Buying Wright tools online

[GrantCee]

I've been slowly buying Wright tools to replace my mishmash of other tools, but it's tough going.

There are only two places I know locally that carry Wright. The first is Wright dealer that has no stock, but will gladly special order anything for full retail + freight-in. The other stocks a small amount of Wright, but if they don't have the item you want they a) really don't want to order it for you, and b) try to sell you Urrea instead (of which they have a large selection.)

So I'm left to the 'net. I've found the following, and would like folks to add any others that they know about.

Hardwaresales.com - the online face of a family tool store in Seattle. Nice folks, friendly and helpful, prices below average with free shipping, but have a limited selection and don't do special orders online.

Royalsupply.com - they seem to carry darned near the whole line, prices are a bit below average, but shipping costs (UPS is your only choice, and they tack on "handling") are sky high.

Tooldepot247.com - fairly good selection, not the broadest but pretty good, but they don't tell you shipping until you actually give them your credit card number. I've never completed a transaction because of this; perhaps someone with experience could comment?

Harryepstein.com - fairly good Wright selection (no decent screwdrivers though), decent prices, shipping very reasonable, lots of folks here seem to be happy with them. If they carried the whole line I'd never have to go anywhere else.

Gsfasteners.com - very good selection that rivals Royal, but with higher prices. Like Royal they think shipping charges should be a profit center, and the result is a very light wallet.

So, who have I missed? (Let us know the selection, price level, shipping costs, and anything else you think pertinent.)

 

[lipadj46]

TR Tool Supply can get you anything. I've never dealt with him so I'm not sure if he does retail any longer. Sounds like a phone call is your best bet with them.

 

[sselander]

Wright lists three places, you mentioned one:

http://www.wrighttool.com/how_to_buy.asp

also
I have used
http://www.crawfordtool.com

google wright tools and you will get some more

 

[Bull]

Richard at TR Tools has a reputation among us for being a top-notch guy. I'd give him a call to see how to order. He can get you anything from the Wright catalog, and the last I knew, he offered a fairly nice discount to members here.

 

[Keep]

Yup Richard is the guy to talk to. Not sure if he is doing retail anymore though.

Amazon also carries some Wright stuff. BEWARE the "Cougar" line of tools being sold as Wright. I just got burned ordering some sets, to find out they were Cougar tools BY Wright being sold as Wrights mainline stuff. I got a refund but got hit with re-stocking fees, (still pretty pissed about that).

 

[GrantCee]

I have used
http://www.crawfordtool.com

I'll check them out!

google wright tools and you will get some more

Anyone can use Google. It will give you places like Shopoftools.com - they appear to carry a pretty good selection of Wright, but good luck trying to find anything on their site! Their search function won't even return hits for Wright model numbers. Pathetic.

The purpose of this thread is to find people who've actually used the vendor in question - like your recommendation of Crawford. That's the info I want to see, and it's the kind of thing Google can't tell us.

 

[blue dog]

http://www.bettymills.com/shop/prod...ols&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&department=Facility

I have not bought wright tools here, but i did buy some armstrong ratchets, seemed to be priced along the lines of other's and delivery was flawless.
Good luck.

 

[GrantCee]

http://www.bettymills.com/shop/prod...ols&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&department=Facility

I have not bought wright tools here, but i did buy some armstrong ratchets, seemed to be priced along the lines of other's and delivery was flawless.
Good luck.

You know, I looked at that site but it seemed odd that many items were listed as sold in case quantities only - like this: http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Wright Tool/WRT875-3439.html

Glad to hear that someone's had good luck with them. I just find it odd that I can't buy a single breaker bar from them!

 

[seagravedriver]

I used Crawford Tool. I gave them a call after I thought my order should have been here, they kinda stammered and said they thought it was backordered. BUT, they did the Next Day Fed Ex shipping for me at no extra cost. So, forgotten order or back order, they did me well and I would use them again. The Wright 1/4 straight ratchet is a sweet piece!

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Epstein is local to me. I asked them if they were going to carry the 3/8" in a 1/4" body flex ratchet, and they offered to get it for me with their next load. If they have what you need, and you know what you want that they don't carry, you might email them, they may help.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Check with Hiball, he is a Wright supporter.

TheGrooveking

 

[rodm1]

I've found the same problem. TR don't have a very user friendly web sight for estimating cost. I hate to bother the guy just for an estimate. I wish he would post the % off from list and shipping prices.

 

[Soon2AdjustYou]

Epstein is local to me. I asked them if they were going to carry the 3/8" in a 1/4" body flex ratchet, and they offered to get it for me with their next load. If they have what you need, and you know what you want that they don't carry, you might email them, they may help.

Hey a fellow KC metro member. I grew up in Indep (40 and Lees summit rd)
The store you're referring to, is that the one downtown around 8th street?

Branon

 

[kythri]

TR Tool Supply needs to respond to emails if they're going to advertise online and utilize an online forum to build their reputation.

 

[kc-steve]

I've been slowly buying Wright tools to replace my mishmash of other tools, but it's tough going. . . .
Harryepstein.com - fairly good Wright selection (no decent screwdrivers though), decent prices, shipping very reasonable, lots of folks here seem to be happy with them. If they carried the whole line I'd never have to go anywhere else.

Harry Epstein is local for me here in Kansas City. If you are ever out this way you gotta stop in there and check the place out. They have everything you can imagine, and more. It's awesome. They've been in business since the 1930's I think. Located downtown, space is at a premium so things are stacked high, deep and wide.

Last time I was in there one of the Epsteins showed me an 8-inch (or so) socket they had in stock.

Their website can't even come close to the actual brick and mortar store. Usually if they don't have something in the brand you want it is because they have a better counterpart for the tool. The only reason I hate to go there is because I end up buying more than I expected. And they have some low priced deals too, ie Romanian made tools.

Steve

 

[woody 73]

I like the Harryepstein co. very much. They are very friendly on the phone and the shipping is within reason.(I can understand your thoughts you can only buy what they have on hand),as someone pointed out send hiball a pm and ask if he has a good source for wright tools.

 

[HandyManny]

Many of the replacement Wright tools that I get have to be ordered through Fastenal. I really don't like Fastenal, but where I live that's my only bet. In my city I can't even seem to get tools like Proto, Blackhawk, or Armstrong locally anymore. All have to be mail ordered. I can get S-K tools locally, but not that easily anymore. My local Carquest stores stopped selling Blackhawk tool a few years ago. I recall there was a time when you could get a good selection of Proto tools at better auto parts store. Wright has always been a mail order item for me. You know something? Companies like Wright, S-K, Stanely-Proto, etc could really use a lesson from Channellock. Channellock makes good high quality professional grade tools and makes them easily available almost everywhere at a reasonable price. How do companies like Wright expect to sell it's product to professionals by limiting distribution. When I worked in the trades I generally bought the best I could find that was available locally. Unless it was something specific I needed. It was also easier to warranty tools that were bought locally too.

 

[jsackin]

Just wanted to throw this out there. We have a great relationship with Wright. Anything that Wright sells, we can get, and usually in three to four days. Just call me or send me a message and I can get you a price.

thanks

Jori
Harry J. Epstein Co.
http://store.harryepstein.com

 

[billymade]

I think Wright tool is pretty specific to the Industrial sector; thats why you don't see them in retail stores... they are sold through industrial suppliers. I don't think they make an effort to sell to the general public and since that sector doesn't really buy their tools.... I don't think they bother with market or dist. them to us. I'm thinking that large companies (like the mining industry); may even order direct in massive quantities, they can even custom make tools for special applications. In short; the average private consumer isn't their customer; so, they don't spend the time to market or dist. their products to the public at large.

 

[HandyManny]

That's exactly true. But in many industries the individual is responsible for having their own tools so they need to have a readily available source. It's the mining fleet industry and oil industry where I've seen Wright tools used the most.

 

[Hiball]

As someone said, Richard from TRTOOLSUPPPLY is Great to deal with, im not sure how much Retail business he is currently doing. Next is a link to Royal Supply, You can buy any Wright product at 60% of Retail, Thats a damn good discount in my mind. http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/Wright-Tool-c1142.htm

 

[mooman]

TR Tool Supply needs to respond to emails if they're going to advertise online and utilize an online forum to build their reputation.

In speaking with Richard recently, he seems to be getting away from the online tool forum thing. I think he got sick of guys nickle and diming him on small orders which really isn't his thing. He was sure to point out more than once during our conversation that his business is mostly government.

If you've noticed, he has not posted here or the other board in quite a while.

 

[BB26]

I order through Royal Supply. As mentioned, shipping is expensive (and slow) so I usually wait until I have a pretty good sized order built up before pulling the trigger.

Looks like you stopped by MacDonald. I have found them to be pretty rude in general. They kind of act put out when I ask them to get open stock sockets from the display board.

 

[jsackin]

You can buy any Wright product at 60% of Retail, Thats a damn good discount in my mind. http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/Wright-Tool-c1142.htm

We can offer this same deal for any Wright merchandise.

Jori
http://store.harryepstein.com

 

[Hiball]

We can offer this same deal for any Wright merchandise.

Jori
http://store.harryepstein.com

Yeah.. I didnt mean to leave you guys out. With that said Royal Supply does have a large selection on hand/website. Ive purchased from both you guys and Ive found that its a toss up on who is the cheapest (outside specials/closeouts) I pinned up in a hotel not to far away from Harry Epsteins (North-town, KC) and trust me if i had a ride i would be at your business right now..

 

[lipadj46]

We can offer this same deal for any Wright merchandise.

Jori
http://store.harryepstein.com

Well there you go, I would not look any farther.

 

[GrantCee]

Looks like you stopped by MacDonald. I have found them to be pretty rude in general. They kind of act put out when I ask them to get open stock sockets from the display board.

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!

(I think they took their customer service lessons from the DMV...)