This might depend to some degree on the use of computers by your supplier. My main supplier is fairly large & I can usually get the same price on all the commodity items since the computer will do my pricing from the lowest column price in the trade price book. Larger items I usually get a quote.
I also try to deal with just one or two people on a consistent basis. Pricing seems to improve the longer you deal with the same people, especially when they come to recognize you as a steady customer.
Tom
