Reading your responses, on reflection i feel you guys may be right. I think i have over complicated the issue based on the 'made to order' element.
@ngaccounts, the refund situation is because the item is 'customised' there are no refunds unless the item is faulty. So if the item is faulty, the supplier is required to deal directly with the issue - usually providing a replacement. I am no expert on consumer law so cannot say whether the 'no refunds' thing is right or wrong; that's just how it is currently working.
How about having them invoice monthly or other set periods, or paying on statement.
Or perhaps you will need to have one separate PO which is raised specifically for small orders. The PO would be an estimated amount for a set period. Multiple small invoices could be allocated to this one PO. So no need for multiple POs. At the end of the set period cancel the balance off the PO and raise another for the new set period.
Or maybe, bit drastic, but introduce corporate procurement credit cards for small value purchases? Then they wouldn't need to go through your standard purchase process.
I dont mean to advertise (i dont work for tolleys), but you cant go wrong with a copy of Tolleys VAT (or some other VAT ref book). If you cant expense it, view it as an investment in your career. They list and explain in detail a vast amount of zero rated, reduce rated and exempt items ripped directly from VATA '94, which you can also view here (also mentioned above by Constantly Confused):
Downside of Tolleys is that once they have your details they will bug you at least once every 2 months. Try getting a slightly older version from Amazon or something.
My answers
Thanks @tom123, @paul.benny and @ngaccounts.
Reading your responses, on reflection i feel you guys may be right. I think i have over complicated the issue based on the 'made to order' element.
@ngaccounts, the refund situation is because the item is 'customised' there are no refunds unless the item is faulty. So if the item is faulty, the supplier is required to deal directly with the issue - usually providing a replacement. I am no expert on consumer law so cannot say whether the 'no refunds' thing is right or wrong; that's just how it is currently working.
How about having them invoice monthly or other set periods, or paying on statement.
Or perhaps you will need to have one separate PO which is raised specifically for small orders. The PO would be an estimated amount for a set period. Multiple small invoices could be allocated to this one PO. So no need for multiple POs. At the end of the set period cancel the balance off the PO and raise another for the new set period.
Or maybe, bit drastic, but introduce corporate procurement credit cards for small value purchases? Then they wouldn't need to go through your standard purchase process.
Get a Reference Book
I dont mean to advertise (i dont work for tolleys), but you cant go wrong with a copy of Tolleys VAT (or some other VAT ref book). If you cant expense it, view it as an investment in your career. They list and explain in detail a vast amount of zero rated, reduce rated and exempt items ripped directly from VATA '94, which you can also view here (also mentioned above by Constantly Confused):
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/23/contents
Schedule 7A, 8 and specifically for you, 9.
Downside of Tolleys is that once they have your details they will bug you at least once every 2 months. Try getting a slightly older version from Amazon or something.