often it takes a form like

"HEY EVERYBODY!!!!!! I have a chance to make a group buy and if XX people are interested we can get SPAM at (slightly less than MSRP)!!!1@!!!one!!!!"

Then when the moderators despam it he whines "I wasn't going to make any profit on it honest to Murgatroyd" ...

Of course there are honestly intended proposals too, but it's hard to see how to distinguish them from the spam. :confused:
 
what about just buying a sizable lot, upgrading your membership and just selling them.

I can tell you that any kind of group buy takes WAY WAY WAY more timw and effort then then saving is usually worth. For example in the last lotto passaround 20% of the people disappeared or backed out. Probably another 20% was late in getting their payment in. If you're organizing it it a huge hassle.
 
Unless you are working with the folks in the traditional forum.
We have a forum knife made for us (this is the second year). Goes off pretty well there. We establish a sign up thread, then send the payments in then place the order.

The biggest problem with that is finding shipping boxes and standing in line at the P.O. :D.
 
I think Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades attracts guys who are old enough to know if they sign up for a group buy and then don't pay up nobody is going to say, "Aw, leave him alone, he's just a kid." The denizens of most forums tend to be less mature, and I think DaveH's experience is more typical of group buys in general.

DaveH & Bastid know their group buys are not spam because they organize them themselves, and everybody else knows it because we know them.
 
I understand your warnings. I suppose a small way to minimize the chance that this is spam is to see how long a person has been a member, number of posts, etc. Tough call though and some would bound to get pissed off if one was approved and one wasn't.

Also I think the item I have in mind would be easy to find the actual wholesale price so me trying to mark it up would be found out.

And... to get a sellers membership and go that route would lose money with this thing. Not enough volume I would think.

I am going to buy a handful of these items and have already contacted the manufacturer for price, etc. If allowed to do a group buy, I will, and accept the risks that you fine fellers have raised.

I do appreciate the warnings and words of experience.
 
A solution to this could be a dedicated "Group Buy" forum, but I really don't want to encourage dealers to be skirting the rules here.
 
Bastid said:
Unless you are working with the folks in the traditional forum.
We have a forum knife made for us (this is the second year). Goes off pretty well there. We establish a sign up thread, then send the payments in then place the order.

The biggest problem with that is finding shipping boxes and standing in line at the P.O. :D.
Click to expand...

The correct shipping boxes and how much to add to the product to cover those costs would be a pain.

However I feel I don't add any wisdom to this forum and I get a great deal FROM it. This is just one small way to repay a bit of the kindness.
 
WonderMonkey said:
The correct shipping boxes and how much to add to the product to cover those costs would be a pain.
Click to expand...

Yup you are right there, but the small expense and trouble on the "herders" part is overshadowed by 45 or so folks around the world having a 'connection' of a forum knife that will not be made again. I figure I lost around 45 bucks and a good 20 hours, but gained a lot more than that.
 
Dear Esav How are yah

I am sorry that I did not ask permission beforehand regarding the group buy. I have seen it done in the past on the emerson forum & also for stuff like tritium. The biggest reason I wanted to do this was that most times Canadians usually have to pay quite a bit of money on shipping & duty. We have to wait much much longer, because of customs & overall I just wanted people to get a deal. I'm not making any money out of this whatsover & just want people to get a decent deal on a good knife.

I would very much appreciate if you would let us continue

thank you and take care

aj
 
a bit of help
just wondering should I make an entirely new thread or pm you the mods directly.
thanks and take care
aj
 
This thread explains why group buys are not generally allowed here. You've given some reasons why you think you should be an exception, but obviously Spark wasn't convinced. Starting a new thread is not going to help.
 
Cougar Allen said:
This thread explains why group buys are not generally allowed here. You've given some reasons why you think you should be an exception, but obviously Spark wasn't convinced. Starting a new thread is not going to help.
Click to expand...

I understand the reasons listed above, but if you looked at my previous posts it would show that I am a huge Spyderco fan and that this group buy was only being done so people could just experience a good knife for a good price. Since our dollar has become equal and we could finally stand to buy good knives without overpaying, and since the dealer would be Canadian people will save so much time and hassle over duty, customs and shipping. Also another reason I wanted to do this for the people was, because as a way of paying it forward. I have gotten some incredible deals from many people & met many forumites who have helped me quite a bit. Invited me to their workshop for Coffee at George Tichbournes place, Eric being open said I can come over anytime to check out his kydex sheaths. The tutorials that are offered by the makers as well as the many sellers who don't sell knives to make a lot of profit if any.

These are only a few examples of the many people that make this forum a great one. I am only as good as my word, and my word is my bond. I will take full responsibility and make sure everyone is satisfied 100%. I kindly appreciate if you would let me do this One group buy just because I have started it, but only had good intentions at heart. I would like to see it through.

thanks and take care
aj
 
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