Customer Success Story: Used Sheet Pile

When presented with an opportunity to install a new pumping station, our customer, a privately-owned small- to medium-business (SMB) construction company, reached out to Eiffel Trading looking for a specific amount and type of sheet pile that could be resold after use, to help keep costs down and maximize ROI for the project.

Read about the challenges faced by the customer, solutions offered by Eiffel Trading, and benefits the customer received through buying and selling in our online marketplace.

Winning the Bid

Challenge: Budgets for SMBs are not infinite, even after winning large bids. Large or enterprise businesses promise tight timelines and high-quality work and rely on their reputations to win bids.

Solution: The project was local to our customer, so they were able to create a competitive bid based on locality and reputation. In addition, save the Contracting Authority time and money on transportation and mobilization costs.

Benefit: With the right planning and preparation, SMBs are perfectly capable of competing and producing high-quality work like Large or Enterprise contractors. The customer was able to deliver a competitive bid that ultimately resulted in the project award.

Planning the Project

Challenge: SMB’s do not always have the luxury of having a yard or project winding down with the right sheet pile or other structural steel materials needed for the project they’re bidding. Large or Enterprise businesses have a greater pool of assets to choose from to help minimize their project budget. SMB’s can either buy new, rent or find used materials to solve their project needs.

Solution: The customer located Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace and contacted our friendly and knowledgeable sales team regarding the project to see what options we could offer in sourcing used sheet piling.

Benefit: By tapping into Eiffel Trading’s vast network of used and surplus sheet pile, our customer was presented with several options to help them reduce costs and increase their bottom-line!

Acquiring Materials

Challenge: The customer had specific materials in mind and needed them at costs that would not break the project budget. They were considering a renting sheet pile, but asked Eiffel Trading to locate 36 pairs of Used PZC 18’s at 50’ lengths.

Solution: Eiffel Trading had varying lengths of Used PZC 18’s available, but none at the required length. Another customer was selling Used PZC 26’s at 50’ lengths. PZC 26’s are a heavier sheet pile section, but because they fit the customer’s design, and are an easy-to-sell section of used sheet pile, the customer agreed to a price of $0.42/LB, plus freight, for the alternative.

Benefit: The customer was able to get the material needed for their project design at a significantly reduced price from purchasing new sheet pile.__ The customer not only avoided rental fees, but knew their relationship with Eiffel Trading would allow them to market their sheet pile while it was still being used and to find a Buyer as soon as their sheet pile was pulled.

Reselling the Used Sheet Pile

Challenge: The customer advised 9 months into the project that the sheet pile would be pulled from the ground in approximately 4 weeks, and asked Eiffel Trading to begin promoting the product as for sale.

Solution: Eiffel Trading listed the items for sale and located a buyer for the used sheet pile prior to the sheets being removed from the ground. The buyer paid the customer $0.39/LB and covered the cost of freight.

Benefit: By purchasing the used sheet pile from Eiffel Trading and reselling it through our marketplace, the customer recouped the majority of the money spent on the materials. By trusting the Eiffel Trading network, they were able to have a material budget impact of less than $8K, which is significantly cheaper than buying new sheet pile or renting sheet pile for 10 months.

Summary

Eiffel Trading helped the customer throughout the lifecycle of their project. By taking advantage of our network, they were able to realize significant savings on their project budget. Used sheet pile has a great resale value and is one of our top-selling and top-requested materials. When reselling the sheet pile, we only received payment from the Buyer. Eiffel Trading does not charge sellers a fee to list used equipment or material, and we never charge sellers a commission fee.

Start buying and selling today

Though Eiffel Trading regularly assists ENR Top 400 companies save money with our online marketplace, we know the value and importance of small- and medium-sized firms in today’s business world. SMBs are essential for employment growth and industry diversity.

Our goal is to make the buying and selling process an easy experience for everyone. Our dedicated and experienced team is available to help buyers and sellers connect, schedule appraisals, negotiations, free freight quotes, and more. Let us help you every step of the way.

All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing for free.

Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.