Fastenal

[sparc]

Needed a couple 1/2-13 X 1-1/4 Gr 5 Carriage bolts and flange nuts for my rear blade so I looked for them last weekend when I was in Tractor Supply...no dice. I was kinda surprised since they are for mounting the cutting edge on my rear blade it seemed like it would be something they would have.

Stopped down the street at Fastenal this afternoon and sure enough they had them and I was ready to pay the price to get them when the owner says "on the house, don't worry about it" I said: "you sure?" and he says yeah. So I thanked him, told him i would let my friends know how helpful he was, and told him I wouldn't forget him next time I need something I'll be looking here first. He smiled. Seems we both made out but he's gonna have to wait for his payback till the next time I need some bolts.

Still, that's more than Tractor Supply has ever done for me in all the years I have dealt with them, going on back to when it was known as Central Tractor.

So part of my payback to him is letting you all know how helpful he was and maybe you'll find the same at your local Fastenal.

 

[oncehadaclue]

I stopped by Fastenal when I needed a 5/8 and a 3/4 in. drill bit for drilling some 1/2 in metal plate. I found them and went to check out and the guy there says do you have an account? I say no, then he looks up a company that had an account with them and says the price they pay is a whole lot lower than walk in customers (about 35% lower). So he rings them up as being sold to that company and I paid him cash. Saved me quite a bit. I'll go back when I need any bolts or bits.

 

[RickB]

Fastenal has the USA hardware contract for CNH dealers. Local Fastenal stores service local NH/CaseIH/Case construction dealers. Of the 3 hardware deals CNH has had since I have been paying attention, the level of service is best right now.

 

[CliffordK]

I've had some good luck there in the past.
I had some bolts I needed for a "road repair". Stopped in a truck stop, and they wanted about 10x retail.
The next stop was Fastenel, and the price seemed far more reasonable.

I found a local branch. I had good service the first time I went in.

Then the second time, they told me that they would only sell bolts a whole bag at a time. I need to buy about 3 bolts, and had to buy 20.
I pointed out that half their bolt bags were already opened and missing bolts, but the person in the store didn't care, and stuck to the bag at a time requirement.

Anyway, I haven't been back since.

I did find a small owner operated fastener store that had much better service.

 

[Rayster]

A few years back; my local Fastenal would forget that you special ordered anything you special ordered. I never went back. Currently the company I work for, has a huge account with them. I feel perhaps my first experience was with a guy that should have worked for wal-mart. The guys are very helpful and I have not been let down since. :thumbsup:

 

[sparc]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with Fastenal. I think the same thing could happen anywhere. Corporations with a local presence like that are at the mercy of those who represent them, be they a company employee or a local franchise dealer, the result is the same. The companies reputation is always on the line.

 

[CliffordK]

Well,
They probably don't like the walk-in customers that purchase 10 bolts (often an assortment). It hardly pays the time of the person tallying up the bill.

Yet, that assumes that they would otherwise be pulling a large order or doing something else to make money. And, you add up a thousand customers that purchase 10 bolts, and it adds up.

Or, when they discourage a customer from coming back. Suddenly they loose all future sales for that customer.

So, while I may only purchase less than $50 worth of bolts at a time, repeat trips add up. But, their policy of only selling full bags of bolts, which may or may not have been valid, has put Fastenel as the last place I will look.

 

[DJ54]

We're VERY lucky here to have a local hometown industrial supply that puts Fastenal to shame. 99.9% of the time I go in there, they have it in stock. And if you only need one of anything, no problem... I stopped last Friday and got a 7/8" X 10" Gr8 bolt, washers, and nut. Grand total of $7 and some change. They have it all, taps, dies, drill bits, quality power/hand tools.. I love that place..!!

If you're ever in Lancaster, Ohio, definitely look up Calandras Industrial Supply..!!

 

[6011Artist]

Cliff, full bag policy is how they do it at our local Fastenal. And their prices aren't the cheapest by a long shot. I know someone that works there and he says he is doing all he can for me pricewise but I often wonder.

We have a Agri-Supply local and thats where I buy most of mine. They carry grade 2 and 5. They sell their bolts by the pound.

Grade 2 bolts: 1.79
grade 5 bolts: 2.39
nuts: 1.99
washers : 1.69
lock washers: 2.69

it's amazing how low the price is for a bag of bolts. I have bolt bins and keep it stocked pretty much. If doing a project and have to buy bolts I always buy extras for the bolt bin.

 

[BRBurns]

I've been at good Fastenals and bad ones. Most have been good. Unfortunately, I don't think the one in my town is good.

I was in file service for 10 years, so I delta with at least 50 Fasenals over he years. They are my preference for hardware that tsc does not sell.

 

[DT86]

I don't understand the whole bag policy. The local Fastenal I use has ordered just a few each of bolts they didn't even stock for me numerous times. Most recently was metric bolts for my Kubota tractor. Actually about the only time I use them is for hard to find bolt sizes.

There is a local farm store that stocks up to 1" sizes, up to grade 8 (no fine thread and no metric though) by the pound. All at one price by the pound (which I can't remember right now) except for lock washers that are a little higher, go figure.

 

[brain55]

I have a Fastenal account and use it for specialty stuff or when I am restocking a lot of fasteners. My biggest problem with them is their high turnover of employees. I hate having to retrain their guys, I would prefer my supplier knew more about their product than I do.

Brian

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I use Fastenal quite often. Their prices are midrange or same as others on name brand tools. They would get more of my business if they were closer. I have a True Value and an Ace hardware closer and both stock a large variety of hardware including graded bolts. The Ace is also a Lumber dealer with good prices. Also both give me a 10% Military discount. I quit buying fasteners at the big box stores as every time their stock gets slimmer on the stuff I need. We also have a local industrial supply Tacoma Screw. I buy a lot their also and they are closer than Fastenal. Heavy Industrial stuff I have to go to the larger cities like Tacoma and Seattle.

Ron

 

[paulharvey]

Ive used them quite a bit, but normally for a special order of say 3/4" x 4" plow headed bolts, or simething else that Home Depot doesnt carry. Ive found them expensive, but they order what you need. Now if you happen to pick up a socket or saw blade, count on double HD/Lowes price.

 

[Bird]

full bag policy is how they do it at our local Fastenal

I've only been to Fastenal once, and that policy kept me from buying or ever going back. Probably a good company for other large companies to deal with, but not for individuals.

 

[Zebrafive]

I have bought metric bolts from them several times. They always had to order them, but did not charge me a shipping charge. The clerk said the UPS truck comes every day any way. Then about the third time I went to pick up some bolts ordered earlier they jacked up the price about 5X what I was quoted online. Clerk I usually dealt with was not there. The Manager told me they had previously made a mistake not charging shipping. Also told me they were not interested in selling "onesies, twosies. NEVER WENT BACK. Even Dealer prices at John Deere was cheaper.

 

[Travelover]

I just needed just one weird metric bolt. The local Fastenal had it and insisted that I take it for free. I feel bad that I've never been back - just no need. They seem to be a franchise and the owner seemed like a hard working guy.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use Fastenal to stock my service trucks with hardware with good results. I almost always buy bag quantities and find there products to be consistent quality wise. I seem to have less issues with stripped out heads and snapped off shanks using their products. Compared to my other local suppliers with varying quality Fastenal seems to be a better choice.

 

[brain55]

I use Fastenal to stock my service trucks with hardware with good results. I almost always buy bag quantities and find there products to be consistent quality wise. I seem to have less issues with stripped out heads and snapped off shanks using their products. Compared to my other local suppliers with varying quality Fastenal seems to be a better choice.

As long as I give them the part numbers or pick the order myself. If I let their guy go through my drawers or I rattle off nut and bolt sizes it is hard telling what I may get. I've ended up with everything from heavy nuts to grade 2 bolts.

 

[Ed L]

I've always had good service from my local Fastenal store.

Never heard of the "full bag" only policy, I doubt it would work well in our rural area, they seem to do a good business with the "walk in" customers.

My only complaint with them is no Saturday hours.

Ed