How to organize a group buy? (Hints and Tips Thread) Please share your input

How to organize a group buy? Hints and Tips please

Since BLF has had many kinds of Group Buys, what have we learned throughout these years?

Especially the huge group buy for the BLF GT taught us many things....perhaps?

Here are some possible questions you could answer:

  1. What is a group buy?
  2. How do you need to organize a group buy?
  3. How long should it take to organize?
  4. Do you need samples before you start?
  5. Do you need a document from the manufacturer that can guarantee that the product samples are the same as pre-production samples?
  6. How much time is involved?
  7. What are the things you need to do before you start a group buy
  8. How to handle complaints
  9. How to optimize lists of participants
  10. How to handle multiple lists of people who paid
  11. Is there software that can help optimizing the proces?
  12. Can anybody organize a group buy?
  13. What tips can you give for someone who wants to get involved in a groupbuy?

I'm a list guy, I like lists, I don't like to reinvent the wheel time after time :p