Steel Price Fluctuation?

[jar546]

I do understand that the price of steel fluctuates through out the year therefore the price of steel tanks does too. It is also my understanding (assume it is true) that spring is a bad time to buy steel tanks (or any equipment for that matter) because the new stuff is out and the prices are higher.

Has there historically a good time, month, etc. to purchase steel tanks?

 

[Leadking]

No. I operated under a yearly contract and the price never fluctuated.

 

[vladimir]

I do understand that the price of steel fluctuates through out the year therefore the price of steel tanks does too.

The price of steel is a small component of the retail price of a tank. I have no idea what it is for the specific alloy that tanks are made of, but $700/metric ton is in the ballpark. If a tank has 20 kgs of steel, that's about $14 worth at wholesale.

 

[rjack321]

I do understand that the price of steel fluctuates through out the year therefore the price of steel tanks does too. It is also my understanding (assume it is true) that spring is a bad time to buy steel tanks (or any equipment for that matter) because the new stuff is out and the prices are higher.

Has there historically a good time, month, etc. to purchase steel tanks?

Price of steel tanks does not fluctuate on a yearly cycle like you're imagining. If you know what you want and how to evaluate it craigslist is you best bet. If you want new try the end of the season (like sept/oct) when stores might want to reduce inventory a little before sitting on it for the winter.

 

[mksmith713]

End of summer is great for colder climates but here in Fla....well, it's pretty obvious.
In fact, the prices might even go up at that time with the snowbirds arriving for the winter.

 

[rcontrera]

There really is no such thing as a good time over the entire country. I live in the Northwest and there are a couple of dive shops that have their scuba sale "war" every summer so this seems to drive pricing down a bit in the surrounding areas. My wife used to have a dive shop years ago and she always had her best pricing in the spring to make room for new stuff that was on it's way in. Some of our local shops still have their best pricing in the Spring if they have had a bad Winter ... they have dating to take care of and have to generate cash!

Like has already been said, there are a lot of good deals out there on used stuff if you know what you are looking at.

Good hunting!