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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay a joining fee?No. Access to our prices is provided completely free of charge. But do I keep all of the money saved?Yes. Neither ipa or the supplier will charge you at any stage for the implementation of our prices. All the money saved is yours to keep. So if I don't pay a fee, how does ipa earn an income?We have arrangements with suppliers based on agreed volume targets. If we reach these targets then we receive an income. As we generate new business for a supplier, they are happy to pay us a small percentage as income. Am I tied into a contract?No. We will not ask you to sign any contract or trading agreement. How do I order and pay for my goods?You will order your goods in exactly the same way as before, ordering from the supplier direct. Payment will also follow the same method, unless you choose to use our central billing service. The discounts are picked up by using a special account number which recognises the ipa terms. What is Central Billing?The Central Billing Service is designed to make your life simpler and easier when it comes to paying bills. It seeks to minimise your bank and other charges by making one monthly direct debit payment from all of your invoices. For further information click here How do I know I can't get better deals independently?Our client list contains approximately 7500 businesses and therefore, our prices are negotiated on the basis of this global volume. How does a price comparison work? What will I have to do?All we would need is a copy of your latest invoices that you want assessed. We can check these prices against ours quickly and accurately and show you the results in an easy to understand spreadsheet. Just how much money can I save by using ipa terms?Obviously this will depend on the prices you are currently paying and the suppliers you are currently using. However, as a rough guide, we estimate there is a typical saving of 16% on food, 25% on uniforms, 17% on disposables, 22% on catering equipment and similarly large savings in other key spend areas. The exact savings available to you can only be calculated after a price comparison is undertaken. Will I have to change suppliers?We have negotiated prices with a wide range of suppliers, some of which you may already be using. Normally, you can stay with your existing supplier and have the ipa terms. However, in some circumstances, a change of suppliers may be worthwhile if a significant saving is available to you. Will it be a hassle changing suppliers?It is part of our job to make sure it isn't. When undertaking a price comparison we will place the new product codes next to the new prices to make the transition as smooth as possible. If you have any concerns or problems, we will endeavour to sort these out quickly and efficiently. Am I restricted in my choice of suppliers?Not at all - you are free to use as many or as few of our nominated suppliers as you like. All members of ipa receive a supplier guide to help them make this decision. Will my delivery day(s) change?If the supplier is the same, the delivery day will not change. If a new supplier is sought, we can arrange a delivery day on your behalf that is convenient to you. Who do I go to if I have a problem?We can act as a third party between you and the suppliers. It is our job to make sure that the suppliers are giving you the best deal, in service as well as price. Do ipa suppliers meet all hygiene and quality standards?Yes. All of our food suppliers are expected to meet the strictest criteria for the safety, legality, quality and transportation of products required. These checks are carried out by our appointed food safety specialist CMi plc. For further information please call 01372 466 966, or to sign up for free membership click here |
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