Homeowners looking for a bit of copper wire to install some new lights are one thing. Electrical engineers, construction provisioners, and electricians are another. These have a need for high-quality electric wire and cable, in bulk, and reliably.
But not all electric wire suppliers are created equal, nor do they furnish the same
purchasing experience. With that said, here are some ways to look into the reputability of an electric wire supplier – as well as if it’s worth it to buy from them in the first place (or if you should just keep looking).
Investigating an Electric Wire Supplier
Here are some loose ends to tie up before you engage in a contract with (or simply place an order with) an electric wire supplier.
1. Make sure they sell any speciality electric wire and cable you need
Some electric wire suppliers simply sell building wire. That’s fine for general purpose applications, but what can you do then when you need aluminum quadruplex or triplex wire for service entry? Or what if you need specialty cable for alarm or security systems?
Other more specialized cases include automotive and marine battery wire, solar panel cable, welding cable, DLO cable, submersible cable that can be buried or submerged for aquatic and marine applications, and more.
2. Look into their pricing
Not to focus too heavily on it, but for better or worse, price matters as it will impact the overall value of the transaction as well as what you can afford from the supplier. All else being equal, and holding quality the same, it’s in your interest to buy from the most affordable supplier, especially if that leverage allows you to be more competitive with your own customers.
3. Be specific about features and ratings
Ratings are effectively the only thing that make a given electric wire or cable suitable – or not – for a specific application.
For instance, if you need some fire alarm cable, make sure it is either power-limited or unlimited, as needed by the circumstance, and that it is appropriately rated for either riser or plenum space.
There’s no room here to get into all of the specifics, but the takeaway should be that you should be discerning in your purchase, as installing appropriately rated cable is a matter not just of safety but of law and regulation.
4. Look for a long history of business
The evolution of eCommerce has enabled lots of businesses to crop up over the years, some of which survive and some of which don’t. Ideally, you should do business with one that has been around for ten years, if not longer.
5. Find out about their customer service
Some B2B ventures might not be active on social media, but you can still learn about their official customer service protocols through their website, or by researching them on review platforms. Ask around in your industry and see what experiences your partners and even competitors have had, too.
6. Make sure this electric wire supplier can accommodate custom requests
Lastly, some electric wire supplies can cut cables to custom lengths or manufacture them to custom specifications. If this is something you need, make no compromises and do business only with suppliers that can meet your needs.
Start Your Search for an Electric Wire Supplier Here
To save yourself and your business some time, start your search for an electric wire supplier by looking into the aptly named Electrical Wire and Cable Specialists at EWCS Wire. They have a long history of providing a high level of customer service and they sell a wide variety of specialized electrical wire and cable. Visit their website or get in touch with them directly today.
