Heino

[Clairew]

Could anyone advise on how one is able to purchase from Heino - the large warehouse place? I believe you have to be in the catering business? Is there a membership that could be applied for or paid for if I'm not in catering?
Thanks

[mrjimsfc]

It's easier (and less expensive) to find someone who already has the correct documentation to purchase goods at Heino, give them a couple of euros and a list of things to get for you. Just don't do that too often.

[Clairew]

Super, thanks for the suggestion. Their prices seem much cheaper than other supermarkets.

[Rosamunda]

No. A lot of things in Heino are dearer than the supermarkets. It depends how and what you buy. A 10-litre can of pickled cucumbers may be cheaper than Prisma... but when are you going to eat all those? Most items in Heino are sold at RRP and then the cardholder gets a volume discount. If you got the card for yourself, your volume discount would be zero, so you are basically buying everything at RRP (except a few special offers). Restaurants and shopkeepers buy huge volumes, so they qualify for discount when they check-out at the tills.

OTOH there are some things you can only find in Heino (ie not in the regular supermarkets) like catering packs of paper cups and industrial strength disinfectant, paper hats etc, but I doubt you need those.

I think any company (oy or tmi) and/or association (ry) can apply for a card. It doesn't have to be a food related organisation. My son's school's PTA has its own card, for example.

[Pursuivant]

Its the best to have a friend who buys stuff in bulk...

[raamv]

I have compared with Heinon tukku's and other tukkus with many places!! No big advantage ..and you need to buy things in bulk to get discount..
So whoever buys for you gets that vat out and that "seems" cheaper..
We have completely shifted to buying from Prisma bcos of the S bonus upto 5% ( and it goes upto 10% during Christmas Hols(Dec) and During a month in summer)..
and so we get money back that we keep in the S pankki for emergency!!!
No where else have we found a rate of return better than this...
( K market prices are a little more expensive and you get a few crappy €5 coupons of €20 or more and pretty much worth nothing, after many months of buying)..
WE also use Diners club that gives us more points..so 2 for the price of one gives us some discounts on Viking line luxury class, buying some children's items etc..
edit: corrected info about vat. YOu do need to pay vat.

[Rosamunda]

I have compared with Heinon tukku's and other tukkus with many places!! No big advantage cept that you dont pay vat....

Not strictly speaking true. When I buy stuff for the ice-cream kiosk from Heino I pay VAT same as everyone else (22% on plastic spoons, paper cups and cleaning supplies, 17% on soft drinks and coffee etc), then I offset it against the VAT I charge on the ice-cream when I do my bookkeeping on the 15th. But I could just as easily buy paper cups from Lidl and coffee from Prisma and use those receipts to offset the VAT. There is no VAT advantage from shopping in Heino (it's not in a tax-free zone!!!). In fact, apart from paper napkins and soft drinks, I get most of my supplies from regular supermarkets.

[EP]

I think any company (oy or tmi) and/or association (ry) can apply for a card. It doesn't have to be a food related organisation.

True. When I first started my oy 15 years ago I got the card, and also used it every once and awhile. But it really wasn´t worthwhile. I had to drive there, the packages were huge and we were only four people. I guess I still have the card somewhere but it must be very dusty by now.

[raamv]

I have compared with Heinon tukku's and other tukkus with many places!!

Not strictly speaking true. When I buy stuff for the ice-cream kiosk from Heino I pay VAT same as everyone else (22% on plastic spoons, paper cups and cleaning supplies, 17% on soft drinks and coffee etc), then I offset it against the VAT I charge on the ice-cream when I do my bookkeeping on the 15th. But I could just as easily buy paper cups from Lidl and coffee from Prisma and use those receipts to offset the VAT. There is no VAT advantage from shopping in Heino (it's not in a tax-free zone!!!). In fact, apart from paper napkins and soft drinks, I get most of my supplies from regular supermarkets.

edit: Corrected the VAT info!

[Rosamunda]

Mine's an Oy account too.

I don't see how anyone can buy anything tax-free inside Finland. That's not how VAT works. Doesn't matter whether it's B2B or not. Interesting though. I'll ask next time I'm there. Even when I buy ice-cream direct from the factory with reseller discount, I still pay VAT.

[sinikala]

What a let down this thread is.
I read Heino and was looking forward to a bit of chat about the German albino equivalent of Eino Grön.

Ach ja, min Jung!

[raamv]

Mine's an Oy account too.

I don't see how anyone can buy anything tax-free inside Finland. That's not how VAT works. Doesn't matter whether it's B2B or not. Interesting though. I'll ask next time I'm there. Even when I buy ice-cream direct from the factory with reseller discount, I still pay VAT.

Just checked some old receipts and you are right..Vat was included..