E-Steel and MetalSite are competing aggressively. Weirton simply told its buyers of secondary and excess material that they would have to buy from them through MetalSite, Levin says. This is because buyers of LTV's and SDI's products now had a chance to look at Weirton's offerings. With that big audience, you've got a better opportunity to make the sale. LTV posts listings for hundreds of coils and slabs each day.
People are much more comfortable with it, and there is less fear of something different.
Like other steelmakers, LTV had sold this steel by telephone and fax machines. From a buyer's point of view, it's one-stop shopping. Before selling on the Internet, Weirton Steel had conducted auctions by fax. There wasn't a tremendous amount of competition. SDI still initially sells secondary steel the traditional way.