When vetting potential cabinet suppliers for multi-family development or other construction projects, you may hear them refer to their “preferred vendors.” In most cases, it’s spun as a positive selling point, referring to themselves as “an authorized manufacturer representative for XYZ Products, one of the most reputable brands in the industry” or promising the best deals on top-line products from these vendors. While this rhetoric may sound convincing initially, it doesn’t always work in your favor. Here are several reasons why you should be cautious of cabinet suppliers who only offer or promote products from their favored vendors.
Having Preferred Vendors Limits Your Selection.
While the supplier likes to tout the quality of their preferred product lines, by only offering one or a handful of brands, your supplier is essentially forcing you to choose from a small subset of the market, limiting your ability to compare quality and price across different options. For example, if you’re looking for a specific type of hardware that the “preferred vendor” doesn’t make, or if you’re trying to find cabinetry to fit into unique dimensions, you may be forced to choose something that doesn’t meet your needs or budget as closely as an option from a different vendor.
It May Limit the Quality Level of Your Cabinets.
Fewer vendors mean less competition, sacrificing quality to get your cabinets at the price point you want. Quality always comes down to price in the end. Suppose your supplier is using a favored vendor exclusively. In that case, they’re likely cutting costs somewhere along the line to offer their clients more affordable prices–and quite often, that amounts to reduced quality or quality control.
It Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Lower Prices.
While many suppliers claim that they can offer you better prices by teaming up with their preferred vendors, the reality is that this isn’t always the case. Because of the way these manufacturers charge for their products and your supplier’s markup, you may end up paying just as much or even more for high-end cabinets from a favored vendor as you would from another supplier.
It Presents a Conflict of Interest.
While cabinet suppliers will claim they are advocating for you as the customer, those with preferred vendors aren’t necessarily working for your best interests but rather the interests of the vendor. If they have formed a “preferred” relationship with certain brands, the supplier is getting something in return, potentially commissions, kickbacks, or lower costs (which they may or may not pass on to you). In other words, they’re recommending those brands because it benefits them, not you–which means you’re not always getting the best product for your needs.
At EFY Sales, we’re proud to be a “vendor-neutral” supplier of cabinetry, casework, and accessories for construction projects. Because we don’t have “preferred” relationships with any of our suppliers, you can be confident that we’re always working on your behalf (NOT the vendor’s) to get you the right product at the best price. Contact us today to discuss your product needs.