Anybody use Bookers for buying stock?

[Hyperion]

If so, I am would like to ask if someone is prepared to get something from there(cash up front) for me a i cannot seem to buy it at any retail shops. I have phoned around and Bookers do stock it(in a bulk box) but obviously because i do not have a card they will not sell it to me. Anyone?

 

[Aseros]

What is it you want to buy?

 

[Hyperion]

Kind of a side Xmas Present. Cannot find them to buy locally anywhere but never indoors enough to accept a delivery.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Do a once a year trip to stock up for xmas where in Brighton are you?

 

[Hyperion]

Do a once a year trip to stock up for xmas where in Brighton are you?

PM sent

 

[Gwm]

I will definitely be there before Xmas. I also live in the centre of town.

If your struggling give me a shout and I can sort it.

If your free today at 1pm I am passing I could meet you there.

Either way just give me a pm if you still need a hand.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

I never understood why places like this require a "business card" to purchase stuff. What's the reasoning behind this?

 

[Hyperion]

I will definitely be there before Xmas. I also live in the centre of town.

If your struggling give me a shout and I can sort it.

If your free today at 1pm I am passing I could meet you there.

Either way just give me a pm if you still need a hand.

Could prob meet you @13:30 but no car at the mo so could prob get to Lewes Road somewhere as not sure how to get there in time

 

[Garage_Doors]

I never understood why places like this require a "business card" to purchase stuff. What's the reasoning behind this?

Its for the trade only.

 

[Hyperion]

Its for the trade only.

Did you get my PM?

 

[Bozza]

Did you get my PM?

I intercepted it and deleted it. Send a better one.

 

[Hyperion]

I intercepted it and deleted it. Send a better one.

What?

 

[Bozza]

What?

Your PM was rubbish. Try harder.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

Its for the trade only.

Yeah but I'm asking why. Surely opening doors to both trades people and normal punters would increase revenue?

 

[kingcole]

If so, I am would like to ask if someone is prepared to get something from there(cash up front) for me a i cannot seem to buy it at any retail shops. I have phoned around and Bookers do stock it(in a bulk box) but obviously because i do not have a card they will not sell it to me. Anyone?

I just have Oxo and often cheat with Bisto

 

[Official Old Man]

Yeah but I'm asking why. Surely opening doors to both trades people and normal punters would increase revenue?

Here's how it works. A manufacturer (Let's say Heinz) make a product (let's say baked beans). A cash'n'carry (Bookers) buys said product by the pallet. They then sell by the case to a retailer (corner shop). They then sell to a customer (you) by the tin. But if you replace Bookers with supermarket (let's say Tesco), they buy by the pallet but then sell by the tin, thus cutting out bookers the middleman taking a cut in the profits. If the general public were allowed into bookers then the corner shop would close down. And in most cases with food Tesco is cheaper than Bookers.
Having said all of that, VAT comes into play as well. Most products (food exempt) have tax on top which a small shop can reclaim. A £20 case of wine becomes £24 at the cash desk.
But if you really must visit a cash n carry there is one in Southampton whose name I forget. They let anyone in who can come up with certain papers.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

Here's how it works. A manufacturer (Let's say Heinz) make a product (let's say baked beans). A cash'n'carry (Bookers) buys said product by the pallet. They then sell by the case to a retailer (corner shop). They then sell to a customer (you) by the tin. But if you replace Bookers with supermarket (let's say Tesco), they buy by the pallet but then sell by the tin, thus cutting out bookers the middleman taking a cut in the profits. If the general public were allowed into bookers then the corner shop would close down. And in most cases with food Tesco is cheaper than Bookers.
Having said all of that, VAT comes into play as well. Most products (food exempt) have tax on top which a small shop can reclaim. A £20 case of wine becomes £24 at the cash desk.
But if you really must visit a cash n carry there is one in Southampton whose name I forget. They let anyone in who can come up with certain papers.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. If I may I have a few questions:
1. You say "in most cases with food Tesco is cheaper than Bookers". So why would a corner shop owner not just buy stuff from Tesco and sell it on if it's cheaper than their current supplier (unless that's illegal).
2. Would opening Bookers to the public put corner shops out of business? The idea of a corner shop is the convenience and so they'd still be required... costco in America sounds a lot like Bookers and is open to the general public but they still have smaller shops in America.

I'm not grilling you I just can't understand why most (or all?) wholesalers in the UK aren't just "walk in and buy" like in America.

 

[tinx]

So you need to be a business to buy from there. Do you have to be a retail business or registered business. My wife is a Zumba instructor and has her own business, we have business cards etc and a website is this enough to get a bookers card? OR are they after something else or a type of business?

 

[AZ Gull]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. If I may I have a few questions:
1. You say "in most cases with food Tesco is cheaper than Bookers". So why would a corner shop owner not just buy stuff from Tesco and sell it on if it's cheaper than their current supplier (unless that's illegal).
2. Would opening Bookers to the public put corner shops out of business? The idea of a corner shop is the convenience and so they'd still be required... costco in America sounds a lot like Bookers and is open to the general public but they still have smaller shops in America.

I'm not grilling you I just can't understand why most (or all?) wholesalers in the UK aren't just "walk in and buy" like in America.

Costco requires you to be a member, which costs, I think, about $50 a year. I'm not a member and so I cannot just "walk in and buy" - I have to ask someone who has a membership to get it if there is something I wish to purchase from there.

 

[Springal]

So you need to be a business to buy from there. Do you have to be a retail business or registered business. My wife is a Zumba instructor and has her own business, we have business cards etc and a website is this enough to get a bookers card? OR are they after something else or a type of business?

It depends, but I imagine you're wife will be fine. Certainly at Costco self employed business/trades can get an account.