Case Study: Four Purchases From One Automation Distributor
How an industrial automation distributor turned excess PLCs, drives, sensors and new automation stock into cash, and came back to sell to us four times in six months.
Who We Buy From
VB Industrial Supply buys surplus from manufacturers, distributors, plant closures and auctions across the U.S. Since 2017 we have completed more than 500 surplus purchases and paid sellers over $3 million, including more than 200 purchases so far in 2026.
The Seller
A Midwest industrial automation distributor with excess and slow-moving stock on its shelves: PLCs, variable frequency drives and sensors from the major automation brands. Inventory like this ties up cash and warehouse space, usually cannot go back to the manufacturer, and takes years to sell piece by piece.
What they had
PLCs, VFDs and sensors, new and surplus, across many part numbers
What they sent
A list of part numbers and quantities. No photos needed
What we did
Priced every line from our own daily sales data and made one offer on the lot
The result
A six-figure purchase in April 2026, the largest single buy in our history
Then They Kept Coming Back
After the first purchase, the same distributor sold to us three more times. Repeat sellers are the best measure of how we treat people: a fair price, one offer for everything, and no haggling over every line.
April 2026
PLCs, VFDs and sensors. A six-figure lot, our largest single purchase ever
July 2026
New PLC and automation parts
September 2026
Surplus automation parts
October 2026
New automation parts
Why Sellers Work With Us
We know current values
We sell these parts every day on our site and eBay, so we price from real sales, not guesses
One offer for the whole list
Send everything at once and get one price, usually within one business day
Free shipping or freight
We cover shipping on lots we buy, from a few boxes to full truckloads
Same-day payment
Same-day ACH payment once your items arrive and are verified
Have Excess Inventory?
See what we buy: PLCs, VFDs, sensors, servo drives and motors, circuit breakers, cutting tools and full excess inventory lots. Download the spreadsheet above, list your part numbers and quantities, and email it to info@vbindustrialsupply.com.