It can be difficult to find a fitting distributor after leaving your previous distributor. The reasons for leaving a distributor are myriad. Some choose to leave their distributors following a change in pricing, or perhaps due to mistakes made by a previous distributor. No matter what, the selection process can be challenging, especially due to the fact that companies rely on their distributors for a number of different things. Consider the fact that fitting distributors are needed for a variety of projects, not merely those that are small-scale. In fact, it’s estimated that there are over 100 major projects that will need flanges, piping, and many types of pipe fittings over the next five years just along the Gulf Coast. So with that being said, it’s important that much thought is placed into the selection process. Let’s look into some of the things that should be considered before finalizing the decision.
1. Cost
As previously mentioned, one thing that impacts any company or project manager’s final decision regarding fittings is the cost of the materials. Certainly, some fitting distributors are more financially competitive than others. However, some are also unable to fulfill orders of the same volume as larger distributors. This means that while you may be paying less for the fittings per order, the overall value of the order is much lower. Furthermore, some fitting distributors may rely upon lower-quality sources; because they’re paying less, they’re able to charge less in turn. But paying for lower-quality materials is ultimately not worth it, as your system could end up struggling following the fittings’ installations. The last thing that anyone wants after installing piping systems is for them to fail, ultimately resulting in both time and money lost, as well as potential damage. As with any sale, if fitting distributors are advertising a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Furthermore, many fitting distributors offer better deals to continuous, regular customers.
2. Reviews
There are a lot of issues that can lead to problems with fitting distributors; but if a distributor has continuous issues, these problems will likely show up online. The fact is that reviews are important, particularly when they’re coming from within the community that your company is a part of. You need to look up a distributor’s reviews before committing to them and ensure that they have a good reputation within the community. Keep in mind, of course, that a distributor having one or two bad reviews doesn’t mean that they’re a low-quality distributor, as long as there are good reviews as well. Furthermore, some good reviews can be professionally planted, and if a distributor seems to have reviews that aren’t quite authentic, do your research. If you can seek out references and reviews from a company that you trust, do so. Ultimately, the opinion of someone whose standards you understand on a serious level is important.
3. Supply Capacity
We’ve covered this somewhat, but it’s time to delve more into the issue of supply capacity. When installing a piping system, you’ll most likely want to source all of your products from the same distributor, if possible. There is a level of convenience to working with one distributor for everything you need, or at least as much of it as possible. If a fitting distributor only supplies, say, flanges, while its competition supplies sweepolets as well, wouldn’t you be better off working with the more diverse distributor? Not only is this more convenient in general; it’s often more cost-efficient as well. This is why you should make supply capacity another priority when choosing a fitting distributor.
4. Customization
Sometimes, there is no single pipe fitting that meets your specific needs perfectly. Therefore, you need to see if the distributors you’re considering offer customization as well. The more customized the fitting, the better it will suit your project. Flanges often need to be customized, and if a distributor can’t offer customizations, they may not be right for you.
Clearly, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a distributor; these are just a few. Always remember, here at Lynco Flange & Fittings, we are a complete one-stop shop for all items you may need for a project. We’ve been in business since 1982, and we are here to serve you and your project’s needs! Contact Us today for a free quote and we’ll get you taken care of.