Suppliers Relashionship

Clipper14

Hi Guys, Here is a question that's very interesting to me.

When you select which supplier to work with (main ones) what is your main reason? And after you work with them for a while, do you really try to keep them honest with price shopping or just trust the relationship?

Thanks

rbsremodeling

Quality and availability their products
Customer service from the company or rep
Personality of my sales rep

Very rarely price shop because my reps keep me updated on price increase of products in advance, like a good rep should so my pricing is fairly accurate.

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genecarp

treat me like you give a sh**. i dont have to have my ass kissed, but at least have a little manners, make me think i am important, follow that up with great sevice and fair prices, i am yours.

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threaderman

Service,price,the quality of the products,availability and the location.My big five.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

threaderman

I forgot to answer the second part.It's best I've found ,not to keep all your eggs in one basket,so I work with a few different suppliers which automatically helps me keep track of odd or escalated prices and take care of it in a timely manner.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

jclem

Service, Service, Service, then quality of materials. I rarely price shop. I compared some prices long ago, found that they were reasonable, so that's all I needed as long as the good service was still there.
I'm not a huge volume company, just a one man show, but my main lumber yard will bring me 2 2x4's, a couple towns away, within a few hours if I really need them. I don't abuse it, but it sure is nice to know that they are there for me.

DavidC

First they have to sell what I need. I suprised how many lumber yards don't sell starter shingles or cap shingles for instance.

Second is resposibility. I will take credit for my mistakes and I expect the same from them.

If they can then throw in good service then the pricing is good even if they are a little higher.

I think the logic of not shopping on price for our customers should also apply when we are the customer.

Good Luck
Dave

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www.CookContractingLLC.com

JSC

As a roofing contractor my criteria may be different than other trades, but based upon 33 years in business I've found that I still have to shop prices to keep suppliers honest, even if I prefer the service f one over another. Otherwise I know they would charge me a higher price than some other competitors. Heck, I used to find $500. to $1000. per month in overcharges for materials that were quoted at a lower price than billed.

Chris Johnson

If I'm planning more then 100 yds of concrete I shop it every time, I let the salesman know who they are up against, that sharpens the pencil. Every three months or so I check rebar against my regular supplier who never lets me down, but I want to know.

My pump operator, I don't even ask, his service is fantastic, he's always within budget and never once has he bitched or been late, he's travelled over 150 miles to do 80 yds for me, that's service.

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Chris

mark the coach

When working with suppliers I usually look at the following;

1. Great service.
2. A sales rep who gives his cell number and returns calls promptly.
3. They will pickup my returns and over ordered stock items.
4. They have good delivery people who don't pass the buck.
5. They anticipate my needs.
6. They have fair pricing. I will pay more for better service within reason.
7. They are willing to refer my company when homeowners are looking for quality contractors.
8. They provide industry relevant education on products and installation methods.
9. If they deliver damaged construction materials they will promptly replace them and not charge me a re-stocking or additional delivery fee.
10. When I send my employee there they have someone who knows what they're talking about.
11. They bill me 30 days net provided I show that I pay my bills consistently.
12. They offer cash discounts for early payments.

Best of luck with your suppliers.

mark the coach

The Contractor Coaching Partnership

Tscarborough

When working with customers I usually look at the following;

1. They know what they need.
2. A contact person who gives his cell number and answers it.
3. They do not over order and if they do, do not expect me to foot the bill for their mistake.
4. They have good supervisory people who don't pass the buck.
5. They anticipate their needs.
6. They are willing to pay a fair price.
7. They are willing to refer my company to other contractors who are looking for suppliers.
8. They are wiling to train their people.
9. They do not use me to pay for their breakage.
10. When I send my employee there they have someone who knows what they're talking about.
11. They pay their bills promptly.
12. They understand that 2%/10 does not mean 2%/12 or 14 or 20.

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It ain't Rocket Science unless you are building rockets.

Double-A

I have three words for the suppliers and the buyers on this subject:

Trust, but verify.

Almost any relationship that lasts is built on this concept. Ya, in our personal relationships we get away from the verify part, but that is because the trust part is so strong. We trust our suppliers to do right by us and we demand our folks respect that trust and not mistreat it, but also verify that the trust we have in them is not misplaced.

I'm not a 'one strike yer out!' kind of person. An apology and ownership of the problem goes a lot farther with me than some lame excuse. We have our share of problems with suppliers but they can all be traced back to us not verifying or not communicating properly. In other words, most of the screw ups started with us, not the supplier.

I'm a firm believer that no one and nothing can hurt your feelings or upset you if you don't give it the power to do so. Controlling how far things go before some real action is needed is part of not selling out your investment in yourself and your serenity.

Things get screwed up with the supplier? Make an appointment with the person that runs the place and talk it out. Ask for a lasting and workable solution or move on to the next supplier, but don't bad mouth the guy. He can't help it if he has the same problems as you, like not being able to be three places at once, or having hired and idiot that never does what he says.

You can't put the ketchup back in the bottle, so if you're going to smack the bottle, make damned sure you know where all of it is going. I'm not a smacker myself.

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

mdshunk

Supplier relationship?

I've always been a breast man, truth be told.