Wright Tool Delays

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I work in manufacturing, so I totally understand what is happening to our field because of supply constraints and the past Covid lockdowns. That being said, what is going on with Wright Tool? I needed a couple of tools to replace some cheaper stuff I busted up and I was originally told about 10 business days for the items to ship and that was alright -- I didn't need to finish the project immediately anyways. Here I am out 2+ months and they still aren't even sure when the items will ship and I'm now needing these items. Are they hurting that bad for help or are they really that backlogged? I'd hate to cancel the order because I've thoroughly enjoyed the Wright tools I own but I can get similar tools from Proto or Snappy shipped this week. I'm not being unreasonable, am I?

 

[Fly YX]

Have never ordered direct from them usually go through HJE Circle C supply or Amazon. Ordered from Amazon a 15/16 ratcheting wrench last week and it will be delivered today. Ordered one from Snap On a few weeks ago and still don’t have it. I have a few orders with them from Months ago not too sure if they’re actually on order or not because I can only text the snap on guy. He will not stop in the shop. SK is a no go to sill having problems with the move I guess? It ***** because I try to buy American but it is harder and harder especially now.

 

[jonshonda]

Holy hell, another complaint thread about long lead times?!?! It's like a broken record stuck on the least favorite song of the album.

If it ain't in stock, then just simply default to thinking the worst. It a mess out there, and there's a lot of swinging dicks looking for some trim that takes a much higher priority over a few tools.

 

[Mytoolsupply]

They are running into the same issues everyone else is right now, what all did you order from them?

 

[bob15]

Who did you order from? And what did you order?

 

[Iridium rand]

You already said it pretty much, you’re aware of the issues and that’s what’s happening.

if you’re dedicated to wright and need to get your project finished, no harm buying a few things on ebay (that’s buying american just as much tbh you’re just giving it to an individual instead of a big business) and continuing to support the manufacturer when the mess is cleaned up

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Holy hell, another complaint thread about long lead times?!?! It's like a broken record stuck on the least favorite song of the album.

If it ain't in stock, then just simply default to thinking the worst. It a mess out there, and there's a lot of swinging dicks looking for some trim that takes a much higher priority over a few tools.

I’m well aware of the problems manufacturing has been facing. I was just asking if anyone knew if Wright was having extraordinary difficulties since the items I’ve ordered were their standard bread and butter tools they manufacture in-house.

Who did you order from? And what did you order?

I purchased through Zoro. I’ve been talking with them and trying to reach Wright just to see what’s up. Zoro’s customer service has been pretty good but they’ve said it’s delayed again for up to another 2-3 weeks.

I ordered a couple of ratchets and some SAE deep sockets for a fixture I use at work. I need the deep broach to reach and tighten the nut that pushes two pieces together. I figured pretty standard stuff but HJE was out of the items at the time, hence Zoro.

 

[MarkH]

Just consider this normal for the times. There are fixes that could be done but too many people seem to like it this way. As a business we are surviving mainly on our old standby methods. In our winters we plan that we may be snowed in for a long time. Modern machinery makes it harder for that to happen but you learn to keep a supply on hand so if what you need gets delayed you are not in trouble. Without that mind set we would be going into a mighty frustrating planting season this year.

My wife grew up where you went for groceries twice a day. I grew up where you went weekly or monthly. So some interesting discussions as she learned how to handle the remote country. Still right now for items we need we are finding the larger orders we have are getting filled smaller orders not as much. I think they want to make sure they do not lose the next large order.

 

[four.cycle]

As noted: "like everybody else".
I had a nice conversation a couple hours ago at the drive-up window at the bank. A young man had the ATM machine in pieces all over the driveway. He told me he was backed up for weeks because of all the people who were out sick.
We had plenty of time to talk, since over half the staff at that bank branch is also out sick.

Same all over, buddy. Welcome to the new paradigm: hurry up and wait.

The days of getting any item you want any day of the week at any hour of the day and having Amazon deliver it to your door the next day is becoming a distant memory. Your grandchildren will read about it in history books.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I’ve got parts I ordered in January and won’t see them until June, and that’s if everything works out.

Just in Time inventory practices bite the dust hard when everything starts going wrong

 

[Professional Tool User]

It shouldn't take more than a month for a back order to be delivered for an industrial tool brand. Even my Proto dealer doesn't take that long to bring something in.

 

[RTM]

I just got told we need to plan on 12 months for a custom tubing assembly to be designed built, validated, and delivered. Down from the 70 weeks I was quoted almost 9 months ago, but still painful compared to the 5 or 6 months it was pre pandemic. I told them to start designing now, not 12 months before we need it, in case more stuff goes sideways.

Something like……they are waiting on the tubing, where the mfgr is waiting on the resin, whose mfgr is waiting on the….. then there is no space available at the sterilizers, cuz everybody wants stuff sterilized during a pandemic…..

What kinda deep SAE sockets do you need, I may have some spares.? (You got any spare resin?). I am serious, lemme know. May have to settle for Proto tho.

 

[southalabama]

A lot of internet sites show inventory that’s not in stock. Drop ship or they order when you order. A lot but not all of zoro is drop ship.

Find a supplier with inventory on hand.

Good luck navigating the “new normal”.

 

[Oil leak]

Check mcmaster.com, they handle Wright, Proto, and Williams. Surely one will work for you.

 

[JeepYJ]

I’m well aware of the problems manufacturing has been facing. I was just asking if anyone knew if Wright was having extraordinary difficulties since the items I’ve ordered were their standard bread and butter tools they manufacture in-house.

I purchased through Zoro. I’ve been talking with them and trying to reach Wright just to see what’s up. Zoro’s customer service has been pretty good but they’ve said it’s delayed again for up to another 2-3 weeks.

I ordered a couple of ratchets and some SAE deep sockets for a fixture I use at work. I need the deep broach to reach and tighten the nut that pushes two pieces together. I figured pretty standard stuff but HJE was out of the items at the time, hence Zoro.

Have you tried to order direct from Wrighttool.com? Or called them to see if the item is in stock?

 

[Ton ton]

.

 

[Fly YX]

Have you tried to order direct from Wrighttool.com? Or called them to see if the item is in stock?

I don’t think you can you can. Only get description of the product and find a distributor.

 

[JeepYJ]

I don’t think you can you can. Only get description of the product and find a distributor.

I haven’t ordered from there but it has “add to cart” option and a shopping cart in the header?

 

[Fly YX]

I haven’t ordered from there but it has “add to cart” option and a shopping cart in the header?

But if you try it’s only to get a quote from a distributor. Unless I’m doing it all wrong. Wish I could order from them directly.

 

[Fly YX]

Here is what I get when I try.

 

[Fly YX]

Pita just like Cornwell tool

 

[Maxcustody]

A lot of internet sites show inventory that’s not in stock. Drop ship or they order when you order. A lot but not all of zoro is drop ship.

Find a supplier with inventory on hand.

Good luck navigating the “new normal”.

This with Zoro ^^^^^^^. I went to a manufacturer site and the product I was looking for was out of stock, however Zoro showed shipping in a day or 2 from the manufacturer??? I called Zoro, very nice customer service but when I told her about this she said their system does not update timely.

 

[four.cycle]

Wright Tool does not sell directly to the public. You have to go through one of their distributors.

 

[Mytoolsupply]

Wright Tool does not sell directly to the public. You have to go through one of their distributors.

That's correct and they like there distributors to carry inventory but inventory doesn't last very long when things are selling and its not being restocked. Best bet is to call around to different companies and start piecing sets together. I get new shipments in a few times a week but you never know what it's going to be and most has been backordered for months. I don't fault them at all they are defiantly trying to get caught up on backorders. Personally I would rather wait a little bit for something that is made in Ohio or the USA rather than getting something in a few days that I know was manufactured in another country.

 

[speed bump]

I was just talking with our tool sales guy yesterday and he said for the first time ever (at least 20 years) they are having trouble getting wright tools. This is a place that sells wright because they used to always deliver quickly so I can only imagine they are struggling.

Hell even places like Martin who is a family company that traditionally had a deep inventory isn't able to keep up right now.

Every time I call the steel yard I am surprised with what I can't get this week. It's everywhere and I don't see it sorting itself within a year or two.

 

[four.cycle]

You're going to need to try a different vendor if this is something you need immediately.
Tool manufacturers don't stamp out onesie-twosies - they do production runs in the thousands of units.
Same with any other manufacturer. Stuff gets put on back-order.
We used to wait six to eight months for some oddball to show up from Indestro. Same with Carter Carburetor. Same with Master (Airtex) on fuel pumps. (We dual-lined Carter and Master fuel pumps in part for that reason.)(And there wasn't any Corona virus OR "J.I.T." just-in-time inventory practices back then!)

Just a wild-*** guess, but with other tool manufacturers dropping like flies - Western Forge, S-K, others - it's quite possible that there are more Wright customers today, which would not be a bad thing.

 

[alinc100]

Try Royal tool https://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/Wright-Tool-c1142.htm

 

[Jicle]

So sad what this country is becoming. We are going to be a third world country by 2024. You can't even buy a fridge anymore. Want a new dishwasher? Oh we won't have any until December, and by the way it's 4x the price. Gas and food are going to have huge lead times soon to go along with the incredibly high inflation and rises in price.

 

[reader2580]

So sad what this country is becoming. We are going to be a third world country by 2024. You can't even buy a fridge anymore. Want a new dishwasher? Oh we won't have any until December, and by the way it's 4x the price. Gas and food are going to have huge lead times soon to go along with the incredibly high inflation and rises in price.

How is not being able to get the exact model of what you want in a couple of days going to turn us into a third world country? I was at Costco the other day and they had a dozen or more of just one model of fridge ready to buy and take home. Is there anything Wright makes that isn't available from a supplier right now?

In third world countries the issue is generally that they can't get any model of something like a fridge. It is highly unlikely we will see a day when you can't buy a fridge at all in the USA. You just might not to be able to buy the style of fridge you want, but you'll likely be able to buy something that will keep your food cold.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If you NEED the items, IMO you need to acquire something else. You could buy a cheaper alternative and wait for Wright, or bypass them entirely with another brand.

I've been waiting on my astro 498 long barrel about 9 months now. Is what it is. They got what I need, at an amazing price, thus I wait. If Wright is selling you something you can get elsewhere, jump ship.

 

[ptabatcher]

Not sure what sizes you’re looking for but, if you can tolerate a horrible website, might want to check out Hartville Hardware. They are just a few miles down the road from Wright and seem to have stock of quite a bit. Since they are more of a brick and mortar place, I’m not sure how good their shipping is.

Hand Tools | Sockets, Ratchets | Hartville Hardware

Hartville Hardware offers so much more than a traditional hardware store, from grills and outdoor furniture to Carhartt clothing and John Deere tractors.

www.hartvillehardware.com

 

[Keep]

I ordered a couple of ratchets and some SAE deep sockets for a fixture I use at work. I need the deep broach to reach and tighten the nut that pushes two pieces together. I figured pretty standard stuff but HJE was out of the items at the time, hence Zoro.

What size ratchets and what size sockets? Plenty of folks here sitting on way to many Wright tools.

 

[RTM]

Since they are more of a brick and mortar place, I’m not sure how good their shipping is.

Hand Tools | Sockets, Ratchets | Hartville Hardware

Hartville Hardware offers so much more than a traditional hardware store, from grills and outdoor furniture to Carhartt clothing and John Deere tractors.

www.hartvillehardware.com

Funny, I knew them as an online store, long before I visited their brick n mortar store. They were pretty competent back then.

 

[RichieP_MechE]

I ordered metric and inch full polish Wright combination wrench sets (958WR and 915WR) from Epstein's in early December 2021. I got an email from Jori pretty quickly that both sets were on backorder. No worries from me as I didn't need them any time soon. The metric set shipped about a month later, some time in January. The inch set finally came in mid-March, three months after the order was placed.

 

[ptabatcher]

Funny, I knew them as an online store, long before I visited their brick n mortar store. They were pretty competent back then.

That is funny. They are local to me so, I never really thought of them as having much of an online presence. Glad to hear you had a good experience.

 

[finn]

A lot of gloom and doom here re long lead times and no stock. I see it on other sites and experienced it myself when trying to procure new steel Hpiles to construct a pier, but consider this: I have an interest in compact tractors and the story is the same: I want a new tractor and no dealers have inventory. The world’s ending.

Dig a little deeper and find that tractor sales are up something like 40% over the last few years. It’s not that the manufacturers aren’t making tractors, it’s that the market volumes have exploded.

I suspect refrigerators are the same story. The housing market exploded, people are moving into new residences, and want new appliances. Couple that with industry shakeout sand consolidations that happened in the 2008 timeframe.

Auto parts are the same: many of the old mainstream manufacturers either disappeared or were absorbed after 2008. They may exist in name only.

Not sure how a company like Wright fits in. They’re a relatively tiny part of the overall tool market, and simply may not have had the cash or foresight to expand to meet current market demands, given that most of their competitors were off shoring production over the last twenty years.

 

[jgme]

I did contact Wright Tool by email back in February. At the beginning of April I did receive a reply and they noted they were going for four to five more weeks to catch up with backorders. A bit longer but they did come through. With two separate orders I was able to acquire the 958 and 915 polished combination wrench sets. The smaller wrenches are Proto combination wrenches with the splines for rounding out the SAE set.

 

[ycgoat]

Wow, I ordered a Wright metric socket set a few weeks ago through tool discounters, and called to find out an ETA since it had been a few weeks. He said he reached out to Wright tools and their ETA was April of 2023. I canceled the order for the sockets, it was holding up my other tools shipping as well.

 

[d.mcfarland]

According to the Snap-On website, they are backordered on a lot of items as well. Most that are seem to have about a month delay.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Wow, I ordered a Wright metric socket set a few weeks ago through tool discounters, and called to find out an ETA since it had been a few weeks. He said he reached out to Wright tools and their ETA was April of 2023. I canceled the order for the sockets, it was holding up my other tools shipping as well.

I have been told something similar with my outstanding order. Sounds like maybe I’ll be seeing the items at the end of the year. Luckily I do not need the items right now.