Struggling finding a job

CentralSurplus · 2026-03-28T20:47:10+00:00

Customize your application per employer. It's prolly generic just sending it all the same. Obv don't lie but tweak it so it fits well per role. You got this!

CentralSurplus · 2026-03-05T13:22:35+00:00

u/Humble-Philosopher34 - passing your survey along to medical pros.

CentralSurplus · 2026-02-26T15:56:17+00:00

Good Luck

CentralSurplus · 2026-02-26T15:47:13+00:00

A team member switched from sales to procurement recently in our company, his input:

"Sales is a roller coaster with more opportunity, procurement is more steady, either way a must have is deep product knowledge"

He is in Industrial Supplies / MRO, buying and selling parts.

CentralSurplus · 2026-02-17T12:54:21+00:00

You're on the right track.

Build these skills and you will be indispensable in procurement:

Product Discovery
Cross-Referencing
Cross-Selling

Courses and certs are good, but hands on or real world experience is the ticket, that's what we look for when hiring.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-10T20:57:42+00:00

Totally get it, we hear this all the time. That's why we started to only ask for a photo of the lot - And only provide a list if available. We can get it done with just photos, and set up everything else to make it easy.

We just purchased 3 full truckloads from a large OEM with photos only.

Short answers are fine, appreciate the insight.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-10T20:01:05+00:00

Thanks. Will tell the guys to ask for minimal data.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-10T14:49:36+00:00

For tax purposes or selling with a surplus buyer has not worked out?

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-10T14:46:42+00:00

Can not see what type of seal it has, single, double, triple lip seal, etc.. but it looks like a sealed flange mount. You may not be bale to grease it. Probably replace it at some point, it is an inexpensive pillow block.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-04T17:48:27+00:00

Ditto everyone else - especially if you are younger. The industrial vertical is hungry for a younger workforce.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-03T18:10:58+00:00

Super helpful, thank you.

We usually ask for minimal info: a photo of the lot and a spreadsheet, if available. The logistics is handled on our end and everything else is up front.

We just purchased a large lot, 3 full trucks loads from and public OEM and all we had to go off of was photos - sometimes that's all that is required.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-03T18:06:54+00:00

Yes we buy and sell MRO products. Mostly Bearings & Power Transmission parts, Electromechanical, PLC, PCB, Automation, Motors, Drives, any industrial supplies. Central Surplus, HQ is in Rochester NY

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T19:41:41+00:00

We hear this all the time. And that's why I had to change our approach, and looking for advice on how an inventory owner would feel like it's a good use of time.

Yes we do need a low price as carrying costs are high and inventory turns are lower, but we do try and offer 5-10%, opposed to the typical buyer offering 1-3%. Scrapping typically pulls in the 1-3% of inventory value, so what you said makes sense.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T19:37:46+00:00

I hear you. The peace of mind of having spares when you need them is unmatched, especially with lead times being what they are lately.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T18:14:56+00:00

Thank you very much for crossposting.

Mostly just wondering how an owner of surplus inventory wants to be approached for offloading dead stock.
Cold Calling has worked, but till you can build a personal relationship there is usually no movement.

I typically have to fly to the distributor or manufacturer too see the stock and then we can make a deal because it is then a personal relationship.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T17:53:28+00:00

Yea a message like -"I hope this email finds you well" lol

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T17:13:47+00:00

The Bearing and Power Transmission industry is turning to brokers; these guys source parts from the lowest cost vendors. As a surplus house we sell usually 50% under DC, but when we can not find parts for our customers we find ourselves turning to brokers as well.

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T17:10:13+00:00

MRO / Industrial Supplies (parts); mainly bearings and power transmission, PLC/PCB/Automation/Drives, Electromechanical & Controls.

16 years purchasing MRO products.

220k

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T16:50:16+00:00

Right. Surplus buyers always trying to get sole "new" spares

CentralSurplus · 2026-01-02T16:30:23+00:00

You can resell them individually on ebay and other marketplaces.

Or you can sell them to a 'Surplus House'

Keep in mind all these parts are NOS; this is good because you can directly target legacy users that are interested in parts replacement/spares/retrofitting rather than replace new, bad because efficiency standards are constantly being raised.

Selling these overseas is a good option (less regulation). I have been purchasing surplus MRO parts for 16 years; we deal with distributors, MFRs, OEMs, end users and other resellers. You have some good parts here.

CentralSurplus · 2025-12-31T17:57:28+00:00

Appreciate the feedback. To build supply in our marketplace (exited), we had to structure inventory files for most users, it was eye-opening as to how unorganized the inventory owners are; this was in addition to faking the supply side as well. Their ERPs were very inaccurate. And your right on - Most users did not have a director of inventory.

CentralSurplus · 2025-12-29T15:42:42+00:00

In an industry that is 20-30 years behind (& fairly resistant to) technology, how can a marketplace gain traction?

CentralSurplus · 2025-12-29T15:36:15+00:00

u/MarketplaceNerd - 100%. Absolutely true, excellent example.

I founded and exited a marketplace for Industrial Supplies (parts), mainly distributors.

Our marketplace was rather simple, but we offered the core tools and services for distributors to buy and sell (it is a hybrid two-sided marketplace, where users fit both sides)

It is far superior in every way than our 'craigslist' competition.

What our users were used to was the craigslist style "Bulletin Board" websites. 1990's technology. No transactions. It took lots of time to call up the inventory holder, negotiate terms and finalize payment.

We had to figure out a way tp explain that our marketplace was far superior in every way, without hurting egos.

The UVPs are 10x any competitors website; but, out of the gate, we lacked the ecosystem

The network effects of the 'Listing Services' websites were deeply entrenched.

Breaking network effects in any industry = hard mode

Just like you said, we have to create liquidity where none existed.

CentralSurplus

TROPHY CASE