5 Questions About Falcon Equipment You're Not Asking (But Should Be)

About This Article: A Few Disclaimers Upfront

So, you're here because you searched for "falcon".

Maybe you found us through "bgsu falcon" (Bowling Green State University's team? Hello, alumni.). Or "the falcon long beach" (that's a hotel, not our HQ, but we've had folks show up there by mistake—oops). Or you were looking for a Ford Falcon. Or maybe it's related to "skiing milano cortina 2026"—which, honestly, has nothing to do with mining. And "how to make pothos"? We're pretty sure that's a plant.

My point is: the word "falcon" covers a lot of territory. But our Falcon? We're in the energy and mining equipment space. Coils, components, the gritty stuff that makes industrial operations run. And I've spent the last few years documenting the mistakes our team (and our customers) have made with this equipment.

This FAQ is for the small buyers, the first-timers, the folks who think their order is too small to matter. It's not. Let's get into the questions you really should be asking.

Q1: Does Falcon Really Care About Small Orders? Or Will We Get Ignored?

That's a fair question. A lot of big suppliers in this industry have a minimum order value that feels like a ransom. But here's the thing—and I'm saying this from experience, not from a marketing script.

I once heard a sales rep say, "Small orders are a distraction." (I shouldn't have heard that. He shouldn't have said it. We had a conversation.) That attitude is poison.

Here's the reality: a $500 order for a mining component might be a test. It might be for a prototype. It might be for a repair that keeps a rig running. Ignoring that? You're not just losing $500—you're losing a future $50,000 relationship.

My stance: Small doesn't mean unimportant. It means potential. We treat a one-off coil order the same way we treat a bulk contract. Why? Because I've been on the other side of that phone call. When I was starting out, the vendors who took my small orders seriously? I'm still loyal to them. (Should mention: I'm also the guy who keeps a running list of vendors who ghosted me on small quotes. I don't hold grudges, but I do have a good memory.)

So yes, we care. Just ask. If someone brushes you off, ask for me.

Q2: What's the Weirdest Product Request Falcon Has Gotten? (And How Did You Handle It?)

Because you asked, and because this is the kind of stuff that happens when you work in the field.

A few years ago—circa 2022, I think—a customer called looking for a specific type of coil. He said it was for a "mining application." That's vague, but okay. We shipped it. Turns out he was using it as part of a custom machine to... make something for how to make pothos? No joke. He was building a self-watering planter system on an industrial scale. The coil was for a valve. It worked.

Another time, someone ordered a part because they saw "Falcon" and thought it was for a Ford Falcon. We took the order, double-checked the specs, called him back, and got it sorted. No embarrassment, no lost sale.

Lesson: Don't assume your application is too weird or too niche. We've seen a lot. And if we can't help, we'll tell you—but we'll probably point you to someone who can.

Q3: How Do I Avoid the "It Looked Fine" Mistake When Ordering Equipment?

This one's personal. In September 2022, I approved a batch of 50 custom coils for a mining conveyor system. Checked the specs myself. Approved the drawing. Processed the order. Felt good about it.

When they arrived, every single one had the wrong thread pitch.

$2,800. Straight to scrap. Plus a 1-week production delay. The reason? I skimmed the drawing. I assumed it was the same as the last order. It wasn't. I knew I should have checked it against the previous version side-by-side, but I thought, "it's basically the same." That was the one time it mattered.

Here's my checklist now—for you, free of charge (I should add: I've caught 47 potential errors using this in the past 18 months):

1. Never assume it's the same as last time. Always compare the latest drawing to the previous, side-by-side.
2. Get written confirmation on every critical spec (threads, material, tolerance). Verbal is not enough.
3. Order a sample first if it's a new part. Order one. Test it. Then order the rest.

I wish I could say I learned this lesson without the $2,800 price tag. But I didn't. Learn from mine.

Q4: What's the One Question Buyers Forget to Ask About Supply Chain?

Everyone asks about lead time. Everyone asks about price. Very few ask:

"What's your material sourcing backup plan?"

I know—it sounds like something a procurement manager with too much coffee would ask. But here's why it matters.

In 2023, we had a steel shortage (which felt like it came out of nowhere, though I should note the signs were there). A customer had placed a large order for mining equipment with a competitor. The competitor's primary material supplier for a key alloy had a fire at their plant—literally. No backup supplier. The customer's order was delayed by 3 months. They came to us. We had a secondary source lined up. We delivered in 4 weeks.

We didn't look like heroes. We looked like the only people who'd planned ahead.

So ask your vendor: Do you have a secondary source for your critical materials? And if they look at you blankly? That's your answer.

Q5: Skipping the Final Review—Worth the Risk?

I know. The final review feels like a formality. The drawing's been checked. The spec sheet's been approved. The part's been made a hundred times. What could go wrong?

In Q1 2024, I skipped the final review on a rush order of 20 coils. We were already late, the customer was calling, and I thought, "this is standard stuff." The machine operator had changed the tooling for a different job overnight. The coils were all made to the wrong size. $1,100 mistake. It was caught before shipping, but the redo cost us 2 days. The rush fee we had to eat? Another $200 (based on major online printer fee structures—oh wait, this isn't printing. This is industrial equipment. But you get the idea: the principle holds).

So no. It's not worth the risk. That 15-minute check saved us $1,100 that time. Every time I'm tempted to skip it, I think about that morning. It's the most valuable 15 minutes you'll spend.

If I remember correctly, I keep a sticky note on my monitor: "Plan the review. Review the plan. Or plan to redo it." It's cheesy. It works.

Final Thought (Because FAQ Articles Don't Need Formal Endings)

That's it. Five questions. Some I've answered from experience, some from mistakes, one from a weird plant-growing project. The point is: whether you're ordering a single coil for a repair or a whole shipment for a new mine, ask the questions. If a vendor makes you feel small for asking, they're not the right vendor.

And if you're not sure what to ask? Start with number 4. That one's saved my skin more than once.