At Your Service: Metal-Buying Made Simple

Whether you've been buying for 20 years, or you are new to metal purchasing, it's a difficult process no matter what your expertise. SteelNow wants to take the pain out of that process, working with a network of over 60 suppliers in Texas to get you a fair price and a lead time that fits with your project.

We sit down with Jonathan Dunnam, SteelNow’s Customer Operations Manager, who helps articulate what that means for metal buyers today.

Q: What is wrong with the traditional metal-buying process today?

Dunnam: The problem with the traditional buying experience for metal comes down to inefficient communication. We live in a fast-paced world, one in which instant gratification is the expectation, and as strange as it sounds, traditional methods like phone or email no longer cut it.

Inefficiencies with the phone are obvious—no one answers, you get voicemail, and even if someone does pick up, the 15-20-minute conversation may not get the answers you seek.

Even email is starting to lose its luster. You can send off an email and not know whether it was received or if the recipient is working on your request.

If you think about most contractors, for example, where do they spend the bulk of their day? It’s either in their truck or out at a jobsite—places that really aren’t conducive for trying to contact five, six, or even more suppliers trying to find what they need in a pinch.

Q: How is what SteelNow brings to the table different?

Dunnam: We bring a multi-point communication method to the table, offering customers many ways to make a simple and efficient request for metal.