Hello all!
I had a wonderful time last Saturday ( as usual) wonderful dogs and almost as wonderful people. (How can you beat perfection?)

Anyway, during one of my limited chances to actually have a long chat with someone....Marianne and I wondered out loud if it would be possible to form a "Lab CO-OP" to purchase our medications and supplies at a group discount.

I think we all use frontline, need ear care products,leashes and collars, and lab approved toys.
Take a look at PetEdge.com. Things like x-pens 25.00 vs 48.00 retail, collapsible crates 60 vs 90 retail, meds about half of the Vet prices.

I wonder if it would be worth to have a LandoLabs co-op?

Let me know your thoughts....I am including Mariannes research for you all also.. this might be workable as there are probably close to 100 labs associated with our group



libby 408-799-2687

ps
I think the 10 to 3 times work out perfectly!

From Marianne:
I keep
thinking about our conversation about the "lab co-op"
(purchasing medications as a group to get a better price). I'm
not sure whether its really feasible nor how much I could
contribute to making it happen... but I thought I could at
least start poking at the question.

We have a small business attached to photography (primarily my
husband's effort) and, through it, have a resale certificate.
With that, I was able to get an account on one online wholesale
pet supplier's web site to browse prices. Caveat #1: I have no
idea whether this site has particularly good prices. For items
I checked, they were better than Petsmart. For Frontline, I
have gotten it from http://www.entirelype... and that's
actually cheaper (!).

PW EP
Frontline Plus 45-88lb 3 pack 37.33 37.99
Frontline Plus 45-88lb 6 pack 79.82 74.99

As I can, I'll keep looking around for wholesale distributors
and see if I can find good prices. May also be worthwhile to
contact manufacturers directly but most would probably be leery
of the small account. I'll give it a shot as I can. While the
meds are a higher priority, I was thinking it might be
worthwhile pursuing some other items of common interest, too --
like toys. Some of the meds (like Heartguard) have funny rules
around ordering them. It might be better to "cut our teeth" on
something less critical. If that works, we try some meds. Their
prices on Horseman's Pride products (Jolly Balls) look to be
good. Below are some examples of what I found...

PW EP PS
8" Tug and Toss Ball 11.14 20.99 18.99
10" Tug and Toss Ball 16.04
6" Teaser Ball 6.79 9.99 9.99
8" Teaser Ball 9.34 9.99 9.99
8" Romp-N-Roll Ball 8.57 24.99 24.99
10" Romp-N-Roll Ball (?) 12.36
10" Push-N-Play 10.80 21.99
10" Jolly Ball-Flavors 16.80
Apple, Peppermint
Blueberry

PW = http://www.petwholesa... (the wholesaler I found)
EP = http://www.entirelype...
PS = http://www.petsmart.c...

Even if I don't find a cheaper place than above for the
Frontline, it sounds like many are buying from their vet. This
would be a substantial savings over that. By buying together
even as a "normal" retail customer, we can take advantage of
some web savviness. EntirelyPets, for example, frequently has
coupons. If we purchased the block of meds when they had a 10%
off coupon, that'd be a nice discount. They also have free
shipping on orders of $100 or more -- we'd easily make that
together. (Separately, we might buy "extra" items to get over
the $100 limit. I hate to admit it but I do it.) Also, I just
checked my last receipt with them -- no tax. Effectively this
is another discount -- no 9.25% additional.

(Just to have the complete picture, if we were to go with the
wholesaler above for Frontline, the product price is roughly
the same for 3-pack and more for 6-packs. BUT... they charge
shipping unless the order is over $3000. Yup. They charge
actual shipping - based on weight. Frontline is light so it
shouldn't be much. They wouldn't charge tax but, if this were
to run through my husband's business, we would have to since
its a sale of tangible goods in CA. So, unless we find it for
significantly cheaper at another wholesaler or directly from
FCE, Entirely Pets is the best bet so far.)

Here are a few of the other items I look up at the wholesaler
that I thought might be of interest to a group of lab owners.
Chosen somewhat at random :-)

PW EP PS
Kong Original Large 5.58 7.99 9.99
Chuckit Flying Squirrel Lg 6.79 10.99 13.99
Chuckit Ultra Ball 2 Pack 4.48 5.99 7.99
Chuckit Ball Launcher Jr 4.62 8.99 9.99
JW Pet Hol-ee Roller 8" 7.85 14.99

Let me know what you think...
Marianne & Hambone