When outlets for electrical supplies are marked down by customers

Local outlets providing electrical supplies for constituents have a responsibility to uphold a series of key benchmarks for the industry.

From DIY homeowners looking at making installations and repairs off their own accord to empowering electricians and trades professionals with their toolkit, these operations should be able to meet the needs of their consumers.

However, just like any industry, there will be retailers and wholesalers alike who drop the ball and struggle to maintain those standards.

This is when shoppers have every right to mark the enterprise down, voicing their concerns to the rest of the community about their inability to match marketing rhetoric with tangible action.

Here we will outline some key examples of these businesses being rightfully marked down by their customers.

No on site expertise

The industry of electrical supplies is a wide and overarching sector. It will incorporate a variety of products and items including wires and cables, connectors, motor controls, circuit breakers, timeclocks, switchfuses, isolators, boxes, conduits and much more. In order for customers to feel confident in their purchase and its suitability for the client, they need to be able to consult professional advisors in real time. By discussing their own experiences using the items and offering alternatives that could be more applicable to the project at hand, that guidance will be considered a valuable asset. A void of that on site expertise won’t reflect well on the supplier.

Lack of warranty guarantees

Even in the best case scenario where the purchase was applicable for the project and it suits their needs, there is nothing to say a fault or mishap won’t cause an issue in the coming weeks and months following the transaction. Outlets for electrical supplies should be offering their customers comprehensive warranty guarantees that are in line with industry standards, ranging anywhere from 12-24 months for general power tools and toolkits to 10, 15 and 20 year options for major investments.

No brand awareness

On site expertise and warranty guarantees might be in short supply with electrical supplies if the brand is not known to the community at large. There is a reason why big businesses own most of the market share across Australia as they boast the resources to answer questions promptly, offer a variety of products and give consumers added features like home delivery and installation services. Those cheaper knock-off models won’t resonate with individuals who need to rely on their investment.

Slow order turnaround time

Time pressures are often placed on electricians and trades professionals who have to complete a project for their client within a specified timeframe. Should an item be lost, broken, compromised or simply run out of stock, it is up to the outlet for electrical supplies to come up with the goods. There is nothing more frustrating for a customer to enter a giant retailer or wholesaler offering these products only to discover that their specific requirement is not on hand. This should see a direct shipping option that expedites the process and doesn’t leave the shopper waiting. A slow turnaround time will be duly marked down online.

Higher boutique pricing policy

When outlets for electrical supplies arrive with a high opinion of their product and their brand position within the industry, they tend to mark up their price in the belief that their shoppers will continue their demand. Just because the item might have cost more to develop and carries a certain logo, that does not mean the consumer will reciprocate at the other end. In 2019 it is easy for a residential or commercial client to run a quick gauge on their mobile about how much a cable, breaker or conduit should cost them. If their price is consistently higher without any room to maneuver then they will be rated down accordingly.

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
Executive Editor at Best in Australia. Mike has spent over a decade covering news related to business leaders and entrepreneurs around Australia and across the world. You can contact Mike here.
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