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This post is for guys that sell metal. I was wondering if it torques you when people call up asking about the price of metal and then go some place else cheaper? Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by mark123This post is for guys that sell metal. I was wondering if it torques you when people call up asking about the price of metal and then go some place else cheaper? Thanks
Reply:I have to agreee with Rojodiablo. I also do remodels not sell steel, but I have worked doing material estimates for a lumberyard.How can you price a job to a customer if you don't know how much your materials will cost? Which supplier has the material you need in stock and at the best price? $100 on a 10k order is chump change, I have priced identical items and seen $300-400 difference in just one item. This really changes my quote and bottom line. I try and not ask for a detailed quote until I know the customer will want to spend on the job. I am up front with the guys at the desk about what I want and why. I'd rather they estimate and round up to the nearest $5-$10 on smaller items. $50 on larger ones. Most competent counter/sales personel know what their products cost and can give you a quick ball park on items. The places I shop now for many stock items, its all in the computer. Type it in and out the number comes. Custom items require some work but I generally try to kep the options down to 1 or 2 and shoot for the higher end. Most customers won't mind if I lower my price, but I will here it if I have to ask for $300 more in materials.
Reply:I was also wondering if anyone knew what size 1/8 or 2/16 steel plate comes in? Thanks
Reply:mark123 you say plate so I'll asume you want a sheet. 4'x8' is what I see most. It may be marked as 11 gauge. I have seen other sizes of plate available. We priced a 5'x 10' sheet to replace the dumptruck floor. I have seen longer and wider sheets at one supplier but I am sure that you will pay a good deal extra for them.
Reply:You can get 11 ga. in 4'x8', 4'x10', and 5'x10'. You might have to wait a few days for the 4'x10' but if it works out better for you it might be worth the wait.
Reply:10ga (.1271) is closer to 1/8" (.125) than 11ga  (.1116).  And 2/16" is 1/8".  You can get the sheets bigger, some of the ones we use here at the shop are 6' x 12'DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Does any one know if it they make sheets 1x2? would it be cheaper to buy several sheets or just buy one bidd one and cut it to size? Thanks
Reply:i know tha 2/16 is the same as 1/8 it is a little joke up here.
Reply:Originally Posted by mark123Does any one know if it they make sheets 1x2? would it be cheaper to buy several sheets or just buy one bidd one and cut it to size? Thanks
Reply:I work for a small (10 employee) Stainless distributor, and we probably get orders on 20% or so of all the quotes we do.  Lots of "lip service", and "future project planning" (which you'll get to re-quote in a couple of months anyway) and the best:  "Can you give that to me in 304L and 316L?"  Yeah, sure, thanks for doubling the amount of work I need to do not to get your order anyway.
Reply:Before I retired, I quit supplying metal , even for the jobs i did. The cussed- tomers  would not believe the price i quoted for steel , so i told them "you get the metal , bring it to me. Then ,when they showed up they said " you know how MUCH this steel costs ? "  Only THEN did they realise how high it was . AND it was cheap then ,, compared to now .[SIZE="5"Yardbird"