MARS Bulk Purchases

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11427055#post11427055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Brian Prestwood
To re-iterate my main point, I believe the board should put the needs of the membership first always.
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If the members want to support their LFS even if it costs them a few dollars, then I feel as though the board is obligated to listen to the wants and needs of its members. I have done a little research and if we as MARS did indeed bankroll group buys the shops that are our biggest supporters would be done with us. IMO not having them support us goes way beyond raffle donations and discounts (since many of us don't use the discount card anyways) I would be really saddened if when I went to the local stores they frowned at me for being a member of MARS. I want to get an idea of how others feel on the subject as well. Would the savings of group buys be worth the price of alienating the LFS? This is not a fallacious argument, I called and asked around. The stores would definitely discontinue their relationships with us. Is that something the members are o.k. with? I would like to hear from them on the issue.
 
I like group buys. I might be one of the few but thats where i stand!

Mainly Rust, magflake, dowflake and carbon. All the rest i dont care about
 
Group buy

Group buy

After reading through this thread, my "vote" would be Only Do Group Buys arranged with the LFS, This would give them greater
power on what they could order. The number of Interested Buyers would amount to "almost guaranteed' sales for them.
Other wise why would they order large quanity of an Item, & have it just sit on the shelf. Buyers would be picking up items at the LFS to get the possible discount instead of paying retail.

Hope to see all Members at the MARS XMAS meeting.
 
Re: Group buy

Re: Group buy

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11428079#post11428079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Quasarlee
After reading through this thread, my "vote" would be Only Do Group Buys arranged with the LFS, This would give them greater
power on what they could order. The number of Interested Buyers would amount to "almost guaranteed' sales for them.
Other wise why would they order large quanity of an Item, & have it just sit on the shelf. Buyers would be picking up items at the LFS to get the possible discount instead of paying retail.

Hope to see all Members at the MARS XMAS meeting.
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I agree. Let's keep MARS out of the finances and look for win-wins for club members and our local community. The club could facilitate communications with the LFS regarding interest of members for items if necessary, but payment should be handled by the LFS and buyer, either upfront or at pickup depending on the LFS preference.
 
I like to reiterate that the argument is not for or against group buys rather MARS backing it financially. Nobody is suggesting group buys will go away, but the question is if MARS should use its resources to put them on.

My position throughout this debate still remains the same as I am convinced this is in the best interest of the club: The LFS ARE important to our members, so preserving our reputation with them is very important. MARS also does not belong in the middle of buying/selling merchandise. We are not a store, nor should we be looking for ways to have our non-profit status reevaluated as a typical business. The current group buy method is not broken in my book, so why try to fix it?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11428445#post11428445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrMikeB
I like to reiterate that the argument is not for or against group buys rather MARS backing it financially. Nobody is suggesting group buys will go away, but the question is if MARS should use its resources to put them on.

The current group buy method is not broken in my book, so why try to fix it?
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Me too :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11427994#post11427994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kdblove_99
I like group buys. I might be one of the few but thats where i stand!

Mainly Rust, magflake, dowflake and carbon. All the rest i dont care about
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I like group buys too :) I just don't like MARS sponsoring them. I will be talking to the stores as far as getting group buys to go through them more often. I know for a fact that so far YR, CRS and Exotic would gladly be willing to facilitate these. They get a better price and some guaranteed sales while we get a better price.. It is a WIN WIN! This debate is over whether MARS should back group buys financially, not whether there should or should not be group buys.
 
I don't know about you guys, but when I'm shopping at my LFS I don't go around announcing that I'm a member of MARS. So, I don't see how my business with them reflects upon the club in any way. I go in, make my purchases, and move on; my purchases neither promote the club, or impact its perception as far as the LFS is concerned. But, I also know that many of you are much more involved with the local reef scene than me, so I'm sure that your experiences may differ.

My main point is that the club should base it decisions upon the concerns of its members rather than those of local retailers. Because often times those retailers may not even now who they are dealing with during a sale; MARS or not.

As far as the GB discussion goes, I guess I tend to agree with the LFS sponsored route, just because of the issues often encountered with wholesellers, and the logistics of placing and maintaining orders, as well as facilitating payment.

just one last question though, how are non-MARS sponsored group buys which are still promoted and orchestrated within the MARS forums any less detrimental to LFS business? Sponsored or not, isn't the perception and outcome the same?
 
Jon- I understand your side and appreciate the vigor. I see RC not as MARS as at any day RC could shut us down.

GB's go on here because it is the easiest place to meet. Many times when I order from places, I do call on some of my reefing buddies to see if they want to add in so we get the free shipping discount.

My understanding is that we are a non profit club and using the clubs funds to purchase or levy these group buys is not why the club was formed. It is out of respect for our resources that we are not using the club as a platform to compete with them. At least that is my perception of this matter after digesting the feedback for the members; that all.
 
I don't disagree Marko9, and like I said; I don't really have a problem with how the GB's have been handled thus far. I'm just trying to get a better handle on both sides of the argument so that I truly understand the issue, rather than rush to judgment. But as my fiscal footprint is probably rather minimal in relation to local purchases, maybe I'm not the best proponent of either side.

and I'm really not trying to over stir the pot with regard to this topic; I was just throwing my meager two cents in for consideration... This is actually one of the best discussions I've seen take place here in a long, long time...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11430271#post11430271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shiveley
This is actually one of the best discussions I've seen take place here in a long, long time...
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I know, its kind of nice. I guess its the holiday spirit and the eggnog. ;)
 
I also think that a GB though a LFS would be better than using club funds. The stores have a lot of stuff on the shelf that they can't or shouldn't sell. We could do good by influencing the decision to stock high quality goods that we are willing to pay for. Our collective experience has shown that some products will promote success(PE m.y.s.i.s., good test kits, ORA fish) and some won't (cheap skimmers, snake oil wonder treatments).
 
MARS NPO Status

MARS NPO Status

I've manage to read and process everthing here.

The tallest weed I see is...

As an NPO, MARS can accept donations. The donations are tax deductable for the individuals and corporations that donate to MARS. As such, the IRS wants to know we're spending their money for the greater good.

I don't think the greater good we listed in our charter eleven years ago would pass IRS muster today. Fortunately, many of our activities have been greater goods than those listed in our charter.

In short, Mike, you were right and I was wrong. I think we do have some IRS issues.

I think the solution is easy. Ensure that is obvious to the IRS that we are doing both community and global greater-good deeds.

On the flip side, the IRS doesn't want to see NPOs hiding taxable corporate activities. That is where the club's relationship with the LFSs comes in.

Let's take that issue up offline on the MARS forum...
MARS NPO Status
 
I went and replied.

I find that MARS site SO very unuser friendly. To be honest its just a pain and i never go there just for that reason.
 
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