Steel Buildings: Reputable Dealers Don’t Use Deceptive Practices

One of the biggest frustrations in the fabricated steel building industry is dealing with the few unprincipled sellers of steel buildings. These metal building brokers give the entire industry a bad name and leave customers confused and uncertain – and, far too often, owning steel buildings that don’t really suit their needs. Reputable sellers know that the more you understand about the product you’re buying, the more likely it is that you’ll end up with exactly the metal building you need.
How do you know you’re dealing with a reputable dealer and not a high-pressure salesman who is more interested in increasing his commission than serving your needs? First, familiarize yourself with these deceptive practices that some sellers use.
It’s Ready to Ship
Any time a salesman tells you that they have an inventory of buildings ready to ship, be very skeptical. Even garden sheds and garages, which come in standard sizes, are nearly always manufactured to order. That’s because all buildings must meet the building codes and standards of the site where they’ll be erected, and of course, your needs. As a general rule, the engineers will not even begin the design process until they have an order in hand. If a dealer makes it sound like he has a warehouse full of metal buildings that can go out on the next truck, chances are he’s pressuring you to buy something that doesn’t yet exist.
Canceled Sales
People do put down deposits on buildings and then cancel the sale or fail to take delivery on the building they’ve ordered. It would be a lie to say it’s never happened. It is, however, awfully unlikely that it happens as often as some sellers would have you believe. Keep in mind that even if the salesman does have a canceled order that has been partially paid with a non-refundable deposit – a common explanation for a LOW, LOW SLASHED PRICE – that building will still have to meet the codes and standards for your building site.
High Pressure Sales Tactics
Just like any other business, the steel building industry has its share of high-pressure salespeople who will tell you anything to make the sale. They may bully, cajole or demand. They may ask you for a credit card number as a “good faith” gesture, or imply that you’re wasting their time if you don’t put down a deposit to show you’re “serious” about buying. They may tell you that the price is only good until closing today, or that they only have one building left in the model you want and – well, you read the cautions above, right?
When confronted with a seller of steel buildings who engages in any of these tactics or deceptions, just walk away. There are plenty of reputable dealers and manufacturers who will treat you with the care and honesty you deserve as a valued customer.