Why Choosing The Right Aluminium Supplier Makes All The Difference

These days, our first instinct when we want to know anything is to look it up online. And of course, that’s always a good place to start. In some cases, it’s also a great place to finish, if you’ve found all the answers you need. Occasionally, however, you need to dig a little deeper to make sure you find exactly what you’re looking for. Searching for aluminium suppliers is a case in point. With so many suppliers out there, how do you know whom you can trust? Can you believe everything you read on their website and are they really as reliable as they claim?

As a contractor, project manager or installer, you’ve worked hard to build your company’s reputation. Your clients trust you, so you need a supplier you can trust in return. A company that keeps its promises to you, so you can keep yours to your customers. It’s not enough to simply scan price lists and go with the cheapest supplier. A range of additional factors, such as service, product quality, reliability and value, are also critical.

When looking for an aluminium supplier, it’s important to choose one with a business ethic aligned with yours. When your supplier’s offering complements your own, you know you’ve found a company you can rely on.

How To Find The Perfect Aluminium Supplier

So, how do you find such a company? To help you, here are a few questions to ask potential partners before signing on the dotted line:

Do They Sell A Quality Product?

Your customers choose aluminium for a number of reasons, but one of the main ones is undoubtedly because of its strength and durability. This is particularly important in the construction industry. This is why it’s critically important to pick an aluminium supplier that doesn’t use a low-grade product as a way to cut costs. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with inferior quality aluminium, so make sure you don’t fall into the money trap – i.e. choosing a supplier purely because they’re the cheapest. This could end up coming back to haunt you in the worst way if your client’s project fails and injuries occur because of the aluminium you’ve supplied.

What Is Their Average Turnaround Time – And Do They Honour It?

Time is money. It’s an old adage but it has stood the test of time because it’s true. Your clients have time constraints. If you fail to deliver when you promised, it’s not the supplier that has to explain why to your customer, it’s you. So choose an aluminium supplier that has a reputation for always meeting deadlines and sticking to their stated turnaround times. Be wary of suppliers who overpromise and under-deliver. Demand regular communication and complete transparency right from the start.

Is Their Pricing Competitive?

As we’ve already mentioned, price is not the only factor to consider when choosing an aluminium supplier. Obviously, however, it is still a very important factor. Projects have budgets and project managers with a reputation of sticking to them will never be out of work. Pricing should be competitive, but be wary of deals that sound too good to be true – they usually are. Prices that are much cheaper than the next guy usually mean an inferior product, so do your homework very carefully here.

Have They Been Around A Long Time?

This is not to imply that new companies are not reliable! But it is undeniable that a company with a long history in the aluminium supply industry has usually stuck around that long because they’re good at what they do, and have a long list of happy customers. Experience counts for a lot. Companies that have been around a long time know all the tricks of the trade and have developed great problem-solving skills. They’re not daunted by difficult jobs and are always up for a challenge.

Are They Flexible?

Many customers have unique requirements that necessitate out of the box thinking and customised solutions. Aluminium suppliers who are only able to offer specific products put unwanted limits on projects. Make sure the supplier you choose is happy to create customised offerings to suit the needs of individual clients.

At GHI, we pride ourselves on supplying the best quality aluminium products for all our customers’ needs. In fact, the quality of our products is only surpassed by the competitiveness of our pricing and the friendliness of our service. So if you’re looking for an aluminium supplier that keeps your promises, Contact us today.