So I'm currently having another round of sleeplessness, and decided to work on some reports. While going through the report, one of the columns of data is Lead-time. It is an important detail that every salesperson uses daily, and with every quotation a lead-time is to be advised.

Looking through the data, I see the typical 1-2 days. Some specify work days, as in 1-2 work days. Again, very typical for HPAlloy. Even 2-3 days is not horrible. We usually do not work weekends, but we do run extra shifts.

(Did you know that we do offer same day shipping? Of course you have to call early to get a spot... And it has to be able to be pulled, cut, inspected, labeled, packed, cert pulled, packing slip made, package labeled, billed and picked up)

Occasionally I'll see a creative 10-12 days, (this is actually 2-2.5 weeks). Always work in the smallest numbers possible.

A lead time is sometimes negotiable, and should never be ambiguous. If you see a lead-time that is unclear or unacceptable, the quote stage is when you should bring it up to the sales person or their manager.

PROTIP: If you know they day you need it by, tell the salesperson that it is your 
dock date that you need On or Before "OOB", otherwise known as No Later Than "NLT"

More insight into the quoting process?  DYAS is supposed to mean DAYS, and sometimes misspelled as DAUS. 

WKS is weeks, occasionally denoted weejs, clearly a typo though.

ARO is After Receipt of Order

After 34 years, we changed our minimum order from $75 to $100.

It was overdue. Consistent increases in costs incurred of cutting, packaging, material certificate storage and retrieval, packing list and invoices (generating a record of all these details) has risen over the years.

This is a guide to help to buyers  always get the the best price on metals.  Most metals buyers employ one of these tips, but many of these can be used in the process of buying - all at the same time.

10.)  Buy in bulk - our materials do not have an expiration date. Standards may be updated over the course of several years, but we will work to update certifications upon request.