New Group Buy??

[dgatwood]

OK PM me with your mailing address, and I will send you a catalog.

Don't know if either of you have a scanner, but if not, I would volunteer to scan the catalog into a series of images and either email the images to MichaelJoly to email to folks or put them in a password-protected directory on one of my web servers for you to point folks to privately, at your option. Might make things easier if people could see the actual catalog photos.

 

[crazydoc]

Michael

Thanks for stepping up. I for one appreciate anyone who goes to so much trouble for the rest of us. If there's anything I can do, let me know. I don't have much to offer, and I'm in the middle of site prep and delivery on a manufactured home, plus day job, but I can spare some time if any needed.

 

[OhSh1rt]

I'm very interested and actualy have some money saved up.



-jeffrey

 

[MichaelJoly]

I would volunteer to scan the catalog into a series of images and either email the images to MichaelJoly to email to folks or put them in a password-protected directory on one of my web servers for you to point folks to privately, at your option.

Thanks for the offer dgatwood. Chance, do you think this would meet the vendor's requirements for privacy? If so, I'd prefer to reference the password protected pages on an external server.

Btw - I have 2006 Catalogue (No. 2) - no need to send to me, perhaps to dgatwood though.

While there are a few choice models that previous group buys have focused on, there are 30 catalog pages of mics and parts that group buyer's may want to see. Many are just cosmetic variations. Though I would imagine the best prices would come from focusing purchasing volume on a few models. Chance - could you comment on whether you think it is advisable to focus on fewer choice models?

re: Inquiries and Ordering - its a bit early for this topic but just a heads up to get you all thinking along these lines...I want to automate this as much as possible. Potential buyers will send an email to an address I specify and will include a specific phrase in the subject line to trigger a rule-based response from my MS Outlook. (email with URL and password of catalog pages for example)

Ordering will be in a very specific format, probably comma-deliminated or whatever is compatible with my database program. I want to build the customer database for Chance by quickly copying and importing comma-deliminated data. No "I'm in for two and I can pay" stuff - as much as I love the wave of nostalgia that comes over me when I hear it.

Payment will be via PayPal - secure, convenient and there's a record of the transaction. I will not handle personal checks, money orders or credit card payments. Do yourself a favor if you don't have a PayPal account and get one.

Product selection - I will not provide interpretations of cataloge specs or purchase advice as it would be beyond my capability to provide individual consultative attention. This is where some DIY research comes in on the buyer's part.

 

[David Artis]

Product selection - I will not provide interpretations of cataloge specs or purchase advice as it would be beyond my capability to provide individual consultative attention. This is where some DIY research comes in on the buyer's part.

I have several friends that are chinese and read and write several dialects of chinese. I could have them take a look at the catalog and see if they could write in english selected items in the catlog.

I am also interested in a group buy.

 

[MichaelJoly]

oh, the catalogue is published in English but thanks for the offer. I meant I'm not available to comment on the technical specs published in English in the catalog.

 

[mshilarious]

re: Inquiries and Ordering - its a bit early for this topic but just a heads up to get you all thinking along these lines...I want to automate this as much as possible. Potential buyers will send an email to an address I specify and will include a specific phrase in the subject line to trigger a rule-based response from my MS Outlook. (email with URL and password of catalog pages for example)

If you are using Paypal, they offer a button-creation tool that would give you html for a series of buttons (one for each mic) that would automatically require the buyer to provide their address and payment via Paypal for the correct amount. Paypal also provides functionality to download transaction data, although I haven't used that feature in a couple of years, so I don't remember the specifics.

You might find it easier to get buyers to comply with your requirements by clicking on a button than getting a comma-delimited format correct.

 

[SMC Productions]

If you are using Paypal, they offer a button-creation tool that would give you html for a series of buttons (one for each mic) that would automatically require the buyer to provide their address and payment via Paypal for the correct amount. Paypal also provides functionality to download transaction data, although I haven't used that feature in a couple of years, so I don't remember the specifics.

You might find it easier to get buyers to comply with your requirements by clicking on a button than getting a comma-delimited format correct.

EXCELLENT idea!

 

[MichaelJoly]

Agreed, great idea. I just tried the process and now know how to generate "Buy it now" buttons and export data to Chance from my PaPal account.
.
<edit of earlier post> Just read the PayPal FAQ, doh, and found out how to create checkout pages with a Quantity input field for each item. So a customer could order, for example, 4 units of mic model A very easilly. Then just repeat the process (click on a "buy model #xyz link" ) to order other mic models.

PayPal's "buy it now" button solution appears to offer potentially more accurate transaction records and ease of ordering than the hand-generated comma-delinated idea I first proposed. Thanks for the tip mshilarious.

 

[Gilliland]

Thanks for jumping in to help lead this, Michael.

Chance and Michael, as you get this process started, be sure to notify the participants in the last purchase. I'd certainly want to participate again, and I'm sure that many others would as well. Thanks.

It would probably be a good idea to take the discussion to a more private place - perhaps a mailing list (or Yahoo Group) could be established for this discussion so it wouldn't be quite so public.

 

[SMC Productions]

It would probably be a good idea to take the discussion to a more private place - perhaps a mailing list (or Yahoo Group) could be established for this discussion so it wouldn't be quite so public.

ANOTHER, excellent idea, and I will volunteer to start it, and admin it, for my participation in this worthy project. I already admin and own approx 30 groups at Yahoo alone, and another 200 in membership, so I'm fairly familiar with it's operation.
All I need are the participants emails!

 

[MichaelJoly]

Cool. Sounds good.

So Gilliland & SMC are suggesting that once a brief notice is posted to various public forums about "a potential group buy getting organized" all discussion would be directed to the private Yahoo! Groups space.

SMC - it would be cool if you could sort of function as quasi-moderator on the new Yahoo! groups space to keep discussion on track. Gently discourage the inevitable group pre-amp buy thread that rears its head and clogs the main issue - which mics to focus on and buy.

In his first post Chance suggested the organizer be a member of a forum(s), I'm assuming he suggested this for two reasons - first, to have someone known to the community and second, to be able to mention the group buy on the forum(s) they're known on.

When the time is right, I will post to the Tape Op Message Board where I'm known and the message would be welcome.

HomeRec is obviously covered here, so how 'bout some folks step forward to post to Gearslutz, mojopie, studio forums, rec.audio.pro, 3Daudio, etc. I might suggest the tone of the message be more informational and less commercial to avoid the wrath of those who bring out the flame throwers at the faintest whiff of a commercial posting. Perhaps something like the text below in your own words....

"hey, just heard of a Yahoo! groups space where people are discusing getting together to make a group buy of mics at really great prices. Go here... to learn more"

 

[mattvon]

I'd be very interested in picking up a few mics...

 

[giraffe]

thank you michael and chance, please keep me posted.

 

[SMC Productions]

SMC - it would be cool if you could sort of function as quasi-moderator on the new Yahoo! groups space to keep discussion on track. Gently discourage the inevitable group pre-amp buy thread that rears its head and clogs the main issue - which mics to focus on and buy.

NO problem...I'm used to doing that ALL the time!

 

[SMC Productions]

It would probably be a good idea to take the discussion to a more private place - perhaps a mailing list (or Yahoo Group) could be established for this discussion so it wouldn't be quite so public.

I'll go ahead and get this part started.

Any ideas on the BEST name of the group?

Something VERy specific, or a bit more general for 'future' use?

Ideas, suggestions?

 

[chance]

Another forum that made the largest purchase was in the PSW (whatever works forum)

 

[hungovermorning]

I'll go ahead and get this part started.

Any ideas on the BEST name of the group?

Something VERy specific, or a bit more general for 'future' use?

Ideas, suggestions?

The Great Microphone Import

 

[Innovations]

I would be willing to help some as well, since I am in the LA Basin I could help with some of the local logistics, such as getting the stuff from the docks, packaging, and so forth.

 

[SMC Productions]

Mailing List is set up and running.
I have already several members that have sent their emails. Any additions please email me, or better yet, just use this link!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Great_Microphone_Import/