Posted: Tue Apr 11, 06 4:07 pm Post subject: Alternative to SUMA?
Not sure if this is the right place for this but here goes....
I am trying to place an order with a co-operative such as SUMA to enable me to move away completely from supermarkets but it is proving to be a tad difficult. I've contacted SUMA who won't supply me as I'm within 10 miles of a health food shop that stock their products. However, this isn't any use to me - I want to buy in bulk with the financial rewards that this brings. Driving 9.7 miles to a shop to purchase my washing powder doesn't seem to make much sense...
Does anyone know of another company similar to Suma who I may have a little more luck with?
I've emailed Suma back telling them that a health food shop 9 odd miles away isn't much use for someone who wants to buy washing liquid in bulk, nor do I fancy carrying a 25kg sack of flour back to my car... Not sure what good it will do but hopefully they'll see my point of view - if not I guess rules are rules!
Just briefly in defence of Suma I can see their point in protection of and loyalty to their original customers who built them up, ie independent health food stores which are in themselves small, local businesses, often run by charmingly eccentric people.
On the other hand I am not certain how much of an impact allowing people to buy in bulk is really going to have on such shops; I know it has made a big dent in the amount I spend with Mssrs Tesco, Sainsbury and all their little branded demons, but if anything I would say I make more of an effort to go in to and try different products when I come across an independent shop - which is sadly quite rare. For example in Leicester last weekend I deliberately made my way across town to stop in at Currant Affairs because I realise now how many more interesting things these shops offer.
Absolutely, I can see what they're saying but it's not going to make any difference to the shop in question, I don't shop at it now, I doubt very much I'll shop at it in future (the parking is horrendous and it's in completely the opposite direction to the farm shop, butchers and dreaded supermarket I use) so they're losing out on my business, especially seeing as they would apparently supply me if I was a business and would put me in direct competition with the little health food shop! Hey ho! I'll see what they say in response to my email in the morning but if not, I appear to have few alternatives now (says she who hopes they'll come round to her way of thinking).
hedgewitch
Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 5834 Location: Daft wench GHQ
I think they can handle bulk ordering too, and it's free delivery over 30 quid, which is OK if you're buying in bulk.
SUMA are very protective of the whole/health food shops they supply. They were started by a "breakaway" branch of a whole food shop I used to work at - On the 8th Day in Manchester, ( https://www.eighth-day.co.uk) , and so have a legacy of strong links with their retail outlets.
Goodness direct are efficient but I don't think buying in bulk is any cheaper than their usual prices which negates most people's reason for buying in bulk i would have thought.
I do buy in bulk from them as I have to buy special gluten and dairy free stuff for my son and it saves on the delivery by buying lots at once.
Susan
hedgewitch
Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 5834 Location: Daft wench GHQ
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 06 8:12 pm Post subject:
Yep -- see your point on the buying in bulk to be cheaper.
I've used them for things I can't get easily, which saves me money as I don't have to do a special trip into the big city to stock up on things like Clearspring Japanese stuff, which is a saving for me on transport and time.
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