Shout out to McMaster Carr, they're awesome.

[Lucid Moments]

I love McMaster Carr. They have everything and you weren't kidding about the delivery. One time I needed a weird bolt. Wasn't in a hurry, but wasn't paying attention to delivery options. Purely my own fault. Freaked out a little when a courier showed up at my door later that afternoon. Ended up paying something like $30 delivery for $5 in materials, but good to know that is an option.

And did I mention they have everything? That one weird reverse threaded bolt you need? They have it. Oddball plumbing fitting? They have it. Signage you need to satisfy the fire marshall? They have it. I honestly think that if they don't have what you need then you don't really need it.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I wish they had a CDN warehouse, or at least shipped to Canada

I'm in Canada and I've ordered from them a few times. They'll ship to businesses but not individuals. Shipping is fast but not the crazy shipping times everyone else is talking about but I guess that's to be expected.

They don't really do any verification of the 'business' though, so if you really wanted to you could just make up some company name and add that to your MMC account and then have it shipped to your home address and paid for by your personal credit card.

Shipping rates are also relatively normal. About what you'd expect ordering anything to Canada from the US.

 

[bsaint]

I find they are pretty good but lack hydraulic fittings and they don't have a comprehensive selection of shaft seals.

 

[cheoah]

The new procedure for shipping is a game changer, I also didn't like being surprised. Rebuilt my shop kerosene heater with some felt -like gaskets I'd never seen or sourced, borosilicate viewing cover, all kinds of stuff that was hard to find or really expensive for obsolete parts. I have not bought tools from them, though I shopped them for a bunch of snap ring pliers recently.

Gets here to western NC next day from ATL.

 

[aka Larry]

They don't really do any verification of the 'business' though, so if you really wanted to you could just make up some company name and add that to your MMC account and then have it shipped to your home address and paid for by your personal credit card.

I did exactly that and never had a problem ordering from them.

 

[laser3kw]

i avoid grainger like the plague

I have the same reaction. I was dumbfounded by their prices and the ****** customer service. Return something? Pffft......

 

[Jagmandave]

I live in KC and the Warehouse I ordered from is in Chicago.....they remind me of the old Fed EX commercial - when you absolutely positively need it overnight!

If I got my order in by 4 pm I had it the next morning by 10 am via UPS!

Stellar service, plus they have people working there that actually know their products! Amazing......

 

[manwithtools]

If I order in the morning, before 9:00-9:30, I'll have it by 4:00. After 9:00, it will arrive the next morning by 7:30AM if it's local stock. It's always a private driver if it's in stock at the local warehouse ~one hour away. UPS if it's from another location. but still generally have it in two days or less.

 

[macgee]

Stellar service, plus they have people working there that actually know their products! Amazing......

I think what you said is the key thing and now a days hard to find: People on the other side of the phone who actually know their products and very good at their jobs here in the USA, properly communicating to their clients. How often does that happen now a days at other companies like this?

And agree with Cheoah: "The new procedure for shipping is a game changer, I also didn't like being surprised." As I found recently shipping prices to be either fine or too high for an item wanting to buy so good to know before pulling the trigger.

 

[Bradc1989]

their stainless steel hardware is top notch. I use stainless strictly on all my project cars in non critical areas or other areas where it would otherwise matter. Their aluminum hardware is also top notch if you’re trying to keep weight down, agai, in non critical areas. Their raw materials can be a little speedy but it’s convenient. I love just browsing and finding stuff I’ve never heard of or seen before. My biggest pet peeve with them is not showing brand names on the things where that could be critical info. Never had to deal with customer service, good to know their so helpful and knowledgable

 

[Packard V8]

One time I needed a weird bolt. Wasn't in a hurry, but wasn't paying attention to delivery options. Purely my own fault. Freaked out a little when a courier showed up at my door later that afternoon. Ended up paying something like $30 delivery for $5 in materials,

If one is a business and speed is critical and price is not, yes, they're great.

What hammers the individual is that great selection encourages ordering several odds and ends; they'll sometimes ship from more than one warehouse and charge full freight on each small package without warning the customer.

jack vines

 

[jeffmoss26]

I love McMaster, just wish I could get a coveted paper catalog!

 

[mowkep]

Our company has been using them for many, many years. We are lucky enough to be within 20 miles of them. Same day pick up too, afternoon courier delivery as well. We had a Fastenal in the next set of suites by us. Stock was very limited, prices were higher and sometimes you'd have to buy in ridiculous quantities?? We could buy copper plates or end mills or helicoil inserts or pumps or socket wrenches, etc from MCMasterr....always had it and in stock

 

[Sumboodie]

I hate using them because shipping is only known after the fact.
Ordered 100ft of 1" air hose once and got billed something like $250 for shipping.

 

[shoeless]

The new procedure for shipping is a game changer, I also didn't like being surprised. Rebuilt my shop kerosene heater with some felt -like gaskets I'd never seen or sourced, borosilicate viewing cover, all kinds of stuff that was hard to find or really expensive for obsolete parts. I have not bought tools from them, though I shopped them for a bunch of snap ring pliers recently.

Gets here to western NC next day from ATL.

I have ordered tools from them, got Blackhawk wrenches, Proto sockets and ratchets, Wiha hex drivers, Bondhus, keys, Pratt Read drivers, etc.

 

[macgee]

I hate using them because shipping is only known after the fact.

Thankfully this is no longer the case. As mentioned earlier, actual shipping prices are now shown in cart for you to see before paying.

 

[Diffident]

What's really cool is they provide 3D cad files for everything for free. You can download a STEP file, convert it to STL and print it on a 3D printer.

 

[dstblj52]

What's really cool is they provide 3D cad files for everything for free. You can download a STEP file, convert it to STL and print it on a 3D printer.

Thats how they keep a lot of prototyping in house, I know the McMaster carr fits and I don't want to wait a week if someone else doesn't is great for keeping purchasing happy with mcmaster carr bills, and their great for large orders of just telling you who their supplier for part X is

 

[dnschmidt]

This

I'm now realizing why I wasn't using them so much recently as others because back in the day before their website was around and had to order out of their telephone book sized catalog and wouldn't know the shipping cost until much later and I would get stung badly and why I wasn't as eager to order from them; not a fan of surprises especially when money is involved but that has been solved.

Having said that, They do really step up and get you the right item in a very professional and thorough way that others can only dream of; so when you need that part to keep business going, that's priceless. Now seeing the shipping prices is a huge plus for me.

I can understand wanting free shipping if I was buying $800 of small items (we're trained to expect that) but then I also look at it when only needing a couple of small cheap esoteric, very hard to find items to test something out for $20 that only cost $6 to ship next day instead of $20 + $20 ship that some places charge makes it a no brainer for me. I would spend $6 alone on gas going to go to the Box Box stores, paying more for BS parts or usually leaving empty handed.

The key is you now know the shipping price ahead of time making it much easier to pull the trigger.

After my first post, I was able to service and install the part, everything went well and was able to test the motor out on the ocean this afternoon; not a bad day at all.

Yea, There are a lot of people that hate California but you know it does have some pleasant features as well.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

I have the same reaction. I was dumbfounded by their prices and the ****** customer service. Return something? Pffft......

I had to return a Proto tool cart to Grainger that was FUBAR. They picked it up no problem. Maybe it was because it was on a corporate account?

I rarely use them though, McMaster's better in nearly every way.

 

[Pontiac787]

I went to Lowes to pick up some 10/2 cable last night. $46 and change for 15'. Needed a few other things that were out of stock. Left annoyed with nothing to show for the trip. I decided to check McMaster. The cable was $35 for 25' and they had all the other items I needed for my project. Shipping was $10, which is now quoted on the website, and I will have it Monday. I feel foolish for ever driving to Lowes.

 

[MoonRise]

Another person generally happy with McMaster.

Not always the cheapest, but generally good to very good service.

The old thick and HEAVY (hardcover and paperback ) paper catalogs with the super-thin paper were nice (the 'info' and 'reference' sections were GREAT).

Web site is VERY handy to use now. Quicker and easier to browse through than the paper catalogs, still have the 'info' and reference sections, more details on the item pages than was ever in the paper catalogs, the PDF sheets and 3D item models are great too. No more 'surprise' shipping either, you know how much the item(s) AND shipping will be.

Recommend. Highly recommend actually.

Grainger has been fine for me. Web site is ok, prices on some things were higher than McMaster, but I browsed through the 'clearance' items recently and got some fastener hardware and other items for generally better than 50% off. So, it was worth a look for me for stuff I could use but didn't 'need' immediately.

 

[dscheidt]

One of the things I like about ordering from Mcmaster is entirely peculiar to my process. I don't order very often, but as I think of stuff I need (but not right now), I put it in my cart. Eventually, I have something I need the part for now, or just enough stuff that it makes paying for shipping worthwhile. So I get some stuff, and sometimes I have to think "what is this? Why did I buy it?"

 

[crguy]

Another plus for McMaster Carr