It is vitally important that the suppliers you rely on to service your business have strong cashflow and can meet all your expectations.  So how do you recognise when things are not as good as they should be?

Below is a list of behaviours that by themselves may not mean much, though if you start to observe regular incidences or multiple behaviors then it may be worth having a discussion with your supplier.

1. Unreasonably long lead times
2. Regular back orders or inability to supply your total order
3. Partial shipments
4. Dumping product
5. Reducing services or product range
6. Excessive or regular price increases
7. Inability to meet warranty commitments
8. Reluctant to take on repairs and service work after the sale has been made to you
9. Discoloured boxes and old showroom displays gathering dust
10. Empty warehouse

Have you dealt with problematic suppliers in the past?

Let us know, with the benefit of hindsight, what were some of the things that may have led you to react or change things earlier?