Plumbing repairs frequently require replacing old parts with new ones. For this reason, plumbers need to have a large supply of replacement parts available at all times, although some aren’t sure whether they should buy them online or through local brick-and-mortar retailers. Take a look at four reasons why buying online is a better idea.
1. Lower Cost
When ordering from a local retailer, they usually have to charge more than online retailers because they have higher costs like building rentals or maintenance. Online retailers often don’t have a physical presence, which allows them to charge less while operating at the same profit margins. If you’re ordering one part, the costs might be closer but if you purchase in bulk, you’ll see significant savings.
2. Consistency
Ordering from local retailers leaves you at the mercy of whatever they have in stock. If they’re out of your preferred brand, you and your customer may have to settle for one that is less expensive but also of a lower quality. You may be called out to replace that unit sooner than normal, which can lead to an upset customer.
With online orders, you can make sure that you get your preferred brand every time without having to settle for inferior quality.
3. Buy in Bulk
On a related note, it can be difficult to stock up when purchasing from a local store. If you want to avoid going to the store every day to buy U-bends, you can purchase multiple and always have stock on hand. However, if the store is always running low on U-bends, you might only be able to get a few at a time.
With online plumbing orders, you can anticipate your needs by ordering a larger supply to start and then getting replacements when you’re running low but before you run out. If the supplier is out and the shipment will be delayed for a week, you won’t run out and be forced to spend billable hours at a local hardware store.
4. Saves Time
By purchasing parts in-store, you have to take time out of your day or send an assistant to go to the store. Either way, that’s time and money that could be used more efficiently by ordering online. You can purchase all of your items in large quantities once a month and re-supply when you’re getting low.
It may not seem like a big time commitment but if you add up all the time you spend over weeks or even months, you may find that you’ve spent dozens of hours at a hardware store buying supplies when you could have spent that time getting paid and helping customers. As the saying goes, “Time is money” so save money by buying plumbing parts online.
These are just four of the many reasons why plumbers should consider buying their parts online. It saves time and money while allowing them to operate their businesses efficiently. Instead of spending hours at the hardware store, consider saving time and money by buying online.
Published by: Holy Minoza
