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Whitehouse
Joined: 14 May 2008
Posts: 28
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The ball is rolling and its gathering momentum !!
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:19pm
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Hello and welcome to the Buying Group link on Grampian Life.
Thanks to the Press and Journal for running a feature on our initiative (Co-operative plan to bulk buy heating oil at a discount 02/08/2008) and I hope that you have found us easily enough.
To make the process of registering interest easier we have created a simple online form to gather the required information in a simpler way than posting here.
Please click the link below if you would like to register your interest:
Expression of interest
**UPDATE** Over HALF A MILLION litres of Oil! We have issued a press release this week to boost our regional uptake. Please keep trying to get your relatives, neighbours and friends to sign up now. To see how well your postcode area is doing, go to the bottom of this post and click on the graphs.
P.S. If you want to register for someone who is not on the web then add their name/s and these details in a message on the Contact page.
+ the postal code (the first part)
+ type of fuel used (oil or LPG)
+ quantity (estimated annual usage in litres)
+ type of house
So why do I need to join a Buying Group?
A Buying Group is a large number of people who wish to purchase the same commodity and would like to use their combined purchasing power to secure generous discounts.
This year we are seeing the price of everything rising not least of which is the cost to provide the most basic of our needs - warmth.
For perhaps the first time the consequence of what this means is that this winter the elderly, low wage families and the disadvantaged will have to ask themselves "Is it Heat or Eat?"
For those in our community who earn reasonable wages the truth is that up to 20% of your disposable income will now be going towards heating your home - so what are you going to have to sacrifice this year? The new car, the second holiday, school fees, the extension etc.
| Quote: |
What is fuel poverty?
Fuel poverty is the inability to afford adequate warmth in the home, usually defined as having to spend 10% or more of income to meet recognized heating standards. Fuel poverty is caused by a combination of 3 factors: poor energy efficiency of the dwelling; low disposable household income and the high price of domestic fuel. Of these, the first is a matter devolved to the Scottish Parliament; the other two are matters reserved to the UK Government
Fuel poverty statistics
The Scottish House Condition Survey Key Findings for 2004/5 report found that 419,000 households (18.2%) in Scotland live in fuel poverty. However, Communities Scotland also calculated that for every 5% increase in fuel price, a further 30,000 households would become fuel poor. Since 2003 there have been steep price rises for gas, electricity, coal and oil, bringing the actual figure for the number of Scottish households in fuel poverty in 2007 to around 650,000. |
I firmly believe that we will see the price of oil hit $200 a barrel within the next few years so the price we all pay for its derivatives such as heating oil or by products such as LPG and petrol will continue to increase steadily.
I also have great faith in the fact that most suppliers will offer good discounts for a guarantee of steady revenue - so what are we trying to do?
Some questions you may have.
Is this some clever way to make you money? - The Buying Group when formed will be a strictly non profit organisation or fully invested co-operative. The idea is to save money for the membership.
Can we buy fuel right now? - No. The idea of this Buying Group is in its very earliest stages and we need to find out from interested members like yourself how large the demand is first.
How is the Buying Group going to be set up? - There are 6 steps we must go through to set this up.
1) Raise awareness and generate interest - gather basic information
2) Perform market analysis based upon item 1
3) Decide and Create membership communication strategy
4) Develop Legal and Financial models
5) Develop constitution, membership rules and formally incorporate the Buying Group
6) Complete membership sign up and begin trading.
Can I help in any way? - As you can see we are at step 1 and at this stage you can encourage any of your friends and neighbours to demonstrate thier interest by registering here. This enterprise will only work if we reach a critical mass of members who are interested in saving some real money. The other way that you can help is if you are from the following disciplines and are willing to give some of your time/advice for free; Accountants, Lawyers, Tax Specialists, Tanker Drivers, eCommerce Web Developers or a socially sympathetic Oil Baron.
How long will it be before we can buy fuel? - If there is enough interest then I would hope that the Buying Group would be operating before this Winter sets in.
When will we know if we have enough interest? - I hope that within the next 4 to 6 weeks to have gathered the info from expressions of interest enough to be able to sharpen my pencil on some of the figures contained within the spreadsheet attached below. I would also hope that by that time we will have a better understanding of the legal and taxation structures of the Buying Group. At this point we will contact all interested parties by email showing the fully detailed results.
I have heard that the tax is going to wipe out any savings that we make? - To this date I have not read anything that makes me think this. The idea is not to carry profit or if there is some profit it will be so small that the tax burden is minimal. When we reach step 4 we will know these answers in detail.
What kind of savings are we talking about? - So far I have seen indications that Buying Groups can obtain up to 17% savings on purchases however I would hope to see a more modest 10% in our first year. Please look at the spreadsheet attached to see my initial workings on costs and possible savings.
I am sure that you will have many more questions and this is what this forum is for so keep posting and I will do my utmost to answer them all.
If we can get between 500 to 2000 households interested in our first year then I firmly believe that we can stand up to the market forces that are making massive profits at our expense.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope that with a little faith, a modicum of patience and a determination to make this work you will see the direct benefits this Winter in your fuel bills.
Whitehouse.
_________________
"Some day son, all of this will be yours......."
"What - the curtains?"
Last edited by Whitehouse on Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:48am; edited 24 times in total |
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ray3644
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Heating oil
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:42am
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1) AB51
2) Oil
3) 3000 litres
4) Traditional build |
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spottie
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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oil
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:10am
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ab33
oil
1500
new build but traditional built |
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Richard
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:45am
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1) AB33
2) Oil
3) 2000 Liters
4) New Build |
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Alistair
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:07am
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AB36
Heating Oil
£ 3000
Traditional detached.
I wish your efforts every success |
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MarkEmsea
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:54am
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1) AB52
2) Oil
3) 1000 litres
4) New Build
Great idea and good luck with your project. |
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alex
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:00am
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AB23
Oil
2000 Litres
Detatched |
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mainsofauchindachy
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:07am
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1. AB55
2. Oil
3. 6,000 litres
4. traditional house ( farmhouse ) |
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bobhossack
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:09am
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AB15
Heating Oil
1000 litres
Traditional Semi Detached |
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Balbithan
Joined: 02 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
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Energy Buying Group
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:41am
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AB51
Oil
8500
bungalow 1985
Excellent idea |
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