LWS - can they survive

[bdog]

Generally I try to buy all my welding supplies from them. I like supporting the local guys. Even though they are big national companies now I still consider them local. Anyway I was looking to buy 250' of 1/0 welding lead. I am making some new leads up for my Powerarc300 and my Trailblazer 302. Being that this is not a really cheap purchase I decided to call the 3 local shops and get prices. They were $2.80 a foot, $2.99 a foot, and $3.37 a foot. On top of that there is taxes which brings the total to over $800 buying the leads locally. I went online and was able to get 250' of 1/0 lead for $507 shipped. I am all for the local guys but I be darned if I am going to overpay by $300 on a $500 item to help them out. Makes me wonder how much I am overcharged on everything else I buy there. I don't buy a ton of stuff but I bet I spend 1-2k a year there.

 

[Gary Fowler]

What I wonder is how an online store can pay for shipping, sell for 1/2 price and still make money. They must have a physical building just like the LWS and personnel to manage the orders. Taxes don't amount to the markups that the local guys mark things up. I posted a while back that when building my new house, I wanted a particular Delta faucet for the shower with overhead nozzle and 4 body nozzles. Lowe's didn't have one in stock but could order it for $1500. I found the same thing from an online place for $500. Too bad I had already bought all the other hardware for the other 2 baths.

 

[aczlan]

Their bread and butter (IMO) is companies who have an account setup and just go in with a PO to get supplies without doing much more for a price comparison.

Aaron Z

 

[Shield Arc]

bdog I've been dealing with my local welding supply for 35-years, longer than anyone working there. We have an understanding, it's all about money, my money! I buy all my gas there, but that's about it. When I bought my Lincoln V350-Pro I got the best price I could find on line. Called the welding supply to get a quote from them, to big of an item for the guys behind the counter to quote, they turned it over to the outside salesman. He called me with a quote of $500.00 more than on line:shocked:. I asked if he could meet the on line price, nope couldn't go a dime lower. I bought it on line, when it arrived it didn't work right. I called the welding supply to see if they had any ideas. The store manager sent the outside salesman to my house to see if he could figure it out, because he use to be a repair tech for ESAB. They don't take it personally that I buy on line, it's just a job to them!

 

[muddstopper]

I dont buy any welding supplies online. Its a matter of math for me as well. For the amounts I buy, add shipping, then the wait, and I havent saved anything with a online purchase. I did similar as Shieldarc when it was time to buy a plasma cutter. I checked online, got the best price i could find and then went to the local welding supply. Price difference was a couple of Hundred$ higher at the welding supply. I asked for a price match, they scratched their heads, thumbed thru the invoices and came down to within just a few $ of the internet price, not quite a price match, but close enough that I went ahead and bought at the store. Since I didnt have to pay shipping, the welding store actually was cheaper than the internet sale. I want to be loyal and buy local, but I aint interested in making them rich while I starve either.

 

[paulharvey]

I built a Whitecap Supply about 7 years ago, and although they weren't too bad on materials they marked the tools up something insane. They didn't have the prices on them, so I asked how much a nice Eswing drywall hatchet was "$65".... no thanks, Lowes has it for $29. The small specialty stores are great for advice, and certain things; but they don't buy in bulk and have trouble competing on price (or don't bother trying, knowing that many people have an account and just grab it despite the price)

 

[Arc weld]

It's usually hard to get anyone local to look at something you bought new online or elsewhere. I think Shield Arc is the exemption. Mind you where I work, one of the outside sales guys has a really good relationships with his customers. Welding is weird because the sales people don't always have to have much product knowledge. Often the customer knows what they want. Anyway, this sales guy lets the competition do all the research and finding the right product and then matches the price. He really looks after his customers when they need something fast and I think the competition is oblivious to what's going on. They get the right product at the right price and the sales guy gets an easy sale. Not many can do this though.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

For a local welding supply store on basic everyday items, many go through middle men. Online stores are often dealing directly with the factory or company. Their markups are typically higher as well with 50 or 60% profit margin, whereas online stores will settle for 10, 15 or 20% to keep volume flowing. Online stores also often keep minimal inventory and can drop ship direct from the manufacturer...Brick and mortar stores that want to stay in business will have to start doing internet business to stay competitive. Airgas does, but you get no better deal than you can manage locally. Welding gas will always be in demand so, you can expect them to stay around.

I have to hand it to my local guy though...even though I deal with Airgas in the next town over on my cylinders and gas because they are aggressive on price, they cannot beat my local guy for convenience, having it, and giving me a really good deal, comparable to most online stores, especially if it is nickel and dime stuff, or even a roll of wire. It's a small store, part of a small chain on the east coast, but I almost always manage to find exactly what I need if it's 4:50 pm on a Friday. I can/have called him up on the number posted on the door on a Saturday morning in desperate need for a roll of wire, even though they were closed. By the time I got up there he had come in and had it sitting beside the mailbox. He left a note to pay him on Monday. I don't have an account with him since I have Airgas account and can charge whatever I need and have them drop it off to me, but I go to him first. I randomly check in with Airgas before I go though and he has never failed to beat the price without me having to tell him what Airgas would let me have it for. And if he is a few cents higher than online, it beats the wait time when I need it now, and I don' t have to get together a 25.00 minimum order or pay shipping. Price for his welders is good too...but I don't have a need for those.

 

[cowski]

i sure hope so .i buy what i can from them.

 

[ericher69]

It's usually hard to get anyone local to look at something you bought new online or elsewhere. I think Shield Arc is the exemption. Mind you where I work, one of the outside sales guys has a really good relationships with his customers. Welding is weird because the sales people don't always have to have much product knowledge. Often the customer knows what they want. Anyway, this sales guy lets the competition do all the research and finding the right product and then matches the price. He really looks after his customers when they need something fast and I think the competition is oblivious to what's going on. They get the right product at the right price and the sales guy gets an easy sale. Not many can do this though.

Not so!

Have been having issues with my digital elite inferno I bought from Indiana Oxygen a few years ago (no auto off/eating batteries)

Called the LWS Miller dealer and they said bring your receipt and we will fix you up!

Now I bought off eBay in the USA and brought it in for service at LWS Canada.

Coincidentally this is NOT the same LWS that I bought my 252 from last summer...but they still treated me well!

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