Metal Supplier Out of Stock? Put SteelNow on Your Depth Chart

In football, nobody wants to see the starting quarterback go down.

But when it happens, you find out pretty quickly whether the backup is ready.

Metal buying isn't all that different.

You probably already have suppliers you know and trust. They know your business. They know your specs. They may get the majority of your orders.

We're not here to tell you to bench them.

We just want a spot on your depth chart.

Because sooner or later, something doesn't go according to plan.

Your regular supplier doesn't have the size you need. Lead times stretch. A rush job lands on your desk. You need several different products and don't want to make several different calls. Or somebody walks into your office and says those words every metal buyer loves to hear:

"We need it now."

That's when it's good to have a backup who already knows the playbook.

What should you do when your metal supplier is out of stock?

Look beyond a single supplier's inventory.

SteelNow uses a network of local metal suppliers to help source carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum across a broad range of products, sizes and specifications. That gives buyers another option when their regular supplier can't provide the material they need.

Instead of starting your search from scratch, send us the requirement.

We'll see if we can make the play.

Why a supplier network can make metal easier to find

Traditional ecommerce often works like this:

Search. Find the product. See "out of stock." Start over somewhere else.

But metal sourcing isn't always that simple.

Availability can vary by product, size, grade, geography, and supplier. Something unavailable from one source may be sitting somewhere else.

That's where SteelNow is different.

Our inventory isn't limited to what's sitting inside a single warehouse. SteelNow works with a network of suppliers, giving us the ability to look beyond one inventory position to help find the material a buyer needs.

Think of it as having a much deeper bench.

We've been studying the metal playbook for 10 years

A good backup quarterback doesn't start learning the offense when his number gets called.

Neither do we.

SteelNow has spent more than a decade in the metal industry building supplier relationships and learning the realities of metal sourcing.

Because finding metal isn't always about typing a part number into a search box.

Sometimes you know exactly what you need.

Sometimes you've got a BOM.

Sometimes you have a grade, dimensions and quantity.

And sometimes you just know what you're trying to build and need help figuring out the rest.

Knowing the metal playbook helps us turn those requirements into a sourcing strategy.

What metals can SteelNow help you source?

SteelNow helps buyers source steel, stainless steel and aluminum across a broad range of products, sizes, grades and specifications.

That includes common metal forms such as:

• Steel: sheet, plate, bar, tube, pipe and structural products

• Stainless steel: sheet, plate, bar, tube and other common forms

• Aluminum: sheet, plate, bar, tube and other products

And if you don't immediately see what you're looking for online, that doesn't necessarily mean the drive is over.

Send us an RFQ and let us go to the network.

How do you source hard-to-find metal?

When a particular metal product, size or specification isn't readily available, expanding the number of suppliers you can access can increase your sourcing options.

That's particularly useful when you're dealing with:

• An unusual size or specification

• Tight market availability

• A compressed delivery schedule

• Multiple products for the same job

• Material your regular supplier doesn't carry

• A requirement that isn't easily found through a standard online search

Instead of calling supplier after supplier yourself, SteelNow can help take that search to a broader network.

Your job is to tell us what you need. Our job is to help find it.

Why every metal buyer needs a backup supplier

The best time to find your backup isn't after you're already in trouble.

It's before you need one.

You don't need to completely change how you buy metal to work with SteelNow. Keep working with the suppliers you trust.

Just put our number on the depth chart.

Then, the next time someone tells you they don't have the material, can't hit the lead time or can't handle the requirement, you'll already know who to call next.

Send us the RFQ. Give us the spec. Tell us when you need it.

We'll be on the sideline, helmet on, ready when our number gets called.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my metal supplier is out of stock?

Expand your search beyond a single supplier or warehouse. SteelNow can tap into a broader supplier network to look for the material, size, grade and specification you need.

Can SteelNow find metal that isn't listed online?

What you see online doesn't necessarily represent every sourcing option that may be available. If you can't find the material you need, submit an RFQ and SteelNow can search its supplier network for additional options.

What types of metal does SteelNow source?

SteelNow helps source carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum across a broad range of products, sizes, grades and specifications.

Can SteelNow help source hard-to-find metal?

Yes. SteelNow's supplier network can provide additional sourcing options when a particular product, size or specification isn't readily available through your usual source.

Do I have to make SteelNow my primary metal supplier?

No. SteelNow can simply be another sourcing option when your regular supplier can't provide what you need.

You already have your QB1.

We just want the chance to be QB2.