McMaster-Carr. Expensive?

[SigElite]

So I'm starting a minor project and needed some hardware. Specifically 3/8" bolts 4" long McMaster car has them here http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-cap-screws/=mx2eka
Cost is $14.81 for a pack of 25
So $.59 per bolt

Menards has them here http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...1_facet=3/8+Inch&criteria3_facet=Grade+5+Zinc
Cost is $28.19 for 50
So .56 per bolt

I understand three cents isn't a lot but with shipping its a losing battle to order from McMaster car. Unless there's something I'm missing?

 

[PT Doc]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

You are missing that mc has everything that one could need. You will get it in a few days. If you can get it locally then do just that. Mc really does have very obscure items, in metric, stainless etc.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I use them at my work and at home. Many times McMaster is where I end up after driving all over town.

 

[SigElite]

So the common stuff isn't a big deal but the real job specific stuff is where they excel got it. Thanks guys

 

[Kracin]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

So I'm starting a minor project and needed some hardware. Specifically 3/8" bolts 4" long McMaster car has them here http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-cap-screws/=mx2eka
Cost is $14.81 for a pack of 25
So $.59 per bolt

Menards has them here http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...1_facet=3/8+Inch&criteria3_facet=Grade+5+Zinc
Cost is $28.19 for 50
So .56 per bolt

I understand three cents isn't a lot but with shipping its a losing battle to order from McMaster car. Unless there's something I'm missing?

mcmaster and grainger (and others) are geared towards business orders, shipping is the last thing on the mind of a business, and some even dont get charged shipping because they have an account with them and they save them the charge of shipping on things because they are guaranteed to get a lot of business.


just go to menards and pick them up if you have one locally.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

OK, so Menards beat them by a couple cents on this particular bolt... are they the same grade? Your McMaster link just goes to their bolts page.

I've bought bunches of hardware from hardware stores. It gets really expensive, especially if you need metric, stainless, or god forbid metric stainless. You can save a bunch ordering larger quantities from Fastenal or McMaster. I helped a friend replace all the hardware in one of those tarp garage frames... buying bulk from Fastenal was something like $14, instead of $50+ even buying box quantities from a hardware store.

I've only ordered from McMaster once, but I have a friend who loves them. Their shipping is very reasonable, and insanely fast... they do a good job of being efficient with their packaging to save money too. For example, I need 4x 5/16x2" stainless pan heads for something, Fastenal was $0.56 each (they'd be $2+ locally, if I could even find them) but $10 shipping. McMaster sells a 10-pack for $6, and would probably throw them in a small padded envelope and charge $3 shipping.

 

[Stuey]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

MSC has something similar, made in USA, for $22.24. http://www.mscdirect.com/product/87915294

$0.45 per bolt.

McMaster Carr doesn't always have the best price, but that's also not one of their top priorities.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I have found McMaster Carr's quality is top notch for all the fasteners I buy from them. So to me the extra three cents is worth it.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I looked all over town for some Counter Sunk 4mm screws when I was rebuilding the folding Targa top on one of my Porsches. The specialty shops wanted $3-4 for each screw and the were plated steel. The screws are so small and tend to corrode after time. I found them at MC in stainless steel and they cost $5 for 50.

 

[george4]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I have found McMaster Carr's quality is top notch for all the fasteners I buy from them. So to me the extra three cents is worth it.

This is true for most things from McMaster Carr.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I understand three cents isn't a lot but with shipping its a losing battle to order from McMaster car. Unless there's something I'm missing?

For three cents per bolt, how much time did you spend, and how much fuel did you use, to go to and from Menards, when McMaster will deliver them to your door, usually by the next day?

 

[bob from indiana]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

At work I order from Mcmaster several times a week and almost always have my order on the next days UPS delivery. They have never dissapointed me in the quality of their products.

 

[Tucko]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I'm spoiled. McMaster is just a few miles from my house......And yes, they have EVERYTHING!! Try to get a catalog...

 

[WHT]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

You are missing that mc has everything that one could need. You will get it in a few days. If you can get it locally then do just that. Mc really does have very obscure items, in metric, stainless etc.

Plus, the quality at MC is usually much higher. You can buy U.S. made instead of Chinese made grade 5 bolts and the price will not be the same. Call MC and they will tell you the source country.

 

[0.511MeV]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

1) Those 3 extra cents buy you the expertise of someone else to pick the hardware, part, or tool, make sure it meets the specs, listen to other customers on the quality, and determine whether or not it is the best option.

2) Those extra 3 cents buy you a call center that has staff that are actually familiar with their product lines and can accept vague descriptions or loose sets of specs (e.g. "I need a hose to carry x fluid at y temp and z pressure, and is d diameter") and get you exactly what you need.

3) The extra 3 cents and the shipping charge buys you everything you need shipped overnight usually, instead of sending an employee in a company vehicle to 1 or more hardware stores to try to find these items and pick them out themselves, wasting a lot of time and resources that could be better spent on productive work.

 

[jake00]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

Assuming menards is local to you, I'd also try your local farm supply store, the ones here price by weight

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

McMaster Carr isn't the cheapest but that doesn't keep me from using them.

They have excellent customer support with salespeople that really know their products, exceptionally quick shipping, a very user friendly website, and the products they sell are usually top-notch so I don't have to worry about getting cheap **** that will keep me from getting the job done.

Buying on price alone I bet I could get a better per bolt if you have a local TSC ($3.99/pound for grade 5) Online calculator says a 3/8"x4" bolt weighs .14lbs so about $13 for qty25.

 

[Davefr]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

None of these full line industrial suppliers are cost effective for generic stuff that you can buy at the hardware store.

But when you need the oddball or hard to find stuff they are great!!

 

[larry_g]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I know for me that it is 20 miles minimum to town and back to get this kind of stuff. So figuring $.50 per mile that is $10. You have to figure your time and mileage on getting to the store and back.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[AndyA]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I buy a lot of stuff from mcmaster. I always check prices against other places. Some of mcmaster's stuff is very reasonably priced, but some is way higher.

Enco takes a lot of my money too. You have to be more careful in sorting out the good stuff from the imported junk though.

 

[Coach James]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

mcmaster and grainger (and others) are geared towards business orders, shipping is the last thing on the mind of a business, and some even dont get charged shipping because they have an account with them and they save them the charge of shipping on things because they are guaranteed to get a lot of business.


just go to menards and pick them up if you have one locally.

For a large business perhaps, but I own two small businesses(~35 employees) and I always look at shipping cost. It took me a while to get my employees to include shipping when they bring me price quotes.

Coach

 

[alex71]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

Try my website... lots of us made hardware. Not as much as mcmaster, but about 55,000 items anyway... and I have stuff they don't, and free shipping on $50 orders.

Email me for a coupon code.

Mods if this is spam please delete.

Thanks,
Alex

 

[Simz144]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

box of 50 vs box of 25 and 3cents difference....

How many do you need?

thick about it!

 

[Murphy4570]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

Mcmaster is awesome. I spent $60 on a pile of oddball size 6mm studs last week, very high quality stuff. I don't mind spending more for quality.

 

[Danglerb]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I needed a constant force spring (wound up strip of metal), nobody had them, McMC had ten sizes in two grades. After awhile its not worth your time to see if anybody else has what you need cheaper.

 

[Kracin]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

For a large business perhaps, but I own two small businesses(~35 employees) and I always look at shipping cost. It took me a while to get my employees to include shipping when they bring me price quotes.

Coach

true, i was talking big business. they sometimes don't bother looking at the price of things either when it comes to having a machine down for 5 days and losing 5 whole days of production, vs having it down 2 days or less and making that cost of the part and shipping back many times over just from running more

 

[RKA]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I needed a constant force spring (wound up strip of metal), nobody had them, McMC had ten sizes in two grades. After awhile its not worth your time to see if anybody else has what you need cheaper.

That's what it boils down to for me! I don't go there looking for drywall screws, but when I need something very specific and dont want junk, I don't waste time and gas with the local HD/Lowes or googling 30 different sites.

I wish they would tell me shipping up front (pet peeve of mine), but they are the only online store I give a pass in that department. As someone else mentioned, they typically go with the least expensive method available and I've never once felt like they wasted my money.

 

[KMScott]

Re: McMaster Car. Expensive?

I buy from MSC and Mcmaster, I love Mcmaster's web site, finding stuff is so easy, best web site I have ever used for finding stuff. MSC has the better machine shop stuff, but their web site is slow and cumbersome to use.

But I have to mention the site alex71 has. http://www.asmc.net/, I am going to to purchase my next lot of screws in including the low head cap screws and the socket head products, his prices are very good. I hope the quality is as good as camcar, Holo-krome and Unbrako. I sell premium jaws and the screws should be the same. I eat up Socket products as I supply them on each sale.

 

[alex71]

Kmscott and everyone... we sell both domestic and import sockets. The imports are porteous and in my experience every bit as good as HK, just not US made, but the quality is absolutely there.
Thanks,
Alex

 

[sgs236]

If the company is paying then I will order from Mcmaster. Rarely buy anything from them just for me. I think their shipping cost is expensive for small items and they don't tell you upfront what the shipping costs are.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I love McMaster. Their website rocks and when I order something it shows up the next day!
They also buy from them quite a bit at work. I managed to borrow a real catalog #119!

 

[ATC]

Check for a local fastener store in your town. We have one called Valley Fastener, and they have anything you can think of. I haven't bought more than a handfull of bolts/nuts from them...but the price has always been right. Just a few bucks here and there. The guy behind the counter will usually just look at what's laying on the counter and just throw out a number.

I'll gladly pay a little more for that kind of service from down-to-earth local guys.

 

[bob15]

The grade 8 stuff (Lake Erie bolts) at McMaster is mainly US made with a splash of made in Canada. Most farm store and hardware stores sell china junk. Enough said right there. Get the US made and it is delivered the next day. No driving, no wasted gas, no dealing with idiots at the store (or other drivers....), I think it's a no brainer......

 

[alex71]

The grade 8 stuff (Lake Erie bolts) at McMaster is mainly US made with a splash of made in Canada. Most farm store and hardware stores sell china junk. Enough said right there. Get the US made and it is delivered the next day. No driving, no wasted gas, no dealing with idiots at the store (or other drivers....), I think it's a no brainer......

Agreed. Hardware store heat treated bolts are hit or miss these days.

I sell Nucor (US) and Infasco (Canada). Pretty sure I can pants McM on price here

 

[jeffj78]

McMaster Carr is near me so I buy a lot there for office and home. Just about every car/jeep project I've gone to them as well as some industrial items - they always have it.

I needed some odd ball 12mm SS nuts one time - McMC was a few $$ more per box but it was US made and 25 minutes away. They even had some all metal locknuts that I couldn't find anywhere for some suspension pieces I was rebuilding.

 

[EdT]

A lot of this depends on how much you value your time and gas. I am retired and have a small side line job shop where I do what I want when i want for a very small customer base. I buy virtually all of my supplies from McMaster because they have nearly everything, it's good quality and it comes the next day almost w/o fail. Yes, there are shipping charges, but going to maybe find what you want at the local store isn't free and , often, they don't have it anyway. WRT ordinary hardware stuff, I needed a bunch of HD galvanized fasteners for a deck project and the one from MM were about 1/3 of what the local big box stores wanted, I didn't have to go get them, and they had the lengths I wanted. It's not the cheapest place for everything,but there is considerable value in their selection, fill rate (I've never had a back order), and speed of delivery. I ordered three sheets of copper for a roof project on Thursday morning and they were delivered to my home that afternoon by courier and the shipping was only $12.00. It's certainly my go to place.

 

[andywander]

As others have said, McMaster tends to be higher-priced than many other places.

If you have the time to research something and find it for less, and you can wait a reasonable amount of time for it, you will do well to look elsewhere.

If you don;t want to be bothered with research, or just don;t have the time for it, then McMaster is a great resource.

 

[unisawone]

McMaster's web site is the best I have ever seen! Time is money, I will spend the couple extra bucks to know that I will have the part the next day, the quality is good and paperwork is always emailed to me. I used to buy more from Grainger but then discovered McMasters website, it is second to none!

 

[Quijote]

McMaster rocks. I'm a mechanical design engineer and we have an account at work. As an R&D engineer, I order whatever I want and it shows up the next day even if I order at 4:30pm.

Just last week I thought a particular kind of rubber sheet may help in a design. So I ordered 4 different kinds. They showed up the next day. Picked the one that worked and put it into the spec for the new part. Now it's up to purchasing to figure out the best/cheapest way to get that material for production. But for prototype work, you can't beat mcmaster.

Random springs, bearings, tapes, fasteners, stock material, adhesives, you name it. On my desk at 10am the next morning. At work, time is everything. And free next day shipping on small items MUCH more than makes up for any premium in the part cost. Not that the premium matters for qty 1 or 5 for prototype stuff. We spec them sometimes for very low-volume production stuff because they don't have minimums for some things that buying direct require 100+ qty. With McMaster you can get away with buying just one (even if it is at a premium).

I've used them for home here and there (example: I needed longer square U-bolts to secure my stabilizer to my new extension ladder). But in my experience, MSC and McMaster making very painful for an individual to order and very easy for businesses.

Final note: McMaster tends to offer quality stuff. I've ordered a hand tool here and therefor work and have always gotten good brand names (including Wiha, proto, armstrong, etc).

 

[firebox40dash5]

So just for reference... I had occasion to order from McMaster again yesterday. I ordered 8 small Powerpole connectors, and a pack of 10 bolts I can't even find locally (2" SS panheads, they'd be $2 each if anyone stocked them). My order was shipped within an hour, will be at the shop by lunchtime, and shipping cost me a whopping $4.52.