Stock visibility, no minimum order, volume-based pricing, a US warehouse and a clear return policy carry the most weight. A supplier scoring 80 percent or more is a strong main-supplier candidate. Below 55 percent is risky as a main supplier.
How are the weights chosen?
Weight 3 items directly affect whether you can promise a repair date and keep your margin: stock you can see, no minimum order, fair volume pricing, domestic shipping and returns. Weight 2 items affect quality and speed. Weight 1 items are nice extras that add up over a year.
Worked example
A Houston-based supplier such as Parts4Cells publishes these points about itself: real-time stock on the website, no minimum order quantity, wholesale tiers based on monthly purchase volume, a US base in Houston, Texas, technical support by phone, chat and email, a reward system for loyal customers, and an LCD buyback program. Check its return policy and shipping page to score the remaining items.
What should you do with the score?
- 80 percent or more: open an account and place a test order.
- 55 to 79 percent: use as a backup, or ask about the gaps.
- Below 55 percent: only for one-off hard-to-find parts.
Frequently asked questions
Is price not the most important factor?
Price matters, but a cheap part that is out of stock, the wrong fit, or impossible to return costs more than it saves. The scorecard treats pricing as one of several weight-3 items.