How long is your OEM's supply chain?

Many OEMs are global behemoths, and their head offices may be in Europe or further afield. The only way that they can provide replacement parts is through complex international networks of suppliers. As you will know, every link of that chain adds a margin, and you could end up paying four times profit on cost - or more.

Then there is the added cost of shipping which not only pushes up prices but contributes to carbon emissions.

Contrast this with Gasket Guy. As a UK-based specialist fridge and freezer seal supplier, we stock over 200 types of gaskets. We also manufacture and fit high quality seals, so whichever way you procure your gaskets, you will be saving on both transport and markup costs, while getting better fitting gaskets.

How dealing direct can save you both time and money

A cost that is often overlooked when ordering parts is the admin hours spent ordering, chasing up and returning gaskets. OEMs are not gasket specialists, and they often rely on you providing them with the part number you need. Even so, miscommunication and import issues are common, slowing down the procurement process and often leading to the wrong size or type of seal being delivered.

In the worst case scenario, these delays can lead to breaches in your SLA with an important customer. Due to the vital role gaskets play in efficient refrigeration, every day of delay will reveal itself in higher electricity bills, overworked compressors and an increased risk of product spoilage.

This can undermine client trust and lead to them finding a more reliable partner. On the flip side, replacing parts quickly and using UK-based suppliers can be a powerful selling point when negotiating new contracts.

You will see on our website, that we have made it as simple as possible to source the gasket you need, whether or not you have any technical details about your fridges or freezers. We can even set your customers up on our Asset Register, enabling them to pick up the phone, quote a Gasket Guy reference ID and order the exact seal they need every time. In most cases, we can fulfil orders in a matter of days rather than weeks.

As the cherry on the cake, we also offer trade accounts and bulk order discounts, saving eligible businesses even more money.

Is an OEM telling you its time for new appliances?

The most egregious ways some OEMs are costing FM and maintenance companies money is recommending they upgrade their old appliances unnecessarily. Sometimes, the reason given is that a replacement part is 'obsolete'. If that part is a gasket, then that should set off warning bells. While the OEM may no longer be making a particular gasket, that doesn't mean that a suitable replacement can't be made.

If an OEM is telling you that they can't replace a gasket, contact us before you make any unnecessary capital expenditure. If we are unable to source a replacement seal, we will almost certainly be able to manufacture one with exactly the same dimensions, here in the UK.

For more about how we improve the sourcing strategies for businesses like yours, either see the relevant section under 'Who we work with' or contact us by clicking the button on any of our webpages.