[TheForge] Gaaaaaaah!

[Ries Niemi]

Bruce- I will never understand why all art schools, engineering 
schools, vo-techs, and community colleges dont teach a course in "how 
to get stuff, and how to find what you want".
There is an etiquette to industry, along with quite a few sub dialects 
of english, that you must learn to navigate industrial suppliers.
When I first started making stuff, in the mid 70's, there was a 
"wholesale barrier"- lots and lots of stuff they just wouldnt sell to 
the average person. It used to drive me crazy, as I would find out 
about some cool material or tool, and then not find it in the hardware 
store.
So I learned to BS the system. As I got more professional and 
experienced, and I actually had money to spend, it became easier, and 
in many industries the old time wholesale wall has been knocked down. 
But it still helps to be able to sound like you know what you are doing.

When you call someone on the phone, you have anonyminity, and you can 
say anything.

Industrial phone technique 101-

First, always ask for a salesman. I know, salesmen are the slimeballs 
of the world, but when you call a supplier, they are the ones who are 
paid to have the time to talk to you, and they have the prices.

Next- do as much research as you can ahead of time, so you dont sound 
too dumb.

Ask for a "price quote"- if they ask, tell em you are bidding a job, 
but not ready to buy right now. They get this all the time from their 
real customers, so it sounds legit.

Make up a sample quantity- that is, you say, "Hi, this is Bruce, from 
Grasshopper industries, and I need a price quote on some 1/4" square 
cold rolled bar. If I buy 100 lengths, how much per pound will it cost? 
How about if I only need 10 lengths? What length are those stocked in? 
(Cold rolled is usually stocked in 12 foot lengths, but not always. Hot 
rolled is stocked in 20 footers.) Do you guys have a minimum charge? 
How about a minimum delivery charge? Is it in stock? If not what is the 
"lead time" to get some? How much do you charge to cut to length? Do I 
need to set up an account to buy from you, or are cash sales OK?"

Pretend to be a business, even if you are not. Ask questions, and then 
you will know the procedures of that supplier, and in the future you 
can just get a quote on the material you are interested in.

Some steel yards are setup to deal with walk-ins, others are not- so 
sometimes to get what you want, you have to buy a minimum order that 
might be larger than you would prefer. A lot of companies want to 
discourage timewasters and itty bitty orders, but if you are 
persistant, you can get what you need.

ries