Frequently asked questions

How come 1PCs now?

The need for direct action has never been greater, and the ability, through IT, social media and the internet to locate and develop planet appropriate solutions has never been greater.

Why is this not like other things we have seen?

  • Mutual Peer to Peer (P2P) support One major differenceP2P support construction. This means that each member is better served by the other being at the peak of their ability and that the main P2P role is to help members reach that capacity.
  • Mutually owned market One feature that promotes this is the mutually owned market – the more sold through the market the higher the common income. And members introduce products to market, earning a percentage of the mark-up.
  • Non-consumer-producer relationship in the market. When you are selling to private consumers as a trading entity, all kinds of rules a n d regulations govern that relationship. Quite rightly so, consumer protection is a n important part of our society. However, these rules need not apply to buyer’s clubs, where people k n ow each other. This mean s that (depending on the rules applicable to your country) people in association s and clubs, even doing bulk buying, ca exchange things ad services much more freely.

Do I have to form  an organisation?

Yes, of some sort with 146 members (less than 200 maximum) to ensure you can operate together as an informal social unit and not be subject to retail regulations. We are hoping to set up national 146 help centres that will guide you through national regulations

Who puts the products in the platform?

You do. You get paid a commission when they are bought. We have some basic products that come with the platform, too.

Will people outside the 146 be able to buy products on the platform?

Short answer, yes. Suppose your community installs solar panels and an electric charger point. You could sell charging to visitors, too. However, the commercial relationship will be different as that will be one of trading entity and consumer.

Where does the platform come from?

You subscribe to it from us ( the 146 core) both the software and access to the help pages.

Can we get help?

Yes from the 146 core. And the national 146help. We will help you all the way

How come it works?

The set-up rewards cooperation- the better you cooperate the better it runs and the better the economy of the 146

So we don’t compete with each other?

No. You help each other to be the best you can. You all gain from that. You out cooperate competition and so-called market economy.

There seems nothing new here?

I beg to differ. The accepted idea of how to run things is privately owned companies extract, produce, sell, retail, serve and waste manage.  This removes a lot of agency from individuals. However if individuals come together to own the retail, serve and waste aspects, they can exert pressure on the earlier steps in the value chain. So the 146 idea is that the local retail function (market) is a cooperative, a platform, and to prepare for coming shocks, local and resilient.  There are many platforms our there that are cooperative, and there are many local functions like freecycle etc. But the local functions (even a local FB group) are owned by remote corporations. I think the combination of local and owning is a killer.

Surely there is no difference between using a local market which is only open to members of a cooperative and using one which is open.

I Beg to differ again. Rules of exchange in countries is highly regulated. If you sell something you have to pay tax on it. However, in a cooperative there is a walled garden effect. As long as the distribution rules are fair – equal to all members – then the market becomes a sharing club and the rules of commerce ONLY APPLY when the club trades outside the membership. So for example you cannot give free accommodation to someone who looks after the clubhouse. That person must pay tax on it. And the club must pay employers tax. However, if all look after the clubhouse then they can say get to use the guest room  3 nights a year.

Surely your own market is not cheaper?

Beg to differ. THe founder of IKEA said when you buy a mug 1/3 of the money goes to the local shop, 1/3 goes to the Ikea concern and 1/3 goes to the manufacturer. If you set up a (virtual) local shop for your community and buy in bulk, you will find that the community pays 1/3 less. Then of course the local platform is not free but still you get it cheaper. And you control what is in the store. Try doing that with your local shop.

It seems like a 146 is not ultra-connected to the rest of the world

As we are offering every club a space on the platform, it means inter-146 is available instantly as all are members of 146 international. We can rig forums and global projects in the application.

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