It is the Costco dilemma.
Yes, an item purchased in bulk
is usually substantially less expensive
per unit
than if it was bought separately
but do we really need
a two year supply of it?
I look at my monthly consumption
of the item.
I use a LOT of
white printer paper,
for example.
That might be a good item
to bulk buy.
I also look at how generic it is.
I give away
a lot of stickers
featuring my romance novel covers
every month
but I change the design
of those stickers often
so different covers are featured.
Bulk buying a year’s worth
of stickers
would be a waste of funds.
I look at the storage space needed.
I use a lot of white printer paper
and it IS generic
but that paper is bulky
and it has to be stored
in a dry place.
I look at
the use by date.
If it perishes quickly
and I don’t use it quickly,
it isn’t a good candidate
for a bulk buy.
I look at
sharing potential.
Does another business
want to split
the bulk buy?
An item bought in bulk
is only a great deal
if we use it.
Evaluate bulk purchases
before making them.