Forming a group

[Coin Operated Group]

Please indicate above if you would be interested in joining a group of operators with the understanding that all stock purchases would be from agreed suppliers only and agreeing to some terms and conditions as well as a memership fee but in return giving site protection from poaching other members and best deals on purchases exclusively for members.

[Rossi fan]

Hi
I think I may have started this one off in the other post by requesting that we have a NV sticker on each machine.

If we can get better deals on stock as a collective, then it is really a no brainer. However, everyone will not buy from the same source. ( Since posting this, I have read the last post on the other related topic) If it works, it may also encourage others to join for protection etc.

I think it could go much further. As a group we could negotiate with better site finding companies and machine suppliers. I am all for it, but one supplier to be in the agreement could become an issue.

Paul

[Coin Operated Group]

Nothing is cast in stone, its just different peoples ideas at the moment as you said yourself.

[chris gibbs]

Hi
I think I may have started this one off in the other post by requesting that we have a NV sticker on each machine.

If we can get better deals on stock as a collective, then it is really a no brainer. However, everyone will not buy from the same source. ( Since posting this, I have read the lsat post on the other related topic) If it works, it may also encourage others to join for protection etc.

I think it could go much further. As a group we could negotiate with better site finding companies etc and machine suppliers. I am all for it, but one supplier agreement could become an issue.

Paul

Hi Paul i agree that the NV sticker could be a very good idea but if as a tubz vending franchiser(for my sins) i would have to reconsider if i would be "contracted" in some way to buy stock form here as we all know it can have repercussions from certain areas.
regards chris

[david@naughtyvend]

Good idea guys, however Chris is correct to air his concern as (a) he would be in breach of his franchise agreement and (b) the group operator would be liable to contractual interference for same in solicting another to breach said agreement.

For the indepedent operators 'absolutely' but essentially as a former franchisor I operated a very similar scheme, in your scenario if you can't maintain volumes the suppliers may pull out and this could happen the moment a group break away because they think they can do better in relation to your job and their pricing. Someone has to administer this co-op and for that they'll need a percentage unless they are charitable (your membership fee), that'll never last and eventually someone will always think that administrator is making too much and approach the suppliers if revealed directly. Fundamnetal question to ask is why would a supplier wish to sell their product en-mass for a lower margin when for less effort they could sell less at a higher margin, this and as stated previously is where such schemes tend to fall down but if you can get the structure right and police it it can work. You only have to recall comments from some of the individuals on this forum alone to identify the 'types' whom will be the potential problems if invited into the group, trust me on this.

Good luck you have a niche here to gather smaller operators together but in effect you are contradicting the argument of many forum members about being independent operators, you are forming what is in effect a tubz vending, Vending Revolution etc...

[Coin Operated Group]

Not at all are we forming a similar scenario to suppliers demanding operators buy goods. Firstly joining is voluntary and you could leave at any time if you feel you no longer need to be a member, however when a member you would have to abide by a few rules ie non poaching and buying from approved suppliers.

Why would any supplier want to be a part of this? to sell more goods obviously. We have been contacted by suppliers already whom seem keen. Not one supplier has control over the market and Im sure you are aware buying in volumes gets larger discounts.

Yes the scheme would be administrated and yes a commision would be payable (by the suppliers) but that is the same as any other buying groups and there are numerous which work very well. As long as the member is getting the best possible price then why would they want to leave or what would they have to lose?

As said before this is still much in discussion stage and any feedback, suggestions good or bad are gratefully accepted.

[Happyvending]

Not at all are we forming a similar scenario to suppliers demanding operators buy goods. Firstly joining is voluntary and you could leave at any time if you feel you no longer need to be a member, however when a member you would have to abide by a few rules ie non poaching and buying from approved suppliers.

Why would any supplier want to be a part of this? to sell more goods obviously. We have been contacted by suppliers already whom seem keen. Not one supplier has control over the market and Im sure you are aware buying in volumes gets larger discounts.

Yes the scheme would be administrated and yes a commision would be payable (by the suppliers) but that is the same as any other buying groups and there are numerous which work very well. As long as the member is getting the best possible price then why would they want to leave or what would they have to lose?

As said before this is still much in discussion stage and any feedback, suggestions good or bad are gratefully accepted.

Noel..


dont waste your time with this idiot mate...he is trying to protect his back as he sells stuff far to expensive and his stuff doesnt even work.....


nufsed.


you know where i am if you want to talk about it david---

[david@naughtyvend]

Not at all are we forming a similar scenario to suppliers demanding operators buy goods. Firstly joining is voluntary and you could leave at any time if you feel you no longer need to be a member, however when a member you would have to abide by a few rules ie non poaching and buying from approved suppliers.

Why would any supplier want to be a part of this? to sell more goods obviously. We have been contacted by suppliers already whom seem keen. Not one supplier has control over the market and Im sure you are aware buying in volumes gets larger discounts.

Yes the scheme would be administrated and yes a commision would be payable (by the suppliers) but that is the same as any other buying groups and there are numerous which work very well. As long as the member is getting the best possible price then why would they want to leave or what would they have to lose?

As said before this is still much in discussion stage and any feedback, suggestions good or bad are gratefully accepted.

Turning on its head is a good solution Matt, where the suppliers pay to subscribe and gain access to your network of buyers and I believe that could work for you where it would certainly be better to negotiate deals on projected (and subsequently actual) annual volumes as this would keep perishable stocks 'in flow' more regularly.

Would you offer from that agreed price a flat rate to your members on each individual stock item or volume discounts based upon individual purchase levels? I'm assuming flat rate.

If a member left the network how would that reflect upon their status of "non poaching" and other rules of the group which they would no longer be under...? There is a strong preference for independence of operation within members on this forum, do you think the concept will dovetail in with the current operators or will this be part of the challenge...?

[choice vending]

I have voted no for now

For it to work you would need all the companies on board. tubz vending Sweetfix and Hurleys. The i dont see how the forum can negotiate on behalf of individual businesses.

i can see that becoming a member of an organisation would be good. a freind of mine was in a organisation called The national association of master builders. This ment he could put a logo an his business card etc and showed people he was no cowboy ( bloody hell they got that one wrong lol)

Somthing like the national association of independant vending opertators with a code of conduct and a nice logo!! Yea maybe!

I can see that it may be able to get discounts on liabilty insurance policys etc maybe legal stuff as well regarding these contracts/ franchises were you are supposed to use the one suplier. If it can help put pressure on companies with an agressive siting policy it would be good. Ie some muppetry operator in bham has stuck an help for heros machine in a pub of mine next to 2 of my towers. This may be tubz vending fault but for me its more to do with a daft operator currently been delt with

[PGBrew]

It's a no from me. Once suppliers have to pay a comission to join, prices will go up to cover their costs. I would negotiate better prices for myself. When you add in site finding & machine purchases it gets too complicated.

Pete