McMaster Carr shipping

[SPYDERLK]

I'd expect maybe a 10% difference on an estimate, but not 50%.

This is why they were slow in dealing with the public.

 

[rswyan]

As previously stated by many, they are a great company to do business with. I've used their shipping very little ... mostly on small, inexpensive stuff that I don't want to waste the fuel (and time) driving 30 miles to go pick up at the Aurora warehouse ... but what little I have used it, it does seem pricey ... at least in comparison to what I've ordered. Probably entirely reasonable though.

 

[mfreund]

I'm putting this under rural living because I know a lot of people have to mail order stuff which is not carried locally.

I needed about 30 U-bolts like:National Hardware #677-3/8 in. x 4 in. x 7 in. Zinc-Plated U Bolt Plate with Hex Nut-2192BC 677 SQ U BOLT ZN at The Home Depot

Local stores didn't have them. Home depot couldn't promise delivery before the 28th. McMaster Carr (MC) said tomorrow (which has become today), which works for me. They were $3.86 at MC vs $3.60 w/ free shipping at HD. I could live with that. MC estimated shipping charges as $7
in an email.

I get the bill today and shipping charges are $10.48.

I know the difference isn't BIG but for those who use it how accurate or exorbitant are their shipping charges?

I'd like to order more "stuff" from them but if their shipping estimates are off by 50% I want to be able to take that into account.

Nice to know they rip you off on shipping. Yes, it is only $3 but they should know exactly what it will be for ahipping. They are padding their profit with shipping charges. Thanks for making the rest of us aware of their scam.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Nice to know they rip you off on shipping. Yes, it is only $3 but they should know exactly what it will be for ahipping. They are padding their profit with shipping charges. Thanks for making the rest of us aware of their scam.

,,,,,,,,

This is why they were slow in dealing with the public.

Ditto.

 

[newbury]

Nice to know they rip you off on shipping. Yes, it is only $3 but they should know exactly what it will be for ahipping. They are padding their profit with shipping charges. Thanks for making the rest of us aware of their scam.

I don't think they "ripped me off" I was just surprised at the 50% difference. If they had quoted me in email $50 and then charged me $75 I would be complaining to them also. Based on the responses here from people that actually write that they deal with MC it seems the variation may be on the high side percentage wise but their shipping costs are usually not exorbitant.

It's still frustrating that they don't have a shipping cost cost calculator on their site.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I don't think they "ripped me off" I was just surprised at the 50% difference. If they had quoted me in email $50 and then charged me $75 I would be complaining to them also. Based on the responses here from people that actually write that they deal with MC it seems the variation may be on the high side percentage wise but their shipping costs are usually not exorbitant.

It's still frustrating that they don't have a shipping cost cost calculator on their site.

You would never find them off by so large a $ figure. There are small small variances in box size and packaging incorporated to deal with concentrated mass that are at the discretion of the individual packer. Shipping costs tend to go up in increments -not by the penny. $3 more on a heavy dense order where the box may fracture and lose pieces is a bargain both sides. The overhead on lost pieces is huge. MC would just replenish PP w/o question.
larry

 

[SirReal63]

Nice to know they rip you off on shipping. Yes, it is only $3 but they should know exactly what it will be for ahipping. They are padding their profit with shipping charges. Thanks for making the rest of us aware of their scam.

Seriously? Any company that ships product and doesn't make a profit on shipping is losing money. Those packages do not get sent by the warehouse fairy, someone has to pull, package securely and arrange shipping. It doesn't magically get sent to you, unless you live in a dreamland. Everything has a value associated with it, that value varies from one person to the next.

As for the cost of the OP's package being higher, I can assure you it cost more in time and gas than $3.48 to get it elsewhere.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Hard to answer the question "is shipping cost too high" without considering alternatives. What are the sourcing options and the costs associated with them? For instance, I compare the cost of McMaster Carr shipping to what it would cost me to drive around town and find an item of equivalent quality - if I could find it at all. Local sourcing is not necessarily less expensive, if you cost it out for a product of equivalent quality, and include a value for your time as well as gas etc. For a lot of folks, the nearest large supplier might be 1-2 hours away.

 

[Threepoint]

Seriously? Any company that ships product and doesn't make a profit on shipping is losing money. Those packages do not get sent by the warehouse fairy, someone has to pull, package securely and arrange shipping. It doesn't magically get sent to you, unless you live in a dreamland. Everything has a value associated with it, that value varies from one person to the next.

As for the cost of the OP's package being higher, I can assure you it cost more in time and gas than $3.48 to get it elsewhere.

I agree with this, and with all the endorsements of McMaster-Carr's quality as a vendor. But is this really the point? The vendor is in the best position to know what the shipping will be on online orders for its products, regardless of how they calculate it and who they use to ship. Low-balling it by 50% should surprise anyone, IMO.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I agree with this, and with all the endorsements of McMaster-Carr's quality as a vendor. But is this really the point? The vendor is in the best position to know what the shipping will be on online orders for its products, regardless of how they calculate it and who they use to ship. Low-balling it by 50% should surprise anyone, IMO.

Really. I suspect you are considering companies that have a few products as opposed to a million.
,,,, I also suspect that MC regards shipping as "what it is" and refuses to fixate on inquiries about it. They are a nuisance -- overhead from comparison shoppers on small orders. Ultimately that raises the costs for everybody.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

McMaster's prices are generally higher than local suppliers, but they carry a much better selection and many things for which I've yet to find an alternate source. But between the higher price and expensive shipping, I always try to find an item somewhere else, especially if there's no hurry. Usta be that their shipping was a one or two day thing, but in the last few months, even outside the holiday window, packages have taken 3 - 4 days, and sometimes things arrive damaged from careless packaging. Amazon seems to have more and more of what McMaster carries, but their "free" shipping is at least a ten day affair. So I'll try Amazon or do a google search, then McMaster if that fails. YMMV...

 

[Ken45101]

Yes, Amazon's free shipping is definitely on the slow side UNLESS you join their Amazon Prime. With Prime, they provide free two day shipping.

Yes, Amazon Prime does cost you $99/year up front but if you would otherwise be paying for shipping, it has been well worth it to me. You don't have to wait until you get a big enough order to qualify for their (slow) free shipping. If you need something that's only $5 or $10, you can order it and get it within two days. It may even save me some money since I don't add on enough additional items to qualify for the other "free shipping".

It has definitely saved me more than $99 this year in fuel costs hunting for something locally, which I probably can't find anyway. With Walmart, TSC and Lowe's being a 20 mile round trip, it doesn't take too many trips to cover the $99 and that assumes I can even find it locally.

 

[Don H]

I order from McMaster several times a year. I've never had a problem and their selection is better than anywhere else I know of.
As far as Amazon goes, they just built a facility in my state which means I now pay state sales tax AND shipping so I avoid Amazon if at all possible.