Bidding Websites

Jim,

I'd check out CR4's parent company, GlobalSpec, instead. I'm not involved in the sales end of the operation around here, but I do know that your business can gather leads via GlobalSpec. Sounds like a way to "drum up new business" to me.

Moose

Thanks Moose, I will look into it!

Jim C

I joined Mfg.com for al most a year, what a useless website. I got one job for my $400 a month investment. It seemed all the vendors had local suppliers and used Mfg.com just as a sounding board. Then they wanted automatic payments and I couldn't stop the payments til I closed the account. Then their billing cycle seemed to get shorter all the time! I spent more time quoting than working.

I'm hearing a lot of this from many shops, I'm glad I inquired.

Thanks for your input

Jim C

I spent more time quoting than working. - do you expect to get jobs without quoting for them? If so best of luck to you. Perhaps it was the price and services quoted that caused you not to get the jobs?

I know very well you have to quote jobs to get them, and I know nobody wins every job they quote. There were several jobs that had a target price and I beat there target price and still never got an award. As a experiment I quoted some jobs with only material cost and still never got a job on those quotes. This website is a waste of effort!

I have read this on a number of forums, many complaints about bidding and never getting the jobs, Jobs getting awarded at prices lower than material costs. not being able to get in contact with buyers. and many more.

Thanks

Jim C

Jim,

I have been considering the MFG.com community for a few weeks and am a little concerned about how hard they push you to join. It isn't the cost per month that has me wondering about it but the full year commitment does bother me. If they had a 3 month trial I would be more inclined to give it a shot. I do feel like it would take a few months to get to know some of the buyers as well as learn how to use the web site to your full advantage.

My other serious concern is my time. I am looking to fill 20 to 30 hours per month, not much and I am afraid it will take me 60 to 60 hours per month of bidding, getting material quotes, etc. just to get those 20 to 30 hours.

Most of the comments I have been able to find are negative but then the people who have bad experiences are the first to mention it. The guys having a good experience would likely not speak up and tell you a lot of good things about the site just to keep competition down.

I am very undecided at this point.

I have yet to find any of them useful. Many times they can't even categorize you correctly. We manufacture ERW tube- HRP&O, CRCQ, Galvanized and High Strength/HSLA. It doesn't get any simpler then this. But the searches never work, people can't find you, opportunities don't match. Mfg might have one opportunity that matches every 6 months.

Mark - United Tube Corp