The Day I Realized I Was a 'Small Fish'
The project was simple: upgrade an aging conveyor control system in our warehouse. Nothing complex. We needed three Mitsubishi FX5U PLCs, some modules, and the software to program them. Total order maybe $4,500. For a company our size—about 35 employees—that was a meaningful investment.
I sent out RFQs to five vendors who listed Mitsubishi PLCs on their websites. Two didn't bother replying. One said they'd get back to me (they didn't). One sent a quote with a note that read: "We typically handle orders over $10k." The fifth one quoted me list price, with a 6-week lead time and no phone number to call.
That's when it hit me: My $4,500 order wasn't worth their time.
The Struggle: Big Vendors, Small Priorities
I went back and forth between trying to make it work with the one vendor who quoted me and reaching out to even bigger distributors. The struggle wasn't the price—it was the attention. I needed answers about whether the FX5U could interface with our existing sensors. I needed to know if the programming software required a license upgrade. I needed someone who would actually pick up the phone.
Look, I get it. A $4,500 order is small potatoes for a national distributor moving $2M a month in automation gear. But here's the thing: when I'm spending $4,500 on Mitsubishi PLC FX Series hardware, I'm not just buying parts. I'm buying a solution that needs to work the first time, because downtime in our warehouse costs way more than the hardware.
The vendor who finally quoted me—let's call them "Vendor X"—took three weeks to respond. Three weeks. When I followed up, they sent a one-line email with the price and lead time. No questions about my application. No offer of support. Nothing.
The Turnaround: Finding a Real Partner
I almost gave up and just bought the parts from Vendor X. But my gut said no. Something felt off. If they're this hard to deal with before the sale, what happens when something goes wrong?
So I tried a different approach. Instead of searching "Mitsubishi PLC supplier," I searched for distributors who specifically mentioned support for small projects and training. And I found one—a smaller, regional distributor who actually focused on Mitsubishi PLC training and consultation.
I called them. A real person answered on the second ring. Not a sales robot. Someone who asked what I was trying to build, not how much I was trying to spend.
That conversation changed everything.
They asked about the conveyor system. They asked about our existing sensors. They even asked about our electrician's familiarity with Mitsubishi FX5U PLC programming. Then they put together a package: three FX5Us, the right I/O modules, a software license, and a one-day training session for our maintenance guy. Total cost? $4,800. More than Vendor X.
But here's what Vendor X didn't offer: someone who actually understood the application, who helped us avoid buying a module we didn't need, and who was available by phone when our electrician had a question during programming.
The surprise wasn't the higher price. It was how much hidden value came with it.
The Result: Stress-Free Implementation
The PLCs arrived in two weeks, not six. The training session was practical—our guy came back on Monday and started writing ladder logic. When a compatibility question came up about the communication module, I sent an email and got a reply within two hours. No runaround. No "that's not our department."
That vendor? We've placed seven more orders over the past year, and the total is probably around $25,000 now. Small. But growing.
What I Learned (The Hard Way)
After three years of handling procurement and maybe 60 orders across 10 vendors, I've come to believe that vendor relationships matter more than vendor size—especially when you're a small customer.
Here's the checklist I use now:
- Do they answer the phone? If I can't talk to a real person during the sales process, I can't rely on them during a crisis.
- Do they ask about my application? A vendor who treats a Mitsubishi PLC order as just a part number is a vendor who doesn't care if it works.
- Do they offer training or support? Especially for PLCs, the software and setup are where the real value (and cost) lives.
- Do they make me feel like a customer or a favor? If I have to beg for a quote, I'm already in a bad partnership.
So glad I didn't settle for Vendor X. Almost did, which would have probably meant a lot of stress and a lot of rework.
Bottom line: If you're looking for a Mitsubishi PLC FX series partner—whether it's a single PLC or a full system—don't just compare prices. Compare how they treat you before they have your money. The ones who value a $4,500 order are the ones who'll be there when it becomes a $20,000 one.
Prices as of early 2025, based on recent quotes from regional distributors.
