Supply Purchasing Decisions

[ivsenroute]

I have noticed more and more frustration at the counter of the supply houses lately due to lack of adequate stock and now sometimes pricing.

I know guys who will no longer step foot into the local supply houses and get everything from the big box stores. Problem is the big box stores are set up for residential and very little commercial. When you need a 400A thermal magnetic breaker, the big box store will not be the place to go.

If I buy something from the big box stores, it is usually small and a convenience. I actually feel guilty buying there but there has not been one time that I was in line at the supply house where someone in front of me left without everything they needed.

Another issue is cost. For example, even though I am on a special pricing program directly through SqD with the supply house (they submit sales receipts for those of us on the program and get reimbursed by SqD) the pricing is still inconsistent. I can buy the panels cheaper but not the breakers. Wire too has become an issue where some things are cheaper and others are more expensive.

One of the busier guys that I know splits his orders between the supply house and the big box stores. What a pain in the tush that must be.

I actually returned a container of 400 wire nuts that I paid $40. for at the supply house and found them in one of the big box stores for $28. I just can't justify spending the extra money like that. I won't nickel and dime if they are within a few pennies but sometimes it is ridiculous.

Overall I would have to say that it appears as though the supply houses are reducing stock to keep overhead down and it is hurting their business. When I stop in at lunch time to pick up items, I don't want to hear "we can have that for you tomorrow". That forces me to go elsewhere.

Anyone else having the same issues?

 

[peter d]

I agree that supply house service leaves a lot to be desired. But I don't expect much from them either...they are not staffed with knowledgeable people and the average counter guy makes barely above what a supermarket cashier makes. The electrical supply industry in general is a bottom of the barrel business in my observation, having worked at one briefly years ago. Supply houses deliver lots of hype about great service and pricing, but very few actually deliver the goods.

 

[ishium 80439]

I don't feel guilty about using the big boxes at all. I absolutely maintain a relationship with the supply houses and do a fair amount of purchasing from them, but for wire and other commodities HD can't be beat. I'm sure the large EC's in town are getting smoking deals from the supply houses but I don't do 50K a week with these guys.

In terms of lack of material I have noticed they are scaling back what is actually on their shelves and it can be frustrating.

On a directly related note has anyone else seen material for a 100A or 125A resi service become all but non-existent? In the past 6 months I did service changes on these little shacks that realistically didn't need more than 60A but I was forced to put a 150A on or wait two weeks for the parts. I swear I thought that putting that service on was going to tip the house over to that side. Is this a regional thing or are other people noticing this?

 

[peter d]

In the past 6 months I did service changes on these little shacks that realistically didn't need more than 60A but I was forced to put a 150A on or wait two weeks for the parts. I swear I thought that putting that service on was going to tip the house over to that side. Is this a regional thing or are other people noticing this?

That is definitely regional. Here, the 100 amp service is still extremely common, and even small new homes will still get a 100 amp service. Most suppliers are stacked to the walls with 100 amp service parts.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

Anyone else having the same issues?

YES!

I've been complaining to the supply houses for years. It's hard for me to buy from them, mark it up 15-25% when my customer can go to the big box store and buy it for less than I did.

The supply houses say they don't buy as well as the big box guys because they are local and the big box guys are buying for world wide distribution. (When I heard something like that from Graybar, I left and haven't been back since).

It can be a little time consuming to shop around, but hey, I have more time on my hands now than I've had in years. If I can save a few bucks it can make a difference, either getting the job or making more money or both. Sometimes the supply house gets more competitive.

 

[infinity]

The major supplier around here is constantly short on stocked materials. They would rather operate out of one huge warehouse that they call CDC and get it to you the next day. The counter guy that I know calls the place "Next Day Supply House". It seems to be a trend around here and elsewhere.

 

[peter d]

The major supplier around here is constantly short on stocked materials. They would rather operate out of one huge warehouse that they call CDC and get it to you the next day. The counter guy that I know calls the place "Next Day Supply House". It seems to be a trend around here and elsewhere.

Yes, most regional chains operate on the CDC/hub-and-spoke model nowadays, with the end result of what you described.

The few remaining mom-n-pop supply houses either have it or they don't. If they don't have it they are stuck waiting until the factory shipment arrives, or they have to buy it from another supplier.

 

[emahler]

The major supplier around here is constantly short on stocked materials. They would rather operate out of one huge warehouse that they call CDC and get it to you the next day. The counter guy that I know calls the place "Next Day Supply House". It seems to be a trend around here and elsewhere.

ah yes...the infamous "Linden Has It"

 

[Mr.Sparkle]

I was surprised that the supply house I use has 500ft spools of THHN $15 cheaper than the orange box, I am guessing it's because it's not a resi product.

 

[masterinbama]

We have a supplier that is rather large in the Southeast. A common answer I get from them is we have one in Birmingham you can have it tomorrow. I was doing a lift station in the Birmingham area and went to their local branch for a breaker . Guess what their answer was. We have one in Huntsville you can pick it up in the morning. UGH.

 

[Fulthrotl]

I have noticed more and more frustration at the counter of the supply houses lately due to lack of adequate stock and now sometimes pricing.

Anyone else having the same issues?

i've had two supply houses i used to purchase from go out of business
in the last 6 weeks. they were heavily stocked in wire, and the bottom
fell out of copper.... so they can either sell it for less than they paid for
it and go broke, or sit on $4 million of unsalable inventory, and go broke.

they went broke.

i'll be honest. i HATE shopping at home desperate. it's like taking the
parts from three broken flashlights, and making one working one... :-(

they will have almost everything, but be missing a key part i need...
like the damn hub for the panel.... soo.... then you try finding a
combination of things they have that will do what you want them
to do.... more than once, i've left a cart half full, and walked out in
disgust.

wholesale houses aren't much better. in my neck of the woods,
walter's has a ton of outlets, horrible pricing, and unless you spend
$200k a month there, they act as if they wish you would just leave.
a lot of their stuff is TWICE the price of the competition, unless
you are one of their preferred accounts.

quite by accident, i stumbled on a little mom and pop wholesale
house about 5 miles from me. i've never walked out of there without
exactly what i needed. no backorders, no gouging. nice people.
harbor wholesale electric supply....

when i needed architectural lights on short notice, they got them
in 3 days, on christmas week. custom color powder coated as well.
they get all of my business.

is home desperate cheaper? on some stuff, sure.... will i buy from the
little guy even if it costs me more? absolutely. what is my time and
frustration worth?

and if everyone cheaps out and goes to the half empty big box store,
then all other sources of material dry up, and then where do you go
when home dipsnit is out of 1/2" emt compression couplings for two
weeks?

did i mention that i despise home dipsnit?


randy

 

[hardworkingstiff]

did i mention that i despise home dipsnit?


randy

I think you succeded in communicating that feeling. :grin:

 

[wireguru]

I was surprised that the supply house I use has 500ft spools of THHN $15 cheaper than the orange box, I am guessing it's because it's not a resi product.

yeah, HD is terrible on wire lately. #12 solid, HD is $45 and im paying $32, and #6 is $210 at HD and im paying $130something.

 

[G & G Electric]

I was surprised that the supply house I use has 500ft spools of THHN $15 cheaper than the orange box, I am guessing it's because it's not a resi product.

I have noticed the supply houses are usually cheaper than big blue/ big orange as far as wire is concerned. I don't know why that would be. I have no problem, guilt trip, whatever, about going to the big box stores. If I can save money, then I'm all over it. Besides, the supply house guys are slow, get the wrong materials delivered, and usually can't answer anything beyond a price quote.

 

[ohm]

We have a supplier that is rather large in the Southeast. A common answer I get from them is we have one in Birmingham you can have it tomorrow. I was doing a lift station in the Birmingham area and went to their local branch for a breaker . Guess what their answer was. We have one in Huntsville you can pick it up in the morning. UGH.

I'll bet their name starts with "M" which is the "next day electrical supply house". The last time I needed a 500 ft. spool of #3 CU they were twice as high as the company that starts with "G".

I try to get as much at HD (after hours) as possible. I know all the electrical associates at about four of their stores because no one store has everything I usually need. But, I like to walk the aisles, so I usually get everything I need, if they have it.

I've had long talks with their HQ in Atlanta before they actually started stocking 2008 NEC items like Combo AFCI's and TR receptacles. HD still doesn't get the picture...maybe I need to go to their next stockholders meeting and grab the mike.

 

[bradleyelectric]

At the supply house I do most of my business I asked 1 of the guys to check a price on a panel I bought. He told me and I told him it was $4 more than it should have been but not to worry about it just to keep his mouth shut when I stuck a couple donuts in my pocket Friday morning to make up for it. He smiled and said ok. They know what kind of donuts I like. I didn't actually make it this Friday.

I had checked the price at HD while there looking for a weatherproof single pole switch and cover. They used to have them pre assembled at HD and well priced. They now stock a cheap plastic cover I didn't like. I do prefer the fan boxes they have compared to Rexel. If someplace has a product I like more than someplace else I go there. If it's a matter of a couple dollars I'll do what's convenient.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I have noticed the supply houses are usually cheaper than big blue/ big orange as far as wire is concerned. I don't know why that would be.

I believe the big box guys are cheaper on wire and cable when copper is going up and more expensive when copper is going down. The supply houses learned that you can get burned when copper prices are falling so they follow the price up (with older stock at lower costs) so they can follow it down as it falls (with older stock at higher prices). The big box guys haven't figured it out and are now losing money (actually, holding the higher price trying to show a profit).

 

[sparky 134]

I purchase the bulk of my material from Steiner, some from Crescent, some from HD. Around here HD is very high on wire compared to the supply houses. HD is always following the copper price curve.

Sometimes I will go online and look around for specialty items, especially higher end circuit breakers.

I also factor in my time going to HD as a consideration as to where to purchase from. If I can spend a couple of dollars and have my supply house deliver to me I think it's worth it. I have a great inside salesman at Steiner (my outside guy is worthless). The only time I hear from him is when I call him.

 

[AVD001]

I've found Steiner to be the best supplier in the Chicagoland market. They can be a couple of dollars high on somethings and a couple of dollars cheaper the other way. I like the fact that I call call my inside sales rep by 5:30 pm with a list of items to be delivered and they get it there by 10am the next day most of the time. Try finding someone at HD who really know anything about electrical material!! Unlike Sparky134, I have a great relationship with my outside rep and can call him at almost any hour with a question or a concern. In the long run I feel if all things are equal, I rather give the business to someone who cares about my success.

 

[prh1700]

Almost all of my business goes to Atlantic in good ol downtown DC. Hugh can find me the most obsolete part ever in a flash. Don't know how he does it. And if I need something quick, it is there around 6:30 am the following day if I get it ordered by noon or so. One time I had an overhead garage door that was three days older than dirt decide to quit and called hugh with the parts i needed. He didn't sell them, but found a garage door company, checked on the prices and called me to deal directly with them. Now that is the extra mile, and worth a dollar or two extra every once in a while!