Changing business suppliers can seem like a pretty daunting prospect. After all, if you have been building a relationship with a supplier for years on end, finding something new is likely to be intimidating.
While finding a new supplier will involve work and time, it may be worth it in terms of financial savings and better products or services. If you are thinking about switching suppliers, this guide is here to help you identify when it is time to find a new one.
1. Unexpected Price Increases
One of the most noticeable signs indicating you should consider switching suppliers is when the price keeps increasing without prior notification or cause. Of course, suppliers sometimes will need to change their fees, but it should not be a constant practice. If your supplier is often changing their prices, you should consider looking elsewhere.
2. Suppliers Are Not In Line With The Competition
If you have been using the same supplier for years on end, then it is likely that you are not aware of the evolutions in your industry. Taking the time to do some research into the supplies you are using can be very informative.
As Baling Wire Direct has highlighted, taking the time to go online and look into the pricing and quality of specific materials will help you to ascertain the value of the deal you are currently accepting.
3. Decreased Quality
Another clear sign that you should consider switching suppliers is if any variation in quality arises. There are a number of ways that you can tell if the quality of a supply has declined.
Firstly, you can inspect the supply when it first enters your business. Alternatively, you could work backward by examining your finished outcome. Another sign that the quality of your supplies has declined is if you are experiencing a higher volume of customer complaints.
4. A Poor Working Relationship
There are several reasons why your relationship with your supplier might diminish over the years. You might no longer be the supplier’s target audience and therefore not their main concern, your business might be being taken for granted, or their working culture might have changed over time.
In any case, a poor working relationship left untreated can cause many serious issues later down the line. This means that a poor working relationship might be a sign that you should be thinking about changing suppliers.
5. You Can No Longer Rely On Them
Another sign your supplier is falling short is that you feel you can no longer rely on them. There are a wealth of reasons why you might feel you can no longer rely on them;for example, you might have experienced issues with deliveries, such as your supplies not being delivered on time or even at all. Alternatively, you might have been experiencing issues with ordering or invoicing.
Whatever their downfall may be, being unable to rely on your supplier can cause serious issues throughout your business, from output quality to customer relationships. All this means that you should seriously consider switching suppliers if you can no longer trust yours.
6. Your Staff Are Complaining
Another sign that it might be time to consider switching suppliers is if you notice your staff members are voicing their dissatisfaction. If you notice that your workers have started to be more vocal about the quality or the reliability of your suppliers, this can be a clear sign that something isn’t right – so listen to your employees and act on their concerns.
7. Lack Of Communication
If you find it difficult to contact your supplier directly, this can be another warning sign that you should take into account. A vendor that cares about their customers and wants to improve their service will be available to listen and act on feedback.
If you find it difficult to speak to your supplier, they actively ignore you, or they never get back to your requests, emails, or phone calls, then this might mean it is time to consider switching.
