IDEA: What are the optional volume discounts when buying supplies? Compare your options.

How much can be saved with volume discounts from your vendors? Instead of ordering once per month, twice as much every two months? Ask your vendor and if not him, a competitor of his. This can be said for nearly everything you buy except for perishable items, fashion items that fall out of favor with the market, trends that come and go and items that do not have strong demand. Line up the largest cost items and get comparison bids at various volume levels. Consider having the supplier keep the surplus versus taking it all at once.