Electricity is an essential need for the efficient running of any household. This is because the modern lifestyle is characterized by numerous electrical devices and appliances to make life easy. So, for your new home installation or renovations, you’ll need to purchase electrical supplies. Your first step is finding an electrician to give you a full list of what you may need to buy. The common electrical parts include conduits, cabinets, switch gears, cables and networking supplies.
Next, you have to choose a reliable supplier. You have the option of buying the items from wholesalers or local suppliers. A wholesaler typically sells goods in bulk, while a local retail supplier sells single items. Aside from this, there are several other differences, and that’s the focus of this article. Read on for details. (1)
Wholesale electrical suppliers
The term “wholesale” means selling goods in bulk. Wholesale suppliers are the go-between for manufacturers and retailers. However, it’s not a must to be a reseller to get goods from a wholesaler. As a homeowner, you can also get your electrical supplies directly from the wholesale shop. This comes with the following advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
There are numerous advantages of purchasing from wholesalers, as outlined below:
- You can find high-quality supplies at affordable prices. Wholesalers are known to offer generous discounts and run promotions time after time.
- Most wholesale electrical parts suppliers offer free deliveries as long as you meet the minimum purchase requirements. This can be in terms of the weight of the supplies or the total value of your purchased items. For example, a wholesaler may offer you free shipping if you purchase supplies under 30kgs.
- Economies of scale and well-developed infrastructure enable wholesalers to deliver all orders on the same day you buy them. This is critical if your electrical installation project needs prompt completion.
- Wholesalers have friendly return policies. Although rare, you may receive different goods from what you ordered, or get already broken electrical parts. The best wholesalers understand such mishaps and accept the items back. You can get better replacements for the returned goods. (2)
- In line with the above, wholesalers also offer generous warranties to customers. So, if a specific device you’ve purchased stops working within the specified warranty period for reasons beyond your control, you can return it which the wholesaler will repair for free or replace with a better one.
- Electrical wholesalers stock numerous items. Thus, you’re sure to find everything you need under one roof. That makes the shopping experience hassle-free.
- Due to their scale of operation, electrical wholesale shops will most likely have online stores on top of their offline ones. This means you can order electrical supplies from the comfort of your home, which saves you a great deal of time, money and energy.
Cons
As good as the wholesale suppliers may be, they also have their disadvantages, as seen below:
- Some electrical wholesalers are known to adulterate the products they get from manufacturers by blending them with inferior quality parts with the aim of making more profit. That’s why you should search diligently and find a trustworthy electrical wholesale supplier.
- Wholesalers are the link between producers and the consumers. If a particular wholesaler finds out that they’re the only supplier of a given electrical part, they may exploit customers by overpricing their goods. Luckily, for most components, there are dozens of electrical suppliers that residents can consider. This encourages healthy competition, and no supplier can act as a monopoly.
Local Suppliers
Another option apart from buying from wholesalers is doing in-person purchases from local suppliers near you. Here are some of the pros and cons of local suppliers.
Pros
- Local suppliers are perfect for single item purchases. Perhaps you only need to replace a malfunctioning electrical part, say a circuit breaker or socket. In such a case, you really don’t need to look for a wholesale supplier. You can simply rush to the local electrical retailer near you and buy the item in question.
- Purchasing frequently from a local store within your neighborhood creates a strong emotional bond between you and the shopkeeper. You may always have the opportunity of conversing one on one with the supplier, and they may help you with any electrical-related queries you may have. In the end, it feels more personal, which is key to feeling satisfied as a customer. (3)
Cons
Doing business with local suppliers also has its fair share of downsides.
- Their prices are usually relatively higher because they don’t benefit from economies of scale like wholesalers.
- You may not find all the supplies you’re looking for in one store. This forces you to move from one store to the other looking for different electrical components. That wastes your time, money and energy.
- With local retailers, there may, sometimes, be a delivery cost.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen above, both wholesale electrical suppliers and local retailers have unique benefits and downsides. In the end, it depends on what you’re after. If you have a big project, you’re better off with wholesale suppliers because you’ll save a lot and get everything you need. On the other hand, if you only need one or two items for minor electrical repairs, you can work with a local supplier. Your goal is to choose the most convenient and affordable option, depending on the scope of your electrical installation project.
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