McMaster-Carr

Good customer service and shipping. I live in Illinois and there are many things that hardware stores just don’t have, ¼ turn fasteners, random size drill bits the list goes on and on. I might be strange since i’m not a standard corporate customer and all my orders are personal use but I’ve put in 2 – 3 orders and always received them next business day with reasonable shipping charges. Unfortunately one of my last orders didn’t work out perfect (instructions said to use one drillbit size and the fastener didn’t fit in the drilled hole) when I finally got around to sending a message to them they remedied the situation quickly.

Perhaps I am not a typical McMaster-​Carr customer as everything I order is for my own personal use. I am fortunate in that since their Chicago area warehouse is in the town I live in, I can place an online order and just head to Will Call to pick it up. I’ve done business with them probably 20 times and have never had a bad thing to say. They’re a great resource for odd fasteners that either aren’t available at all in the big box stores are aren’t available in the exact size/​material I want.

They just called me to tell me my order was «Declined» because they didn’t like my business… really?

So first of all, I have only one experience to base this review on. I did my research on their website and found a butcher block counter top I wanted to purchase. I live locally so opted to get it in person rather than pay for shipping.
I had no idea what I was getting into prior to going, and am thankful I read the other reviews about the tiny signage. I would like to add that you want to follow signs for will call (the second entrance) rather than «visitors». Once inside I could see that this wasn’t a place where I could grab a cart, wheel it to the butcher block and grab one. All the orders are waiting at a will call service desk. The helpful man behind the counter explained that I could have places the order online and it would have been waiting for me (to do so, place your order on the website and under shipping click for more options and select will call). Since I hadn’t done this, he sent me over to a wall of phones to place my order and I was told it would be ready in about an hour. After waiting nearly 45 minutes it wasn’t ready, and since I had an appt I had to get to, I had to return the following day for pick-​up.
Overall, I am this far happy with the product and the level of customer service. Next time I’ll place the order ahead of time.

I am one shipping error away from stopping all business with these doofusses. You don’t have to look far to find someone complaining about how bad their freight policies are. I listed our shipping instructions on an order and they completely ignored them and not only went economical but went expensive on the carrier. These were shop supplies, no rush. Why on earth would anyone ship Fed Ex Priority Freight in a case like this? Because they are doofusses. I contacted them and they said and I quote «We don’t contact third party carriers» essentially translated, «I don’t care what your instructions are, we’re not going to follow them. «I had a lengthy conversation with them and they essentially said we will not service you the way you want to be serviced we will service you the way we want to. So I have now instructed my staff to avoid buying from them whenever possible and I don’t know how many of you know, but if you look around almost everything they have you can buy for less someplace else. Grainger sells a lot of the same stuff for less and they follow shipping instructions but even they are not the lowest price in town. No one can accuse them of good customer service.

This is the only online business I know of that does not calculate shipping charges before you buy. Not only that, but they don’t give shipping options, either — they choose. I had to give my credit card info on good faith (my own fault) trusting that the shipping would be reasonable for my 8oz package. Instead, the shipping charges came to more than the price of the item! And they don’t tell you for 2 days after it ships. Seems like a sleazy way to run a business.

I was referred by Piedmont and my alma mater to buy supplies here.
Mixed feelings towards McMaster-​Carr.
When I first bought glue for welding, I had a good experience — The staff was very friendly and helped me to pick the right glue.
However, for the second order, I have yet to receive the plastic-​cutting blade that I ordered two weeks ago.
McMaster-​Carr, where is my blade?
P. S. I will still order from McMaster-​Carr, since it is the biggest industrial supplier. Nonetheless, I hope that it would keep up with the order better.
Item (s): 4
Décor: N/​A
Service: 1

The BEST service in the industry on anything you need. They deliver same day and never let me down!

Absolutely the best! All suppliers should model their customer service, and stock ordering system. This place has everything under the sun and if they don’t have it you don’t need it! No seriously in my line of work you need things fast and don’t have days to wait (Ahem, Grainger!) for a specialty screw, fitting, or tool,. McMaster will have it pulled and ready for pickup in usually about an hours time. now that’s service. I think this is where they get all the pneumatic pistons and parts for Myth Busters! The catalog is huge and 99.9% of the items are in stock. Well hidden in Elmhurst if not for the 3′ X 3′ sign. I guess if your this good you don’t need Signage!

where else you going to find that bulk quantity of butyl rubber sheeting or the correct aircraft-​grade 4130 alloy steel tubing you’ve been dreaming about?
damn you must really be busting some big jobs to need this stuff!