Purchasing Agent
Job Summary
Responsible for buying goods, equipment, farm products, and services for companies. Negotiates the best deal for the company and ensures safe transportation of the product.
Primary Responsibilities
- Study sales record and prior company transactions.
- Complete sales purchases, including equipment, machines, goods, and services for companies.
- Find the highest quality goods possible by reading reviews and performing extensive research.
- Study current inventory levels and determine what is needed.
- Check machines to see if they need to be repaired or replaced and purchase equipment accordingly.
- Identify foreign and domestic suppliers and vendors.
- Ask vendors for promotional prices and incentives.
- Keep abreast of changes affecting both the supply of, and demand for, needed products and materials.
- Consider price, quality, availability, reliability, and technical support when choosing suppliers and merchandise.
- Have a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
- Place orders and ensure product is shipped according to deadlines.
- Purchase goods such as grain, Christmas trees, and tobacco for further processing or resale.
- Supervise groups of purchasing agents.
- Accept bids and offers through Internet.
- Negotiate and supervise supply contracts.
- Purchase goods directly from manufacturers or from other wholesale firms for resale to retail firms, commercial establishments, and other organizations.
- Determine which products will sell.
