From big box stores to metal manufacturers, there are many different ways to purchase metal. If you have been looking to purchase your metal online, then you have likely come across Metals Depot.
As manufacturers of metal roofing and siding panels, we at Western States Metal Roofing always want to keep you informed of the different suppliers you have to purchase metal. While we always strive to give our customers the best service, we understand that sometimes buying direct from a manufacturer like us is not always the best fit for you and your project.
In this article, we review the pros and cons of Metals Depot to help you decide if they are the right metal supplier for you.
What Is Metals Depot?
Metals Depot is an online supplier that stocks over 50,000 shapes, sizes and types of industrial metals. They have no minimum order requirement and will cut your order to any size. They offer specialty services including laser jet cutting, plasma cutting, flame cutting and galvanizing for additional corrosion protection.
What Types Of Metal Does Metals Depot Carry?
Metal Supermarkets has products available in alloy steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, tool steel, brass, bronze, copper, and aluminum. You can buy these metals in a large variety of shapes including:
- Square Bar
- Round Bar
- Angle
- Channel
- Pipe
- Beam
- Perforated sheet
- Specialty metals
- Plate
- Expanded sheet
- Flat sheet
- Tube
Pros Of Metals Depot
- No minimum order required
- Can be cut for you
- Large availability
- Expedited shipping available
No Minimum Order Required
Metals Depot, unlike many metal suppliers, does not have a minimum order requirement which is a big plus for any homeowner or contractor with a small project. Finding a metal supplier to fill a smaller order is difficult because smaller orders are often not cost efficient to make or ship.
Metal Can Be Cut
Metals Depot helps save you a step and also save money on machinery by cutting your metal to any length. They offer specialty cutting services including:
- Shear cutting
- Plasma cutting
- Saw cutting
- Flame cutting
- Laser cutting
- Plate saw cutting
- Water jet cutting
Large Availability
Metals Depot is the self proclaimed one stop shop of industrial metals with over 50,000 types of metals shapes and sizes in stock. This gives you a wide variety of metals to choose from for your project.
Expedited Shipping Available
If you need your metal fast, Metals Depot gives you the option of emergency processing or expediting shipping for an additional fee. According to their website, they offer next day or second day air for expedited orders.
Cons Of Metals Depot
- No painted products
- Must have materials list
- Negative customer reviews
Metals Depot Does Not Carry Painted Metals
Metals Depot does not have any painted metal in stock. If you are looking for any color other than a natural metal, you will either have to paint the metal yourself or order from a supplier that carries painted metal products.
At Western States Metal Roofing, we carry metal panels in over 100 standard and specialty colors in both PVDF and SMP paint systems.
Must Have Materials List
When you order your material from Metals Depot, you will need a materials list to refer to when placing your order. Without it, there is a high likelihood of ordering the wrong parts or quantities.
Negative Customer Reviews
While Metals Depot does not have a large amount of online reviews, many of the ones that do exist have low ratings. Customer complaints include receiving the wrong orders and inconsistent quality. It’s always a good idea to check the reviews of any company to help you decide which metal supplier you want to give your business to.
When Is Best To Buy Your Metal From Metals Depot?
The ideal customers for Metals Depot are those who:
- Know exactly what their order requires
- Are not looking for painted metal products
- Want a simple ordering process
- Want a large variety of metals and cutting options to choose from
If you are looking for other metal suppliers to consider, there are different ways to purchase your materials including:
- Other online metal retailers
- Big box brick-and-mortar stores
- Roofing contractors
- Metal distributors
- Metal manufacturers
Western States Metal Roofing is one of the metals manufacturers that sells directly to homeowners, roofing contractors, and general contractors. Whichever company you choose, we advise checking their google reviews first to verify that you are dealing with a reputable company.
Receive manufacturer-direct pricing and excellent customer service on your metal project by requesting a quote from Western States Metal Roofing today.