The Hidden Cost of Cheap Office Supplies: Why the Lowest Price Isn’t Always the Lowest Cost

Introduction Every procurement team knows the conversation: “Supplier A is ₹10 cheaper. Why are we buying from Supplier B?” On paper, it sounds like an easy decision. But procurement is rarely that simple. A cheaper product can sometimes lead to higher consumption, more wastage, frequent replacements, operational delays, employee time spent resolving issues, or emergency