Mixing
Are purchase orders obsolete, or do they have some benefit over credit cards?
I just learned of Purchase Orders, which sound like they are used for purchasing expensive things in B2B. For example, if you wanted to purchase a large factory machine for several $k:
I have only ever really used a credit card (and checks and such). Even if you were to pay for rent or a mortgage (paying for on the order of $100k+) house or something, you just create a contract and then do monthly payments with a check or something similar like a direct deposit or transfer or something. So you don't need "Purchase Orders" or anything like that here. Which makes it seem like Purchase Orders might be either a legacy thing, or if not, maybe there is some other need or benefit to using them (in which case I would like to know why you need to use them over a check / credit card).
So I'm wondering if Purchase Orders are legacy, and that they could be replaced with todays technology just with a credit card or check. Or if they are not legacy, and in fact they are very necessary, in which case I am wondering why they are necessary (and why you can't accomplish with a credit card / check what you can with a Purchase Order).
check money-order
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
|
show 7 more comments
I just learned of Purchase Orders, which sound like they are used for purchasing expensive things in B2B. For example, if you wanted to purchase a large factory machine for several $k:
I have only ever really used a credit card (and checks and such). Even if you were to pay for rent or a mortgage (paying for on the order of $100k+) house or something, you just create a contract and then do monthly payments with a check or something similar like a direct deposit or transfer or something. So you don't need "Purchase Orders" or anything like that here. Which makes it seem like Purchase Orders might be either a legacy thing, or if not, maybe there is some other need or benefit to using them (in which case I would like to know why you need to use them over a check / credit card).
So I'm wondering if Purchase Orders are legacy, and that they could be replaced with todays technology just with a credit card or check. Or if they are not legacy, and in fact they are very necessary, in which case I am wondering why they are necessary (and why you can't accomplish with a credit card / check what you can with a Purchase Order).
check money-order
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
3
used for purchasing expensive things Purchase orders (POs) are also used for not so expensive things. I, personally, have not seen a PO below $100 but my experience is really limited.
– Shannon Severance
Nov 20 '18 at 22:10
6
Just in case it's the source of OP's confusion, purchase orders are unrelated to money orders, which can be used as a method of payment.
– A C
Nov 21 '18 at 3:06
15
"A purchase order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services." <- nothing in there says it's a form of payment
– not_a_comcast_employee
Nov 21 '18 at 5:22
1
Re: money orders. These aren't obsolete either. They're a way for people to pay by check without having checks (checks often cost money to buy a thousand or so, and if you don't write they many checks, it isn't worth the cost). Eg I paid my rent when I was on a short term job using money orders or cashier's check, as the $10 fee was cheaper than the landlord's 2.5% for using a credit card.
– Draco18s
Nov 21 '18 at 15:33
2
I used a digital PO today to buy maybe $10 of goods.
– Someone Somewhere
Nov 22 '18 at 4:52
|
show 7 more comments
I just learned of Purchase Orders, which sound like they are used for purchasing expensive things in B2B. For example, if you wanted to purchase a large factory machine for several $k:
I have only ever really used a credit card (and checks and such). Even if you were to pay for rent or a mortgage (paying for on the order of $100k+) house or something, you just create a contract and then do monthly payments with a check or something similar like a direct deposit or transfer or something. So you don't need "Purchase Orders" or anything like that here. Which makes it seem like Purchase Orders might be either a legacy thing, or if not, maybe there is some other need or benefit to using them (in which case I would like to know why you need to use them over a check / credit card).
So I'm wondering if Purchase Orders are legacy, and that they could be replaced with todays technology just with a credit card or check. Or if they are not legacy, and in fact they are very necessary, in which case I am wondering why they are necessary (and why you can't accomplish with a credit card / check what you can with a Purchase Order).
check money-order
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
I just learned of Purchase Orders, which sound like they are used for purchasing expensive things in B2B. For example, if you wanted to purchase a large factory machine for several $k:
I have only ever really used a credit card (and checks and such). Even if you were to pay for rent or a mortgage (paying for on the order of $100k+) house or something, you just create a contract and then do monthly payments with a check or something similar like a direct deposit or transfer or something. So you don't need "Purchase Orders" or anything like that here. Which makes it seem like Purchase Orders might be either a legacy thing, or if not, maybe there is some other need or benefit to using them (in which case I would like to know why you need to use them over a check / credit card).
So I'm wondering if Purchase Orders are legacy, and that they could be replaced with todays technology just with a credit card or check. Or if they are not legacy, and in fact they are very necessary, in which case I am wondering why they are necessary (and why you can't accomplish with a credit card / check what you can with a Purchase Order).
check money-order
check money-order
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
edited Nov 21 '18 at 17:04
Kris Harper
1031
1031
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
asked Nov 20 '18 at 18:39
Lance Pollard
34038
34038
3
used for purchasing expensive things Purchase orders (POs) are also used for not so expensive things. I, personally, have not seen a PO below $100 but my experience is really limited.
– Shannon Severance
Nov 20 '18 at 22:10
6
Just in case it's the source of OP's confusion, purchase orders are unrelated to money orders, which can be used as a method of payment.
– A C
Nov 21 '18 at 3:06
15
"A purchase order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services." <- nothing in there says it's a form of payment
– not_a_comcast_employee
Nov 21 '18 at 5:22
1
Re: money orders. These aren't obsolete either. They're a way for people to pay by check without having checks (checks often cost money to buy a thousand or so, and if you don't write they many checks, it isn't worth the cost). Eg I paid my rent when I was on a short term job using money orders or cashier's check, as the $10 fee was cheaper than the landlord's 2.5% for using a credit card.
– Draco18s
Nov 21 '18 at 15:33
2
I used a digital PO today to buy maybe $10 of goods.
– Someone Somewhere
Nov 22 '18 at 4:52
|
show 7 more comments
3
used for purchasing expensive things Purchase orders (POs) are also used for not so expensive things. I, personally, have not seen a PO below $100 but my experience is really limited.
– Shannon Severance
Nov 20 '18 at 22:10
6
Just in case it's the source of OP's confusion, purchase orders are unrelated to money orders, which can be used as a method of payment.
– A C
Nov 21 '18 at 3:06
15
"A purchase order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services." <- nothing in there says it's a form of payment
– not_a_comcast_employee
Nov 21 '18 at 5:22
1
Re: money orders. These aren't obsolete either. They're a way for people to pay by check without having checks (checks often cost money to buy a thousand or so, and if you don't write they many checks, it isn't worth the cost). Eg I paid my rent when I was on a short term job using money orders or cashier's check, as the $10 fee was cheaper than the landlord's 2.5% for using a credit card.
– Draco18s
Nov 21 '18 at 15:33
2
I used a digital PO today to buy maybe $10 of goods.
– Someone Somewhere
Nov 22 '18 at 4:52
3
3
used for purchasing expensive things Purchase orders (POs) are also used for not so expensive things. I, personally, have not seen a PO below $100 but my experience is really limited.
– Shannon Severance
Nov 20 '18 at 22:10
used for purchasing expensive things Purchase orders (POs) are also used for not so expensive things. I, personally, have not seen a PO below $100 but my experience is really limited.
– Shannon Severance
Nov 20 '18 at 22:10
6
6
Just in case it's the source of OP's confusion, purchase orders are unrelated to money orders, which can be used as a method of payment.
– A C
Nov 21 '18 at 3:06
Just in case it's the source of OP's confusion, purchase orders are unrelated to money orders, which can be used as a method of payment.
– A C
Nov 21 '18 at 3:06
15
15
"A purchase order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services." <- nothing in there says it's a form of payment
– not_a_comcast_employee
Nov 21 '18 at 5:22
"A purchase order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services." <- nothing in there says it's a form of payment
– not_a_comcast_employee
Nov 21 '18 at 5:22
1
1
Re: money orders. These aren't obsolete either. They're a way for people to pay by check without having checks (checks often cost money to buy a thousand or so, and if you don't write they many checks, it isn't worth the cost). Eg I paid my rent when I was on a short term job using money orders or cashier's check, as the $10 fee was cheaper than the landlord's 2.5% for using a credit card.
– Draco18s
Nov 21 '18 at 15:33
Re: money orders. These aren't obsolete either. They're a way for people to pay by check without having checks (checks often cost money to buy a thousand or so, and if you don't write they many checks, it isn't worth the cost). Eg I paid my rent when I was on a short term job using money orders or cashier's check, as the $10 fee was cheaper than the landlord's 2.5% for using a credit card.
– Draco18s
Nov 21 '18 at 15:33
2
2
I used a digital PO today to buy maybe $10 of goods.
– Someone Somewhere
Nov 22 '18 at 4:52
I used a digital PO today to buy maybe $10 of goods.
– Someone Somewhere
Nov 22 '18 at 4:52
|
show 7 more comments
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
A purchase order is just a document essentially equivalent to a seller facing invoice; where an invoice is the buyer facing piece of transaction documentation.
When you fill your cart at Amazon, your submitted cart is your purchase order. Amazon processes your purchase order and issues you an invoice.
Payment method is separate from this documentation but is typically indicated in the documents.
A purchase order is just paperwork, it's the basis of the contract between buyer and seller, an accepted and, likely, signed purchase order is generally used as a contract or part of a contract. In B2B transactions, terms (item, item quantity, delivery, timing, payment method) are negotiated, you can't negotiate with Amazon; you just fill your cart and submit your purchase order.
This is a typical B2B buying process*:
- A buyer will send out an RFP (Request for Proposal) or RFQ (Request for Quote) to multiple vendors.
- If this is an established vendor relationship these terms are already enshrined in some sort of contract you can just skip to number 4 and submit the purchase order.
- Many vendors will respond and indicate various pricing differences based on payment method
- The buyer may then begin to negotiate terms
- Ex1: I'll pay in cash this week but the discount needs to be 7% not your indicated 2%.
- Ex2: I'll pay you the first $1,000 now via corporate Amex and the remainder as COD (Cash on Delivery)
- Ex3: Your rush fee of $1,000 to deliver in 15 days is too high, I'll pay $800 rush fee for delivery in 20 days, but if delivery occurs after 20 days I take a 20% discount.
- Terms are accepted by both parties; buyer submits the purchase order
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Seller will now incur costs to begin work in reliance on the purchase order.
- Buyer will begin other preparations in reliance of delivery.
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Vendor begins work in consideration of the purchase order
- Vendor has likely not been paid in full at this point
- Vendor delivers including an invoice based on the terms of the purchase order
- Payment is now due to the vendor
The purchase order can include all sorts of terms. It might require the buyer to buy a specified minimum number of units over the next year. Sprint did this with Apple a number of years ago, if I remember correctly, in order to sell the iPhone at all Sprint agreed to buy $2B worth of iPhones over a 24 month period. So Apple was in possession of a purchase order from Sprint.
Separately it's typical for B2B to have wildly different payment terms than consumer transactions. You may google '10 net 30' this is typical B2B jargon that would indicate a cash discount if paid within 10 days of invoice. 1%/10 net 30, means buyer can take a 1% discount if the invoice is paid in 10 days, otherwise the invoice is due as is in 30 days and after 30 days interest likely begins to accrue.
I suspect your point of confusion comes from reading about accounting, and the fact that the purchase order triggers some accounting entries based on it's value. In business accounting there's the concept of payables and receivables. A receivable is an asset of the company, I have a contract that says Joe will pay me $1,000 so I have a $1,000 asset to put on my balance sheet; and remind me to collect from Joe. A payable is the inverse, it's a liability saying I owe $1,000. Once this offer is accepted and there's a contract, the seller can book an asset called receivable for $X and the buyer books a liability called payable for $X because the PO has a value of $X. Once the seller receives some or all of the payment it will debit the receivable and credit the asset checking (or something similar) and now it's revenue. The purchase order is not payment, but it does have value from an accounting perspective.
* This is obviously just an example and not a intended to be a definitive outline of B2B buying, please don't comment about potential procedural nuance.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
2
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
16
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
3
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
2
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
3
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
|
show 9 more comments
They're completely different things. Purchase orders are an ordering method. Credit cards are a payment method.
Purchase orders are a process by which a company tells a vendor what they want to buy. This allows the order and its billing to be tracked. PO 45161 is for Jane in prototyping to be used on the Falcon project. The company buyer orders it. Accounting knows whose budget to ding. Shipping knows where to route the box with PO 45161 on it.
Jane goes through the packing list (shipper) listing each item in the box, and ticks off everything that arrived in good order, and sends that to Accounting.
Separate from that, the item is paid for. Normally the vendor sends an Invoice - then accounting syncs that with the PO (did we order it) and shipper (did we receive it) and pays within 10-25 days.
However if the vendor isn't offering credit terms, accounting/buyer may just whip out the Mastercard and pay for it at order time. The PO is still required.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
1
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
1
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
add a comment |
A purchase order can also be used to delegate the responsibility of collecting some item to someone without the authority to commit the company to buying it.
Consider a builder and a hardware store. The builder buys a lot of hardware, so the store offers him volume discounts and deferred payments to keep his business. But, the store does not want to give that discount on the personal purchases of all the builder's employees, and the builder does not want his employees (or anyone else) putting their purchases on his account. So the store and the builder agree that for anything to be put on the account, it needs to be accompanied by a purchase order, specifying what's being bought, and agreeing to pay for it.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
add a comment |
A purchase order forms part of the contract. It tends to state delivery and costs for the seller to accept or decline the order. And a certain percentage of transactions will have disputes and this is the main evidence.
However it's main purpose are accounting controls. Everything is bought on a purchase order, in the case of credit cards it may only be an internal document.
I was a purchasing officer for years. I was authorised to buy stuff to sell. I am NOT authorised to buy a replacement photocopier.
The people that sell the stuff have to get me to buy it. They can't spend the company's money.
It's how companies control their cash.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
1
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
add a comment |
You may not realize it, but if you have ever employed (say) a builder, you have almost certainly given him a purchase order. Typically you request several quotes, haggle with one or more builders over the price and details, maybe get a fully revised quote, and order against it. This might be verbal, but the builder will probably want a signature on paper -- the purchase order.
A legally binding contract is now in effect. You maybe won't pay until the work is complete. Or you'll pay in stages, as agreed, with a deposit up front.
You may settle by credit card, if the builder takes cards. Or bank transfer, cheque, even cash (with receipt!)
A verbal purchase order is common, for smaller services like (say) a boiler repair. They'll tell you terms like a call-out fee and hourly rate. You agree a date and time. When you agree on the phone, it's all been recorded. That recording is a purchase order and establishes a contract. They turn up and fix your boiler, then you pay.
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
add a comment |
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
A purchase order is just a document essentially equivalent to a seller facing invoice; where an invoice is the buyer facing piece of transaction documentation.
When you fill your cart at Amazon, your submitted cart is your purchase order. Amazon processes your purchase order and issues you an invoice.
Payment method is separate from this documentation but is typically indicated in the documents.
A purchase order is just paperwork, it's the basis of the contract between buyer and seller, an accepted and, likely, signed purchase order is generally used as a contract or part of a contract. In B2B transactions, terms (item, item quantity, delivery, timing, payment method) are negotiated, you can't negotiate with Amazon; you just fill your cart and submit your purchase order.
This is a typical B2B buying process*:
- A buyer will send out an RFP (Request for Proposal) or RFQ (Request for Quote) to multiple vendors.
- If this is an established vendor relationship these terms are already enshrined in some sort of contract you can just skip to number 4 and submit the purchase order.
- Many vendors will respond and indicate various pricing differences based on payment method
- The buyer may then begin to negotiate terms
- Ex1: I'll pay in cash this week but the discount needs to be 7% not your indicated 2%.
- Ex2: I'll pay you the first $1,000 now via corporate Amex and the remainder as COD (Cash on Delivery)
- Ex3: Your rush fee of $1,000 to deliver in 15 days is too high, I'll pay $800 rush fee for delivery in 20 days, but if delivery occurs after 20 days I take a 20% discount.
- Terms are accepted by both parties; buyer submits the purchase order
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Seller will now incur costs to begin work in reliance on the purchase order.
- Buyer will begin other preparations in reliance of delivery.
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Vendor begins work in consideration of the purchase order
- Vendor has likely not been paid in full at this point
- Vendor delivers including an invoice based on the terms of the purchase order
- Payment is now due to the vendor
The purchase order can include all sorts of terms. It might require the buyer to buy a specified minimum number of units over the next year. Sprint did this with Apple a number of years ago, if I remember correctly, in order to sell the iPhone at all Sprint agreed to buy $2B worth of iPhones over a 24 month period. So Apple was in possession of a purchase order from Sprint.
Separately it's typical for B2B to have wildly different payment terms than consumer transactions. You may google '10 net 30' this is typical B2B jargon that would indicate a cash discount if paid within 10 days of invoice. 1%/10 net 30, means buyer can take a 1% discount if the invoice is paid in 10 days, otherwise the invoice is due as is in 30 days and after 30 days interest likely begins to accrue.
I suspect your point of confusion comes from reading about accounting, and the fact that the purchase order triggers some accounting entries based on it's value. In business accounting there's the concept of payables and receivables. A receivable is an asset of the company, I have a contract that says Joe will pay me $1,000 so I have a $1,000 asset to put on my balance sheet; and remind me to collect from Joe. A payable is the inverse, it's a liability saying I owe $1,000. Once this offer is accepted and there's a contract, the seller can book an asset called receivable for $X and the buyer books a liability called payable for $X because the PO has a value of $X. Once the seller receives some or all of the payment it will debit the receivable and credit the asset checking (or something similar) and now it's revenue. The purchase order is not payment, but it does have value from an accounting perspective.
* This is obviously just an example and not a intended to be a definitive outline of B2B buying, please don't comment about potential procedural nuance.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
2
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
16
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
3
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
2
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
3
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
|
show 9 more comments
A purchase order is just a document essentially equivalent to a seller facing invoice; where an invoice is the buyer facing piece of transaction documentation.
When you fill your cart at Amazon, your submitted cart is your purchase order. Amazon processes your purchase order and issues you an invoice.
Payment method is separate from this documentation but is typically indicated in the documents.
A purchase order is just paperwork, it's the basis of the contract between buyer and seller, an accepted and, likely, signed purchase order is generally used as a contract or part of a contract. In B2B transactions, terms (item, item quantity, delivery, timing, payment method) are negotiated, you can't negotiate with Amazon; you just fill your cart and submit your purchase order.
This is a typical B2B buying process*:
- A buyer will send out an RFP (Request for Proposal) or RFQ (Request for Quote) to multiple vendors.
- If this is an established vendor relationship these terms are already enshrined in some sort of contract you can just skip to number 4 and submit the purchase order.
- Many vendors will respond and indicate various pricing differences based on payment method
- The buyer may then begin to negotiate terms
- Ex1: I'll pay in cash this week but the discount needs to be 7% not your indicated 2%.
- Ex2: I'll pay you the first $1,000 now via corporate Amex and the remainder as COD (Cash on Delivery)
- Ex3: Your rush fee of $1,000 to deliver in 15 days is too high, I'll pay $800 rush fee for delivery in 20 days, but if delivery occurs after 20 days I take a 20% discount.
- Terms are accepted by both parties; buyer submits the purchase order
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Seller will now incur costs to begin work in reliance on the purchase order.
- Buyer will begin other preparations in reliance of delivery.
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Vendor begins work in consideration of the purchase order
- Vendor has likely not been paid in full at this point
- Vendor delivers including an invoice based on the terms of the purchase order
- Payment is now due to the vendor
The purchase order can include all sorts of terms. It might require the buyer to buy a specified minimum number of units over the next year. Sprint did this with Apple a number of years ago, if I remember correctly, in order to sell the iPhone at all Sprint agreed to buy $2B worth of iPhones over a 24 month period. So Apple was in possession of a purchase order from Sprint.
Separately it's typical for B2B to have wildly different payment terms than consumer transactions. You may google '10 net 30' this is typical B2B jargon that would indicate a cash discount if paid within 10 days of invoice. 1%/10 net 30, means buyer can take a 1% discount if the invoice is paid in 10 days, otherwise the invoice is due as is in 30 days and after 30 days interest likely begins to accrue.
I suspect your point of confusion comes from reading about accounting, and the fact that the purchase order triggers some accounting entries based on it's value. In business accounting there's the concept of payables and receivables. A receivable is an asset of the company, I have a contract that says Joe will pay me $1,000 so I have a $1,000 asset to put on my balance sheet; and remind me to collect from Joe. A payable is the inverse, it's a liability saying I owe $1,000. Once this offer is accepted and there's a contract, the seller can book an asset called receivable for $X and the buyer books a liability called payable for $X because the PO has a value of $X. Once the seller receives some or all of the payment it will debit the receivable and credit the asset checking (or something similar) and now it's revenue. The purchase order is not payment, but it does have value from an accounting perspective.
* This is obviously just an example and not a intended to be a definitive outline of B2B buying, please don't comment about potential procedural nuance.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
2
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
16
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
3
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
2
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
3
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
|
show 9 more comments
A purchase order is just a document essentially equivalent to a seller facing invoice; where an invoice is the buyer facing piece of transaction documentation.
When you fill your cart at Amazon, your submitted cart is your purchase order. Amazon processes your purchase order and issues you an invoice.
Payment method is separate from this documentation but is typically indicated in the documents.
A purchase order is just paperwork, it's the basis of the contract between buyer and seller, an accepted and, likely, signed purchase order is generally used as a contract or part of a contract. In B2B transactions, terms (item, item quantity, delivery, timing, payment method) are negotiated, you can't negotiate with Amazon; you just fill your cart and submit your purchase order.
This is a typical B2B buying process*:
- A buyer will send out an RFP (Request for Proposal) or RFQ (Request for Quote) to multiple vendors.
- If this is an established vendor relationship these terms are already enshrined in some sort of contract you can just skip to number 4 and submit the purchase order.
- Many vendors will respond and indicate various pricing differences based on payment method
- The buyer may then begin to negotiate terms
- Ex1: I'll pay in cash this week but the discount needs to be 7% not your indicated 2%.
- Ex2: I'll pay you the first $1,000 now via corporate Amex and the remainder as COD (Cash on Delivery)
- Ex3: Your rush fee of $1,000 to deliver in 15 days is too high, I'll pay $800 rush fee for delivery in 20 days, but if delivery occurs after 20 days I take a 20% discount.
- Terms are accepted by both parties; buyer submits the purchase order
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Seller will now incur costs to begin work in reliance on the purchase order.
- Buyer will begin other preparations in reliance of delivery.
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Vendor begins work in consideration of the purchase order
- Vendor has likely not been paid in full at this point
- Vendor delivers including an invoice based on the terms of the purchase order
- Payment is now due to the vendor
The purchase order can include all sorts of terms. It might require the buyer to buy a specified minimum number of units over the next year. Sprint did this with Apple a number of years ago, if I remember correctly, in order to sell the iPhone at all Sprint agreed to buy $2B worth of iPhones over a 24 month period. So Apple was in possession of a purchase order from Sprint.
Separately it's typical for B2B to have wildly different payment terms than consumer transactions. You may google '10 net 30' this is typical B2B jargon that would indicate a cash discount if paid within 10 days of invoice. 1%/10 net 30, means buyer can take a 1% discount if the invoice is paid in 10 days, otherwise the invoice is due as is in 30 days and after 30 days interest likely begins to accrue.
I suspect your point of confusion comes from reading about accounting, and the fact that the purchase order triggers some accounting entries based on it's value. In business accounting there's the concept of payables and receivables. A receivable is an asset of the company, I have a contract that says Joe will pay me $1,000 so I have a $1,000 asset to put on my balance sheet; and remind me to collect from Joe. A payable is the inverse, it's a liability saying I owe $1,000. Once this offer is accepted and there's a contract, the seller can book an asset called receivable for $X and the buyer books a liability called payable for $X because the PO has a value of $X. Once the seller receives some or all of the payment it will debit the receivable and credit the asset checking (or something similar) and now it's revenue. The purchase order is not payment, but it does have value from an accounting perspective.
* This is obviously just an example and not a intended to be a definitive outline of B2B buying, please don't comment about potential procedural nuance.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
A purchase order is just a document essentially equivalent to a seller facing invoice; where an invoice is the buyer facing piece of transaction documentation.
When you fill your cart at Amazon, your submitted cart is your purchase order. Amazon processes your purchase order and issues you an invoice.
Payment method is separate from this documentation but is typically indicated in the documents.
A purchase order is just paperwork, it's the basis of the contract between buyer and seller, an accepted and, likely, signed purchase order is generally used as a contract or part of a contract. In B2B transactions, terms (item, item quantity, delivery, timing, payment method) are negotiated, you can't negotiate with Amazon; you just fill your cart and submit your purchase order.
This is a typical B2B buying process*:
- A buyer will send out an RFP (Request for Proposal) or RFQ (Request for Quote) to multiple vendors.
- If this is an established vendor relationship these terms are already enshrined in some sort of contract you can just skip to number 4 and submit the purchase order.
- Many vendors will respond and indicate various pricing differences based on payment method
- The buyer may then begin to negotiate terms
- Ex1: I'll pay in cash this week but the discount needs to be 7% not your indicated 2%.
- Ex2: I'll pay you the first $1,000 now via corporate Amex and the remainder as COD (Cash on Delivery)
- Ex3: Your rush fee of $1,000 to deliver in 15 days is too high, I'll pay $800 rush fee for delivery in 20 days, but if delivery occurs after 20 days I take a 20% discount.
- Terms are accepted by both parties; buyer submits the purchase order
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Seller will now incur costs to begin work in reliance on the purchase order.
- Buyer will begin other preparations in reliance of delivery.
- This is now a contract between buyer and seller, the purchase order may include various breach or underperformance terms (a cancellation fee, or late delivery discount, etc).
- Vendor begins work in consideration of the purchase order
- Vendor has likely not been paid in full at this point
- Vendor delivers including an invoice based on the terms of the purchase order
- Payment is now due to the vendor
The purchase order can include all sorts of terms. It might require the buyer to buy a specified minimum number of units over the next year. Sprint did this with Apple a number of years ago, if I remember correctly, in order to sell the iPhone at all Sprint agreed to buy $2B worth of iPhones over a 24 month period. So Apple was in possession of a purchase order from Sprint.
Separately it's typical for B2B to have wildly different payment terms than consumer transactions. You may google '10 net 30' this is typical B2B jargon that would indicate a cash discount if paid within 10 days of invoice. 1%/10 net 30, means buyer can take a 1% discount if the invoice is paid in 10 days, otherwise the invoice is due as is in 30 days and after 30 days interest likely begins to accrue.
I suspect your point of confusion comes from reading about accounting, and the fact that the purchase order triggers some accounting entries based on it's value. In business accounting there's the concept of payables and receivables. A receivable is an asset of the company, I have a contract that says Joe will pay me $1,000 so I have a $1,000 asset to put on my balance sheet; and remind me to collect from Joe. A payable is the inverse, it's a liability saying I owe $1,000. Once this offer is accepted and there's a contract, the seller can book an asset called receivable for $X and the buyer books a liability called payable for $X because the PO has a value of $X. Once the seller receives some or all of the payment it will debit the receivable and credit the asset checking (or something similar) and now it's revenue. The purchase order is not payment, but it does have value from an accounting perspective.
* This is obviously just an example and not a intended to be a definitive outline of B2B buying, please don't comment about potential procedural nuance.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
edited Nov 20 '18 at 20:01
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
answered Nov 20 '18 at 18:52
quid
35.2k566119
35.2k566119
2
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
16
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
3
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
2
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
3
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
|
show 9 more comments
2
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
16
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
3
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
2
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
3
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
2
2
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
@LancePollard yes, in the end it's settled somehow (check or direct bank transfer are probably more common than CC).
– Kevin
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
16
16
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
@LancePollard It’s not a cheque or credit card, because it doesn’t do the same job. A cheque or credit card is a means of payment; a purchase order is a way of placing an order for a product or service.
– Mike Scott
Nov 20 '18 at 19:26
3
3
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
@LancePollard: Please see the edit I made regarding a pretty typical B2B buying process. A PO is most certainly not a CC or check. A PO is a contract, not a payment method.
– quid
Nov 20 '18 at 19:38
2
2
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
I work for a construction company doing financials, and we used purchase orders almost exclusively when buying items from vendors.
– Anoplexian
Nov 20 '18 at 23:58
3
3
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
@LancePollard - A Purchase Order is more akin to a contract than what most consumers are familiar with when buying things. A "contract" is (simplified ...) "offer and acceptance in exchange for a consideration". What a Purchase Order does is capture those contractual terms. It describes what is being offered ("goods and/or services") and how the "consideration" (money ...) is going to be conveyed. There may be negotiation up front, but the P.O. captures all of that, including what's being purchased, into a single document.
– Julie in Austin
Nov 21 '18 at 17:19
|
show 9 more comments
They're completely different things. Purchase orders are an ordering method. Credit cards are a payment method.
Purchase orders are a process by which a company tells a vendor what they want to buy. This allows the order and its billing to be tracked. PO 45161 is for Jane in prototyping to be used on the Falcon project. The company buyer orders it. Accounting knows whose budget to ding. Shipping knows where to route the box with PO 45161 on it.
Jane goes through the packing list (shipper) listing each item in the box, and ticks off everything that arrived in good order, and sends that to Accounting.
Separate from that, the item is paid for. Normally the vendor sends an Invoice - then accounting syncs that with the PO (did we order it) and shipper (did we receive it) and pays within 10-25 days.
However if the vendor isn't offering credit terms, accounting/buyer may just whip out the Mastercard and pay for it at order time. The PO is still required.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
1
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
1
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
add a comment |
They're completely different things. Purchase orders are an ordering method. Credit cards are a payment method.
Purchase orders are a process by which a company tells a vendor what they want to buy. This allows the order and its billing to be tracked. PO 45161 is for Jane in prototyping to be used on the Falcon project. The company buyer orders it. Accounting knows whose budget to ding. Shipping knows where to route the box with PO 45161 on it.
Jane goes through the packing list (shipper) listing each item in the box, and ticks off everything that arrived in good order, and sends that to Accounting.
Separate from that, the item is paid for. Normally the vendor sends an Invoice - then accounting syncs that with the PO (did we order it) and shipper (did we receive it) and pays within 10-25 days.
However if the vendor isn't offering credit terms, accounting/buyer may just whip out the Mastercard and pay for it at order time. The PO is still required.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
1
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
1
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
add a comment |
They're completely different things. Purchase orders are an ordering method. Credit cards are a payment method.
Purchase orders are a process by which a company tells a vendor what they want to buy. This allows the order and its billing to be tracked. PO 45161 is for Jane in prototyping to be used on the Falcon project. The company buyer orders it. Accounting knows whose budget to ding. Shipping knows where to route the box with PO 45161 on it.
Jane goes through the packing list (shipper) listing each item in the box, and ticks off everything that arrived in good order, and sends that to Accounting.
Separate from that, the item is paid for. Normally the vendor sends an Invoice - then accounting syncs that with the PO (did we order it) and shipper (did we receive it) and pays within 10-25 days.
However if the vendor isn't offering credit terms, accounting/buyer may just whip out the Mastercard and pay for it at order time. The PO is still required.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
They're completely different things. Purchase orders are an ordering method. Credit cards are a payment method.
Purchase orders are a process by which a company tells a vendor what they want to buy. This allows the order and its billing to be tracked. PO 45161 is for Jane in prototyping to be used on the Falcon project. The company buyer orders it. Accounting knows whose budget to ding. Shipping knows where to route the box with PO 45161 on it.
Jane goes through the packing list (shipper) listing each item in the box, and ticks off everything that arrived in good order, and sends that to Accounting.
Separate from that, the item is paid for. Normally the vendor sends an Invoice - then accounting syncs that with the PO (did we order it) and shipper (did we receive it) and pays within 10-25 days.
However if the vendor isn't offering credit terms, accounting/buyer may just whip out the Mastercard and pay for it at order time. The PO is still required.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
edited Nov 20 '18 at 23:34
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
answered Nov 20 '18 at 23:29
Harper
20.3k33068
20.3k33068
1
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
1
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
add a comment |
1
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
1
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
1
1
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
Very well answered. This is also the reason I like to say, "that $12 item you purchased cost the company $100 in labour to get quotes, authorize the order, receive it, route it, verify it in accounting, bill it to the appropriate project or department, and pay for it."
– Scott Whitlock
Nov 22 '18 at 17:58
1
1
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
@Scott Whitlock: But it's also the reason Joe Newbie down in shipping doesn't have an expensive gaming machine on his desk :-) Or in more extreme cases, fund and expensive show horse breeding operation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Crundwell
– jamesqf
Nov 22 '18 at 18:36
add a comment |
A purchase order can also be used to delegate the responsibility of collecting some item to someone without the authority to commit the company to buying it.
Consider a builder and a hardware store. The builder buys a lot of hardware, so the store offers him volume discounts and deferred payments to keep his business. But, the store does not want to give that discount on the personal purchases of all the builder's employees, and the builder does not want his employees (or anyone else) putting their purchases on his account. So the store and the builder agree that for anything to be put on the account, it needs to be accompanied by a purchase order, specifying what's being bought, and agreeing to pay for it.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
add a comment |
A purchase order can also be used to delegate the responsibility of collecting some item to someone without the authority to commit the company to buying it.
Consider a builder and a hardware store. The builder buys a lot of hardware, so the store offers him volume discounts and deferred payments to keep his business. But, the store does not want to give that discount on the personal purchases of all the builder's employees, and the builder does not want his employees (or anyone else) putting their purchases on his account. So the store and the builder agree that for anything to be put on the account, it needs to be accompanied by a purchase order, specifying what's being bought, and agreeing to pay for it.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
add a comment |
A purchase order can also be used to delegate the responsibility of collecting some item to someone without the authority to commit the company to buying it.
Consider a builder and a hardware store. The builder buys a lot of hardware, so the store offers him volume discounts and deferred payments to keep his business. But, the store does not want to give that discount on the personal purchases of all the builder's employees, and the builder does not want his employees (or anyone else) putting their purchases on his account. So the store and the builder agree that for anything to be put on the account, it needs to be accompanied by a purchase order, specifying what's being bought, and agreeing to pay for it.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
A purchase order can also be used to delegate the responsibility of collecting some item to someone without the authority to commit the company to buying it.
Consider a builder and a hardware store. The builder buys a lot of hardware, so the store offers him volume discounts and deferred payments to keep his business. But, the store does not want to give that discount on the personal purchases of all the builder's employees, and the builder does not want his employees (or anyone else) putting their purchases on his account. So the store and the builder agree that for anything to be put on the account, it needs to be accompanied by a purchase order, specifying what's being bought, and agreeing to pay for it.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
answered Nov 20 '18 at 19:53
Rupert Morrish
4,1282831
4,1282831
add a comment |
add a comment |
A purchase order forms part of the contract. It tends to state delivery and costs for the seller to accept or decline the order. And a certain percentage of transactions will have disputes and this is the main evidence.
However it's main purpose are accounting controls. Everything is bought on a purchase order, in the case of credit cards it may only be an internal document.
I was a purchasing officer for years. I was authorised to buy stuff to sell. I am NOT authorised to buy a replacement photocopier.
The people that sell the stuff have to get me to buy it. They can't spend the company's money.
It's how companies control their cash.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
1
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
add a comment |
A purchase order forms part of the contract. It tends to state delivery and costs for the seller to accept or decline the order. And a certain percentage of transactions will have disputes and this is the main evidence.
However it's main purpose are accounting controls. Everything is bought on a purchase order, in the case of credit cards it may only be an internal document.
I was a purchasing officer for years. I was authorised to buy stuff to sell. I am NOT authorised to buy a replacement photocopier.
The people that sell the stuff have to get me to buy it. They can't spend the company's money.
It's how companies control their cash.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
1
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
add a comment |
A purchase order forms part of the contract. It tends to state delivery and costs for the seller to accept or decline the order. And a certain percentage of transactions will have disputes and this is the main evidence.
However it's main purpose are accounting controls. Everything is bought on a purchase order, in the case of credit cards it may only be an internal document.
I was a purchasing officer for years. I was authorised to buy stuff to sell. I am NOT authorised to buy a replacement photocopier.
The people that sell the stuff have to get me to buy it. They can't spend the company's money.
It's how companies control their cash.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
A purchase order forms part of the contract. It tends to state delivery and costs for the seller to accept or decline the order. And a certain percentage of transactions will have disputes and this is the main evidence.
However it's main purpose are accounting controls. Everything is bought on a purchase order, in the case of credit cards it may only be an internal document.
I was a purchasing officer for years. I was authorised to buy stuff to sell. I am NOT authorised to buy a replacement photocopier.
The people that sell the stuff have to get me to buy it. They can't spend the company's money.
It's how companies control their cash.
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
answered Nov 20 '18 at 20:14
CatCat
611
611
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
1
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
add a comment |
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
1
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
I don't quite follow what you are saying, maybe if you could explain a little more in detail. Thank you.
– Lance Pollard
Nov 20 '18 at 20:41
1
1
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
@LancePollard I think he means that the PO controls what the company buys. He is authorized as a buyer (to buy stuff for inventory which will be sold) and can make POs for that. A buyer (at that company) is not (for example) authorized to buy office equipment, nor are the salespeople authorized to buy stuff to resell. At a smaller company a buyer may be responsible for purchasing everything the company purchases. The PO and its approval process are part of a company's control on its finances. I worked at a company where the President approved every single PO (worked poorly but that's the rule)
– J. Chris Compton
Nov 21 '18 at 16:31
add a comment |
You may not realize it, but if you have ever employed (say) a builder, you have almost certainly given him a purchase order. Typically you request several quotes, haggle with one or more builders over the price and details, maybe get a fully revised quote, and order against it. This might be verbal, but the builder will probably want a signature on paper -- the purchase order.
A legally binding contract is now in effect. You maybe won't pay until the work is complete. Or you'll pay in stages, as agreed, with a deposit up front.
You may settle by credit card, if the builder takes cards. Or bank transfer, cheque, even cash (with receipt!)
A verbal purchase order is common, for smaller services like (say) a boiler repair. They'll tell you terms like a call-out fee and hourly rate. You agree a date and time. When you agree on the phone, it's all been recorded. That recording is a purchase order and establishes a contract. They turn up and fix your boiler, then you pay.
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
add a comment |
You may not realize it, but if you have ever employed (say) a builder, you have almost certainly given him a purchase order. Typically you request several quotes, haggle with one or more builders over the price and details, maybe get a fully revised quote, and order against it. This might be verbal, but the builder will probably want a signature on paper -- the purchase order.
A legally binding contract is now in effect. You maybe won't pay until the work is complete. Or you'll pay in stages, as agreed, with a deposit up front.
You may settle by credit card, if the builder takes cards. Or bank transfer, cheque, even cash (with receipt!)
A verbal purchase order is common, for smaller services like (say) a boiler repair. They'll tell you terms like a call-out fee and hourly rate. You agree a date and time. When you agree on the phone, it's all been recorded. That recording is a purchase order and establishes a contract. They turn up and fix your boiler, then you pay.
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
add a comment |
You may not realize it, but if you have ever employed (say) a builder, you have almost certainly given him a purchase order. Typically you request several quotes, haggle with one or more builders over the price and details, maybe get a fully revised quote, and order against it. This might be verbal, but the builder will probably want a signature on paper -- the purchase order.
A legally binding contract is now in effect. You maybe won't pay until the work is complete. Or you'll pay in stages, as agreed, with a deposit up front.
You may settle by credit card, if the builder takes cards. Or bank transfer, cheque, even cash (with receipt!)
A verbal purchase order is common, for smaller services like (say) a boiler repair. They'll tell you terms like a call-out fee and hourly rate. You agree a date and time. When you agree on the phone, it's all been recorded. That recording is a purchase order and establishes a contract. They turn up and fix your boiler, then you pay.
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
You may not realize it, but if you have ever employed (say) a builder, you have almost certainly given him a purchase order. Typically you request several quotes, haggle with one or more builders over the price and details, maybe get a fully revised quote, and order against it. This might be verbal, but the builder will probably want a signature on paper -- the purchase order.
A legally binding contract is now in effect. You maybe won't pay until the work is complete. Or you'll pay in stages, as agreed, with a deposit up front.
You may settle by credit card, if the builder takes cards. Or bank transfer, cheque, even cash (with receipt!)
A verbal purchase order is common, for smaller services like (say) a boiler repair. They'll tell you terms like a call-out fee and hourly rate. You agree a date and time. When you agree on the phone, it's all been recorded. That recording is a purchase order and establishes a contract. They turn up and fix your boiler, then you pay.
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
answered Nov 22 '18 at 14:34
nigel222
21113
21113
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
add a comment |
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
Or on a smaller scale, simply going to a restaurant and making an order. At a fast food place, you'll pay before you get your food, which is similar to how OP thinks most business is these days. And indeed, with on-demand inventory, sometimes it is! But most business still work like a restaurant - someone takes your order, you get your food, and you pay when you leave. Once your order is made, you're bound to pay for it. Unless you dine and dash, but then you're just a thief.
– corsiKa
Nov 25 '18 at 20:13
add a comment |
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3
used for purchasing expensive things Purchase orders (POs) are also used for not so expensive things. I, personally, have not seen a PO below $100 but my experience is really limited.
– Shannon Severance
Nov 20 '18 at 22:10
6
Just in case it's the source of OP's confusion, purchase orders are unrelated to money orders, which can be used as a method of payment.
– A C
Nov 21 '18 at 3:06
15
"A purchase order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services." <- nothing in there says it's a form of payment
– not_a_comcast_employee
Nov 21 '18 at 5:22
1
Re: money orders. These aren't obsolete either. They're a way for people to pay by check without having checks (checks often cost money to buy a thousand or so, and if you don't write they many checks, it isn't worth the cost). Eg I paid my rent when I was on a short term job using money orders or cashier's check, as the $10 fee was cheaper than the landlord's 2.5% for using a credit card.
– Draco18s
Nov 21 '18 at 15:33
2
I used a digital PO today to buy maybe $10 of goods.
– Someone Somewhere
Nov 22 '18 at 4:52