RIP Enco

[firworks]

I just got my July HOT deals flyer. Normally it's a joyous occasion. Planning out my next % off + free shipping purchase. Today, instead, it's a time of mourning:
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I've never bought from MSC but I've bought from McMasterCarr and Grainger and I really do not trust them to provide the "same great deals". I know they are the parent company of Enco but they had a thing a few months back where they made you a MSC account since you were an Enco user (which was a prety big clue this was coming) and when I looked around everything was extremely expensive as you'd expect of an industrial supplier catering to businesses. Enco and their absolutely horrible website allowed the home gamer to get just a little bit of shop supplies at a pretty good bargain.

What's your guys feel on this? Is there anyone who successfully migrated their purchases over to MSC back when they sent out the accounts?

 

[Davefr]

MSC's pricing is sky high. Even with an MSC coupon they were still very high.

At least Enco's normal prices were a little more down to earth and the coupons actually created some excellent deals.

I guess it remains to be seen if there will be any decent deals.

 

[Fedwrench]

Even with a commercial or government account MSC is pretty pricey. However, although they're moving away from it, you used to be able to order an in stock item by 5 pm and get it the next day without paying extra shipping.

 

[LXCam]

I don't understand the problem. Msc has always been enco' parent company. No different them graingers us to zoro. Ya msc is stupid expensive just like graingers. But both those companies were never meant to cater to the onies twoes home owner guy.

 

[toolmutt]

I've bought from both. Hate to see Enco go. But I've always had great service from MSC.

 

[BD1]

It depends on what you buy. I bought bandsaw blades for my ELLIS from Enco and they were a super deal , 25 % off and free shipping ! Zoro too , has some great sales with their 30% off and free shipping but you need to do your homework on pricing.

 

[Ign]

I don't understand the problem. Msc has always been enco' parent company. No different them graingers us to zoro. Ya msc is stupid expensive just like graingers. But both those companies were never meant to cater to the onies twoes home owner guy.

But that's the point....Enco was their hobbyist arm of the company.

I'm wondering if MSC is going to continue their Next Day Air Saver program.

LXCam, where do you shop for cutting tools and machine shop supplies?

 

[Wes J]

But that's the point....Enco was their hobbyist arm of the company.

I'm wondering if MSC is going to continue their Next Day Air Saver program.

LXCam, where do you shop for cutting tools and machine shop supplies?

I'm not a hobbyist by any measure and I bought a lot from Enco. Good prices on fasteners, Master Chemical brand coolants, HSS drills and reamers, measuring tools, hand tools, some machines, etc.

I hate MSC. God help us.

 

[383 240z]

Well that just *****.

 

[atomicpunk]

The little that Iv'e bought from Enco over the years has always been cheaper than MSC.

 

[royesses]

I've purchased many times from Enco. I've also purchased many times from MSC. Never been harmed by either one. I buy from MSC when they have the up to 60% off sales on their house brands. The normal prices are usually above full list by at least 10%. When they lose many customers they might change their mind.

 

[EdT]

I have bought a couple of things from enco over the years. IMHO the front end on their website was about the worst I have ever tried to use. The last thing I got I ended up just calling the order in. I am retired and have a hobby business and get almost everything from McMaster mostly because of the ease of ordering and, due in part to my location, I get stuff I ordered today the next day. The prices are not the lowest, but the selection and service is really great. So, I won't miss ENCO and I'll continue to order from MSC occasionally as I have done in the past, but their front end is not that great either. Amazon seems to be a rising star for a lot of stuff that I use frequently and with PRIME, shipping is often a non-issue and the delivery is pretty fast as well.

 

[pepi]

I agree the web sight killed that outfit, the worst I ever viewed. It was such a pain. I would not order from them is they gave tools away.

 

[anndel]

I bought some router bits years ago from MSC when I was renovating our rental. They were double Home Depot's Stanley, Milwaukee, Irwin bits which were made in china. When I received them, they looked heavy duty but they were also made in china probably made in the same village thinking I should have bought them from HD in the first place.

 

[bczygan]

That is horrible!!!

 

[LXCam]

But that's the point....Enco was their hobbyist arm of the company.

I'm wondering if MSC is going to continue their Next Day Air Saver program.

LXCam, where do you shop for cutting tools and machine shop supplies?

Enco, I've spent a pretty decent wad thru the years with them. Msc less then a handful and only because they had it. Normally if I need something of quality and fast I get it from McMaster since they're close to me. I always have it the next day without paying for overnight shipping.

 

[Tinner]

Sad news, indeed. I've ordered from Enco since 1979. I can order from our suppliers at work and get better prices than MSC, even with the 30% off deals. I'll keep looking at their emails and check their website from time to time, but I don't see them getting much of my business.

 

[Adam.C]

Many times I was ordering something only MSC had but wanted to add something ENCO had cheaper than MSC. In every case I recall, I simply called MSC and they gave me the ENCO price.

 

[TheGrooveking]

For years I was blessed, when I started getting into machining a good friend who was a machinist and I would drive into the city and go to Enco and check everything out and of course buy a car load of stuff.

We just kicked MSC out of our facility for doing a piss-poor job of handling vendor managed inventory (VMI). MSC's sales people are for the most part pretty disengaged IMO.

I was also spoiled by having multiple J&L locations around too but MSC bought them too.

TheGrooveking
TheGrooveking

 

[Ign]

Ugh....I don't know how anyone thinks McMaster will be a substitute. They are not a machinist supply. Yes, you can get a "drill bit" from them, but you won't know who made it. Likewise, you get an end mill. Shut up, it's an end mill, what do you care who made it???

 

[Wes J]

Ugh....I don't know how anyone thinks McMaster will be a substitute. They are not a machinist supply. Yes, you can get a "drill bit" from them, but you won't know who made it. Likewise, you get an end mill. Shut up, it's an end mill, what do you care who made it???

The thing about McMaster is that whatever drill or end mill you get will be a good quality brand and almost certainly made in USA. It won't be some Brazilian made Precision Twist drill or Chinese Interstate end mill. It will be Chicago Latrobe, Greenfield, or Niagara.

In that context, why do you care?

 

[LXCam]

The thing about McMaster is that whatever drill or end mill you get will be a good quality brand and almost certainly made in USA. It won't be some Brazilian made Precision Twist drill or Chinese Interstate end mill. It will be Chicago Latrobe, Greenfield, or Niagara.

In that context, why do you care?

I'll echo that statement. I've never gotten a **** tool from them.

 

[A_Pmech]

I liked the fact that I could order select products from them and receive the same MSC service at much lower cost.

 

[HMCFab9]

I've ordered from Enco almost every time I saw any kind of discount code come up.
I've looked at MSC.....& I think I'm going to be looking for a different supplier.
Way higher prices & no discount for orders under 2 / 300.00 usually.

 

[Skin]

I'll echo that statement. I've never gotten a **** tool from them.

If you're going to charge premium prices and not even bother to advertise brands/part numbers let alone COO that's plenty of reason to not buy from them.

 

[ibedayank]

http://www.shars.com/

https://www.grizzly.com/

always other options

 

[davewo]

There goes our dirt-cheap connection to MSC's catalog....

 

[larryq]

Sure glad I loaded up on a recent 25% off sale. Here's to hoping MSC wises up and does a Grainger/Zoro type relationship again.

I'm going to miss that crummy website!

 

[Wes J]

If you're going to charge premium prices and not even bother to advertise brands/part numbers let alone COO that's plenty of reason to not buy from them.

Once again, why does it matter? It will be USA or the best import available. They list all the specs you need to make a decision. How does the brand name make any difference?

It's a lot better than MSC. You try to buy a 1/4 drill and a search of their website gives 35 results. It's a drill. I just need one that works.

 

[aosty]

Interesting... if you have purchased from Enco in the past 12 months and convert your account to MSC, you will get Enco pricing on MSC. No idea how long it will last.

MSC/Enco FAQ
http://cdn.mscdirect.com/global/media/pdf/enco/enco-faqs.pdf

Posts #27, 29, 30 near bottom of page...
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/the-end-of-enco.48033/

 

[drink]

I have purchased some tools from ENCO in the past. They would have 20% or 30% off sales with free shipping on some sales. The bargains section had some neat stuff in it from time to time.

 

[bucktruck]

My company has a commercial account with MSC. We aren't huge spenders by any means, but after talking to my sales rep over a decade ago he immediately gave us 25% off list. Combined with the twice weekly sales of 30-40% off, MSC's pricing isn't bad at all, especially compared to MMC. Plus, I know what I'm getting. Believe it or not, a Niagara end mill cuts differently from an MA Ford, and that matters when you are running a shop.

And I am not going to miss the ENCO website.


Protip: If you are looking for machine shop tooling, check out

https://www.maritool.com/

Their stuff is top notch, priced below MSC, and Frank is a great guy to deal with. Plus, most of it is USA made.

 

[toolsRme]

MCS prices are more than anyones (cost prohibitive)! Enco's website is the absolute WORST - can never find squat!!! I just sent them a letter about this and they said they would contact me the next day - one week later I've heard NOTHING! McMaster-Carr is about the best I am aware of for general purchases, but I do purchase from Zoro, Tyler, CPO and smaller specialty Company's too. McMasters has the fastest shipping and most times I get my order delivered the next day.

 

[dr_clyde]

While I do not agree with the pricing structure business model that MSC, Grainger, Fastenal and the other big supply houses have, it is possible to get good deals, it just takes more purchasing than the average home gamer is going to do.

They are not in business to serve the hobby shop. I suspect Enco wasn't very profitable, otherwise they would keep it going.

I prefer McMaster-Carr for just about everything, but I still go to MSC for my inserts and cutters. The selection they have is unmatched, and I will pay a bit more for reliable fast service.

I never really used Enco, so I won't miss them.

If you live in Michigan, Production Tool Supply has a great selection of machinist tools, and most areas have a smaller family run industrial supply anyway.

My local supply house Lamb Industrial sells a lot of top brands, and can get me most anything I need within a couple days. I pay a few bucks more, but its a small family business so I like supporting them.

 

[ilovevocs]

Rip enco.

 

[Griff93]

For a lot of things I order Mcmaster because it's here the next day without overnight shipping. I do get certain things from Enco though. I will miss not being able to order from them. I was thinking about buying a couple of Kurt vises from them shortly.

 

[Davefr]

The problem with Mcmaster is that they don't tell you the shipping charges. They also ignore your shipping instructions.

If you have something small and light and tell them to ship USPS they totally ignore that and ship UPS at much higher rates and you don't know this ahead of time.

I also don't like buying unbranded products because I usually like to read reviews before hand.

However Mcmaster has a great website and I love the CAD drawings/detailed specs.

 

[Nortonscustom]

I absolutely LOATH MSC! When they took over J&L it was a complete train wreck for the shop I worked at. Will never spend a dime with MSC. Sad to see Enco go but luckily there are others that fill their shoes as well or better. Been buying from KBC Tools, Travers Tool Co. and Wholesale Tool for years without a single complaint. KBC runs deals all the time.

 

[GTO]

MSC's pricing is sky high. Even with an MSC coupon they were still very high.

At least Enco's normal prices were a little more down to earth and the coupons actually created some excellent deals.

I guess it remains to be seen if there will be any decent deals.

So are McMaster Carr,Enco,Grainger,MSC etc..

 

[milkovich]

Just got the email. I'm under the impression that MSC is like Grainger/Fastenal/McMaster in that the pricing is industrial (even if the products are not).

FWIW, I've been getting decent deals on Zoro.com but they have a limited selection of tools/tooling. They're more of a supply house like global.

If anyone knows of other supply houses where a hobbyist can "stock up" on coupon days. Let me know.