What is an Oil Buying Group? An Oil Buying Group is when a community or a group of people get together to negotiate and then place a bulk order for domestic heating oil with one supplier
What can an Oil Buying Group do for me? When lots of people get together we can negotiate the price down substantially. Community Buying unLimited has been negotiating with suppliers since mid 2009 and has developed the expertise to really know when suppliers have reached a genuinely low price. They can often sweet talk them into doing urgent deliveries at short notice. Even better – members do not suffer from the surcharge levied by suppliers on small (500-999 litres) deliveries which really helps those on limited incomes or with small tanks.
What can an Oil Buying Group do for my community? One big order means that only one or two tanker trips need to be made – therefore less CO2 is produced and there is less congestion and greater safety on our narrow roads and lanes.
What is the catch? There isn’t one unless you enjoy paying ‘top dollar’ for your heating oil or unless you like seeing the oil suppliers making enormous profits.
How can I order? You need to fill in a Membership Form together with an Order Form for each order and return these to local co-ordinator Bethan Waite at [email protected] or Holly Cross, Yoxall Road, Newborough, Staffordshire, DE13 8SU.
How will I be invoiced? You will receive your own invoice from the successful supplier and you pay them direct. We do ask that you pay promptly as this is one of the conditions of negotiating a good price. Increasingly suppliers will require payment upfront by debit card.
Why should I become a member? The more people who get together to buy oil the greater the negotiating power of the group. It helps shift power away from the supplier and back to the consumer. Community Buying unLimited started as a small group buying for 2 villages in rural Oxfordshire but now has members and affiliated groups all over the country (literally from the far north of Scotland to the far south west of Cornwall). This is because of the proven success of their negotiations.
How much do I have to order? The minimum order that the suppliers will do is 500 litres per delivery – their stipulation not ours. There is no maximum.
I have specific delivery requirements – can you cope? In most circumstances, yes, as long as we know about them. Long hoses, small tankers, locked gates etc are not a problem. We make sure that the supplier chosen for your delivery can accommodate whatever is required.