Requesting a quote from marine spare parts suppliers can be a tricky and hectic process to handle. Mariners usually get quotes from different suppliers and select the ones with minimum price without noticing other important factors. The whole procurement process requires great insight into the process and a detail-oriented approach. Marine spare part suppliers usually manipulate the ship-owners either by mentioning forged price just to get the deal or by not mentioning the terms and conditions.
These types of situations are faced by people from any industry but the risk is much higher in the marine industry as you can’t afford any mishap to happen. Before you request a quote from suppliers, you should keep these 5 things in your mind to get the best results out of it:
Understand Your Suppliers
You should do proper research about the reputation of your supplier in the market and try to fully understand the operational procedures of your suppliers. Every business has different ways of chasing the deal and delivering the product. You should ask their clients or check reviews on their website. Besides this, you can also get the required information from their customer support center.
Setting the Objectives
There is a wide range of key considerations you need to keep in mind while setting the objectives for purchasing marine spare parts. These might include but not limited to:
- Budget
- Value for money
- Delivery and payment terms
- After-sale services
- Quality and life-time cost
By setting these objectives you will have a clear idea about what to ask from suppliers before making the deal.
Negotiate on Price
Marine spare parts are expensive but sometimes suppliers quote much higher prices keeping a high-profit margin. Even though you get the lowest price from a supplier but the price can still be negotiable. You should always negotiate on the quoted price as nobody will tell you the final price in the first go. Negotiation is an art that is the most important skill for procurement officers.
Terms of Agreement
You should always read and discuss the terms and conditions in detail before accepting an impending deal. Ask the suppliers about their working and terms of operational activities. Your supplier may not provide the maintenance and after-sale services while you may hope to get these services for free.
Hidden Charges
Always ask about any hidden charges and terms that aren’t mentioned at the time of making the deal. Suppliers usually charge for delivery, installation and maintenance services. Also, get the information about any hidden or extra charges that they may add in the invoice. JMS Group knows about the struggle for finding the best suppliers and, therefore, have simple and easy-to-understand procedures. We don’t over-charge our clients and strive to make the experience hassle-free. We don’t have any hidden charges to the quoted prices or terms and our support staff is always here to assist you in any regard.
