Qualifying A Supplier

pdh2100

We are a general contractor. We buy it all. Are there any key characteristics you look at when selecting a supplier to use?

Note: we have had a hard time since Katrina here in the gulf south. But I think overriding characteristics of suppliers can still be applied.

thanks

paul

Glasshousebltr

I use just one qualification.....he must sale the material.

Bob

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Bob

Grumpy

Wonderful question really. Lots of suppliers call me to sell me stuff all the time. Bottom line is I am mostly happy with who I am doing business with right now, so why should I change?

First off, sell the products I want, and don't try to sell me a substitute. Product knowledge is extremely important but lacking at most suppliers, thus I have decided when seeking knowledge to cut out the middle man and almost always go direct to the manufacturers now, and just use the suppliers to deliver the product, especially in the case of special orders.

Often times you just have to take a few orders to determine if they are worth doing business with. Price is not the most important factor. On time delivery proably is for me. Price is a factor however because I am not going to pay higher than the "going trate" unless I am in a bind... which brings me to my 3rd qualification, being able to help me out in a pinch. Inventory is also a factor because I hate having to wait to get something. Lastly location location location, there are a few suppliers close to me that get my business for no other reason other than they are very close bye and great for small orders.

Having said that, my primarly supplier is 45 miles away, but I get all my big deliveries from them. Their service is great and bring me samples to my office or job site when ever needed. They will even send out a driver at no cost to pick up returns (their standard 15% restocking fee applies).

Mike Finley

Man is this relevant. I just placed an order for a bathroom product for an upcoming project. My normal supplier for whatever reason finally calls me back 2 days later after I left a message asking for the ETA of this product.

His answer to me is that he placed the order and it should be here next week. Next week? What day? I asked him. His answer is the supplier told him they think they have some coming in on there truck on Monday.

My next question is - So I will have it Monday for certain? I need to know so I can schedule the job. I don't want to schedule the job until I have all my materials in hand. His answer is he can't speak for his supplier, he can only tell me what they told him.

I said, I see, thanks, I'll talk to you soon. Goodbye.

I then called another option and got a firm delivery date of Wed. Called back the first guy and told him to cancel my order, I found somebody else who knows when I will have it, they said Wed for sure, he stammers and stutters but that's two days later then when I think I am going to have it. My answer of course is, yeah, but Wed is for sure, your Monday could end up being, Tues, Wed, Thurs or who knows when. I can't run my business on maybes.

So what qualities are important? Keeping on top of your game and keeping your head out of your ass is pretty near the top of the list or I'm going to vote with my dollars somewhere else.

George Z

Hours of operation, delivery service, not screwing up colours.

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joasis

There are 2 companies a few miles apart selling steel building components...one company stocks what i want and know me...good relationship. The second company wants my business so I try them out on a quote. I use 2-1/2 inch woodgrip screws when we install metal roofing....they don't stock these, and then they told me I was doing it wrong...(everyone else uses 1-1/2 screws) .I need to use what they stock because they know!....needless to say, I remain with company one....they know me.

The Stamp Store is one I hate to buy from. They want to act like they invented acid staining and stamping concrete, and after the last "lesson" their salesgirl tried to give me about how to do a job (she had the company training), I asked how many stamp jobs she has set up, and she really got pissy. I buy online now unless I have to have it right now. I will not stand for that crap from a supplier.

It reminds me of Auto Zone...try to tell those clowns what kind of part you want, and they will give you a ration of crap. I was so fed up with one of those guys I told him if he knew half as much about what he was selling as he thought he did, he would be out in the field working for 5 times more money then he was making in the store, being a dick.

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Tscarborough

http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...=supplier+love

JIM CARROLL

SERVICE.

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