On 2012-09-20, Bob La Londe wrote:
On Wednesday, September 19, 2012 6:07:43 AM UTC-7, Bob Engelhardt wrote:

Bob La Londe wrote: ... McMaster ... Their on-line inventory system
is quite good though. Every bit as good as MSC's. Oh ... oh ... oh ...
Are you trolling?! MSC as good as McMaster!?! They're not in the same
league! McMaster is sweet, sweet, sweet ... MSC SUCKS! Bob

Oh, Oh, Oh,... are YOU trolling? Neither McMaster or MSC has what I
want. Both are difficult to order something from that isn't in the
on-line catalog, both have more order takers than peopel with actual
knowledge.

I've had pretty good luck with MSC for non-stocked items. I
needed a set of chasers for a small Geometric die head (metric thread,
and they did not stock those) and they said (hold on for a few minutes
and I'll call you back.

Then they did, they had TRW on line, who was quite willing and
able to make a set of chasers for me -- and asked what metal I wanted to
cut, so they could give it the right grind for the intended metal.

Yes, it was more expensive than the others of that size with
inch threads -- but it was about on a line with chasers the next size
up, so it was not too bad as a special.

Both have websites that allow you to search by different
options to see if they do sell what I want.

At present, the MSC web site is a bit better than it used to be,
but the dead tree catalog (the "Big Book") is were to go for serious
searching.

However, they told me (when I made a comment about how I used
the Big Book for finding part numbers, and the web site for finding the
current prices), that they had a new website with a new search engine
being developed, and that things should be really improved. She
included that she had a chance to test it herself, and it helps *her* to
find parts.

And the order takers tend to be pretty good at recognizing
things -- and glad to learn new names for given objects. And, they have
a tech staff to handle the stranger things.

I deal a lot less with McMaster Carr, because of their rather
miserly approach to giving out catalogs. I have one which is now about
ten years old to use as a starting point if I have to use them instead
of MSC.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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