They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. That’s because what’s on the outside doesn’t always match what’s on the inside. The same can be said for packaging materials. And in some cases, the differences can really cost you.
For example, say you need to order polyolefin shrink film for your production line. Your buyer has to call around to several suppliers before he eventually finds one who offers him an incredible discount. He orders a few dozen pallets worth and sends over the invoice. As far as he knows, he just saved your company a lot of money. But, did he?
A few weeks later your line runs out of your previous stock and starts to use the discounted shrink film in your machines. But there’s a problem: The film your buyer purchased wasn’t exactly polyolefin.
People on the line are getting sick from the fumes. The shrink film isn’t working as it should. The line gets shut down while you investigate the problem, sacrificing valuable production time.
Eventually, you discover what’s wrong, but by the time you catch on you’ve already shipped out boxes of your product with the wrong film. That’s when the complaints start rolling in, and then the returns department starts receiving boxes of damaged product.
Sure, you could solve the problem by ordering new film, but that could keep your production line down a few more weeks while you wait for it to arrive. Or you could pay a premium to overnight the supplies, but now where’s your margin?
Disasters like this one happen all too often in the packaging industry. Buyers on the hunt for cheaper materials order batches of discounted supplies, only to discover what they thought they ordered wasn’t exactly what they got.
The real costs of using off-brand, cheaper materials in your packaging line are potentially devastating to your bottom line. Everything from damaged machines and production shut-downs to employee injury and workman’s compensation lawsuits is more common than you might think.
So, how can you avoid falling for these scams? By finding a supplier who you trust; one who wants to do more than just sell you supplies and walk away, who prioritizes your profitability and long-term success over making a quick buck.
At First Packaging Systems, we always put your needs first. We offer the highest-quality materials for the most reasonable prices, and we guarantee that what’s inside the box matches what’s on the label. Don’t gamble on third-party suppliers who promise you lower prices while cutting corners on quality. The price you pay might be more than you realize.
If you’re looking for supplies you can trust, be sure to call us first. You’ll be glad you did.
