Grainger/Miller Welder deal thread

[Don 18]

Just got off the phone with Grainger. I put a 180 on order delivered to my door. The order still shows up on the online Grainger account, but they told me over the phone that it was cancelled due to the manufacturer being out of stock.

This whole thing could have been avoided if they put "while supplies last" on the item, and actually counted how many they sold.

 

[pj_rage]

Grainger screwed up on the price, simply as that. Now you want to sue them.
Maybe Grainger should fill all the orders and just jack up prices on all other items to pay for it? If you ordered some other part from Grainger and it wasn't what you wanted and try to return it maybe Grainger would tell you no way and if you try Litigation will follow.

Just yesterday I got on the S&K socket set from SHoplet, $9 and something. They were a mistake and all orders got canceled. Deals that are too good to be true usually are tho sometime you can get lucky.

I think maybe he was just mad that they were lying to him? Perhaps if they just said it was a mistake, or that they were out of stock, he would be singing a different tune?

 

[les_garten]

I don't think that if you "Dug up" Johnny Cochran to be your Lawyer that you would scare Grainger much!

 

[Buckgnarly]

I'd really like to know if the initial finder of this deal even gets one!....whoever it is, keep ue posted......

 

[tomd]

I am wondering why Grainger is going with the 'not allowed to sell in your state' excuse as opposed to simply saying there was a price error. There must be a reason why the upper management at Grainger feels this approach is more beneficial that the truth. They could also simply say they had sold out of stock and cannot fill the order.

 

[Underdog]

I think maybe he was just mad that they were lying to him? Perhaps if they just said it was a mistake, or that they were out of stock, he would be singing a different tune?

Yea I'm sorry.
Just in the my business world everybody that gets the short end of the stick always threatens you with a law suit.

 

[cundifc]

Just got off the phone with my Grainger business account rep and he said my order is still in place and will ship from Miller to Grainger beginning of next week.

 

[hofferwood]

I Think I've seen this movie before?

 

[Yojinbo]

Thanks to those of you posting the alternate welders. I wonder if Grainger will do this for the rest of the Miller line as new models come out?

I can't afford a Trailblazer at retail, but at 1/3 of retail....

 

[bmrisko]

Try probably 50-100 or more sites. It was all over the internet before 10am!

Not to mention half the people buying them were asking "what do I use this for?"

 

[lametec]

Still no cancellation call or e-mail here.

When I check the order online, though, the order body is blank with just a total. I'm thinking that's because the item number is no longer any good.

A credit card hold/charge was placed right after the order was placed.

If I get it, great. If I don't, great. I have a Hobart Handler 187 that serves my needs just great. Only thing is it's white while my Miller plasma cutter is blue. They're stacked on top of each other, and the colors don't match.. a blue welder would look better!

 

[Weps]

Not to mention half the people buying them were asking "what do I use this for?"

that's what stuck out with me. people who had no idea what they were buying, what the specifications meant, what accessories were needed, or even what they would do with it. it was some kind of surreal frenzy. not sure i've seen anything quite like it.

the nicholson deal was similar i guess, but those were only a few dollars and just bout anyone can put a file to good use at one time or another.

 

[les_garten]

Still no cancellation call or e-mail here.

When I check the order online, though, the order body is blank with just a total. I'm thinking that's because the item number is no longer any good.

A credit card hold/charge was placed right after the order was placed.

If I get it, great. If I don't, great. I have a Hobart Handler 187 that serves my needs just great. Only thing is it's white while my Miller plasma cutter is blue. They're stacked on top of each other, and the colors don't match.. a blue welder would look better!

Did you do "ship" or "will call"?

 

[les_garten]

that's what stuck out with me. people who had no idea what they were buying, what the specifications meant, what accessories were needed, or even what they would do with it. it was some kind of surreal frenzy. not sure i've seen anything quite like it.

the nicholson deal was similar i guess, but those were only a few dollars and just bout anyone can put a file to good use at one time or another.

I'm confused how anybody in these forums wouldn't know how handy a welder is, but whaateverrr.

I always felt that not knowing how to weld was a weakness of mine in the Garage.

This gives me a good reason to learn!

 

[csmitty]

Well got my call just now. Cancelled since it was a while supplies last offer. Would have been a great deal at a great time since I really could use one where my tig just isn't feasible.

 

[Yojinbo]

No email, no call, just a simple order cancellation status on my account.

I called customer service and was told: "The pricing on grainger.com was incorrect for that item and all orders for this item have been canceled."

I did not get any story about low stock and was assured that NO orders have been or would be filled at those prices.

 

[les_garten]

These Grainger BS artists sure come up with a lot of stories!

In NYC, they probably call it a weapon!

 

[Lhorn]

Looks like anyone who calls Grainger is getting a different answer.

Let's see...we've heard from Grainger customer service:
Yeah, that's the real price.
We're just closing them out.
sorry we can't sell that to you in your state
Miller sold too many of them


I think the only logical to assume that the customer service people have no idea what they are talking about.

Put me down as saying that no one gets a welder (except maybe a mythical "I heard another guy on another site saying his brother's boss got one").

I don't know what they cost Miller to make or Grainger to buy, but that price has gotta be pretty close to Grainger selling for a loss. No one has ever provided a reasonable explaination for why that price might be legit.

I wonder if Grainger will do this for the rest of the Miller line as new models come out?

I can't afford a Trailblazer at retail, but at 1/3 of retail....

OMG, if anyone sees a spectrum plasma cutter on sale for $13, let me know. I need one.

 

[pj_rage]

It's funny that such a large company can be so disjointed. It would be nice just to hear a final official "this is what happened" rather than everyone who calls getting a different "for sure" story.

 

[mopar66]

Does anyone know how to use the TS Storeten code when the 187 on there website reads in store only?

 

[Kenneth]

As a data point, I ordered yesterday at 2 PM EST or so, and this morning I got an e-mail from my local Grainger store saying:

We received your order for the 1TKC5 MIG Welder,230 V,Input 21.7 A,60 Hz. Unfortunately that item is not available for sale in the state of Michigan. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thanks for choosing Grainger.

So I asked if it could be shipped to a store in Ohio or to an Ohio address and got this response:

I think maybe there is some kind of defective feature on this item and we are not able to sell it at this time. I tried to set it up in different states and it won't let me sell it anywhere.

sorry for the inconvenience.

So clearly not actually a state-related thing and probably just an error message that Grainger stores get after corporate decided to cut the deal off?

 

[Yojinbo]

It's sad. I will keep saving and watching for deals.

 

[dabirdguy]

My order was confirmed via email and I just got a call from the local guy saying it too was not available in this state so it was cancelled.

This has all the trappings of a classc bait-and-switch.
They can and probably will cancel all the unshipped orders according to their terms.
They will also end up with a nice list of folks that need a welder.
They win and as usual, we lose.

Anyway, I told him that I did not accept this and that they ( his branch) probably did not have the horsepower to make me happy about this and that they should kick it back upstairs to the corporate folks that caused the problem.
Someone there has the horsepower to make this right, ESPECIALLY if enough folks hold their ground and make a stink.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Does anyone know how to use the TS Storeten code when the 187 on there website reads in store only?

Get on their emailing list, there is a coupon you print out that they sent me in an email as well as the code for online stuff.

 

[NismoPlsr]

Does anyone know how to use the TS Storeten code when the 187 on there website reads in store only?

There is a printable coupon associated with that online code. Just google for TS coupons.

 

[pipsters]

http://www.bargainez.com/printable-coupons/10-off-tractor-supply-printable-coupon/

Says no photocopies

 

[mopar66]

Thank you for the Tractor Supply coupon!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[les_garten]

It would be interesting to know if the earliest orders have been cancelled yet.

 

[Buckgnarly]

For all you conspiracy theorists, check this out......apparently this is not the first time Grainger "got you"....

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=23156

Post #8 is especially interesting.....

 

[Yojinbo]

I ordered just after 8am CST and I am canceled.

 

[les_garten]

For all you conspiracy theorists, check this out......apparently this is not the first time Grainger "got you"....

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=23156

Post #8 is especially interesting.....

Those Rat-BASTARDS!!

 

[les_garten]

I ordered just after 8am CST and I am canceled.

Today or yesterday?

 

[side_valve]

Seems like a poorly worded way of saying these states to not have laws that require sellers to honor orders made upon a pricing error or online ordering glitch?

I'm sending them this:

I'm looking forward to your response on my order. If I don't get any I will be filling a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Please note the laws below:

Wisconsin Consumer Protection Laws

Advertising & Sales Claims

Bait and Switch

Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18 prohibits deceptive advertising and sales practices,
including "bait and switch" practices. In a typical "bait and switch" scheme, a seller
offers an attractive bargain on an advertised item. But when the customer responds to the
advertisement, the seller disparages the advertised item or states that it has "sold out."
The seller then attempts to sell a substitute item at a higher price.

Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18(9) prohibits "bait and switch" schemes in which a
seller advertises an item as part of a plan or scheme to sell something different (not the
advertised item). A seller who runs out of an advertised item is not necessary guilty of
"bait and switch" unless the seller is using the advertisement as part of a plan or scheme
to sell something other than the advertised item. Low sales of advertised items compared
to substitute items may suggest, but do not necessarily prove, that the seller is engaged in
"bait and switch" tactics. For more information, see Fraudulent Representations.

 

[les_garten]

For all you conspiracy theorists, check this out......apparently this is not the first time Grainger "got you"....

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=23156

Post #8 is especially interesting.....

If I get one, I get to join the WeldingWEB forum!

 

[Buckgnarly]

I'm sending them this:

I'm looking forward to your response on my order. If I don't get any I will be filling a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Please note the laws below:

Wisconsin Consumer Protection Laws

Advertising & Sales Claims

Bait and Switch

Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18 prohibits deceptive advertising and sales practices,
including "bait and switch" practices. In a typical "bait and switch" scheme, a seller
offers an attractive bargain on an advertised item. But when the customer responds to the
advertisement, the seller disparages the advertised item or states that it has "sold out."
The seller then attempts to sell a substitute item at a higher price.

Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18(9) prohibits "bait and switch" schemes in which a
seller advertises an item as part of a plan or scheme to sell something different (not the
advertised item). A seller who runs out of an advertised item is not necessary guilty of
"bait and switch" unless the seller is using the advertisement as part of a plan or scheme
to sell something other than the advertised item. Low sales of advertised items compared
to substitute items may suggest, but do not necessarily prove, that the seller is engaged in
"bait and switch" tactics. For more information, see Fraudulent Representations.

So exactly where did Grainger try to sell you something else?......

 

[les_garten]

I'm sending them this:

I'm looking forward to your response on my order. If I don't get any I will be filling a complaint with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Please note the laws below:

Wisconsin Consumer Protection Laws

Advertising & Sales Claims

Bait and Switch

Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18 prohibits deceptive advertising and sales practices,
including "bait and switch" practices. In a typical "bait and switch" scheme, a seller
offers an attractive bargain on an advertised item. But when the customer responds to the
advertisement, the seller disparages the advertised item or states that it has "sold out."
The seller then attempts to sell a substitute item at a higher price.

Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18(9) prohibits "bait and switch" schemes in which a
seller advertises an item as part of a plan or scheme to sell something different (not the
advertised item). A seller who runs out of an advertised item is not necessary guilty of
"bait and switch" unless the seller is using the advertisement as part of a plan or scheme
to sell something other than the advertised item. Low sales of advertised items compared
to substitute items may suggest, but do not necessarily prove, that the seller is engaged in
"bait and switch" tactics. For more information, see Fraudulent Representations.

You must be REALLY pissed off.

Joined 2006 and this is your first post! Go on with your Bad self! Let that Venom out!

 

[williaty]

Just got off the phone with my Grainger business account rep and he said my order is still in place and will ship from Miller to Grainger beginning of next week.

I take it you had it shipped to the store for will-call?

 

[Ralphxj]

It would be interesting to know if the earliest orders have been cancelled yet.

A guy on Pirate said he ordered Wednesday evening and his order was just canceled.

 

[tomd]

I just got another response, saying the earlier email was incorrect (not allowed to sell in WI), and more info will be coming.

my translation: they got caught in their lie, and are now coming up with a better story or maybe even the truth.

 

[les_garten]

This is turning out to be a real Roller Coaster ride...