Today's Tips

Watch Out For Tricky Pricing - 04/04/2016
It is difficult to properly evaluate the true cost of a product. The first thing that buyers look at is the list price. They start from there hoping to negotiate a discount or reduced price before an order is placed. But the final agreed upon price c...

How To Make Multiple Tasks Easier - 03/01/2016
Here are some suggestions if you need to do many things and feel pressured and overwhelmed to get them all done on time. First, make a list of all the projects or chores that you need to get done. Include those that you would like to do but never see...

Knowing When To Get The Job Done - 01/01/2016
As a buyer, you may tell a supplier when you want your purchase delivered or you may first ask when the supplier is able to deliver before you negotiate a delivery date. Usually your request is based on what a user of the product or service wants or ...

Establish A Good Relationship With Users - 11/01/2015
Buyers can help themselves and their organization by establishing a good relationship with users of products and with engineers who specify products. Often the buyer is able to visit suppliers, attend trade shows, and talk to salespeople to gather pr...

Make Offers To Negotiate Better Deals - 09/01/2015
The secret of successful negotiating is finding out what the other side really wants. In fact, they may not even realize what they want until you make them aware of it. Take an obvious example: a buyer may assume that salespeople really want a certai...

Don't Be Misled By Maxims - 07/13/2015
Concentrate on the big items. Look at the big picture. Pay attention to the details. An empty desk top indicates an empty mind or a cluttered desk top indicates a cluttered mind. Always put it in writing. All of these frequently stated maxims can ...

Schedule MRO Requisitions - 06/01/2015
Accepting routine requisitions any time day or night is disruptive to work and inefficient. Notify all your requisitioners that routine requirements should be submitted once a week except for emergency needs. This will not eliminate all MRO requests,...

Control Shipping Charges to Save $$$ - 05/01/2015
Paying close attention to transportation or freight costs is often neglected, especially inbound freight costs. It is unfortunate because there can be significant savings obtained by using your buying knowledge and negotiating skills. It is diffic...

Business Cards Are A Must - 04/01/2015
In spite of the present electronic world, the use of business cards is not out of style. An article in the March 14th issue of The Economist discussed the widespread use of the cards. The article mentioned the almost ceremonial presentation of busine...

Help Solve Your Organization's Problems - 03/01/2015
There are four types of employees. One type constantly complains and finds fault with almost everything. Another type thinks everything is fine just the way it is. The third type believes almost everything is wrong but never complains and just goes a...

How to Achieve Your Objectives - 2015 - 01/01/2015
By the time you receive this publication you should have already made your budget and established your objectives for the year ahead. If not, you certainly do it now whether or not it is mandated by your boss. Establishing both personal and job objec...

Look At The Real Cost To Your Firm - 11/01/2014
People view cost in various ways. Consumers usually pay more attention to price than the actual cost that they really incur. For example, they may drive their car a number of miles to buy gasoline for a few cents a gallon cheaper. They overlook the a...

Schedule and Monitor Action Steps - 10/01/2014
Many of us tend to procrastinate. It doesn’t cause too much difficulty, except when it is important to eliminate a problem, improve an operation, or get things done on time. It is very helpful to schedule action steps to make life easier and el...

Check Supplier Payment Amounts - 09/01/2014
A good buyer will obtain the best payment terms he or she can that meet the organization’s needs. For example, as long as a firm has sufficient cash, or can obtain it through loans or financing, it is wise to negotiate discounts for early pa...

Achieve More By Being Likeable - 06/01/2014
Everyone has problems from time to time. It is therefore difficult to always be cheerful or positive, but it is worth the effort to try and be pleasant and upbeat as often as you can, especially with suppliers and other business people. Even though...

Join The Team For Success - 01/01/2014
Each organization has its own culture. Your best chance for success in any organization is to fit into that culture. For example, if the key people are most interested in college basketball, then it will help if you too show an interest in that spo...

It May Be Time To Polish Your Agreements - 11/01/2013
When you buy, try to make sure that the price you are quoted and agree to is firm unless you want to provide for documented proof for escalation. In some cases you may want to allow a supplier to use the prices paid for material when purchased, per...

Negotiate a Partnership With Your Supplier - 10/01/2013
Get out of the rut. Initiate a partnership agreement with your best suppliers to improve the suppliers’ sales results while at the same time improving your purchasing performance. It isn’t easy to negotiate such an agreement. It takes a major e...

Maintain Control of Variable Cost Pricing - 08/01/2013
Buyers have little trouble maintaining control of prices established for tangible products. Most of the time they are fixed by agreement and documented by purchase orders or signed formal contracts. That is usually the way it works for spot buys or...

How To Dispose Of Surplus Or Obsolete Inventory - 08/01/2013
Buyers or purchasing managers are sometimes given the assignment of disposing of surplus or obsolete inventory. This is not always an easy task, especially if the goods are worn or in bad condition. If the material is like new and recently purchas...