You quoted it fast.
You got the PO.
Now you're just waiting on the delivery…
…and waiting…
…and waiting. 

Sound familiar? 

Valve deliveries that drag out, or flat-out miss the mark, can ruin your day, your margin, and sometimes your customer relationship. So what’s really going on behind the scenes? 

Let’s break down the most common reasons for delivery delays, and more importantly, how you can avoid them.

             

1. The Inventory Mirage 

You were told, “Yeah, we’ve got that in stock.”
Turns out… it was in stock last week. Or in a warehouse on the moon. Or “stock” meant “we’ll drop-ship it from a mystery vendor sometime soon.” 

You know how this story ends:
The customer’s calling you, wondering where their valve is, and your supplier? Nowhere to be found. 

How to avoid it:
Look for suppliers that offer live inventory and clear lead times. If they can’t tell you what’s on the shelf in real time, you’re playing the guessing game. 

At Petrovalve, if we say it’s in stock; it’s actually in stock. No smoke, no mirrors, no surprises. 

2. Drop-Ship Delays 

Drop-shipping sounds efficient… until the product sits untouched in a secondary warehouse, waiting on paperwork, packaging, or someone to remember it exists. 

You don’t see that delay on the quote. But you feel it when the shipment’s late and your customer’s on the warpath. 

How to avoid it:
Work with a distributor that owns and controls their inventory. We ship from our own shelves whenever we can. That’s how we keep our lead times tight and your customers happy. 

3. Unclear Communication (aka The Void) 
Sometimes it’s not the delay that causes the problem; it’s the lack of communication about it. You don’t know when it’s shipping. Your customer doesn’t know what to expect. And now everyone’s mad. 

How to avoid it:
Look for a supplier that doesn’t ghost you after the PO. We keep our customers in the loop every step of the way, and we’re easy to reach if anything changes. 

Even when the answer isn’t perfect, at least you’ll have it. 

4. Overpromising to Win the Order 

Here’s the dirty little secret:
Some suppliers will promise anything to get the PO. “In stock,” “2-day ship,” “no problem!”
Then once the order’s placed, reality hits and you’re stuck explaining to your customer why that 2-day delivery turned into 2 weeks. 

How to avoid it:
Ask the tough questions upfront:
Where is this shipping from?
Is it actually on your shelf?
Can I get a firm ship date?

And if you’re not getting straight answers? Time to move on.

Bottom Line? 

Delayed deliveries aren’t just frustrating, they’re expensive.
They cost you time, money, and credibility with your customer. 

But with the right supplier, you can cut through the noise and get the parts you need—on time, every time. 

Ready to stop chasing shipments and start getting real answers?
Check live inventory and shipping timelines at Petrovalve.com or give us a call. We’ve got your back.