Thursday, September 17, 2009
Requisitions
As I plug along creating the Technology curriculum I am constantly on the lookout for the best vendor with the best price. As a one man department I am the guy that sends the requisitions on over to the business office. I have encountered suppliers that do not take purchase orders. I have had to pay more for products in these cases because I was unable to do business with the cheapest supplier. Does anyone know a way to get around this problem. I can't blame suppliers for doing this. I for one would not let any product leave the door without first being payed for. So does anyone think that the purchase order system as schools use it should be changed. If the day ever comes that I can have a debit card hooked up to my budget would be the greatest day ever. So this week I have two questions that I am fighting with. Does anyone know a way to get supplies from companies that do not use purchase orders? (without using my own money) Should the schools change the purchasing system or should the suppliers change?
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I am also a one person department. I go through the whole ordering process trying to squeeze every penny out of my budget. One way I have found I can save money is to use a local or kind of local supplier; one where I can easily pick up an order or one who will deliver personally. Saves on shipping. My district also has charge accounts with Lowes, Walmart, and Staples. I pick up the PO and the card and go make the purchases. I know this is more donated time but I get the supplies I need and have a little capability to comparison shop for things like batteries or safety supplies. Have you approached the business office about setting up a temporary charge account at your suppliers who won't take purchase orders? This can work as the school can set the dollar limit for purchases and the company gets its money at shipping time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if this is an option either, but my district has a credit card they use on a regular basis. More often than not, as you said, places don't do PO's. I typically find supplies I need online and then send a link to the business office in an email along with the item numbers I need. It's saved us time and money ordering things online. I don't have to use my own gas to drive anywhere and the office doesn't have to burden themselves with more paperwork that a PO creates. Sometimes, I buy things myself and get reimbursed, but I have not used a PO in 11 years of teaching at the current district and they have never said it's not a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to come across a business that would not accept a Purchase Order. I believe that it is a hassle for businesses to conduct exchanges with POs, but moving from the corporate world to educational world, I have never seen someone make you pay for their products or services if it is a B2B transaction up front. I request items all the time from places like Office Depot, Home Depot, Pitsco, and other catalog companies and they always accept POs. My county has a business account set up with Office Depot and we are able to buy supplies at AMAZING prices. I probably have saved over $200 ordering from their wholesale business site on drafting paper, project materials, and office supplies. I also, in fact, just ordered some silicone wristbands with a brand new company on a PO and they were absolutely fine with it. Sometimes you may not be able to secure things from the community around you, but I have found a lot of businesses online willing to conduct transactions with school systems. Good luck with your search, I hope this helps.
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