Hi CL/BL,
I think it's too easy to apply/submit for BP. These are my suggestions.
To Bulk Purchase:
- Minimum 1 year of "membership" before one can organize a BP.
- BP organizers can still continue to pay the fee first (subject to approval/refund) if it's easier at your end to refund than to assess the BP's eligibility.
- BP organizers to submit their cost prices and selling prices (an estimate/range), to list ALL products to sell, to show the product pictures for your approval (avoid the rampant increase of counterfeits selling on SMH and irresponsible sellers), additional items cannot be added after BP has begun, to state the origin of goods, and MOQ if any.
- Increase the posting fee for BP. I would think that $50 is reasonable for a 7-day BP. A flea market stall for 1 day costs that amount anyway, and the sales is definitely less than a BP.
- As it's difficult/impossible to gauge if a BP has indeed been successful, I would recommend that the $50 is non-refundable. Or perhaps only part of it eg $20 is refundable. (I've read some people commented before than if the BP is not successful this week, the organizer can still get the refund and post again next week. That makes it $25 for 2 weeks. If it goes on continuously, it could be as long as 1 month... Worse still, the BP might have been on-going from the 1st week because buyers/sellers have been contacting via emails which you will not have control over.)
- Although I do not support counterfeits, I believe that many parents do not mind buying imitation clothes for their children because children outgrow their clothes so quickly. Hence, I would suggest that children clothings (eg Gap, Carters, Polo Ralph etc) are approved to your discretion. All other counterfeits items for adults such as clothings, accessories, bags etc (eg. Tiffany, Gucci, Lacoste, Polo Ralph...etc etc) are not allowed. TOO MANY imitation "Polo Ralph Lauren" & "Lacoste" selling rampantly on SMH is reflecting badly on the community here.
- If the BP (repeat) sellers wanted to, they could still contact their previous customers via email/cellphones for such products. After all, SMH had already given them a source for their huge clientele list.
Others:
- Registration at SMH to request for NRIC and address so as to avoid members having multiple accounts. Repeated NRICs used are not allowed. (Of course, they could still used their families' NRICs if they really want to)
- Registration at SMH to request for a credit card number (it only serves as a form of security) as in Yahoo Auctions. However, no amounts will be charged. (Of course, many people also hold multiple credit cards now)
- Registration strictly to mothers, fathers, mothers-to-be, fathers-to-be ONLY (if this is feasible at all)
- Existing members to re-register and input the info, so it does not affect those who already have their "priority status".
