Who here has a "account"?

[buco]

When I go to places like acklands or fastenall to buy an item they always ask if I have an account. I don't, and pay more.

What does one have to do to get an account?

 

[koditten]

Not much more than giving them your Email address. I don't think the savings are that great, but the online fliers I get help me remember what I need to get when I make my next trip to town, wich I guess is the idea behind sending out the fliers.

Later

KO

 

[fury9]

Around here you have to be approved, meaning credit check, before you can open an account. When you have an account you can just run in and grab stuff without paying for it and you get the bill later.

 

[fatfillup]

I would assume have a business and decent credit, fill out an application and open an account. Don't assume a credit account will get you a better price. Pricing should be determined by volume and good payment. Developing a relationship with the branch will help also. Good payment can be cash, check or credit card on the spot. And don't hesitate to politely ask what it takes to get better pricing on an ongoing basis if you are a regular customer. The key here is politely.

 

[ndoran]

I asked once about what you needed to spend to get a discount at Westburnes - I was told more than $50k/year. However I can usually get a discount by simply paying cash - they don't have to wait 30 or 90 days to get paid by a company and they do not have to pay a commission to a credit card company.

Some tips i have found useful to get a discount:

1) Be polite explain what you are doing and how they can help, pay cash and always get an invoice in your name because it stays in their system and the next time they can see the amount of discount they will give you. Worked for me at Boltz Plus got me a 50% discount on bxes of rivets and other items on six seperate occaisons.
2) get someone who knows the counter staff i.e. someone who has worked with them or is a major customer to introduce you "as a good guy". That was how I got my C25 tank for my MIG and fill-ups for $25 a tank at Praxair plus a 25% discount at Acklands Grainger.
3) just ask politely if if they can offer a better price - you need to have shopped around first
4) use your CAA card at NAPA for 10 to 15%.
5) be a regular customer and do not mess them around and make sure you buy what you need i.e. do not buy stuff and then take it back for a refund. These places are not Sears they do not like time-wasters or unnecessary paperwork.

Just some things I have found that have worked for me.

 

[bobcatdan]

Our side business has an account with carquest and several others. We do 95% with carquest. It is an old school store with guys who have been easily doing 30 years. They were friendly when we first started doing business with them and in turn we easily do $2,000 a month with them. We know everybody by name.

 

[bsaint]

grainger is a rip off even with an account (I think thats the acklands you are referring too.)

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Only places I have an account anymore are the tool trucks and Airgas (welding supply).

 

[jeffmoss26]

I do everything with my business AMEX.

 

[bsaint]

I do everything with my business AMEX.

Pay for hookers?

 

[Flatintoone]

Pay for hookers?

"Entertainment"

 

[Hootbro]

grainger is a rip off even with an account.............

Graingers business model is based on extensive selection of stocked industrial products and not a high volume retailer.

 

[slip knot]

I dont have any house accounts anymore, too time consuming to reconcile the account at the end of each month. Everything goes on the card now. I use one Discover card for all my business purchases. and a different card for my personal stuff. Much easier to account for it at the end of the month.

 

[Jbullfrog]

Most businesses require a reference from 3 other businesses to setup an open account. Once you get an account you can go almost anywhere and get one. Pay on time, and you won't have any problems.

 

[BWS]

As above on the "politeness"....and this is coming from someone way better suited to a shop floor than standing around wasting air in an office.But,theres times when it pays off,figuratively and literally.

Have settled in on "cash" accounts for most purposes(with a cpl exceptions,mainly 5 figure's and above on lumber).When setting up account you politely ask for the discount based on the cash.....it works prolly 75% of the time.

Cash,and its usefulness can then be broken down into sub-categories.Check(biz or personal),Plastic and the always good,Green......so get that clear as well.

 

[bczygan]

I used to set up cash or COD accounts with wholesalers for good prices on materials using a business name and just paid cash and the sales tax on each purchase. As a purchasing agent this was easy to do. Nowadays, discount retail places many times have better prices than wholesalers, and many wholesalers make you have a federal 38 number and won't collect tax, so the hassle isn't worth it.

 

[coolreed]

Fastenal is a ripoff. I can usually find what I need at ACE.

 

[Super Scout]

^If you can buy fasteners cheaper at ACE than Fastenal I must be doing something wrong. They are by far the cheapest around here.

 

[jeffmoss26]

LOL, what I meant was I just have a credit card account at the electrical supply houses. AKA a COD account.

 

[Hootbro]

Fastenal is a ripoff. I can usually find what I need at ACE.

That's nice if you need "onesies twosies" of more common fasteners, but even ACE is limited compared to Fastenal's selection and available quanties.

 

[warmpancakes]

my work has a account with fastenall its about 23% off their normal price and we spend alot of cash with them

 

[dirtmister16]

fastenal is nice, but usually for what seem to want its not in stock or you have to buy such a large amount its kinda hard to justify. if its bolts and nuts that i use often its a differn't story.

but once in a while ill need a random larger size but i hate to pay for 50 or 100 of them that i won't use after i get the 2 or 3 i need.

 

[crewchief888]

when we had the race team we had accounts set up at a couple parts store/speed shops, a local mom & pop hardware store,
and even the local pizza place!!

all i usually had to do was tell our main sponsor or driver what i needed, and it was sitting waiting for pickup, or sponsor would run by and pick it up.

 

[hilld]

I have cash accounts with several supply houses around here, such as Platt Electric, Oregon Bolt, NAPA, etc. You do get better pricing and the discounts get bigger the more you spend. Even if you are low volume, at least you can get in the door so to speak.

 

[bobcatdan]

I think fastenal is about the useless store there is. I think I use the store wrong. When I need a bolt or another fastener now, they never have it in stock. What is the point of a place that sells bolts that never has anything I need. Two days ago I needed a 12 x 1.75 allen head bolt, they don't stock. Once I needed a 3/8" bolt, 6" long, nope, don't stock anything over 4". I'll stoip ranting now.

 

[PAPERMAKER]

I have a discount through Grainger with the company I work for, 10-50% off, my company does millions and millions of dollars in business with them.

 

[RCStocker]

grainger is a rip off even with an account (I think thats the acklands you are referring too.)

At one time I did over a hundred thousand dollars worth of business with Grainger. I got a 30 percent discount and was still paying to much. I never bought tools form them. I ran my construction business and would get house fand, furnice, A/C units, duct work and other things. They are 20 minuets from my office. Had I done business elsewhere I would have had to go in to LA and that is a huge trip. 64 to 90 miles depending on where you go. If you did not start home before 2:30 pm you would get stuck in rush hour traffic and I have spend 5 hours in traffic many a day. It would take all day to get parts or supplies. San Bernardino county might be the largest county in the country but it is a ghetto for the most part and there is not much in the way of industrial supply or parts out here. Plumbing and Electrical wholesale houses yest but dang it is the pits. I hate it here. It is now wall to wall people for 125 miles square. Hudreds of cities and you don't know where one ends and one starts.
I am in Redlands and it is an upscale town for the most part and there is nothing here. Even the cloths are the pits. Costco does not stock nice things here. I can drive 40 miles to other costco's and find great items they don't stock out here. This is the arm pit of the world and I am form Detroit. LOL

My point is that Grainger as bad as it is saved me hundreds of days wasted shaging material. I paid more but did it ever save on labor and time.

Grainger is over in Riverside and not even in my county. Thank God for the internet. I buy all my filters and things over it. I buy by the case. I have roto tillers, a riding mower, tractor and a host of gas engines. 11 in all and that is on a city lot. LOL I get my filters from Oklahoma small engine. I save 40% by the case. I would not worry about a discount. You can find anything you want right here on the web and not even start the car. Sit back relax place an order hand have a beer. At the end of the day you will have saved money.

I know, I know you can't do that in a garage but I set up my friends garage and he now stocks many parts he uses all the time. We bypass the local auto stores and have it deliverd. I know they deliver and you need to get parts form them. I am not stupid. Cash talks and the internet can save you thousands.

 

[uniballer]

VAMAC, VALLEY FASTENER, SEARS, GRAINGER. like only the first two!!!