Over the past few years, many industries have been affected as procurement has shifted away from old-fashioned ways of ‘people buying from people’. Enquiries would usually be followed up with a face-to-face meeting, where technical and financial details were established, and the order was then placed. At those meetings, the client was able to outline its requirements, and the industry expert had the opportunity to offer their guidance and recommendations based on their years of expertise.

However, recently, electronic tendering has become the new norm. In tendering processes, for many, price is king and overrules quality and longevity, while little consideration is given to the maintenance costs associated with lower-quality products. Most cheaper alternatives will require a high amount of work during their lifespan. In many cases, ongoing repair and replacement costs outweigh the initial savings of cheaper alternatives, making higher-quality products the more cost-effective choice in the long run.

This photo is a classic example of how price was the driving factor over quality and specification.

Below is the product AFTER Lightmain had been called in and asked to rescue it. We conducted a complete refurbishment of the facility, including grit blasting, hot-dip galvanising and powder coating.

All Lightmain products are supplied with a Hot Dip Galvanised Finish, which will offer outstanding performance regardless of the environment and use. We pride ourselves on high-quality products, and that is why we offer an unbeatable 25-year guarantee on all our MUGAs.

Another example of this involved a Multi-Use Games Area, which was installed without a hot-dip galvanised finish. This initially reduced the purchase cost by around £2000 to £2500. However, in just a short amount of time, the panels got very rusty. The costs of removing the panels, grit blasting, galvanising, powder coating and re-installation, along with the associated transport, range approximately from £10,000 to £11,000. While there was a slight increase in the upfront cost for a superior specification finish, this was minimal compared to the expense of removing, refurbishing or replacing the product entirely.

So, as the title says, this is why the cheapest is not always the best option.

Looking for high-quality, durable outdoor play equipment and multi-use games areas?

Contact us today, and a member of the Lightmain team will provide you with personalised advice for your project.