The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk McMaster-Carr

I had read here many times about McMaster-Carr. I had trouble locating locally a particular carburetor screw so I contacted them. They knew exactly what I wanted and had it shipped to me in 2 days. Granted it came out of my home state, but that's still excellent service.By the way, I bought a box of a 100 so I'll have plenty on hand and likly never run out!

I agree. Ive bought tons of different fasteners from them and also sheets of felt to make grease seals when no replacement was available. Lots of cool stuff there.

Jeff

Can anyone buy from McMaster-Carr or do you need some type of business or corporate account?

Anyone can buy from them!

I agree 100%. I bought all kinds of stuff from them when I was doing my truck. We have an account at work and I bet we order from them at least once a week. At work I call it my bible. What amazes me is, even if you order as late as 3pm, it is on the ups truck the following morning. At the very latest and only once in a great while, its the next day.

Ditto on the McMaster-Carr
Here are two other odd ball resources I have found helpful.

http://www.colehersee.com/catalog_top/index.htm
http://www.bussmann.com/5/MagnumBrand.html

I really like McMaster too, lots of stuff for old trucks in there, even if they don't know it..
I order something most every week from them, and they do ship quick, often next day.

When I first got the catalog I read it from cover to cover, so much stuff in there to learn about. I still like to thumb through it.

Grigg

I use the web site www.mcmaster.com

Besides Cole Hersee, check out www.waytekwire.com

http://www.grainger.com is another big catalog supplier.

Grainger will only sell to you if you have a tax ID number.
At least in this part of the country that's the case. I did own a business years ago but sold it decades ago and I've been trying for years to buy from them and they just turn me away at the counter!
Grainger's catalog contains a lot of items that McMaster doesn't since they are a major supplier of Maintainance supplies and HVAC items.
DG

With Grainger, all you need is a credit card to buy online. They are a PITA when you walk up to the counter.

This is great! Thanks for the urls.

McMaster-Carr ships to me in less than 24 hours. I have bought all sorts of hardware plus some pieces of metal and rubber. The only problem is a lot of their items are rather overpriced.

that is the price you pay for being able to buy everything under one roof. Where else are you going to get a relay, 500 gallon bulk tank, 10 pack of bolts and a forklift from the same place

I find the McMaster prices for most stuff very reasonable, often the best. However, some things can be found cheaper elsewhere, if you can easily find it elsewhere..

Scott speaks the truth. I have ordered daily from McMaster for over 27 years. They always have it...you always get it, (quickly) and when you're in a production situation, those are the only two things that count.

McMaster Carr should be a role model for all retail businesses in this country. Just don't ask for an extra catalog!

Stuart

They are stingy with their paper catalogs, however they do have a great on-line catalog.

Greatest hardware store that ever was, hope they keep on keepin' on. I've been buying from them also for several decades and agree with Stu and Scott 100%. I'm just a couple of hours west of their main warehouse here in Illinois and if I get an order in this morning, UPS will be dropping it off tomorrow. Over the years as with any business you deal with a lot,

Over the years as with any business you deal with a lot, I’ve been shorted on orders, received damaged shipments and had returns or exchanges and there was never, ever a question, only the reply, we’re sorry Mr. Graham we will take care of it right away. Don't take me wrong, 99.9% of the time I've been perfectly satisfied with their service.

And the Catalog; I'm retired now but I worked at a large Government Lab for a quarter of a century, which had 2,000 employees. In the past every one of us would find a new McMaster Carr catalog in our mailbox every year whether you were the cleaning lady, a secretary, etc., needless to say, the majority of them would be found in the paper recycling bin next to the mail boxes the same day they were delivered. But a few years ago that must have finally caught up with them and now even though I still order from them a few times a month, you couldn’t get a hard copy of their catalog if you paid for it, believe me, I’ve tried that!

When it comes to customer relations Grainger management would do well to take a lesson from McMaster Carr.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

"When it comes to customer relations Grainger management would do well to take a lesson from McMaster Carr"

I had a salesman from Grainger come in my office one day and asked why we had not bought as much from them lately. He looked over and saw my "yellow bible" on my desk and joked that I should throw it away, that they had a better company, better products, blah, blah, blah. He left me his card and promised the his personal service. A couple days latter I decided to give him a chance and needed to order a Dewalt saw. I called him and he seemed very distracted and refrred me to his "assistant". Three days later my package came but it wasn't the saw I ordered but 2 pieces of warehouse gaurdrail?!?!?! It took two weeks to get the order straight (I ended up buying the saw from HD)and then they tried to bill me for the shipping for the returned gaurdrail. I deal with a lot of companies in my job and McMaster-Carr is hands down the best. Even if an item is a little more expensive, the fact that I can get it the next day is worth it to me.

It always cracks me up when I get the old, "you should have you order in 10 days to 2 weeks" from another business. It makes you wonder, if McMaster-Carr can ship as fast as they do, why can't other companies.

If I need a new catalog I ask for it every time I place an order, eventually I get one.

Last time I asked the conversation went like this:
McM: Anything else I can do to help you?
Me: Yes, I would like to receive a new a catalog, this one's several years old
McM: I'll put in a request for you.
Me: Thanks, but what's it take to actually get a catalog?
McM: I'll put in a request.
Me: Thanks

Then a few weeks later I had a catalog.

When I started my new job at a school I called McMaster to get a new catalog, and they sent one quite quickly.

Just be friendly and persistent asking for a catalog each time you order, eventually you get one.

Well, I didn't request a catalog and I probably won't as searching the products on their web site is fine with me.
Like the rest of you, I'm sure , I get inundated with junk mail including catalogs.My recycle bin is nearly full every week! After reading all the positive responses about McMaster-Carr
I'm sure that first recent purchase won't be my last.

Hey Grigg, you can send me out your old one, the one I'm working out of is copy writed 2001. That's how long I've been waiting for my request.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I guess Im lucky, When I need a part from M.M.C. I just look up the part and leave the # for the D/S parts purchaser an he gets em for me delivered to the plant and it is payroll deducted ....cant beat that.
Tim

Shoot Tim, you really are spoilt aren't ya!
Stay warm buddy.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

McMaster-Carr does do a good job,but you do pay for that.

also ,sometimes they can give you smaller package sizes than a regular industrial distributor.

However in this economy,if you are looking for the pricing,your local industrial distributor will probably be cheaper.

For instance the 3M 7447 pads are $20.88 per box at McMaster-Carr while they are $15.80 at the local distibutor and for a real deal a case of 60 for $37.50.

That may be true,but they were a life saver to me. The screws I could'nt find anywhere locally,including a local carb rebuilding shop,they had. Box of 100,4 bucks plus 2 bucks shipping. That's a deal to me!