Frequently Asked Questions
Does CSPA charge any fees to its members?
No, there are no fees or annual volume required of its members.
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How can I determine the price for an item I need?
Vendor Partner discount structures for CSPA members varies by supplier. To get pricing for a specific item or items you need, you should contact the supplier to optain a quote. The supplier should quote you the regular price for the item(s) and your CSPA discounted price. In the case where a supplier has a published regular pricelist or website, you may be given a special login, discount or cupon code to use when browsing the site so you can see CSPA pricing.
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Is there a specific representative I need to contact at each vendor partner company in order to insure I receive CSPA discounts?
Once you register as a member of CSPA, you will be sent a list of our vendor partners and specific contacts at each company who are familiar with the CSPA program and discount structure. They will be your best point of contact.
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How can I be sure I'm getting the best price available?
CSPA negotiates with manufacturers to get the best-possible discount they are willing to offer based on the buying power of our members. The contracted pricing is based on an expected volume of business that will result from becoming a vendor partner to CSPA and therefore, offers our members pricing that is better that what they could get on their own. However, if you see the same item advertised for less from another source, please let us know so we can work with our vendor partners to establish more favorable discounts.
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Can a purchase of significant volume qualify for additional discounts?
Absolutely! This is why we always recommend getting a quote from CSPA on whatever you are looking for. This will insure you get the best pricing possible and an accurate shipping cost as well.
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Can I recommend a vendor partner to CSPA?
We are always looking to add to our vendor partner list. If you have any suggestions, please email them to:
suggestions@CharterSchoolAlliance.com including a contact name and phone number. If we determine they can meet a need not being met by our current partners or provide a better value to our member schools than our existing supplier, we will explore the possibility of establishing that company as a CSPA vendor partner. However, it should be understood that our goal is to keep our list of vendor partners down to a limited number of companies who make a whole-hearted commitment to serving our member schools and to be a "partner" in the true sense of the word.
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If I become a member of CSPA, am I obligated to buy goods and services only from CSPA Vendor Partners?
No. You are always free to conduct business from whatever company you choose. However, since our vendor partners have made a strong commitment to the Charter School movement by offering exceptional discounts to our member schools, we ask that our member schools look to our vendor partners first for anything they are in need of. Of course, comparing prices with other suppliers is prudent but please note this word of caution:
DO NOT USE A QUOTE FROM A VENDOR PARTNER AS A BARGAINING TOOL TO GET BETTER PRICING FROM A NON-PARTNER VENDOR. PRICING PROVIDED BY CSPA VENDOR PARTNERS IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL! "YOU SHOULD COMPARE...BUT DO NOT SHARE!!"
Violation of this rule will result in a revocation of a school's CSPA membership. Engaging in this practice undermines what we are trying to accomplish. That is, establish real "Win-Win" partnerships that make it easier for Charter schools to get the best deals available on the goods and services they need without the need for a costly and time-consuming bid process!
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Do Vendor Partners pay a fee for the opportunity?
No. CSPA does not charge any fees to Member Schools OR Vendor Partners. Our sole purpose is to identify vendors who serve the education market and are willing to significantly discount their goods and services to charter schools in return for business loyalty by CSPA members and the opportunity to work with a large number of schools.
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