How To Pick Survey Supplies - EngineerSupply

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How to Pick Survey Supplies

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How to Pick Survey Supplies

There are many retailers that sell survey supplies, but how do you choose the best one and how do you pick the right supplies? Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure you obtain the perfect supplies for your surveying project.

Find a Reliable Survey Supply Store

If you are seeking out a reliable surveying supplies store, there are several things you should look for. Firstly, you should see if the retailer has any trustworthy reviews. These reviews can give insight into how the retailer does business and how reliable the survey equipment it sells really is.

Secondly, what type of policies does the store maintain in regards to shipping, returns, and warranties? Ideally, you should choose a store that allows customers to return items if they are dissatisfied in any manner.

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Get What You Need

When it comes to surveying instruments, the right retailer will have a number of them to choose from. Unfortunately, when faced with a high number of choices, retail shoppers tend to overbuy and end up with equipment they don’t need. For this reason, you will want to take the schematics of your project into consideration and find out exactly what you need. This will stop you from overbuying and spending more money than you want to. It will also prevent you from ending up with a bunch of unusable survey supplies.

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Ask for Advice

Even if you are a skilled surveyor, there may be room for improvement. Often, the tools surveyors use aren’t necessarily the best choice for their projects. If you are a novice or new to the world of surveying, you will definitely want to be sure you are choosing the proper tools for your project, but at some point, you may get overwhelmed. There are countless surveying instruments to pick from, and you need the very best.

If you want to be sure you are choosing the best tools, don’t hesitate to speak with a store worker or customer service representative. These professionals can provide you with some degree of guidance and ensure you don’t select the incorrect tools.

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Get Your Supplies in a Timely Manner

It is imperative that you have all the necessary tools for your project when the time to work arrives. If you are like many surveyors, you will be able to find all the tools you need to complete your project at the retailer of your choosing. Unfortunately, there may be times when you need to special order a tool that is not in stock.

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Don't be Afraid to Buy New Pieces of Equipment

Sometimes, it can be tempting to use old, non-working equipment to save money. This isn’t always a good idea, especially if your project requires working, up-to-date tools. When you choose to replace older equipment with newer equipment, you can save money in the long run since newer, functional equipment can help you save time and energy.

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Get a Good GPS Unit

If you only need to back up your paper map or compass, you may want to consider a more modestly priced unit. However, if you want something that will fully replace a map, more costly models typically offer better durability and onscreen mapping, as well as other features, such as touchscreens and improved battery life.



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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Mainstream Retailers Sell Survey Equipment?

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Some of them do, but they may not sell more specialized instruments. Before choosing a retailer, you may want to check out their website and see if they have the instruments you need. If they don’t, you may want to choose one that offers a wider, more diverse selection of products.

How Much Should I Spend on Surveying Tools?

The amount you will need to spend will depend on the scope and complexity of your project. If your surveying project requires the most up-to-date, expensive tools, you may have to spend a bit more. However, if your project is relatively simple, you may be able to budget shop accordingly.

Should I Choose a Larger or Smaller Retailer?

In reality, such decisions should be made based on the quality of products and the level of customer service offered by the store. Typically, larger stores will have a wider range of products, but smaller mom-and-pop retailers may offer better customer service. Just choose a store that caters to your needs and values you as a customer.

An Instrument I Purchased is Damaged or Nonfunctional – What Should I Do?

Any decent retailer will have a reasonable return and refund policy. Before you return your product, you should familiarize yourself with the store’s policy on damaged or nonfunctional items. The majority of retailers will allow you to exchange the product or obtain a refund if your products are broken or they don’t work.

Should I Shop Online or In-Person?

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Shopping for supplies online can be convenient, but there may be times when you want to view a store’s instrument collection up close. If you have a specialized project to undertake, it may be in your best interest to go to the store and hand-pick your items. This can save you time in the long run.

Get the Supplies You Need


No matter what type of surveying project you have in mind, Engineer Supply can help you find the survey supplies you need. Contact us today to receive a free supply quote.
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