This one is really pretty simple, we don’t need Mirriam-Webster or other sources,

Group Buys are orders placed by a group of folks – either working with a retailer or working around them by going direct to the manufacturer/distributor or other source.

“It used to be” that there was some affinity among the groups. Group member might have been part of a business or social organization, a local craft guild. But generally speaking they KNEW each other and often as not, functioned in many ways cooperatively.

Now, all it takes it Internet access and 5 minutes to set up a group on one of the many online services that support “groups” and poof you are instantly able to organize group buys.

Some of these groups are well run and organized and businesslike in how they operate. Others are not.

Quite simply, they exist so must be considered as a potential competitor for those who really are in business.

Before you can “discuss” the pros & cons of either from any perspective, we need to establish some definitions.

According to the article at Encyclopaedia Brittanica On-Line domain and to quote from that articles’ comments on

>>> Consumer cooperatives, or co-ops, are retail outlets that are owned and operated by consumers for their mutual benefit. The first consumer cooperative store was established in Rochdale, Eng., in 1844, and most co-ops are modeled after the same, original principles. They are based on open consumer membership, equal voting among members, limited customer services, and shared profits among members in the form of rebates generally related to the amounts of their purchases. <<<

From those early days have evolved US "versions" like the Harvest Moon group in Boyleston Massachusetts or the legendary Ithaca System of Service Hours & Dollars are open to any individual or family that is interested in buying products in cooperation with other members.

Clearly the standard established in our country, These United States, is that true Co-Ops require the element which gives it its greatest legitimacy is that ALL members MUST contribute MORE than just Dollars.

So how does that differ from the groups, such as The Yahoo Group “yarncoop” recenterly renamed “yarnbuyers” or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YarnCo-op/ Quite simply, in each these case neither rises to the definition of Co-Op since only a tiny number of folks contribute anything but dollars – although all who participate “benefit”

So allow me to walk out on this limb (hoping there is no one behind me planning to use one of my favorite “home dec” tools,
the Milwaukee Sawzall And call a spade a spade. So far, about 99 out of 100 in the close to 700 hundred “Co-Ops” I have “visited” listed in Yahoo are really Group Buy groups.

Nothing to be ashamed of, just does not sound nearly as altruistic as true Co-Ops.

So let’s decide to call these 2000 groups and their probably many thousands of members what they really are – Group Buyers.

Over the last few years, I have frequently written and been quoted as saying, that Independent NeedleArts & Sewing Retailers can no longer just rely on the “cyclical nature of retail”

Today’s competition is different than it was in the 80′s and 90′s. Whether you are Brick & Mortar, Mail Order/Internet, a “retail show gypsy” – things have changed and while we should not discount all we have learned over the years, we also need to be thinking about what is different today.

For quite some time now, I have been researching Group Buying activities on the internet.

And recently decided to participate in one on a group that seemed to be among the most reliably run. It has been an interesting experience.

As part of that, a retailer wrote to me and asked ” are Co-Op our new competitors ”

My answer, for now, is “Maybe, but it depends”

The first thing we need to do is establish some sort of “definitions” and context.

Like art, it is not my job to “judge” whether a form of competition is valid or not. I may disagree with some of their methods, but being pretty much politically Liberatarian (not to be confused with Liberal) in my views, if that is how they choose to operate, then that is there choice. Long as thier activities do not infringe on the rights of others to choose, “fine”

From the perspective of “It Is All Just Business” my opinion is that it exists and so need to be understood and that understanding used to leverage your ability to compete.

And it is from that perspective that I will share more thoughts.

No I am not a Ham, but TheHenry, n2vak, has been a Ham for many many years (including before he got is letters).

Last Night he mentioned getting this in the news from CARA one of our local clubs, I knew I had to share it and find a good musical comment – The choice was easy.

So, with all due respect to Samuel B….
This just might be the end of the world as we know it

Here is an excerpt from the Press Release:

ARLB030: FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB030
ARLB030 FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes

ZCZC AG30
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 30 ARLB030
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT December 16, 2006
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB030
ARLB030 FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes

In an historic move, the FCC has acted to drop the Morse code
requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. The Commission
today adopted a Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 05-235. In a
break from typical practice, the FCC only issued a public notice at
or about the close of business and not the actual Report and Order,
so some details — including the effective date of the R&O — remain
uncertain.

Also today, the FCC also adopted an Order on Reconsideration, in WT…

To read the full AARL bulletin, click here.

The FCC public notice is located at,

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf

Great News For The Hobby – Spread The Word

Wheat

—–

…With membership in the United Automobile Workers union at its lowest level since World War II, the president of the U.A.W., Ron Gettelfinger, left open the possibility on Thursday of a merger with another union…

Go to Article from The Associated Press via The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/business/15uaw.html?dlbk

Musical Commentary? How About The Grateful Dead: Truckin’