6 Crucial Questions to Ask When Choosing an Industrial Metal Supply Company
Choosing an industrial metal supply company may not be as easy as it sounds. There are several criteria an industrial metal supply company needs to meet, and those criteria will be different for every single customer. To ensure you’ve found the right company for your needs, here are the questions you should ask.
How Many Years Have You Been in the Industrial Metal Supply Industry?
When you’re just looking for some angle steel for a quick project, the years of experience your industrial metal supply company has may not seem important. If, however, you’re looking for a long-term partner who can help you find the specific materials you need, when you need them, and at a price that meets your budget, then you want an industrial metal supply company that has been around for a while.
Do You Offer Surplus or Prime Steel?
Some industrial metal supply companies will provide only surplus steel and metal options. Others may deal exclusively with prime steel. An industrial metal supplier who can provide both is an excellent choice, because you won’t have to shop around every time you begin a new project.
What Type of Customer Do You Usually Serve?
Some steel suppliers work directly with the end user, while others exclusively serve businesses. Again, when you find a company that works directly with consumers and with businesses, you can begin to build a relationship knowing that, should your needs change in the future, your supplier won’t have to change, too.
Do You Offer Any Additional Services?
When buying surplus or prime steel, there is a good chance you’ll need to cut or fabricate to suit your needs. Ask your industrial metal supplier what additional services they provide. You may be able to arrange cutting, shearing or punching, which can significantly improve your order turnaround times and delivery schedule.
What Is the Lead Time for Orders?
When ordering steel and other industrial metals that are made for specific project specifications, you should be prepared for delays. However, most projects can use standard items, so choosing a surplus metal supplier that has a large, in-stock inventory that is easily accessible enables you to get your order processed quickly and ready to ship or pick up right away.
Do You Deliver?
The best industrial metal suppliers will have multiple options available to ensure buyers get their order when they need it. Whether it’s pick-up, supplier truck, or carrier delivery, the key is to choose the metal supplier that provides the right shipping method to ensure you get your products on time and within your budget.
We think you’ll find that Texas Iron and Metal checks a lot of the boxes. We work with contractors, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies, and we’re ready to work with you. We sell by truckloads and in small quantities of just a few pieces at a time, so we’re as big or as small as your needs. We offer delivery, shipping, and local pick-up and provide sawing, punching, and shearing services. We have prime steel and a large, deep inventory of surplus steel —in fact, this is what we’re known for.
When you ask these crucial questions, we hope we’re the answer you’re looking for.