Dot Comment

'First' Internet cooperative launched

ATLANTA, GA — SmartBuyOut.com is introducing what it calls the “first” Internet cooperative for the hvacr industry. The Web site is bringing the optimizing power of the Internet to the hvacr trade, providing benefits to manufacturers and contractors.

According to the company, the decentralized nature of the hvacr industry precludes the typical contractor from improving its buying power just by implementing an Internet strategy.

SmartBuyOut.com recognizes the need for improved contractor purchasing power and has created a Web site that allows multiple contractors to consolidate similar bills of material to improve their overall purchasing power.

In addition, by creating these economies of scale, suppliers can concentrate their bidding decisions on larger potential purchases.

The Web site allows contractors and suppliers to coordinate bid deviations and special considerations for each project. Contractors have the ability to define, in dollars, a preference amount for specific suppliers.