parts and supplies purchases

[David Skolnik]

I don't mean to ridicule the question, but it brings up an interesting
observation, to me, at least.   I am trying to visualize another trade, say
auto mechanic, or plumber, or electrician, or appliance repair, that seems
to have so much discomfort with the concept of mark up, or which seems to
discuss it so openly (mark-up, not the discomfort).  This is  apart and
away from how this concept interfaces with the institution / employee
relationship.   In my expirience there were a few distributors who would
not sell direct to the institution in order to preserve the ability of the
installer to retain some flexibility in pricing, while still allowing a
reasonable mark-up.  Maybe we should discuss the ethical validity of
mark-ups.  

David Skolnik
Manhattan School Of Music
dskolnik@msmnyc.edu

At 08:27 AM 4/23/99 -0600, you wrote:
>I have been allocated $1500 to purchase some benches for our department.
>My question has to do with whether to have the department issue a purchase
>order to Jansen (or GRK), or to do the purchase on my own account and sell
>them to the department. This will apply to part supply houses when and if
>I manage to get a budget line. (I just recently converted from 1/4 time
>contract technician to 1/2 time staff, so up to now I have purchased and
>resold to the department).
>
>1) Do the various supply houses sell directly to institutions?
>2) At what price rate? Suggested retail? Our discount? Other?
>3) Any thoughts about the other considerations involved, such as conflict
>of interest. (It is a state institution, and subject to purchase
>regulations, but I am pretty aware of what those are, and have a good
>relationship with our accountant).
>
>Fred S. Sturm, RPT
>University of New Mexico
>