Wamsutta
Well-known member
Why don't they ever list the brands of their products? Do they expect people to order based on description without knowing the brand?
McMaster-Carr
- Thread starter Wamsutta
- Start date
bob15
Well-known member
I never have any issues ordering from them. I'll ask them about an item's COO and I get a response within an hour.
As for brand names, you can figure it out many times by using the description. And they do list vendor names on some products.
As for brand names, you can figure it out many times by using the description. And they do list vendor names on some products.
mowkep
Well-known member
I recently had an issue with end mills not being in stock. TIN coated 1/4 2 flute double ended. I can usually order them and pick them up in an hour. Come to find out they stopped carrying Niagara and started carrying Buffalo. So that stuff happens.
As far as hand tools, you can usually tell the make or like he said just ask. They are fantastic that way
As far as hand tools, you can usually tell the make or like he said just ask. They are fantastic that way
metaldad
Well-known member
and, with the items i have bought, they seem to source USA made often
dr_clyde
Well-known member
They don't list the price of shipping either. Doesn't stop me from ordering from them about once a week. They only sell good stuff.
They don't list the brands because they shift suppliers often and it saves them from updating their catalog and website.
Some highly requested items they list the brand on. If you call with a part number they'll tell you what they're stocking at the moment.
McMaster-Carr is by far my favorite industrial supply house.
They don't list the brands because they shift suppliers often and it saves them from updating their catalog and website.
Some highly requested items they list the brand on. If you call with a part number they'll tell you what they're stocking at the moment.
McMaster-Carr is by far my favorite industrial supply house.
Bingo.
They come up as a supplier for sk wrenches in my area, but it doesnt say that on the site.
I think its sk.
DerekV
Well-known member
Years ago I had the same concern. But two things ended worrying about it. Like was said they never sell garbage products. The other was I installed their new UPS system when they did the big expansion and remodel at the Norwalk branch. Talking too one of the IT guys about it. He said would you rather have all the engineering data or be pissed off if you expected brand A but got brand B with your plant or line down. Fact is they purchase based on spec, pricing and most importantly availability. As long as it meets spec, does it matter. Pretty valid point.
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APEowner
Well-known member
LXCam;7302362...Fact is they purchase based on spec said:
The Tool Tyrant
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Did you know that if they don't carry a specific item that you need (within reason) that they will source the item and reply with costing? They have done this several times for me. 
McMaster-Carr has the best customer service I have EVER dealt with.
I get so pissed when I contact a company via their own website contact only to NEVER get a reply!
McMaster-Carr has the best customer service I have EVER dealt with.
I get so pissed when I contact a company via their own website contact only to NEVER get a reply!
WhoWhatNow
Well-known member
Their website and app are awesome too. The printed catalog is the stuff of legends.
sweet victory
Well-known member
99% of my work is planned ahead in solidworks. McMaster has a CAD model for a lot of their stuff. Knowing that the part will fit in what I'm designing is a lot more important to me than the brand. As long as the product meets the technical requirements, who gives a **** if the sticker says Parker or Walker.
Stooge
Well-known member
I would guess on any given day, there are no less than a dozen incoming packages from McMaster Carr at work for the different depts. ordering from them. I honestly cant think of a time when I've been disappointed in something I've received from them, but there have been quite a few times that I've been impressed with the level of part of tool that I've received from them. There has been once or twice when we needed a specific replacement for something and I've called and asked about the manufacturer to make sure it would be compatible
Ign
Well-known member
McMaster has horrible customer service. They sold me bent aluminum channels and absolutely refused to send a call tag. They flat out told me they expected me to pay return shipping.
McMaster does not care about you if you're the little guy. They've got so many huge corporate accounts spending 100's of thousands a year they don't NEED customer service.
McMaster lost my business YEARS ago. All told it's maybe cost them $10k, and believe me, they don't give a **** about $10k. I now order the aluminum channel directly from Orange Aluminum.
I NEVER did purchase cutting tools from them, that just doesn't make sense. They're industrial supply, not machinist supply. Ya gonna order a mill vise and not know if it's Kurt or Palmgren? A boring head and not know if Criterion or SPI?
I want to choose the brands of my end mills and drill bits, too.
But hey, next time you want "a truck" maybe you'll get a Ford, a Chevy or a Dodge. "A pop?" Maybe I'll bring you Pepsi, maybe I'll bring you RC Cola. It all meets spec so who cares?
McMaster does not care about you if you're the little guy. They've got so many huge corporate accounts spending 100's of thousands a year they don't NEED customer service.
McMaster lost my business YEARS ago. All told it's maybe cost them $10k, and believe me, they don't give a **** about $10k. I now order the aluminum channel directly from Orange Aluminum.
I NEVER did purchase cutting tools from them, that just doesn't make sense. They're industrial supply, not machinist supply. Ya gonna order a mill vise and not know if it's Kurt or Palmgren? A boring head and not know if Criterion or SPI?
I want to choose the brands of my end mills and drill bits, too.
But hey, next time you want "a truck" maybe you'll get a Ford, a Chevy or a Dodge. "A pop?" Maybe I'll bring you Pepsi, maybe I'll bring you RC Cola. It all meets spec so who cares?
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I feel like you're firmly in the minority here. I've returned plenty, they took care of it right away.
And they are happy to tell you brands if you ask.
And from what I can tell, they prefer to deal with small shops. I know plenty of 1 or 2 man operations that only deal with MMC because of all the ******** MSC and Grainger give the little guy.
Just looked, they spec Kurt brand vises right on the page, so for some common items, they do list the brand.
rustyjames
Well-known member
Yup, I'm fortunate enough to live less than 10 miles to one. I have never experienced any heartburn buyin from them. Whenever I send someone there to pick something up, they all say "I'd like to work there"
. Even their shipping rates are very reasonable.aczr2k
Well-known member
We order a lot from McMaster but I only order certain things because they do charge a premium for the majority of their items, some stuff is reasonable but cutting tools, drill bits, cylinders, valves etc better deals are elsewhere. Its fine if you need them right away but if you have time my other vendors are always cheaper. MSC is getting better, usually have the 25% off and free shipping deals every few days. But again you have to watch what you buy.
Yup, I'm fortunate enough to live less than 10 miles to one. I have never experienced any heartburn buyin from them. Whenever I send someone there to pick something up, they all say "I'd like to work there"
Allentown?
sweet victory
Well-known member
This thread isn't about returns, but since others are slamming mcmaster for it, I'd like to share my experience. We've returned items without any issues. They're at our facility daily, so they just pick up whatever we're returning at the same time.
It's worth mentioning a manufacturer/machine shop isn't going to be getting tooling from mcmaster. It's not their expertise. Sandvik supplies most of our tooling and they've been awesome to work with. They are constantly here catering to our machinists and providing detailed information on their product. It's a different service than just ordering valves, gauges, and buttons online.
It's worth mentioning a manufacturer/machine shop isn't going to be getting tooling from mcmaster. It's not their expertise. Sandvik supplies most of our tooling and they've been awesome to work with. They are constantly here catering to our machinists and providing detailed information on their product. It's a different service than just ordering valves, gauges, and buttons online.
APEowner
Well-known member
While I have preferred brands for cutting tools I often end up ordering from McMaster just because it's more convenient. I can order from the app on my phone while I'm standing in the machine shop and have it the next day. I've never had an issue with a return. In fact I don't think they've ever had me send damaged product back.
WWheeler
Well-known member
The one thing I definitely do not like about McMaster Carr, and I assume it's the same now as it's been several years since I last ordered, but when placing an order online they didn't say how much shipping was. They just charge my card for whatever it turns out to be and send an email with the receipt after the fact. I placed an order for $13, just a handful of screws and such weighing only a few ounces at most, and shipping turned out be $25 UPS ground shipping added to it. Even worse, UPS ground is much slower than USPS.
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
Unless you specify otherwise, McMaster-Carr ships everything next day air. This is because most customers need it NOW.
I have my account setup for FedEx ground. It's only a couple of bucks and I'll see it next day anyway because I live in a state next to a hub.
I have my account setup for FedEx ground. It's only a couple of bucks and I'll see it next day anyway because I live in a state next to a hub.
Snakebyt
Well-known member
they have some bolts i could use, but i dont want to spent a ton in shipping, ill have to look into it
dr_clyde
Well-known member
My last order of misc bits and bolts was 7 dollars and change. Came overnight from FedEx
rustyjames
Well-known member
Yup. I thought it was in Robbinsville at first until I went there. Nice country ride for me. Handy them being so close
Yup. I thought it was in Robbinsville at first until I went there. Nice country ride for me. Handy them being so close
Nice. When I was working in Cranbury it was halfway home and on my route! Order on my way out the door at work and it is waiting when I get there.
Now, I have to drive 10 min one way.
bsaint
Well-known member
They change suppliers on a whim thats why.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I can't live without McMaster-Carr. Piss and moan all you want they deliver the **** I need and they do it fast. Never had a problem with them. Always a good product and I've had superior customer support. I strikes me that shipping aluminum channels is going to be a nightmare no matter who you order it from. It's fragile.
I've purchased a multitude of odd ball extrusions from them in onesies twoeis orders. They always ship in the stoutest cardboard tubes I've ever seen and never once had a damaged shipment. Then again to be fair, I'm only 50 miles from the warehouse so that could certainly play into it.
Shipping is always ~$15 for small stuff. Doesn't matter if I order a box of a hundred 6/32 x 1/4" screws or 20lbs of hardware that fits in the same size box. So I just make sure to get my monies worth out of an order. A majority of my end mills, counter bores, lathe tooling, single drills all come from them as needed. Simply because I know I'll have it all the next day.
I've spent thousands with them. Either through my home machine/ fab shop adventures or from my day jobs. I buy mostly hardware and fabrication consumables from them as it's convenient to get both in one shot. But endmills, tooling, material etc., there are way cheaper options out there. I'm in TN and I get items usually next day by UPS ground from their warehouse in GA.
"BEST WAY AND ADD" are standard commercial terms for shipping. They'll ship on your account, too, if you'd rather. The problem they have is that it's very hard to figure out what it's going to cost to ship an order until it's built. It's easy if you sell square boxes of uniform density, and give them all to a single carrier, but McMaster sure don't. so they'd be guessing, if they gave a price at time of order. Once the order is built, they can see what the various options are. That depends on the dimensions and weight, but also on other factors (I get a surprising amount of stuff delivered same day, because if they're sending something near me by courier, it's cheaper to give the courier more packages.). Only rarely have I thought shipping costs on an order were out of line, and that was something i'd have gladly paid much more for to get it that fast.
I use them a ton. I keep a running list going of like "shop stuff" random odds and ends, tooling stuff like that I usually order at the end of the month to get the most out of the shipping like others mentioned.
I also use them for must have now projects, they get almost everything to me next day.
I also use them for must have now projects, they get almost everything to me next day.
GrayFlattop
Well-known member
Only if we need something in an emergency - then it’s ready in under an hour. If we call in an order before 9:00 AM, it is delivered by noon. Of course being 20 minutes from their HQ doesn’t hurt.
McM will also quote lower prices if you are buying volume. The most impressive thing is that they generally have it in stock - no matter how obscure the item is.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I picked up a 1941 issue of the McMaster-Carr catalog at an estate sale a couple weeks ago. They listed manufacturers back then. 