11 replies to this topic

[Joethemailman]

Always on the lookout for low cost candy and nuts. I am finding due to increase in gas and sugar prices running a small route you can do better buying from discount stores like Sams Club, Costco even the dollar stores because you pay no shipping. I am now expanding and have begun to contact the manufacturers direct to lower my costs but need to buy in quantity. Ebay price looks good then shipping eats up your margin. I would like other fellow vendors to add their input in this manner. One solution I thought of is for us to organize and get the buying power by forming an association and splitting our orders. What do you guys think?

[Bry]

Always on the lookout for low cost candy and nuts. I am finding due to increase in gas and sugar prices running a small route you can do better buying from discount stores like Sams Club, Costco even the dollar stores because you pay no shipping. I am now expanding and have begun to contact the manufacturers direct to lower my costs but need to buy in quantity. Ebay price looks good then shipping eats up your margin. I would like other fellow vendors to add their input in this manner. One solution I thought of is for us to organize and get the buying power by forming an association and splitting our orders. What do you guys think?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Where are you located?? Really good idea but we would all have to liv efairly close otherwise you are back to the shipping thing again!!

[Joethemailman]

Where are you located?? Really good idea but we would all have to liv efairly close otherwise you are back to the shipping thing again!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Joethemailman]

Youre thinking Bry! I live on west coast of florida and so far haxe not found major distribution center for bulk vending supplies. Just had candy and nut broker contact me from Lakeland, fl. Again every time someone touches the product you have to add costs shipping or cut the product down as I have found with one internet b ased candy distributor. We organize crunch the numbers and split the shipping via the manufacturer. They are in the business of selling candy and this may be a new marketing approach tapping into a new market for them. The consequence here is that we dont get this they dont sell more, we go to discount stores,etc.Need yor feedback!

[caserri]

How did this turn out? Seems like a good idea! I'd like to do the same with machines as well.

[antonio]

I AM OPENING AN ACcOUNT WITH A food distributor that will beat all of sams club prices.will let you know how it goes.btw no shipping cost as they come in on a semi with many other stops

[showme vending]

I AM OPENING AN ACcOUNT WITH A food distributor that will beat all of sams club prices.will let you know how it goes.btw no shipping cost as they come in on a semi with many other stops

I would like to hear how this turns out. Sams club has the best prices I have seen so far so anything better than them would be a welcome addition. Please let us know how it turns out.

[showme vending]

bump for answers.

[pandapotlovebug]

Always on the lookout for low cost candy and nuts. I am finding due to increase in gas and sugar prices running a small route you can do better buying from discount stores like Sams Club, Costco even the dollar stores because you pay no shipping. I am now expanding and have begun to contact the manufacturers direct to lower my costs but need to buy in quantity. Ebay price looks good then shipping eats up your margin. I would like other fellow vendors to add their input in this manner. One solution I thought of is for us to organize and get the buying power by forming an association and splitting our orders. What do you guys think?

I live in San Francisco and am always looking to find a better price and selection as well. In the meantime I go to Smart & Final. No shipping or member ship cost.

[antonio]

I have a sams club membership anyways so the membership cost doesn`t bother me. I manage a restaurant and am gonna use one of it`s supliers.I wish I woulda opened the account befor I got the route started because I`ve really used my sams membership this year.
as far as pricing goes he says he will match sams at minimum.how much do you guys think he should charge me by the pound since I will be buying 30lbs or so of each candy?

[candyman007]

I have a sams club membership anyways so the membership cost doesn`t bother me. I manage a restaurant and am gonna use one of it`s supliers.I wish I woulda opened the account befor I got the route started because I`ve really used my sams membership this year.
as far as pricing goes he says he will match sams at minimum.how much do you guys think he should charge me by the pound since I will be buying 30lbs or so of each candy?

Not sure Antonio. Just calculate the bulk price of your candy per pound and make sure you are paying less with the distributor. I'm not really sure the prices will be much lower for brand name products.

Rob

[antonio]

my rep says theres some playing room as the profit margin is huge.then I`ll tell him I`ll order 3 case min everytime and negotiate from there.
i`M GOING TO CALL HIM TOMORROW AND SEE WHATS GOING ON.WILL (whoops)keep you all posted.I did buy a case of runts from miejers for 54$.I also bought about 15-20 lbs of hot tomale for 8$ because there was mike and ikes mixed in them.I got lucky ON THAT TRIP!