Selection and price are not the only concerns when choosing an office supply vendor. You should also consider service aspects such as ordering, delivery, and reporting.

Ordering options vary quite extensively from one vendor to the next. In some ways, mail order vendors offer the easiest ordering, with extended hours or 24-hour service. Most also offer some sort of ordering via fax or online services.

For larger clients, contract stationers are often more convenient, offering bulletin board and advanced EDI (electronic data interchange) systems for automatic restocking and billing. In some cases, contract stationers will even come to your office and take inventory to identify which items you need.

Delivery practices tend to be more similar across vendors. Most offer free delivery, although some set minimum orders for free delivery. Mail order vendors are the most likely to charge for delivery, while office superstores and office supply stores often limit deliveries to businesses within a certain radius.

Reporting is one office supply service that can be very helpful, especially for larger firms that want to identify where money is being spent. Contract stationers usually offer the most comprehensive management reports, breaking down orders by department or product type.