Choosing a stock cabinet line for dealers comes down to six checks: real inventory, lead time, a warranty you can explain, the supplier's direct-sales policy, sales tools, and order minimums. Score each line on all six before you give it showroom space.
Summary
- A stock line sells the jobs a made-to-order line loses on time: rentals, flips, budget remodels and clients who want the kitchen this month.
- Ask whether every finish and size is in a warehouse today, and whether stock is confirmed before an order ships.
- Ask for the lead time as a number of days, and ask where the truck can go.
- You will answer the quality questions at the counter, so pick a line whose spec sheet you can read out loud.
Why Dealers Add a Stock Cabinet Line
A stock line sells the jobs a made-to-order line loses on time: rentals, flips, budget remodels and clients who want the kitchen this month.
The gap in lead time is large. One wholesaler's guide puts stock and RTA cabinets at about 3–7 days, against roughly 2 to 16 weeks for made-to-order lines. When the client is ready now, the dealer with stock closes the sale.
A stock line also keeps quoting simple. Fewer door styles and fixed finishes mean your team can price a kitchen from one catalog.
Inventory: Is the Stock Real?
Ask whether every finish and size is in a warehouse today, and whether stock is confirmed before an order ships. A stock line without stock is just a short catalog.
- Are all finishes stocked, or only the top sellers?
- Is stock confirmed in the quote, before you pay?
- How many SKUs are carried, including panels and moldings?
- What happens when one SKU is out: wait, swap or split shipment?
ECG stocks about 210 SKUs in each of four Shaker finishes and confirms stock in every quote. Browse them in the wholesale kitchen cabinet catalog.
Lead Time and Delivery
Ask for the lead time as a number of days, and ask where the truck can go. Your client hears the date you promise, so it has to be real.
Check whether the supplier delivers to your showroom, your warehouse and the jobsite, and whether delivery reaches every area you sell in.
ECG delivers in 1–5 days from Charlotte, NC to 31 states and Washington, DC. See cabinet delivery to the jobsite or showroom.
Construction and a Warranty You Can Defend
You will answer the quality questions at the counter, so pick a line whose spec sheet you can read out loud. Plywood boxes, dovetail drawers and soft-close hardware are easy to show and easy to defend.
Read the warranty for three things: what it covers, how long, and who handles the claim. Many claims start with the dealer, so the terms affect your time too.
The ECG limited lifetime warranty covers the hinges, drawer glides and box structure for the original purchaser under normal residential use, and claims start with the seller. Read the cabinet limited lifetime warranty explained for exclusions.
Direct Sales Policy: Will the Supplier Sell to Your Client?
Ask the question directly: does the supplier sell to homeowners? A line that is also sold online to the public can undercut your quote on the same SKU.
Get the answer in writing, and ask how the supplier handles a homeowner who calls them after visiting your showroom. ECG sells to the trade only and does not sell to homeowners.
Pricing visibility matters too. If the same SKU sits on a public website at a posted price, your client can compare line by line, and your quote turns into a discount argument instead of a service you sell.
A supplier that works only in wholesaling sells to the trade, never to the homeowner, which protects the dealer's client relationship.
Sales Tools, Samples and Minimum Orders
A line is only as easy to sell as its tools. Look for samples, a spec book and materials your team can hand to clients.
- Door samples in every finish for the showroom and for client sign-off
- A spec book with every SKU, size and construction detail
- A brochure and flyer for the counter
- No minimum order, so reorders follow real jobs instead of targets
ECG offers 11" x 14" door samples in all four finishes, the Spec Book, a brochure and a flyer, with no minimum order. See the wholesale cabinets for dealers program.
Stock Cabinet Line Scorecard
Use the scorecard on every line you consider. A line that cannot answer a row clearly is a risk for your showroom.
| Criterion | Question to ask | A good answer | ECG answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Is every finish and size stocked? | Yes, confirmed per quote | About 210 SKUs, stock confirmed per quote |
| Lead time | How many days to my site? | A number, not a range of weeks | 1–5 days |
| Delivery | Where can the truck go? | Showroom, warehouse and jobsite | Jobsite, warehouse or showroom; 31 states + DC |
| Construction | What is the box made of? | Stated material and thickness | 1/2" plywood box, dovetail drawers |
| Warranty | What, how long, who claims? | Written terms you can explain | Limited lifetime, claim through the seller |
| Direct sales | Do you sell to homeowners? | No | No, trade only |
| Sales tools | Samples and spec book? | Both, for every finish | Door samples, Spec Book, brochure, flyer |
| Minimums | Is there a minimum order? | None, or one you can meet | No minimum order |
| Quotes | How fast is a quote? | Within a day or two | Within 1 business day |
Starting out? The guide on how to become a cabinet dealer covers the account side.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a dealer look for in a stock cabinet line?
Real inventory, a firm lead time, construction and warranty you can explain, a supplier that does not sell to your clients, sales tools and no hard minimums.
How fast should a stock cabinet line deliver?
One wholesaler guide puts stock and RTA lines at about 3–7 days. ECG delivers in 1–5 days.
Do stock cabinet suppliers sell directly to homeowners?
Some do, often online. Ask in writing. ECG sells to the trade only.
How many finishes should a stock cabinet line offer a dealer?
Enough to cover most requests without overwhelming the showroom: four well-chosen finishes in one door style is easier to sell than dozens.
Should a dealer carry a stock line and a custom line?
Many do: stock for fast, budget-driven jobs and custom for clients who need special sizes. The stock line keeps cash flow moving.
