I agree with both of these posts.
Grainger is not aimed at supplying an electrical contrator doing bid work. There are aimed at a specific type of customer that will pay a premium for the speed and diverse inventory.
We use Grianger when we have to but would not try to supply bid work from Grianger or
McMaster-Carr
and even more amazingly, i agree with bob.....
grainger, and to a *much* greater extent, mcmaster-carr, supply plant
operators with what they need to do what they need to do, today.
if it is in the catalog, mcmaster-carr has it on the shelf, available for will
call in a half hour. i needed some tamper proof bits that NOBODY had even
heard of before, to get into some equipment. like a square head screw, but
with three sides to it. metric, as well. it isn't in any of your tamper resistant
sets, trust me.
i called up mcmaster, and described what i needed, and the guy immediately
says... "those come in four sizes, do you know what one you need?" i said,
give me all 4 of them.... he asks how many i need of each......
$2.50 each.
most of their stuff goes out next day fedex, but they also have willcall, and
it's like going to hardware mecca.... the mcmaster building in socal is 30' high,
and two million square feet, all of it shelved.
is there stuff overpriced? no, not to be able to support that level of
infrastructure and inventory.... and some of the stainless steel food grade
stuff, like strut straps and whatnot, is priced better than a wholesale house,
because of the volume they do.
"let's see, you need three 55 gallon food grade barrels, in stainless steel....?
would you prefer those in 304 or 316 stainless steel sir? and pick them up
in half an hour? they will be ready, of course.... thank you for your business."
