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 Post subject: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:23 pm 
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To all,

Just thinking, has this forum/group/community every done something like a bulk-buy? I've done it in other forums sometimes (e.g. 10 people sign up for a new TV coming out (I used to be a huge home theater fanatics), and each person received 10% off.

What I'm thinking is:

- we all pick a stone type (or maybe multiples)
- some of the smart people (which means I'm out), know some dealers
- anyone that wants too ponies up an amount and type (e.g. $300 for ~10 carat stones of X)
- Someone negotiates with the dealer for a price
- if we like it, we all send the money to the dealer and they ship directly back to each person when everyone has bought in

That way, no one but the seller sees the money or what stones are parceled out. I'd love to do something like "$300-$500 of golden beryl, morganite in 10-15 carat pieces and get a 20% or more discount :)

What say you, good idea or flawed to hades?

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:48 pm 
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I have done rough buys with multiple people involved. It adds a lot of extra risk and heartburn even when you are doing it with trusted friends. That's not to say it isn't also fun and potentially rewarding but it is something I would hesitate to organize for a forum group, and if I participated it would have to be with the explicit understanding I might not get anything good and to be ready not to be upset about that.

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:56 pm 
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Sounds like a good idea to me, except, I just purchased 5 pounds of Phantom Citrine Quartz and 3 pounds of Rose de France Amethyst from Dino at DJGems, as they are closing shop. If anybody wants a pound of Phantom Citrine or Rose de France Amethyst just let me know.

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 3:43 pm 
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lse138,

I had to look that up (phantom citrine), from the pictures on google it's hard to tell if it's just light yellow or 'smoky' like some of the dark/grey quartz.

Do I have the right idea (and any pictures of a stone cut from it that you can point me to?)

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:27 pm 
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Here is the one stone that I've cut from the material, basically yellow/tan Citrine with Smoky phantoms.


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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 7:46 pm 
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lse138,

That's a very well cut and beautiful stone. Thank you so much for sharing it. I'd never even heard of the material before today and now I've seen what it looks like cut.

Congratulations on a beautiful stone :)

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:39 pm 
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lse138 wrote:
Sounds like a good idea to me, except, I just purchased 5 pounds of Phantom Citrine Quartz and 3 pounds of Rose de France Amethyst from Dino at DJGems, as they are closing shop. If anybody wants a pound of Phantom Citrine or Rose de France Amethyst just let me know.



That is some nice material. I would appreciate a pm regarding how to purchase a few pounds of each.

Thanks!


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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:27 pm 
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I think I recall some folks doing a group buy of lab material a while back to make minimum order sizes less daunting. Not sure if that might be another possibility?


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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:40 pm 
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Hi Bob,

I'd be up for it.

Unfortunately, I do not yet have PM privileges to send you my contact info.


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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:37 pm 
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To all,

Between the comments in this thread and a number of PM's. It appears that it is just to risky and could lead to a lot of consternation and bad blood. I'd rather remain the person that had an idea that others explained why it was bad, than actually doing it and becoming the guy that people throw things at. :)

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 1:36 am 
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Hi Bob,
the idea is not bad, the problem is as you dont have 10 identical rough stones in a lot - so how you part them with the other buyers.
It is normal that you have some real good rough and some not as good rough in a lot. So who is deciding who gets which stone(s).
With TVs it is not a problem, as they should be really identical. Rough, as mother nature does, aren´t normally.

So if you fixed a price per gram for the lot with the dealer it is the same price for the best piece and the worst piece in the lot. But mostly all want the best piece here ;)

so if you dont know the people here and all a clear of this it will deserve problems in my experience splitting up the lot.

What probably could be a better solution is, that we build up a trusted dealer list, who agree, that if people come from GO and identify themselves as such, they get a fixed discount if they buy something. This is what I would take part too as a dealer to get advantages to the members here.

bw
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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:01 am 
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This sort of thing is used amongst diamond dealers, since De Beers offer lots of fixed quantities at fixed prices, a sight holder will gather interest and buy, then those in the group get together and bicker over the items. This depends on those in the group being able to get together, examine and judge, not so easy in a forum.


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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:27 am 
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arglthesheep, Alan,

Great explanation and I think that's the root of the problem (the who got the best rough of the lot?). I do like the idea of working with dealers and getting some name recognition and discount tier of the forum members. I've also seen that done in the other areas (Let the dealer know you're a member of 'x' and receive an additional 10% off).

May percolate on this and see what we can do :)

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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:13 am 
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I am a great believer in getting name recognition, I often let items go at cost or minimal profit so as to get the reputation of a big time dealer. That way, when bargains are going, I get the first call.


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 Post subject: Re: Have we ever done a bulk buy?
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2019 1:07 am 
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@Bob
with some group it will work, we did this in the past too, when lots where huge. I know people with whom this is not really a challange, but with people I do not know it can be really difficult.

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