Frequently asked questions

No. You can request a quote or place an order without creating an account. If you'd like to set up an account for repeat ordering, contact Chris and we'll get it established.

No minimum order. We're here to help whether you need one breaker or a full truckload.

Yes — and this is one of the things we do particularly well. Our staff has been in the electrical wholesale and surplus market for decades and our industry connections run deep. If you're looking for a hard-to-find breaker, a discontinued panel, or a specific fitting you can't locate anywhere else, send us the details. We'll do the legwork.

Contact Chris as soon as possible at (800) 647-9471. We'll do everything we can to accommodate a change before the order is picked and staged. Once an order has shipped, standard return policy applies.

Every item is inspected, cleaned, and assigned one of three condition grades before it's listed: 

1. New — Unused. Original or fully intact packaging. Product has never been installed or put into service.
2. New — open box — Unused. Packaging has been opened or is missing, but the product itself has never been installed or put into service. Functionally equivalent to new. 
3. Used — tested — Previously installed or used. Continuity tested and mechanically operation tested. Cleaned and confirmed operational before listing. The condition grade is displayed on every product listing.

If you want more detail on a specific item before ordering, call Chris and he'll pull it and give you a straight answer.

Yes. All circuit breakers and mechanical operating devices are continuity tested and mechanically operation tested before listing. For larger frame breakers, load testing is available upon request for a fee. If load test documentation matters for your application, contact us before placing your order and we'll discuss what's possible.

It means the item was previously installed or used, has been inspected and cleaned, and passed continuity and mechanical operation testing in our Webster warehouse before being listed. It is not sold as-is. If it didn't pass, it doesn't get listed.

Occasionally we have material that falls outside our three standard grades. If that's the case it will be clearly identified in the listing. When in doubt, call before you order.

We stand behind what we sell. If you're not satisfied with your order for any reason, contact us within 30 days of delivery and we'll work it out. We're straightforward and fair-minded about returns — our goal is a long-term relationship, not a one-time transaction.

That's on us — full stop. Contact us within 30 days, we'll cover return shipping, and we'll issue full credit with no restocking fee. No runaround, no hassle.

Same answer. We cover return shipping and issue full credit immediately. Call Chris directly at (800) 647-9471 so we can get it resolved the same day.

All returned items are inspected and verified against the original order upon receipt — including manufacturer part number and serial number. This protects you as much as it protects us. You'll never have someone else's problem land on your account. If anything doesn't match during our receiving inspection we'll contact you directly before taking any action.

File the claim directly with the carrier. All B&B Trading shipments are FOB Webster, MA — title transfers when the carrier takes possession at our warehouse. That said, we don't disappear after an order ships. Call Chris and we'll provide photos, documentation, and whatever support it takes to get your claim resolved quickly.

Standard orders ship via UPS or USPS from our Webster, MA warehouse. Large or heavy orders move by LTL freight. We select the method that makes the most sense based on the weight, size, and destination of your order.

Yes. Orders shipped via UPS Ground qualify for free freight based on destination:
• $1,200 or more — east of the Mississippi
• $2,000 or more — west of the Mississippi
Standard UPS Ground service applies. Certain delivery requirements — liftgate, residential delivery, construction site delivery, appointment delivery, inside delivery, or oversized shipments — may carry additional charges. Call us if you're not sure whether any of these apply.

Most parcel orders are picked, packed, and staged within one to three business days. Large or multi-item orders requiring LTL freight may take up to three to five business days to pick, pack, and stage before they ship. We'll keep you informed throughout.

We shop LTL carriers on every freight order and pass the actual rate to you — no markup, no handling fee. Because accurate LTL rates depend on the staged dimensions and weight of your specific order, we confirm freight cost after picking and staging and before the order leaves our dock. If the rate doesn't work for you, we'll have that conversation before anything ships.

Yes. If you have a preferred LTL carrier or an existing freight account, we'll coordinate with them and bill you for product only.

International sales are available. Payment in advance is required and all international orders are customer pickup at our Webster, MA warehouse. Contact us to arrange.

We accept credit and debit cards, ACH bank transfer, and domestic wire transfer. Net terms are available for qualified accounts — contact Chris to apply.

Sales tax is collected on orders shipped to Massachusetts addresses and on pickup orders. Orders shipped outside of Massachusetts are not subject to Massachusetts sales tax.

Yes. If you're purchasing for resale and hold a valid resale certificate, contact us before placing your order and we'll apply the appropriate exemption to your account.

B&B Trading was founded in 1983 by Ellis "Cappy" Bateman in Webster, MA. We've been buying and selling surplus and excess electrical materials for over 40 years. Many of the staff who worked alongside Cappy are still here today.

Yes. If you have excess or surplus electrical materials to move, we want to hear from you. Use the notes field on the quote request form or call Chris directly. We're active buyers and our staff knows how to move quickly on the right material.

We operate from two locations in Webster, MA — our Main Street office and our Dragon Road warehouse. Local pickup is available by appointment.

B&B Trading is owned by Bill Donahue, who also owns Crown Supply and Security Supply — full-line electrical and life safety distributors serving Southern New England. Crown Supply celebrates 80 years in business in 2027. Security Supply marks its 50th. When you buy from B&B Trading you're dealing with people who have been serving the electrical, security, and fire alarm trades for generations.