Choosing a supplier only for the lowest catalogue price is a common mistake: delivery reliability and consistent material quality affect the final result of a job as much as, or more than, the unit price.
Reliability of lead times, not just price
A supplier that always meets agreed lead times, even if its price is slightly above the cheapest on the market, avoids delays on site that cost far more in lost time and client dissatisfaction than the material price difference.
Consistency of quality between orders
Receiving material of different quality between one order and another of the same product is more common than it seems with unreliable suppliers, and it creates visible problems when two batches of the same job don't match each other.
Payment terms and long-term relationship
A supplier with whom a relationship of trust is built over time usually offers better payment terms, advance warning of price rises, or flexibility on returns — advantages that don't exist in a purely transactional relationship with whichever supplier happens to be cheapest.
Always have an alternative
Depending on a single supplier for critical materials leaves the business vulnerable if that supplier has stock problems or closes. Keeping a second trusted option, even if used less often, is a sensible precaution.
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