Understanding Factories, Suppliers, and Dealers

It is helpful to understand the production process of the metal building industry. Before a building is erected at your work site is pass hands at three levels: factories, suppliers, and dealers. Knowing who to go to for bids and pre-purchase questions can save you valuable time in the planning stages of your project.

(A). Metal Buildings Factories

Factories are the manufacturing plant where the metal is forged and rarely sell directly to the public. Be careful of any company that implies that they have their own factories. Most companies order metal buildings from factories and re-sell them to the end user. In fact, few metal building companies have their own factories. The companies that claim to bring you the building directly from the factory to your site are most likely using an advertising ploy to hook your sale.

(B). Metal Building Suppliers

Suppliers are sometimes contract manufacturers. A contract manufacturer purchases their metal buildings from factories according to their specifications. Suppliers often purchase from a factory instead making the metal themselves because they save on overhead costs which saves you money in your purchase. Suppliers often sell their buildings through a network of dealers..

(C). Metal Building Dealers

Most consumers and organizations purchase metal buildings through a local dealer who purchase metal buildings from suppliers simply to re-sale and make a profit. Dealers usually can help you acquire the necessary components for your new building such as doors and windows. Since dealers generally purchase these accessories from either a factory or a supplier and mark-up the price, you can save money on these essential components if you purchasing directly.

Buyer Beware

Be suspicious of any company that says they will give you a “special deal” on a building that is ready to ship. In the metal building industry, these are known as “clearance buildings;” however, rarely are buildings readily available to be shipped on demand. Rather, metal buildings are almost always fabricated after the customer places an order. “clearance buildings” are simply a marketing ploy to push a buyer into making a quick decision.