Fasteners

[alex71]

what do you think of my prices?

 

[terry1769]

Prices seem to be fine. I already have an order from you on the way hopefully.

Prices on the SHCSs seem to be fine too. I usually order from McMaster Carr.

 

[alex71]

USPS picked it up on the 28th... I hope they live up to their promise of 2-3 days, but that's not been my experience with them lately. I'm still waiting on an ebay win that was shipped on the 22nd! Can't beat their prices though. Shipping those weights by UPS will bankrupt you.

 

[nissan_crawler]

They were on my doorstep when I woke up today. I haven't opened them yet, I just woke up not too long ago.

 

[alex71]

Inventory updated again (see my sig)... a lot of stuff is selling out.

If you want to order, and you have excel, please use the excel version of the order form... Thanks for looking!

 

[nissan_crawler]

Nice job on the packaging and labeling each box. That'll make it easy. The only problem I have is that I now need to get some kind of bolt storage, damn you.

 

[peter_x]

Can you do something like an assortment of bolts I would need for exhaust manifolds, etc? Whatever fits into a flat rate box?

 

[alex71]

I would love to be able to offer assortments, but there's a problem...

The reason I can sell these so cheap is that I don't buy the fasteners through regular channels. I get them at auctions, business closings, etc. This makes it difficult to replenish inventory in a predictable manner. For example, right now I only have four items in Grade 8 Hex Botls before the 1/2" sizes start. People have almost cleaned me out of the small stuff.

Even if I do manage to replenish the popular sizes, I don't know if I would be able to pre-build assortments and hold on to them before someone actually orders. I need to move this stuff. And if I build them to order, there would almost certainly be gaps... see the problems?

Now, I can buy this stuff through regular channels and fill in all the gaps, and make any kind of assortments people want without any pieces missing, but the prices would have to go up by 50%. It would still be significantly cheaper than going to the hardware store, or to fastenal, tractor supply, internet vendors, etc. (simply because I would take a smaller markup). Would you be willing to pay that? If I get commitments from several people (and deposits) I can certainly start doing it. Unfortunataly I just can't cram a couple thousand dollars of fasteners into my garage and hope people buy them from me at prices 50% higher than what I have been charging them in the past.

Comments?

 

[peter_x]

Now, I can buy this stuff through regular channels and fill in all the gaps, and make any kind of assortments people want without any pieces missing, but the prices would have to go up by 50%. It would still be significantly cheaper than going to the hardware store, or to fastenal, tractor supply, internet vendors, etc. (simply because I would take a smaller markup). Would you be willing to pay that? If I get commitments from several people (and deposits) I can certainly start doing it.

Yeah, count me in for one.

 

[scottmlew]

If you do a nice assortment along the lines of what I PM'd you about, yes, I'd be interested.

 

[terry1769]

Got my box today. They stuffed that 35# package into my mail box!

Haven't had a chance to look at all of it yet but what I did see looked top notch. I'll post a pic once I get time to dig through it.

Thanks Alex!

 

[alex71]

Those of you interested in assortments, can you give me a better idea of what you want?

for example

coarse grade 8 in 1/4 to 1/2", 5 different lenths plus nuts, washers, lockwashers?
from 1/4 to 3/4?

coarse and fine?

other stuff? thanks.

 

[scottmlew]

Honestly, I'd like my garage to look like the Home Depot or Lowes nut and bolt display

I'm sure that everyone has slightly different goals...for example, I know that some folks want hardware to have on hand for things they're fabricating. I want hardware for replacements for stuff I break or that I want to replace b/c it's getting too corroded, etc.

So I'm looking for metric (first priority) and SAE fasteners of all kinds, with the corresponding nuts, flat washers, fender washers, lockwashers, jam nuts, cap nuts, etc. Since most of my needs are automotive related, my focus is on the small items. Since I am looking to have replacement hardware, I need all of the diameters, all reasonable lengths, coarse and fine, high-grade zinc and SS, etc. btw, I'm interested in more than just hex bolts -- I'm also interested in self drilling screws, machine screws, sheet metal screws, carriage bolts, set screws, socket screws, etc.

I know this is still a bit nebulous, but hopefully it helps.

 

[alex71]

Honestly, I'd like my garage to look like the Home Depot or Lowes nut and bolt display

then you'd like my garage. it basically is a hardware store. problem is there's not a whole lot of room left for other stuff

OK, so you want anything and everything, I guess that's easy... anyone else?

 

[peter_x]

I just want under-hood stuff. But I don't really know the sizes. Mostly metric stuff, but definitely some 3/8 bolts. Grade 8 for the exhaust sizes, grade 5 for most other stuff. Sorry if I'm being too vague.

 

[Vinko]

You've sold out of a hell of a lot of stuff! I should've looked at the inventory sheet earlier

 

[alex71]

Yeah, I was a bit surprised how quickly a lot of stuff sold. There's still quite a bit there (IMO) that the typical guy could use in his garage, especially if he's into 4x4, but still, most of it is on the big side.

I'm trying to find some more inventory in the smaller diameters, but its a bit difficult. I could, I guess just buy it from a MFR, but I'm hesitant to drop a few thousand on this stuff. it would basically mean going into business, and I already have a full time job. I have a soft sort of commitment from a few people to buy stuff at prices 50% higher than what I've been charging, but I'm wondering how far that really goes. I'm afraid it would take me a looong time to sell stuff at that price, and I just don't have the room to store tons of stuff for that long, not to mention spend the money like that without being able to turn it quickly. Having said that, I still might do it, I have to admit the prospect is exciting in a way.

In the mean time, lots of stuff is still for sale for you guys, and I'm going to start putting "lots" of the larger diameters on ebay. Not many people here are in the market for 1-1/4" grade 8 bolts

 

[Vinko]

Yeah, I was a bit surprised how quickly a lot of stuff sold. There's still quite a bit there (IMO) that the typical guy could use in his garage, especially if he's into 4x4, but still, most of it is on the big side.

I'm trying to find some more inventory in the smaller diameters, but its a bit difficult. I could, I guess just buy it from a MFR, but I'm hesitant to drop a few thousand on this stuff. it would basically mean going into business, and I already have a full time job. I have a soft sort of commitment from a few people to buy stuff at prices 50% higher than what I've been charging, but I'm wondering how far that really goes. I'm afraid it would take me a looong time to sell stuff at that price, and I just don't have the room to store tons of stuff for that long, not to mention spend the money like that without being able to turn it quickly. Having said that, I still might do it, I have to admit the prospect is exciting in a way.

In the mean time, lots of stuff is still for sale for you guys, and I'm going to start putting "lots" of the larger diameters on ebay. Not many people here are in the market for 1-1/4" grade 8 bolts

Well, I'm going to take a look next week at what I might need in the shop -- talk to some of the guys about what they could "forecast" us needing -- I'll bring your spreadsheet to them. We were just talking about how we needed a mess of 3/8's by 3" grade 5 and grad 8 hex bolts (now gone!).

I was thinking you start doing your own "Thorsen" cabinet organizers like Goriot! Get them in bulk from Durham and fill them up.

Not to question anyone who's committed to future buying from you, but I wouldn't want to invest several thousand without more firm commitments. If the price is really good, that's one thing. At 50% more, I wonder. But then again, I know nothing about the fastener market. Except I buy two types of fasteners primarily, in quantities of 5,000 each. We fabricate some washers. And then the little stuff, we buy as needed. And that's where it gets expensive, in some respects, because whether it's time or money, who wants to run to the hardware store every time you need something?

But seriously, I think a) these boards can be a great opportunity to sell a lot of product to a niche audience, e.g. Toptul. but b) you are right to trust your gut that you could get stuck with stuff.

There are some other downsides as well that come to mind.

 

[alex71]

....There are some other downsides as well that come to mind.

such as?

 

[Vinko]

such as?

Just my opinion. Maybe it's uninformed, but, bulletin boards seems like a great way to go for niche marketing, but maybe it's good in the beginning, with a core audience, but what if that market gets saturated. What if the market goes beyond those reasonable guys and you've got to start dealing with a bunch of yahoo's? Jerks who start posting about how you've ripped them off, or who start complaining about how they placed an order "days ago" (when really it was 24 hours ago at midnight) and they "still" haven't gotten their stuff. Just seems like it could be a pain in the ***. Plus, how many of the guys who say they'd take the fasteners at a 50% price increase would. Maybe it sounds good while they're on the 'net, but maybe when they stop and reflect, they do the "oh ****," while it's still a good price, maybe better than I can get elsewhere, it ain't that great of a deal (read: a steal) anymore.

But what do I know? I'm just one idiot among millions. If you think it's a good idea, I'm not trying to persuade you against it, just rattling my trap, thinking aloud. Hell, no risk, no reward.

 

[alex71]

I can't disagree with much of what you're saying. as a matter of fact the amount of sales has dropped off from when I first posted this... I wish I knew if it was because the stuff that most people want is sold, or just because the people who are going to buy this stuff have already bought it. probably some of both.

I'm still trying to decide about officially going into business on this. If I made an investment of several thousand dollars to have a more comprehensive inventory, I would have to devote much more time to making sure the product moves. I have a full time job already, so I'm not even sure its possible...

 

[alex71]

just a bump--stuff is selling out fast, but still a lot of stuff left in grade 8 and grade 5 in the smaller sizes (1/2" and under) that seem to be most popular. grab the latest list from my sig. thanks!

 

[DynoDale]

I got my stuff today. Nicely packaged.

Thanks Alex.