Book excerpt: Common Sense Purchasing reveals the real life lessons learned from a purchasing professional who has seen every purchasing job level from junior buyer to vice president. Purchasing is the art of relationships and trust building that requires deft handling. Dr. Tom DePaoli has led numerous efforts to reengineer purchasing and has successfully negotiated international supply agreements. He provides poignant insights into what really works in purchasing and separates the theory that doesn't work from the practical aspects that were very successful in his career. Dr. Tom uses many of his original sayings and hard knock lessons to help purchasing professionals get it right.