For your business, it is vitally important to have the right bearing supply partner that understands your needs and is willing to help find, supply and quickly deliver the right bearing for your application. Sorting through all the options available and which is the best for you and your application can be a time-intensive task.
We have narrowed down the five most important areas to evaluate your bearing supplier to ensure you are getting the best service possible:
WHAT MARKETS DO THEY CURRENTLY SERVE?
Almost everything that moves needs a bearing, but the right bearing can be the difference between operational and outstanding for your project. Companies like Ritbearing continually add new focus markets and work with their partners to develop new information and research to expand its available product solutions.
WHAT TYPE OF MANUFACTURERS DO THEY WORK WITH?
A responsive bearing supplier should have a deep manufacturer base to provide the best quality, price and products to fit your needs. Even the top manufacturers subsidize their bearing production, which means they too are limited on the solutions they can provide. Bearing wholesale companies like Ritbearing bring an entire network of quality manufacturers to match your application’s needs while still being cost competitive with the big brands like Timken, SKF and INA.
HOW MUCH TIME WILL YOUR ORDER TAKE?
Big bearing manufacturers are like large ships; they move slowly and turnaround time is a long, arduous process. The time delay on your order is an important question to ask your supplier since acceptable lead times can go out as far as two years. Working with customer-focused companies like Ritbearing who understand the importance of a quick order turnaround can mitigate the risk of paying more in the long run. In fact, Ritbearing can typically fulfill orders, even customized bearing projects, in months, not years.
DO THEY OFFER CUSTOM ENGINEERED BEARING SOLUTIONS?
If you have a small or niche application, most bearing manufacturers will expect you to select from an existing option and make it work. Customer responsiveness and your company mission just aren’t a part of their vocabulary. When you need more than an out-of-the-box bearing solution, wholesalers like Ritbearing have the resources available to address your individual needs and develop a product to match.
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THEM?
In today’s world of instant, impersonal communication, it’s easy to become just an account number. Face-to-face meetings are still important to Ritbearing and happen as soon as possible with new customers. Understanding who you are, your application and your expectations are vital to ensuring you receive the best service and product solution.
Depending on your needs and industry, you may have more questions to ask your bearing supplier but the common thread in all the answers you receive should be that you come first. How the supplier plans to help you achieve your goals should be at the beginning of every answer.
Ready to work with a bearing supplier that provides the answers you need to hear for these questions? Contact us today.