Sad Comment about McMaster-Carr

[Guv Bob]

I am sad to say that our experience has been that McMaster-Carr has changed for the worse in the last few weeks. And I don't see any reason to think that it will return to the friendly, efficiently-run company that it has been for the prior 10+ years that we have been buying from them.

I hope that anyone else who has found this to be the case in your dealings, will contact McMaster-Carr via their website: http://www.mcmaster.com/ > Contact. Be sure to ask that your comments be forwarded to someone in upper management and to a VP of Sales. Be sure to express your thoughts in a polite, business-like manner.

This is a sad comment that am making -- their company has been a pleasure to buy from for the past 10+ years. But now their operation seems to have been turned over to the IT dept and/or bean counters. The sales desk/phone people are as helpful and efficient as always, but unfortunately, their "customer service" philosophy is limited to taking orders. Evidently they have no influence on how the rest of the company is run.

1. As you probably already know, McMaster-Carr has purged many of its customers' accounts in good standing, and is now requiring long-term customers to purchase by credit card only. This is true whether ordering online or by phone.

2. This is fine for small dollar or infrequent orders, but not acceptable for routine purchases.

3. Our experience is that cards are kept with a fairly low limit ($1-$5) because that it takes only one well-meaning but out-of-control employee to sink a project by excessive use of his card.

4. However, if your employees have a reasonable limit ($2-$10K), then the company must now monitor the balance weekly and make mid-month payments just to keep the balance under the card limit and keep on good standing with the card issuer.

5. When you are in a major project, you have to spend to much time keeping track of your credit card balance when you should be spending time on keeping the project under control.

6. I have talked to various McM-Carr people and have gotten nowhere. Our account is over 10 years old and, like all our supplier accounts, is always current.

7. On a different issue.... we have places 4 orders in the past 2 weeks -- all by credit card (as required). Two of these orders were shipped to addresses in other states that we never heard of.

I hope that they will get enough feedback from their customers to pull the plug on the impersonal bean-counter attitudes and return some reasonable customer-oriented management to the company.

Thank you for reading.

Boycott McMaster-Carr

 

[Jamie]

Guv Bob wrote:

I am sad to say that our experience has been that McMaster-Carr has changed for the worse in the last few weeks. And I don't see any reason to think that it will return to the friendly, efficiently-run company that it has been for the prior 10+ years that we have been buying from them.

I hope that anyone else who has found this to be the case in your dealings, will contact McMaster-Carr via their website: http://www.mcmaster.com/ > Contact. Be sure to ask that your comments be forwarded to someone in upper management and to a VP of Sales. Be sure to express your thoughts in a polite, business-like manner.

This is a sad comment that am making -- their company has been a pleasure to buy from for the past 10+ years. But now their operation seems to have been turned over to the IT dept and/or bean counters. The sales desk/phone people are as helpful and efficient as always, but unfortunately, their "customer service" philosophy is limited to taking orders. Evidently they have no influence on how the rest of the company is run.

1. As you probably already know, McMaster-Carr has purged many of its customers' accounts in good standing, and is now requiring long-term customers to purchase by credit card only. This is true whether ordering online or by phone.

2. This is fine for small dollar or infrequent orders, but not acceptable for routine purchases.

3. Our experience is that cards are kept with a fairly low limit ($1-$5) because that it takes only one well-meaning but out-of-control employee to sink a project by excessive use of his card.

4. However, if your employees have a reasonable limit ($2-$10K), then the company must now monitor the balance weekly and make mid-month payments just to keep the balance under the card limit and keep on good standing with the card issuer.

5. When you are in a major project, you have to spend to much time keeping track of your credit card balance when you should be spending time on keeping the project under control.

6. I have talked to various McM-Carr people and have gotten nowhere. Our account is over 10 years old and, like all our supplier accounts, is always current.

7. On a different issue.... we have places 4 orders in the past 2 weeks -- all by credit card (as required). Two of these orders were shipped to addresses in other states that we never heard of.

I hope that they will get enough feedback from their customers to pull the plug on the impersonal bean-counter attitudes and return some reasonable customer-oriented management to the company.

Thank you for reading.

Boycott McMaster-Carr

We stopped using them on a regular bases a while ago.

We only buy from them when absolutely necessary.

3 of the major reasons we stopped buying from them are

1. Overly priced products in many area's

2. Inconsistent product line and lack of detail data in cat.

3. Getting double billed attempts. (multiple times).

They never use to be this bad how ever, it seems that the times
are reflecting on their business.

http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5"

 

[Phil Again]

On Fri, 30 May 2008 22:51:10 +0000, Guv Bob wrote:

I am sad to say that our experience has been that McMaster-Carr has
changed for the worse in the last few weeks. And I don't see any reason
to think that it will return to the friendly, efficiently-run company
that it has been for the prior 10+ years that we have been buying from
them.

{snip}
1. As you probably already know, McMaster-Carr has purged many of its
customers' accounts in good standing, and is now requiring long-term
customers to purchase by credit card only.
{snip}

This is something you are going to have to learn to live with.

The credit crunch and the Fuel Oil crunch is going to infest all phases
of business life for the next generation. McMaster-Carr will not have
the dollar resource to make 45 day loans or even 30 day loans to their
customer's purchases. The money people (those with the Oil profits) will
not extend McM-C the credit.

It will all be credit cards soon. Let the banks and foreign investors
collect the money, I guess.

However, I agree about the problem of employee use of credit cards for
large dollar purchases. See it happen myself. The only way to go is a
long piece of red tape no one will follow until someone is fired for not
following the red tape procedure on credit card purchases. Small
companies just may go broke because of out of control credit card use by
employees.

Don't blame McMaster's for the credit crunch. Don't matter how long you
have been a customer with them or MSC, or Grainger (sp?) Purchase Order
number, or Blanket Order number buying is going to something like a V-8
engines in family cars soon.

If you think you have problems now, just wait until you find out about
the future of the procedures your accounting dept will impose on your
credit card purchases for projects in the future. Plan working about 3
to 4 hours unpaid overtime each week to process the new paper work.

(Aside: the paperwork will be needed by the Auditors of the Accounting
Dept, it's not the Acct. Dept's fault. The Auditors won't give your
company a green light without some new procedures in place.)

Phil

P.S. I will now get down off my little soap box. It needs to be recycled.

 

[hallerb@aol.com]

On May 30, 7:16�pm, "Lew Hodgett" <lewhodg...@verizon.net> wrote:

RE: Subject

McM-C has been a total PITA around here for at least the last 10
years.

The only time we place an order with them is when they are the only
game in town.

--
Hodco Systems
Box 2302
Whittier, CA, 90610-2302
(V) 562-944-4432
E-Mail: lewhodg...@verizon.net

Lew Hodgett, PE

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot of a
few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres never a
quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies, and
be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one day
may be large customers, but never spend a dime at grainger........

 

On May 30, 7:43 pm, "Stuart & Kathryn Fields" <s...@iwvisp.com> wrote:

Absolutely zero problems dealing with them to date. While their prices
aren't the lowest, their service has always been first class. I order
before 4:00 pm, I have it next day by noon. We darn sure don't spend much
more than $2K/yr with them but we always receive friendly courteous service.
I was shocked to read the above.

Stu Fields
Experimental Helo Magazine

My experience is the same as Stu's - McMaster's been very good
for my needs and almost always ships "next day" by UPS for very
reasonable rates. While not the cheapest source for most things
(especially raw metal/plastic materials), their speed and availability
outweigh that. I spend ~10-20 $K a year, almost all by CC.

Wud

 

[N8N]

On May 30, 7:29 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:

On May 30, 7:16�pm, "Lew Hodgett" <lewhodg...@verizon.net> wrote:



RE: Subject

McM-C has been a total PITA around here for at least the last 10
years.

The only time we place an order with them is when they are the only
game in town.

--
Hodco Systems
Box 2302
Whittier, CA, 90610-2302
(V) 562-944-4432
E-Mail: lewhodg...@verizon.net

Lew Hodgett, PE

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot of a
few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres never a
quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies, and
be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one day
may be large customers, but never spend a dime at grainger........

Grainger isn't interested in non-corporate customers, either. Makes
you feel guilty buying anything from them for personal use due to the
attitude. I've had nothing but good experiences with McM-C and I hope
that that does not change. I especially like the quick shipping,
faster than any other company I've ever done business with. I do wish
they'd post brand names on their web site though.

nate

 

[David Nebenzahl]

On 5/30/2008 6:00 PM N8N spake thus:

On May 30, 7:29 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot of a
few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres never a
quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies, and
be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one day
may be large customers, but never spend a dime at grainger........

Grainger isn't interested in non-corporate customers, either. Makes
you feel guilty buying anything from them for personal use due to the
attitude. I've had nothing but good experiences with McM-C and I hope
that that does not change. I especially like the quick shipping,
faster than any other company I've ever done business with. I do wish
they'd post brand names on their web site though.

Hmmm, now I have to say that that doesn't jibe at all with my
experience. I have a tiny, tiny account with Grainger, and I've had
nothing but good experiences dealing with them. They're always helpful
and don't seem to mind at all that they're not getting rich off of me.


--
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute
conversation with the average voter.

- Attributed to Winston Churchill

 

[sparky]

On May 30, 6:51 pm, "Guv Bob" <brotherd...@bigfootYEOOOOOW.com> wrote:

I am sad to say that our experience has been that McMaster-Carr has changed for the worse in the last few weeks.  And I don't see any reason to think that it will return to the friendly, efficiently-run company that it has been for the prior 10+ years that we have been buying from them.

It must be your attitude that gives the people you talk to a bad
attitude. I have been getting items
from McM shipped to Canada for 20 years now. No company can match the
service they give. If I
place an order today it arrives by Purolator courier tomorrow at
noon. The local companies take a
week to get me a price on the item and then say it will take 2 weeks
to get it because it has to be
shipped from the US. That excuse is getting pretty old by now!

 

I have to echo so many on this one, I have always had good service, a
little pricey at times, but always in stock.
20+ yrs and no problems, even had an order that I placed online and
saw my screwup, called them right away, and the order had already been
put into the system, young lady changed the order, (fixed my screw-up)
and correct order showed up the next day.

Something to note: I have always gotten name brand products from them,
order a tap handle, and you get a starret, order a carbide 5 flute
endmill you get Niagra or Garr or Robb-Jack, power hack saw blade for
my 1940's era Racine, you got it, Starret.

There may be a deeper reason for the it / bean counters coming down on
a company or individual.
My $.02

"D"

 

On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:59:42 -0700, "John R. Carroll"
<jcarroll@ubu,machiningsolution.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:

Hmmm, we've had the opposite experience. Friendly, knowledgeable and
we get same-day delivery if we order by noon. We do about $1k/mo.

I'll second that.
I get my stuff so quick it's scary - usually the same day.


John R. Carroll
www.machiningsolution.com

Same here, order before noon and get it by end of same day, shipping
cost same as regular UPS.

They are not the cheapest unit cost but going to McMaster Carr for a
100 items or 15 different sources with lower unit costs for the same
items, it is often less expensive in the long run to go with McMaster
Carr.

I have never had a problem with McMaster Carr.

Tom

 

[PhattyMo]

Guv Bob wrote:

I am sad to say that our experience has been that McMaster-Carr has changed for the worse in the last few weeks. And I don't see any reason to think that it will return to the friendly, efficiently-run company that it has been for the prior 10+ years that we have been buying from them.

I hope that anyone else who has found this to be the case in your dealings, will contact McMaster-Carr via their website: http://www.mcmaster.com/ > Contact. Be sure to ask that your comments be forwarded to someone in upper management and to a VP of Sales. Be sure to express your thoughts in a polite, business-like manner.

This is a sad comment that am making -- their company has been a pleasure to buy from for the past 10+ years. But now their operation seems to have been turned over to the IT dept and/or bean counters. The sales desk/phone people are as helpful and efficient as always, but unfortunately, their "customer service" philosophy is limited to taking orders. Evidently they have no influence on how the rest of the company is run.

1. As you probably already know, McMaster-Carr has purged many of its customers' accounts in good standing, and is now requiring long-term customers to purchase by credit card only. This is true whether ordering online or by phone.

2. This is fine for small dollar or infrequent orders, but not acceptable for routine purchases.

3. Our experience is that cards are kept with a fairly low limit ($1-$5) because that it takes only one well-meaning but out-of-control employee to sink a project by excessive use of his card.

4. However, if your employees have a reasonable limit ($2-$10K), then the company must now monitor the balance weekly and make mid-month payments just to keep the balance under the card limit and keep on good standing with the card issuer.

5. When you are in a major project, you have to spend to much time keeping track of your credit card balance when you should be spending time on keeping the project under control.

6. I have talked to various McM-Carr people and have gotten nowhere. Our account is over 10 years old and, like all our supplier accounts, is always current.

7. On a different issue.... we have places 4 orders in the past 2 weeks -- all by credit card (as required). Two of these orders were shipped to addresses in other states that we never heard of.

I hope that they will get enough feedback from their customers to pull the plug on the impersonal bean-counter attitudes and return some reasonable customer-oriented management to the company.

Thank you for reading.

Boycott McMaster-Carr

Hmm...that sucks,I just ordered from them for the first time this week.
Paid by CC,so far everything seems dandy..As long as my package arrives
in one piece,I'll be happy.

 

[J. Clarke]

N8N wrote:

On May 31, 12:08 am, David Nebenzahl <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:
On 5/30/2008 6:00 PM N8N spake thus:





On May 30, 7:29 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot
of a few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres
never a quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies,
and be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one
day may be large customers, but never spend a dime at
grainger........

Grainger isn't interested in non-corporate customers, either.
Makes
you feel guilty buying anything from them for personal use due to
the attitude. I've had nothing but good experiences with McM-C
and
I hope that that does not change. I especially like the quick
shipping, faster than any other company I've ever done business
with. I do wish they'd post brand names on their web site though.

Hmmm, now I have to say that that doesn't jibe at all with my
experience. I have a tiny, tiny account with Grainger, and I've had
nothing but good experiences dealing with them. They're always
helpful and don't seem to mind at all that they're not getting rich
off of me.

That's just it, you have an account with them. If you're just
walking
in off the street they simply won't sell to you, unless you know the
name of a purchasing guy at a company that has an account with them.

I keep hearing this. They've never asked me for any kind of
identification or account number or anything else. Must be something
in the way you present yourself that causes them to want to pick on
you. My Dad had that problem--he was one of these people who couldn't
go down to the gas station without putting on a suit and tie, and
several times I've seen "wholesalers" turn him away. Same
"wholesalers" when I go in totally grubbed out with tools in my pocket
looking like I ran out of whatever in the middle of a job generally
don't have any trouble with them.

Fortunately I *do* work for a company that has an account, but since
ordering from McMaster-Carr online is actually *faster* than going
to
a brick and mortar Grainger store, unless Grainger has the part in
stock, McM-C gets most of my business.

nate

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

 

[N8N]

On May 31, 12:08 am, David Nebenzahl <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:

On 5/30/2008 6:00 PM N8N spake thus:





On May 30, 7:29 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot of a
few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres never a
quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies, and
be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one day
may be large customers, but never spend a dime at grainger........

Grainger isn't interested in non-corporate customers, either. Makes
you feel guilty buying anything from them for personal use due to the
attitude. I've had nothing but good experiences with McM-C and I hope
that that does not change. I especially like the quick shipping,
faster than any other company I've ever done business with. I do wish
they'd post brand names on their web site though.

Hmmm, now I have to say that that doesn't jibe at all with my
experience. I have a tiny, tiny account with Grainger, and I've had
nothing but good experiences dealing with them. They're always helpful
and don't seem to mind at all that they're not getting rich off of me.

That's just it, you have an account with them. If you're just walking
in off the street they simply won't sell to you, unless you know the
name of a purchasing guy at a company that has an account with them.
Fortunately I *do* work for a company that has an account, but since
ordering from McMaster-Carr online is actually *faster* than going to
a brick and mortar Grainger store, unless Grainger has the part in
stock, McM-C gets most of my business.

nate

 

[Mark & Juanita]

John R. Carroll wrote:

Guv Bob wrote:
I am sad

Apparently sorry would have been a better description.
You are.

Well, I think the OP's title was at least truthful -- It was a sad
comment. [sorry would work too]


--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

N8N wrote:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

Hmmm, now I have to say that that doesn't jibe at all with my
experience. I have a tiny, tiny account with Grainger, and I've had
nothing but good experiences dealing with them. They're always helpful
and don't seem to mind at all that they're not getting rich off of me.

That's just it, you have an account with them. If you're just walking
in off the street they simply won't sell to you, unless you know the
name of a purchasing guy at a company that has an account with them.
Fortunately I *do* work for a company that has an account, but since
ordering from McMaster-Carr online is actually *faster* than going to
a brick and mortar Grainger store, unless Grainger has the part in
stock, McM-C gets most of my business.

Bullshit. That may be the policy at the local branch. I recently
walked into the local graingers and ordered an obscure projector bulb.
I got it three days late, and I don't even have a business. I paid the
sales tax, along with the price of the bulb, and was told to come back
any time I need something. The clerk spent a half hour locating a
branch with the part in stock and arranging the delivery, for a < $20
sale.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

SteveB wrote:

I'm sorry, but it will be impossible for you to be happy according to Guv
Bob. And even if you think you're happy, and have your goods, and have them
at a good price, you must commiserate with Gov Bob for his experience. Or
be neurotic in case MMC ever has a problem with your order.

Or, at least, that's what Gov Bob sez.

I wouldn't worry. His handlers should have him safely back in his
straight jacket, and in the padded cell by now.


--
http://improve-usenet.org/index.html

If you have broadband, your ISP may have a NNTP news server included in
your account: http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm

Sporadic E is the Earth's aluminum foil beanie for the 'global warming'
sheep.

 

[N8N]

On May 31, 10:36 am, "J. Clarke" <jclarke.use...@cox.net> wrote:

N8N wrote:
On May 31, 12:08 am, David Nebenzahl <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:
On 5/30/2008 6:00 PM N8N spake thus:

On May 30, 7:29 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot
of a few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres
never a quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies,
and be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one
day may be large customers, but never spend a dime at
grainger........

Grainger isn't interested in non-corporate customers, either.
Makes
you feel guilty buying anything from them for personal use due to
the attitude. I've had nothing but good experiences with McM-C
and
I hope that that does not change. I especially like the quick
shipping, faster than any other company I've ever done business
with. I do wish they'd post brand names on their web site though.

Hmmm, now I have to say that that doesn't jibe at all with my
experience. I have a tiny, tiny account with Grainger, and I've had
nothing but good experiences dealing with them. They're always
helpful and don't seem to mind at all that they're not getting rich
off of me.

That's just it, you have an account with them. If you're just
walking
in off the street they simply won't sell to you, unless you know the
name of a purchasing guy at a company that has an account with them.

I keep hearing this. They've never asked me for any kind of
identification or account number or anything else. Must be something
in the way you present yourself that causes them to want to pick on
you. My Dad had that problem--he was one of these people who couldn't
go down to the gas station without putting on a suit and tie, and
several times I've seen "wholesalers" turn him away. Same
"wholesalers" when I go in totally grubbed out with tools in my pocket
looking like I ran out of whatever in the middle of a job generally
don't have any trouble with them.

I'm usually wearing a company logo polo shirt, even so I've gotten the
same reception from two different Grainger branches. First question
is "who do you work for" and the second is "whose account is this
going on." If you tell them that you're buying stuff for yourself
they will still insist on associating the purchase with an account.

The electrical wholesaler down the street, I *have* walked in wearing
a shirt and tie and received prompt, friendly service.

nate

 

I have had no problems with McMaster. So many companies withhold
payments for goods and services for up to 90 days that McMaster and
others are fed up with being a bank. Your company may have fallen
into this practice and had your account flagged for poor payment
history. The results being that they want payment with the order.

I order on open account and pay well within 30 days. No problems.

Your organization may have been the source of your credit problems.

Bob

 

[David Nebenzahl]

On 6/1/2008 5:07 AM N8N spake thus:

On May 31, 10:36 am, "J. Clarke" <jclarke.use...@cox.net> wrote:

N8N wrote:

On May 31, 12:08 am, David Nebenzahl <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:
On 5/30/2008 6:00 PM N8N spake thus:

On May 30, 7:29 pm, "hall...@aol.com" <hall...@aol.com> wrote:

ww grainger is no better, were a small business that bought a lot
of a few select items, if you dont buy 6 or 10K a year theres
never a quantity discount.

so they didnt want our business, we buy elsewhere........

now some tiny start up may be discouraged by such idiot policies,
and be the next microsoft.

grainger by bean counting will discourage small customers who one
day may be large customers, but never spend a dime at
grainger........

Grainger isn't interested in non-corporate customers, either.
Makes
you feel guilty buying anything from them for personal use due to
the attitude. I've had nothing but good experiences with McM-C
and
I hope that that does not change. I especially like the quick
shipping, faster than any other company I've ever done business
with. I do wish they'd post brand names on their web site though.

Hmmm, now I have to say that that doesn't jibe at all with my
experience. I have a tiny, tiny account with Grainger, and I've had
nothing but good experiences dealing with them. They're always
helpful and don't seem to mind at all that they're not getting rich
off of me.

That's just it, you have an account with them. If you're just
walking
in off the street they simply won't sell to you, unless you know the
name of a purchasing guy at a company that has an account with them.

I keep hearing this. They've never asked me for any kind of
identification or account number or anything else. Must be something
in the way you present yourself that causes them to want to pick on
you. My Dad had that problem--he was one of these people who couldn't
go down to the gas station without putting on a suit and tie, and
several times I've seen "wholesalers" turn him away. Same
"wholesalers" when I go in totally grubbed out with tools in my pocket
looking like I ran out of whatever in the middle of a job generally
don't have any trouble with them.

I'm usually wearing a company logo polo shirt, even so I've gotten the
same reception from two different Grainger branches. First question
is "who do you work for" and the second is "whose account is this
going on." If you tell them that you're buying stuff for yourself
they will still insist on associating the purchase with an account.

The electrical wholesaler down the street, I *have* walked in wearing
a shirt and tie and received prompt, friendly service.

I don't doubt your experiences w/Grainger.

It must vary according to location. I remember when I first started
buying stuff there (mine's in Berkeley, CA), I didn't have an account,
and had no trouble buying there.

They *do* ask what account the purchases are going on as a matter of
course, because, I guess, most purchases there are on account. But that
doesn't prevent you from buying if you don't have an account (again, at
least at this location).

The reason I have an account is that they asked me if I wanted one and I
said yes.


--
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute
conversation with the average voter.

- Attributed to Winston Churchill

 

[Bruce L. Bergman]

On Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:52:41 -0700, David Nebenzahl wrote:

On 6/1/2008 5:07 AM N8N spake thus:
On May 31, 10:36 am, "J. Clarke" wrote:

I keep hearing this. They've never asked me for any kind of
identification or account number or anything else. Must be something
in the way you present yourself that causes them to want to pick on
you. My Dad had that problem--he was one of these people who couldn't
go down to the gas station without putting on a suit and tie, and
several times I've seen "wholesalers" turn him away. Same
"wholesalers" when I go in totally grubbed out with tools in my pocket
looking like I ran out of whatever in the middle of a job generally
don't have any trouble with them.

I'm usually wearing a company logo polo shirt, even so I've gotten the
same reception from two different Grainger branches. First question
is "who do you work for" and the second is "whose account is this
going on." If you tell them that you're buying stuff for yourself
they will still insist on associating the purchase with an account.

The electrical wholesaler down the street, I *have* walked in wearing
a shirt and tie and received prompt, friendly service.

I don't doubt your experiences w/Grainger.

It must vary according to location. I remember when I first started
buying stuff there (mine's in Berkeley, CA), I didn't have an account,
and had no trouble buying there.

They *do* ask what account the purchases are going on as a matter of
course, because, I guess, most purchases there are on account. But that
doesn't prevent you from buying if you don't have an account (again, at
least at this location).

The reason I have an account is that they asked me if I wanted one and I
said yes.

Grainger has never been a problem - I've walked in the same branch
for a dozen different employers over the years, and Ed just goes "Hi!"
like always - about half their counter people have worked there as
long as I've been going there - they know the fixers from the fakers.

And I know where to find those odd pieces you aren't going to get at
an electrical supply or refrigeration supply. You can't buy what
they've never even heard of.

Although I do get a LOT better price on certain items using my
sister-in-law's Fortune 50 Company (*) account number than my current
employer's number...

Haven't had a problem with McMaster-Carr - yet.

--<< Bruce >>--

(* Name withheld just in case)