The new McMaster catalog came today...
- Thread starter Tallboy
- Start date
NWOhioChevyGuy
Well-known member
Those are a hot commodity, I know when I was in product engineering we fought over who got the new one in the office...LOL
now not doing that job i have to rely on the web catalog
now not doing that job i have to rely on the web catalog
Stuey
Well-known member
I requested a catalog from them back in October and was told that one would be sent to me. Mid-January rolls around and it never arrived. I sent another email and was told that "catalogs will be sent to your facility in late January." Grr.
Meanwhile, I called up MSC, asked for a catalog, and BAM next day it was waiting for me at my door.
Meanwhile, I called up MSC, asked for a catalog, and BAM next day it was waiting for me at my door.
biker
Well-known member
McMaster Carr's web site is great. We buy on line all the time. Kinder priecec but if they don't have it you have to make it. MSC is good too and there web site is a little harder than McMaster Carr. We use them both.
Mike F
Well-known member
On line is the only way to go.. we order that way all the time.. the way its laid out you dont even need to know what you are doing to get the right part.. it narrows it down for you from temp range to if its ok with fuel oil ect..
only the old school guys flip through that 50lb book
only the old school guys flip through that 50lb book
Vinko
Well-known member
We got ours. They are on #115. I brought home #108, which I found sitting in an office and it's now my bedside reading. It's a great book -- I learn from it all the time.
BigChevy80
Well-known member
How the hell do you guys manage to get a McMaster catalog??? I pick stuff up all the time at their Elmhurst, IL warehouse and I asked them what I have to do to get a catalog. They say that unless I setup a commercial account I probably won't ever be able to get one. What ****!!
tdkkart
Well-known member
We buy from McMaster all the time too, but catalogs are scarce even here.
Got 2 #110 in the desk right now, haven't seen a newer one.
I buy $500-1000/year or so from home also.
The only thing I don't like about Mcmaster is that they have no brand names listed in the catalog. It'd be nice to know for sure what you're getting so you 'll know if it's gonna be a direct replacement for what you have when you're trying to repair something.
Got 2 #110 in the desk right now, haven't seen a newer one.
I buy $500-1000/year or so from home also.
The only thing I don't like about Mcmaster is that they have no brand names listed in the catalog. It'd be nice to know for sure what you're getting so you 'll know if it's gonna be a direct replacement for what you have when you're trying to repair something.
Vinko
Well-known member
My parents were customers for I don't know how long (30-40 years ?? ) and though they bought from MSC, Grainger, and maybe some of the others, they've always picked up stuff for their shop from McMaster. Replacement parts for machines, a few tools, electrical, building maintenance, etc. Diverse assortment of stuff, really. I don't know how often the catalogs come out, but we've just gotten them in the mail. My father once told me to read the catalog front to back and I'd learn a little bit about everything.
I priced out a lot of stuff form various places, and with the exception of the occasional deal from MSC, or the sale items from Grainger for say, Proto tools, I've found McMaster to be pretty good on price. Not great, but delivery same day, for very little, and (obviously) excellent customer service, knowledgeable people. Cost-effective for us.
Uncle Buck
Banned
Funny, I always thought that McMaster Carr had everything on the face of the planet, but they were also a bit higher than most other options.
+1 On the website. Used to ****, but now its the best in the business. Make up an order online, forward it to the account/bookkeeper, and it shows up the next day. The prices are always current online too. They have some CAD models already made up for the parts which is nice.
Oh yeah, we got the new one last week also. Still in the package.
Oh yeah, we got the new one last week also. Still in the package.
gearbuilder
Well-known member
Vinko
Well-known member
I've had most luck with this approach as well. Once or twice, I'll have their people tell me they can't (or more likely won't) do so. But then offer to check by manufacturers' model no's. That's how I found out they did Durham cabinets.
Vinko
Well-known member
I haven't gotten down to a "science," and maybe you're right -- but I priced out, for instance, machinist aprons from Enco and found that at $4.98 or so, McMaster was about the same. There were a few other things as well that I was surprised on. So the prices might be "a bit higher" but for us when you factor in time and availability and other factors, it's worth it.
Now, if I can stock up on 3M abrasive pads elsewhere, great. I've found great prices on-line on cases of 3-1 motor oil, and $2-something for an 8oz bottle (bought 3 cases), and when those deals come up, I go for those. Also staples for the T-50 industrial Stapler. Found those for 1/2 the price I got at HD and McMaster and bought something like 50 packs online from some random place and got free shipping.
I need a few quick couplers and McMaster's prices weren't that much higher than HD. Sure, an extra dollar a piece, but the selection and layout of the catalog made ordering so much easier, that I saved a lot of time and expense. Other things, I've found within 50c or $1 of each other.
I'd have to go back through and look at invoices to be sure, but I found their prices on Armstrong tools to be pretty good as well.
One thing I didn't find too good was some material. I found the distributor that offered it at half price. And then found it several times cheaper elsewhere in bulk quantities from the manufacturer! Sometimes that's the case too. (To give you an example: price went down from $80 to $40 to $5 -- OUCH!)
I like on-line catalog, but something about the paper catalog still.....
JohnK007
Well-known member
Must be the time of the year for those kind of outfits because I got the new Grainger catalog in the mail this past Friday. #400
Vinko
Well-known member
Another example of where McMaster is cheaper than MSC. $19 for Starrett hole saws vs. $24 from MSC. With a 25% disc. from MSC, you come out ahead, but if you need the stuff when you need, I keep finding McMaster is cheaper on a lot of products of late.
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
I got my McMaster catalog from eBay. The few things I do buy from them, are found using the website.
What is amazing is that they treat a 'one of' purchase the same as if you were placing a million dollar order.
I used to borrow the catalog from the barge master, or rig mechanic/electrician and read it from cover to cover. What I learned is that there was NO reason to be digging thru the trash skip to cobble together something, when there was actually a tool invented that would solve the problem, IF the gded company would only spend the money.
What is amazing is that they treat a 'one of' purchase the same as if you were placing a million dollar order.
I used to borrow the catalog from the barge master, or rig mechanic/electrician and read it from cover to cover. What I learned is that there was NO reason to be digging thru the trash skip to cobble together something, when there was actually a tool invented that would solve the problem, IF the gded company would only spend the money.
Fast Orange
Well-known member
You've got to think of McMaster as a giant Mom/Pop hardware store. You won't usually
get the best price,but you don't need to buy a large quantity of something you won't use again or for a long time. I used to buy a lot of small quantity stuff when I was prototyping packaging machinery-I could get a 2'x4' piece of aluminum plate instead of having to buy a full sheet-but the price might be double for the cut piece as opposed to buying the same mat'l as a bulk piece.
They used to allow private sales to individuals with a credit card-do they still do this?I have heard through the grapevine that Graingers will no longer sell to individuals-Company accounts only-any truth to this?
get the best price,but you don't need to buy a large quantity of something you won't use again or for a long time. I used to buy a lot of small quantity stuff when I was prototyping packaging machinery-I could get a 2'x4' piece of aluminum plate instead of having to buy a full sheet-but the price might be double for the cut piece as opposed to buying the same mat'l as a bulk piece.
They used to allow private sales to individuals with a credit card-do they still do this?I have heard through the grapevine that Graingers will no longer sell to individuals-Company accounts only-any truth to this?
rwhite692
Well-known member
Their prices are higher because they STOCK everything in their (immense) catalog, on the shelf. It is an extremely rare occurrence to find anything on back-order.
Stuey
Well-known member
Yep, McMaster will sell to anyone. Grainger won't, at least online. If you head on over into the nearest store, I'm told they might be willing to fudge the rules a bit.
Vinko
Well-known member
And AFA price is concerned, they aren't always "much higher" on a lot of stuff I've needed. And the service is really great. If you're in the middle of project they're great.
That said, the MSC 35% off and free shipping deal that Stuey posted a while ago was great to take advantage of those Durham cabinets. COuldn't have got that at McMaster. I'm waiting for another one of those.
That said, the MSC 35% off and free shipping deal that Stuey posted a while ago was great to take advantage of those Durham cabinets. COuldn't have got that at McMaster. I'm waiting for another one of those.
loganp
Member
They won't ship to Canada anymore.. however the company I work for still gets stuff, But they wont ship to me even tho I have had an account with them for 6 years. Something about how its to hard to export to Canada these days.
Stuey
Well-known member
McMaster? I believe I heard a similar export complaint a few months ago. If I'm not mistaken, the complications are due to post 9-11 export/customs controls.
tcianci
Well-known member
Mc Master rules! I have ordered from them a zillion times and even though I always specify ground shipping, stuff usually shows up the next day! And like others mentioned, the educational value of the catalog and web site is incredible. You can learn so much from reading it! I guess in the long run, all that info helps folks to buy the right product in the first place and it saves McMaster some headaches on returns and refunds. I agree that they can be steep on materials, but when I need something fast for my self or a prototype, I always go to them. If it is something I need to make a lot of, I will look for a supplier who will sell the quantities I need at a discount, but for one-off stuff, they are great.
-B-
Well-known member
I'll give a big clue to getting serviced at Granger walk in like a contractor or operator know exactly what you want minus their numbers catalog pages. Do not stumble when they ask if you have an account just say no them mumble maybe about starting fresh with your own company.
Stuey
Well-known member
Good advice.
I needed (wanted) a 1/4" Big Dawg and they gave me such drama for trying to order online. I was referred to my company's account manager, and he doesn't let anyone order anymore w/o POs or account #s b/c allowing people to order with private CCs ends up with double billing issues. What BS.
So I asked my father to go to the one nearest him, and he didn't have any issues. He got what I wanted by simply saying "my son works for so and so company and wants this item."
I'd rather patronize other distributors than deal with Grainger simply because heading in-store is not exactly reliable. If I need something, I don't want to have to find the time to head over there and beg for them to sell to me. I won't reward frustrating business practices. That, and I <3 three other major distributors (MSC, McMaster, Small Parts) that are much more serving of my business.
I guess I'm old school then, I love to flip through catalogs.