Sticky: Group Purchasing Guidelines
Sticky: Group Purchasing Guidelines
02-02-2025, 07:19 PM
To ensure smooth and fair group purchases, please follow the guidelines and structure outlined below. These rules are designed to protect both buyers and organizers, and to maintain transparency and trust within the community.
1. What is a Group Purchase (GP)?
A Group Purchase (GP) is an organized effort where members pool their orders to buy items in bulk, often at a discounted price. GPs are typically used for:
- Raw materials (e.g., acetate, titanium).
- Tools and equipment (e.g., drivers, pattern cutters, frame warmers).
- Components (e.g., hinges, rivets, screws, nose pads).
2. Roles in a Group Purchase
- Organizer: The person who coordinates the GP, communicates with suppliers, and manages the process.
- Participants: Members who join the GP by committing to purchase items.
- Moderators: Forum staff who oversee GPs to ensure compliance with guidelines.
3. How to Start a Group Purchase
If you’d like to organize a GP, follow these steps:
Step 1: Interest Check (IC)
- Create a new thread in the Group Purchasing section with the following format:
- Title:
[IC] Item Name
(e.g., [IC] Acetate Sheet).
- Content:
- Item Description: Provide details about the item(s) being considered (e.g., material, size, color options).
- Supplier Information: Name of the supplier and any relevant details (e.g., MOQ - Minimum Order Quantity).
- Estimated Pricing: Rough cost per unit, including shipping and any fees.
- Timeline: Proposed timeline for the GP (if known).
- Purpose: Explain why this GP would benefit the community.
- Questions for the Community: Ask for feedback (e.g., preferred colors, quantities, or alternative suppliers).
- Item Description: Provide details about the item(s) being considered (e.g., material, size, color options).
- Title:
- Allow the community to provide feedback and express interest in the IC thread.
- Use polls or ask participants to reply with the following:
- Quantity they might be interested in.
- Any additional suggestions or concerns.
- Quantity they might be interested in.
- Based on the feedback from the IC thread, finalize the details of the GP, including:
- Exact pricing.
- Payment methods.
- Shipping arrangements.
- Timeline.
- Exact pricing.
- Create a new thread in the Group Purchasing section with the following format:
- Title:
[GP] Item Name - Estimated Timeline
(e.g., [GP] Acetate Sheets - June 2024).
- Content:
- Item Description: Provide finalized details about the item(s).
- Supplier Information: Confirmed supplier and MOQ.
- Pricing: Final cost per unit, including shipping and any fees.
- Timeline: Commitment deadline, payment deadline, and estimated delivery date.
- Payment Details: Payment methods accepted (e.g., PayPal, bank transfer) and deadlines.
- Shipping: How items will be shipped (e.g., bulk shipping to a single address or individual shipping).
- Risks: Any potential risks (e.g., delays, quality issues) and how they will be mitigated.
- Item Description: Provide finalized details about the item(s).
- Title:
- Participants should reply to the GP thread with:
- Quantity requested.
- Preferred payment method.
- Shipping address (unless otherwise sent by private message).
- Quantity requested.
- Organizers should collect payments only after the GP has reached the MOQ and all details are finalized.
- Provide clear instructions for payment and deadlines.
- Keep participants informed with regular updates (e.g., order confirmation, shipping status, delays). You may simply edit the thread and include the date of the update, for the sake of brevity.
- Once the items arrive, organizers should distribute them to participants as agreed (e.g., bulk shipping to a single address or individual shipping).
- Please note that Participants will be responsible for shipping costs, and best practice dictates to collect shipping costs once items arrive to the Organizer.
4. Rules for Organizers
- Transparency: Provide clear and accurate information about the GP, including risks and timelines.
- Communication: Post regular updates and respond to participant questions promptly.
- Accountability: Handle funds responsibly and provide proof of transactions if requested.
- No Profiteering: GPs should be organized for the benefit of the community, not for personal profit.
5. Rules for Participants
- Commitment: Only join a GP if you are certain you can pay and follow through.
- Patience: Understand that GPs can take time due to supplier delays or other issues.
- Respect: Be courteous to organizers and other participants.
6. Dispute Resolution
- If issues arise (e.g., delays, quality problems), participants should first contact the organizer.
- If the issue cannot be resolved, contact the forum moderators for assistance.
7. Example IC and GP Threads
Interest Check (IC) Example
Title: [IC] Acetate Sheets
Content:
- Item Description: 2mm thick acetate sheets in various colors (black, tortoiseshell, clear).
- Supplier: AcetateCo, MOQ of 100 sheets.
- Estimated Pricing: ~$13 per sheet + shipping (TBD).
- Timeline: Tentative start in June 2024.
- Purpose: To combine freight shipping for cost reduction.
- Questions for the Community:
- Which colors are you most interested in?
- How many sheets would you likely purchase?
- Are there alternative suppliers we should consider?
- Which colors are you most interested in?
Group Purchase (GP) Example
Title: [GP] Acetate Sheets - June 2024
Content:
- Item Description: 2mm thick acetate sheets in black, tortoiseshell, and clear.
- Supplier: AcetateCo, MOQ of 100 sheets.
- Pricing: $10 per sheet + $50 shipping (split among participants).
- Timeline:
- Commitment Deadline: June 15, 2024.
- Payment Deadline: June 20, 2024.
- Estimated Delivery: July 15, 2024.
- Commitment Deadline: June 15, 2024.
- Payment: PayPal (Friends & Family) or bank transfer.
- Shipping: Bulk shipping to the organizer’s address, then redistributed via USPS.
- Risks: Potential delays from the supplier; updates will be provided weekly.
8. Disclaimer
Group Purchases are organized by community members and are not officially endorsed or managed by GASM. Participants join at their own risk. GASM moderators are not responsible for any issues that arise during a GP but will assist in resolving disputes when possible.
Once this thread has received enough feedback to be considered an agreeable procedure to the community, it will be locked.
Chad Sobodash
02-02-2025, 07:19 PM #1Welcome to the Group Purchasing (GP) section of the Guild of American Spectacle Makers (GASM) forum. This space is dedicated to organizing bulk purchases of materials, tools, and components to help members save money and access otherwise hard-to-find items.
To ensure smooth and fair group purchases, please follow the guidelines and structure outlined below. These rules are designed to protect both buyers and organizers, and to maintain transparency and trust within the community.
1. What is a Group Purchase (GP)?
A Group Purchase (GP) is an organized effort where members pool their orders to buy items in bulk, often at a discounted price. GPs are typically used for:
- Raw materials (e.g., acetate, titanium).
- Tools and equipment (e.g., drivers, pattern cutters, frame warmers).
- Components (e.g., hinges, rivets, screws, nose pads).
2. Roles in a Group Purchase
- Organizer: The person who coordinates the GP, communicates with suppliers, and manages the process.
- Participants: Members who join the GP by committing to purchase items.
- Moderators: Forum staff who oversee GPs to ensure compliance with guidelines.
3. How to Start a Group Purchase
If you’d like to organize a GP, follow these steps:
Step 1: Interest Check (IC)
- Create a new thread in the Group Purchasing section with the following format:
- Title:
[IC] Item Name
(e.g., [IC] Acetate Sheet).
- Content:
- Item Description: Provide details about the item(s) being considered (e.g., material, size, color options).
- Supplier Information: Name of the supplier and any relevant details (e.g., MOQ - Minimum Order Quantity).
- Estimated Pricing: Rough cost per unit, including shipping and any fees.
- Timeline: Proposed timeline for the GP (if known).
- Purpose: Explain why this GP would benefit the community.
- Questions for the Community: Ask for feedback (e.g., preferred colors, quantities, or alternative suppliers).
- Item Description: Provide details about the item(s) being considered (e.g., material, size, color options).
- Title:
- Allow the community to provide feedback and express interest in the IC thread.
- Use polls or ask participants to reply with the following:
- Quantity they might be interested in.
- Any additional suggestions or concerns.
- Quantity they might be interested in.
- Based on the feedback from the IC thread, finalize the details of the GP, including:
- Exact pricing.
- Payment methods.
- Shipping arrangements.
- Timeline.
- Exact pricing.
- Create a new thread in the Group Purchasing section with the following format:
- Title:
[GP] Item Name - Estimated Timeline
(e.g., [GP] Acetate Sheets - June 2024).
- Content:
- Item Description: Provide finalized details about the item(s).
- Supplier Information: Confirmed supplier and MOQ.
- Pricing: Final cost per unit, including shipping and any fees.
- Timeline: Commitment deadline, payment deadline, and estimated delivery date.
- Payment Details: Payment methods accepted (e.g., PayPal, bank transfer) and deadlines.
- Shipping: How items will be shipped (e.g., bulk shipping to a single address or individual shipping).
- Risks: Any potential risks (e.g., delays, quality issues) and how they will be mitigated.
- Item Description: Provide finalized details about the item(s).
- Title:
- Participants should reply to the GP thread with:
- Quantity requested.
- Preferred payment method.
- Shipping address (unless otherwise sent by private message).
- Quantity requested.
- Organizers should collect payments only after the GP has reached the MOQ and all details are finalized.
- Provide clear instructions for payment and deadlines.
- Keep participants informed with regular updates (e.g., order confirmation, shipping status, delays). You may simply edit the thread and include the date of the update, for the sake of brevity.
- Once the items arrive, organizers should distribute them to participants as agreed (e.g., bulk shipping to a single address or individual shipping).
- Please note that Participants will be responsible for shipping costs, and best practice dictates to collect shipping costs once items arrive to the Organizer.
4. Rules for Organizers
- Transparency: Provide clear and accurate information about the GP, including risks and timelines.
- Communication: Post regular updates and respond to participant questions promptly.
- Accountability: Handle funds responsibly and provide proof of transactions if requested.
- No Profiteering: GPs should be organized for the benefit of the community, not for personal profit.
5. Rules for Participants
- Commitment: Only join a GP if you are certain you can pay and follow through.
- Patience: Understand that GPs can take time due to supplier delays or other issues.
- Respect: Be courteous to organizers and other participants.
6. Dispute Resolution
- If issues arise (e.g., delays, quality problems), participants should first contact the organizer.
- If the issue cannot be resolved, contact the forum moderators for assistance.
7. Example IC and GP Threads
Interest Check (IC) Example
Title: [IC] Acetate Sheets
Content:
- Item Description: 2mm thick acetate sheets in various colors (black, tortoiseshell, clear).
- Supplier: AcetateCo, MOQ of 100 sheets.
- Estimated Pricing: ~$13 per sheet + shipping (TBD).
- Timeline: Tentative start in June 2024.
- Purpose: To combine freight shipping for cost reduction.
- Questions for the Community:
- Which colors are you most interested in?
- How many sheets would you likely purchase?
- Are there alternative suppliers we should consider?
- Which colors are you most interested in?
Group Purchase (GP) Example
Title: [GP] Acetate Sheets - June 2024
Content:
- Item Description: 2mm thick acetate sheets in black, tortoiseshell, and clear.
- Supplier: AcetateCo, MOQ of 100 sheets.
- Pricing: $10 per sheet + $50 shipping (split among participants).
- Timeline:
- Commitment Deadline: June 15, 2024.
- Payment Deadline: June 20, 2024.
- Estimated Delivery: July 15, 2024.
- Commitment Deadline: June 15, 2024.
- Payment: PayPal (Friends & Family) or bank transfer.
- Shipping: Bulk shipping to the organizer’s address, then redistributed via USPS.
- Risks: Potential delays from the supplier; updates will be provided weekly.
8. Disclaimer
Group Purchases are organized by community members and are not officially endorsed or managed by GASM. Participants join at their own risk. GASM moderators are not responsible for any issues that arise during a GP but will assist in resolving disputes when possible.
Once this thread has received enough feedback to be considered an agreeable procedure to the community, it will be locked.
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