Buying Bulk?

Question

Hi,

I would like to know how you ask to buy in bulk in Spanish? For example. If I go to a pharmacy and want to ask if I can buy a bulk quantity of a medication.

Regards,

Answer 1

In Spanish, to buy in bulk (in large quantities) is comprar al por mayor. Also, in bulk (not pre-packed) is suelto; a granel.

Good going! I had forgotten this. - Daniela2041, Aug 8, 2017

Yes, por mayor (wholesale) and a granel. I agree. - polenta1, Aug 8, 2017

Answer 2

Here's a link you might enjoy.

Savvy Shopping in Spanish

And here are a few more sentences that might suit your specific situation:

¿Vende cajas enteras de botellas?
Do you sell whole boxes of bottles?

¿Vende botellas por la caja?
Do you sell bottles by the box? (by the case)

Quiero comprar una caja entera de botellas si el precio es barato.
I want to buy a whole box of bottles if the price is cheap.

Quiero comprar una caja entera de botellas para obtener el mejor precio.
I want to buy a whole box of bottles to get the best price.

Quiero comprar mucho para conseguirlos a bajo precio.
I want to buy a lot in order to get a low price.

¿Cómo puedo comprarlas más económicamente?
How can I buy them most economically?

Answer 3

You can buy and sell al mayoreo.

Answer 4

latinwanderer:

It is possible that they will understand you at the pharmacy if you use the terms suggested by NKM. They are correct. However, you might try some of the following:

Buenos días. Quiero comprar X. ¿Cuánto cuesta una botella? (paquete)

Good morning. I want to buy X. How much does one bottle cost?

¿Me puede hacer un descuento si compro más de una botella?

Can you give me a discount if I buy more than one bottle?

Por ejemplo, si compro doce botellas ¿Cuánto cuesta cada una entonces?

For example, if I buy twelve bottles, how much would each one cost then?

¿Tiene botellas grandes que cuestan menos?

Do you have large bottles that cost less?

¿Cuáles son las alternativas que tienen el mejor precio?

What are the alternatives with the best price?

Here, the clerk may tell you that the best price is if you buy "by the case / by the box" Maybe there are 24 in a case. They will probably show you a whole box and you can see how many there are, the unit price and you can decide if you want to buy that much.

For simple sentences like this you can decide what you want to say or ask and use Google Translate to give you the Spanish. You can even listen to the Spanish and see how it is pronounced. Do this ahead of time. You can even print it out and use it as a crutch for the conversation and as a last resort you can show the clerk what you have written in Spanish.

You can even resort to using Google Translate on your smart phone. You can speak English and then play back the Spanish for the clerk to listen to or show them the Spanish translation.

Don't forget to use your hands to point or demonstrate things. To demonstrate a big bottle for example. If you want to buy 12, gather all 12 boxes and then ask one of the above sentences...can you give me a discount or how much would each bottle cost if I bought twelve.

I am not a native speaker, but I can generally make myself understood in situations like this. (without resorting to the smart phone app) The simpler you can make the questions and sentences the better.

Good luck shopping!

P.S. Or you can just go on Amazon, but what would be the fun be in that?