HOW TO BUYING CLUB:
PREPARING YOUR LIST
Our Buying Club page berkshire.coop/buying-club does have some search capabilities. Browsing this way can be challenging, though, as the system is a little complicated when it comes to the way items are listed (abbreviations, etc), so the most efficient way to place an order is to decide what you want first. The good news is, once you’ve ordered an item, it will reappear as a prompt next time you order so you can easily add it to your cart again.
Once you know exactly what you want, ordering online using the UPC number is the quickest way to go! You also have the option to order in-store using Item Numbers on a handwritten Order Form.
GETTING YOUR CODE NUMBERS
If it’s an item we carry, and/or if you have one at home already:
You may want to snap pics of the items you want to order. Most importantly, get a pic of the UPC number.
The UPC can be found around the top of the barcode. (Be sure to get all the digits, including the ones on the outsides of the barcode. Most product codes contain 12 digits.)
It never hurts to get a pic of the front of the product as well- in case there is any confusion or you need to contact us with any questions, this can make it much easier for us to help you with ordering.
But, what if you don’t have the item on hand? Or what if you want an item we don’t carry? What?! Yes that’s right- it is possible to order a product through our Buying Club even if we don’t carry it in the store!
If it’s in the UNFI catalog, we can get it to you. Read on for instructions on finding an item’s code numbers in the online catalog provided by our wholesale distributor United Natural Foods (UNFI).
SEARCHING & ORDERING ONLINE
If you don’t have the item in hand or haven’t found it in-store, search the online catalog:
Go to berkshire.coop/buying-club
Don’t sign in yet - look to the right and click the link to the online UNFI catalog
In the Search field, enter keywords for the item you’re looking for. In the UNFI Catalog, an item will have two numbers associated with it. By each product, you can find its Item Number to the left under the item name. You’ll find the Universal Product Code(UPC) to the right, by the bar code.
The search results will show you every page where your keywords appear in the catalog. The first occurrence (the lowest page number) usually corresponds to the Table of Contents, so go ahead and click the next search result. Your keywords will be highlighted on the catalog page. Double-click the page to zoom in if necessary, and find the item you’re looking for. If you don’t see it there, go back and try the next search result. (The catalog is arranged by department and your keywords may pull up items in different departments.)
When you’ve found your item, you’ll see two sets of numbers.
The item’s Item Number will be a 7-digit number to the left, just underneath the item name. (Be sure to include the digit after the dash.)
If you look to the right, around the corresponding barcode you’ll see the UPC number. (Most UPCs contain 12 digits, be sure to include the first and last ones you see just outside the barcode.)
When ordering online, either the UPC or the Item Number can be used in the search field. When ordering in person on a handwritten slip, the Item Number is best. See below for more on in-store ordering.
Once you have your code numbers, you can prepare your list with all the info you need to make ordering a breeze!
Go to berkshire.coop/buying-club and log in
Go to the “Products” tab
In the Keyword Search Field, input either the UPC or Item Number, and your desired items will come up. (It is possible to search by brand and item name here, but there's less room for error using the UPC or Item Number.)
When you see your desired item, you’ll see the green Cart symbol at the right end of the line. Once you’ve clicked it, you can glance up at the “Cart” tab to verify that you’ve added the item to your cart, you will see a number bubble. (If you go into your Cart, you’ll notice that your items will be listed, but you can’t click them. Items are not clickable in the Cart.)
When you’re in the Cart, to verify that you have the right item and quantity, click on the Product Description for more details. (Most departments offer a case as a minimum quantity, but some, such as Wellness, sometimes offer single items through Buying Club.) Once that looks good to you, click Back on your browser.
Do not be confused by the way your item is listed in your cart! Due to computer stuff which we have no control over, the Product Description for an item will be different in your Cart than it appeared in the search results.
SEARCHING & ORDERING IN-STORE
Upon walking in the main entrance, turn directly to your left and you’ll see our Buying Club Station. There you’ll find blank Order Forms and a UNFI Catalog.
Browse first by Category in Table of Contents - the catalog is organized by category so you may see a given brand name in more than one section.
Locate the product brand or distributor in the Table Of Contents. (Note that the Catalog is organized by category, so brands may appear in more than one section.)
When you’ve found your item, you’ll see two sets of numbers. When ordering online, either the UPC or the Item Number can be used in the search field. When ordering in person using a handwritten Order Form, the Item Number is best.
The item’s Item Number will be a 7-digit number to the left, just underneath the item name. (Be sure to include the digit after the dash.)
If you look to the right, around the corresponding barcode you’ll see the UPC number. (Most UPCs contain 12 digits, be sure to include the first and last ones you see just outside the barcode.)
Verify the size and quantities of your order. (Most departments list 1 case as a minimum amount, but some, such as Wellness, do allow individual items as Buying Club orders.)
IMPORTANT NOTES & TIPS
Please note that “mac.com” email addresses are currently rejecting BFC Buying Club confirmation emails due to mistakenly flagging them as unsafe. If your email address ends in “mac.com” you may not receive a confirmation email automatically. We are working on getting Apple to allow our confirmation emails to come through. For the time being, if you use an Apple email address, we will use alternate methods to contact you.
The Buying Club site cannot specify pricing, due to constant cost fluctuations. The catalogs provided to us do not consistently reflect current pricing. Berkshire Food Co-op regularly negotiates discounts, and passes all savings on to members of the Buying Club. The most accurate information we can offer at this time is: Buying Club prices range from 10%-30% lower than shelf price. Thank you for your understanding.
Submit your order by Thursday at noon for pickup the following week. Please arrange to pick up your order as soon as possible as our space is very limited. We cannot viably accommodate orders for longer than a week after they have come in.
We are unable to accept returns on Buying Club purchases. Before making a purchase, make sure you have enough room to comfortably store the items ordered.