You may be of the opinion that buying casters is relatively straightforward. It’s just like buying items off the shelf, right?
Well, it’s kind of like that if you’re just making a one time purchase, but for businesses that use a great deal of casters on an on-going basis, one-time purchasing is not really an option. Such companies are going to need replacement casters on a regular basis, which makes the purchasing process more complicated.
To get the most for your business when buying casters wholesale, or making regular purchases, you need to make sure that you’re asking the right questions of your supplier.
Here are 5 questions a purchasing manager needs to ask before buying casters
1.What are you able to provide for us?
While it’s true that a supplier’s number one goal is to supply, the supplier-purchaser relationship needs to go a lot deeper than that. The best manufacturing companies are those that are looking to do much more than fulfill orders and make sales.
So, when you are selecting the supplier of your casters, the first thing you need to inquire is what your supplier is able to do for you when it comes to providing the highest level of service possible. Make sure you define what you require very accurately, and also, the problem you’re trying to solve.
When your supplier says they can deliver on your request, ask them for evidence. If you’re looking to create a new, long-term relationship with a caster supplying company, for example, they should be more than willing to offer you free, samples with no-obligation.
2. Will my business improve with your services?
What happens when you take on a new member of your workforce and they fail to add any value to what you do? You either ask them to step up or you ask them to leave!
The same goes for suppliers. You’ll want to understand what contribution their products and services will make to your business and how your business will improve as a result. Remember, a company that is just content to fulfill sales is usually one that needs to be avoided.
The best caster supply companies are those that are dynamic and proactive. They are always looking to improve themselves, their services, and their products. Work with them and your business will improve as a result.
3. How viable is your business?
Long-term, dedicated relationships are extremely valuable; however, they are only viable if the manufacturing company is going to be around for the long term as well. The worst thing that can happen when you’ve come to rely upon your supplier is for them to go bust. You’ll then have to start the entire supplier search process all over again, and your company could even suffer downtime while you are searching for a new supplier, which could be disastrous.
You could ask your supplier how healthy its balance sheet is looking and whether it has any major debts or dependencies. Your supplier will be receiving their items from manufacturers, so you could ask how confident they are that this supply chain will continue without interruption.
Also ask how many customers they have. Many suppliers become over-reliant on one or two clients and should they lose one of those clients (or both of them) then they may struggle financially, putting your supplier relationship at risk.
4. For whom do you supply the same type of products or services?
When it comes to choosing a supplier, a proven track record is paramount. While it is important to understand how difficult it is for new businesses to get off the ground, it’s best to choose a supplier who has been in the business for many years. That way you can be confident that they know what they’re doing – suppliers who don’t know what they are doing don’t tend to last long!
It is absolutely fine to ask for testimonials and references. A decent supplier of casters will have no problems with giving you access to information about their existing customers. If a company is reluctant to tell you about their clients it means:
(a) They may not have enough of them or
(b) They’re afraid of what their customers might say to you.
(c) To be fair, there could also be a matter of client confidentiality.
By speaking to the company’s clients you’ll get the best sense of the quality of their products, and how important they consider customer relations to be.
5. How much will the products cost?
Well, you know we’d get around to this one eventually. You can’t buy casters without spending money!
There’s more to the costs involved though than asking for a price-per-unit. All pricing matters must be completely transparent, and that includes aspects such as transportation and packaging costs. The last thing you want is for some hidden costs to be added to your overall bill.
If you are buying in bulk, do not forget to ask if a discount is available. Most caster supply companies are always willing to offer discounts for wholesale orders because they also save money.
It’s also important to ask if you will be charged for returning the items if they don’t work up to your expectations. Hopefully, as you have done your due diligence, it’s not something that’s ever likely to arise.
Here at Douglas Equipment we are always willing to answer questions such as those posed above, as well as any others you may have. You can rest assure that we stand ready to assist you in any way possible.
Our support team is always on hand to speak with you. Just give us a call at 1-800-451-0030, or use our online contact form to contact us today.
