While shoppers have been actively engaging in getting the best deals as they cart up for the Chinese New Year, something “larger” was trending online, literally. It was the frenzied activities of Group Buy communities ordering in bulk massive amounts of bak kwa, pineapple tarts, and abalones.
Group Buys are community-led shopping experiences that are supposed to involve your friends, neighbours, and relatives. These “under the radar” communities have thousands of participants on their social messaging app groups and they order from retailers goods in bulk.
Group Buy entities that are created from the ground up/local communities include Group Buys Sg which has over 10,300 Instagram followers and more than 6,200 subscribers on Telegram. Meanwhile, Sengkang Group Buy has over 9,290 followers on Instagram and more than 4 WhatsApp group chats. Just from the name itself, you can tell that it is a Group Buy community created for residents of that area.
Some of these Group Buy communities were formed around the same period: During the Covid-19 Circuit Breaker in 2020 when people were homebound and it was harder to purchase items from retail shops. Gradually, as Singapore got used to living with the pandemic, the concept of Group Buys did not fade out as it was offering carton deals and lower-than-retail prices for items that are often seasonal.
The latest Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike and inflationary pressures have also made Group Buys an option people consider, as more searched for deals to get a bang for their buck.
Read Also: Why I Plan To Give Out “Not So New” Notes For Chinese New Year Red Packet Gifting
How Do Group Buys Work?
Group Buying is a major commerce player in China. Also known as 团购, or team buying, buyers come together to buy a product in bulk to earn bulk discounts or lower delivery fees.
People who live close to each other have a real reason to get together for Group Buys. This is because they can share the load on delivery as well as set a designated pick-up location to collect the items.
In Singapore, there are community leaders/hosts who organise Group Buy purchases and these people consolidate the orders of the group. Depending on the Group Buy platform, there may be additional charges like delivery fees or commission fees on top of the items.
Orders are usually taken via a closed group where members follow the instructions of the host from the order deadline to the payment date and delivery details. The host of the group will also be in charge of the delivery and collection process.
Group Buy Deals On Abalone, Bak Kwa, CNY Snacks, and Durian
We checked out over 6 Group Buy communities to find out if there are real savings in participating in them. They are Group Buys Sg, Pickupp, Qoo10, Sengkang Group Buy, Punggol Eats and SG Mummies Group Buy.
The checks reveal that the Group Buy bulk orders can really provide significant savings (of up to 33%) for items. However, some group orders for popular products like bak kwas do not provide discounts but offer other benefits, like the convenience to order the items virtually and that one doesn’t need to head down physically and queue to get the goods.
Seasonal items tend to be the more popular choice for Group Buys, perhaps due to their exclusivity and higher price point.
Here is a list of items and deals per Group Buy item.
Group Buy Deals On Abalone
Pickupp is hosting Group Buy deals for New Moon New Zealand Abalone in a single can and as a bundle.
| Pickupp: New Moon | Bulk order: Amount set by merchant |
| Product: New Zealand Abalone | |
| Single can original price: $39 + Delivery | Group Buy price: $34.90 + Delivery |
| Actual savings: 11% | |
| Bundle (2 cans) original price: $84 + Delivery | Group Buy price: $67 + Delivery |
| Actual savings: 20% |
Online marketplace Qoo10 is another such organiser hosting abalone Group Buys. It is hosting the sale of New Moon Premium Wild Caught New Zealand Abalone 425g (Bundle of 6) with free delivery.
| Qoo10: New Moon | Bulk order: Amount set by merchant |
| Product: Premium Wild Caught New Zealand Abalone (Bundle of 6) 425g | |
| Original price: $338 + Free delivery | Group Buy price: $228 + Free delivery |
| Actual savings: 33% |
Group Buy Deals On Bak Kwa
SG Mummies Group Buy had launched an order for Nanyang Bak Kwa. The retail price of a 1kg Sliced Bak Kwa is $46.80, compared to the retail price of $52/kg. Although the deal has closed for now, you can keep watch to see if the slots will open again soon.
| SG Mummies Group Buy: Nanyang Bak Kwa | Bulk order: Amount set according to community |
| Product: Sliced Bak Kwa 1kg | |
| Original price: $52 + Delivery/Collection | Group Buy price: $46.80 + Delivery/Collection |
| Actual savings: 10% |
Group Buys Sg have also held bulk orders for Lim Chee Guan Bak Kwa but according to its Facebook post and checks with the retailer’s main Bak Kwa website, there is no price difference or discount.
The community, however, claims that this method of shopping is better as there is no need to queue to self-collect the items and that the delivery fees are reasonable.
| Group Buys Sg: Lim Chee Guan Bak Kwa | Bulk order: Amount set according to community |
| Product: Signature Sliced Pork 500g | |
| Original price: $39 + Delivery | Group Buy price: $39 + Delivery |
| Actual savings: No need to queue or self-collect; cheaper delivery fees than ordering individually from retailer e-shop |
Clearly, this method is works as GroupBuy Sg as has to date secured over 1,000 kg of Lim Chee Guan Bak Kwa for its hosts and communities.
Read Also: Guide On The Different Durian Types And How Much They Cost
Group Buy Deals On CNY Snacks
Group Buys Sg and SG Mummies Group Buy also have posts on CNY snacks. The savings are around 15% to $25% off retail prices and the communities work with specific vendors to get the discounted deals.
| Group Buys Sg: Liumama CNY Cookies | Bulk order: Amount set according to community |
| Product: Golden Rose Pineapple Ball 42pcs | |
| Original price: $19.90 + Delivery | Group Buy price: Buy 3 get $5 off, Buy 5 free 1 (Delivery $4); If the group orders 10, free delivery provided |
| Actual savings: Up to 14% + Free delivery for bulk orders |
| SG Mummies Group Buy: CNY Goodies | Bulk order: Amount set according to community |
| Product: Pineapple tarts 30pcs | |
| Original price: $13 + Delivery/Collection | Group Buy price: $10 + Delivery/Collection |
| Actual savings: Up to 23% |
Group Buy Deals On Durian
On Group Buys Sg, there is unhusked Mao Shan Wang (MSW) Durians from as low as $14.50 for a 450g/box.
| Group Buys Sg: Drunk Cat Durian SG | Bulk order: Amount set according to community |
| Product: Mao Shan Wang Durians (Pahang) 450g | |
| Original price: More than $20 + Delivery/Collection | Group Buy price: $14.50 + Delivery/Collection |
| Actual savings: 27% |
Our recent Durian Price Guide showed the average prices of MSWs to be $30 for a 400g box, with the lowest MSW priced at $18 (from Lexus Durian King). So this is indeed a better deal.
Where Can I Join Group Buys
Group Buys Sg
Where to sign up: https://linktr.ee/GroupBuysSg
Steps to participate:
1) Whatsapp to 86129186 with your postal code
2) Invite your family and friends to join you in registering for the Group Buy
3) Once a Group Buy is open, you will be informed
4) Order, pay, and receive the items
Pickupp
Where to sign up: https://shop.pickupp.io
Steps to participate:
1) Enter your address details on the weblink
2) Select your Group Buy item and check out
3) Set up account details
4) Order, pay, and receive the items
Qoo10
Where to sign up: https://m.qoo10.sg/gmkt.inc/Deal/GroupBuy.aspx
Steps to participate:
1) Add item to cart
2) Set up an account with Qoo10
3) Order, pay, and receive the items
Sengkang Group Buy
Where to sign up: https://www.instagram.com/sengkanggroupbuy/
Steps to participate:
1) Send a direct message to Sengkanggroupbuy to indicate interest in joining the community
2) Follow the steps provided to participate in the latest Group Buy deals
SG Mummies Groupbuy
Where to sign up: https://www.instagram.com/sengkanggroupbuy/
Steps to participate:
1) Join Telegram and WhatsApp channels on weblink
2) Once a Group Buy is open, you will be informed
3) Order, pay, and receive the items
Punggol Eats
Where to sign up: https://www.instagram.com/punggoleats/
Steps to participate:
1) Join Telegram and WhatsApp channels on weblink
2) Once a Group Buy is open, you will be informed
3) Order, pay, and receive the items
Some Things To Note Before Joining A Group Buy Community
When researching Group Buys I noticed some issues about these communities that should be mentioned as a precaution for new users.
Do not participate in online orders that are no longer active.
There were some Group Buy Instagram accounts that have stopped their services and are no longer in action (PunggolKaki Group Buy, Fresh Collective, The Group Collective) since the middle of 2022, probably because of a slowdown in demand or that people returned to work and headed out to shop instead for their needs.
Other reasons why the Group Buy communities are no longer active could also be that the hosts/community leaders went back to their full-time jobs and had no time to pursue these endeavours along with Singapore’s reopening.
It is best to conduct due diligence before joining a Group Buy and keep your transaction records and any receipts for each order as a safeguard. It is also better to join larger Group Buy communities that have a track record and are very active on socials (a few posts every week) – this shows that they are serious providers.
Featured Image Credit: Group Buys Sg, Sengkang Group Buy
The post Bak Kwas, Abalones, and Durians: How Much Deals Can You Get From Group Buys On Seasonal Items appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
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