McMaster-Carr

Website is incredibly functional.
Anytime i need a quick reference for items such as screw standards/sizes, i just visit the section on screws, and all pertinent info as you would find in the machinery's handbook will be there. Background on types of metals or plastics, similarly, info/background is all available.

Delivery is incredible, especially in the LA area. Worst case is next day.

Strengths: Greatest and most functional website ever in the history of the world and you get your order delivered same day if ordered before 10am!!!!! (if you are in the LA metropolitan area at least).

Anything you need as an engineer or machinist, its probably in here.

Quick Tip: if you need a 3D model for your design that uses standard components (ie. a standard screw, a scissor that they sell, a toilet seat cover, etc.) , they probably have the model as reference. Just download your format and import into your software and ta-da.

Needs to improve: Pricing is a little higher than other places, but that's what you will pay for immediate delivery and availability. If you can hold off on your needs and are on a tight budget, you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere, but will compromise on time, as well as provide a huge disservice to yourself by not being privileged to such a awesome website.

We have used McMaster Carr for years and they are definitely one of our main suppliers for pretty much everything that we use in house that is hardware related or tools related. They have an ENORMOUS selection of items to choose from. Their website is awesome and its very easy to find something you are looking for even if you don't know the exact name. If you are local they ship very quickly and if you order before noon you might even get it on the same day of ordering, this has happened for me once before and I was shocked. Returns are easy and customer service is great. I have never had any issues with dealing with them in the past. We do alot of business with McMaster-Carr and I think it goes without saying that they are an industry leader when it comes to hardware and tooling supplies.

Strengths: hardware, tubing, customer service, abundant variety of products, pretty much anything you're looking for they have it

Needs to improve: none

Our company has used McMaster- Carr for as long as I can remember and each time they have delivered with excelent service, from having a wide variety of purchases available, to fast and reliable shipping. Not only do they provide great survice, but the new accounts receive a $500 credit limit to start off! They have products that range from cleaning supplies, to tools and everything a company could possibly need, raw material such as wires, plastic and metals, you name it.
Since our company started using McMaster-Carr, productivity not only on the asembly line, but also in our staff and employees has significantly improved! I would highly recommend McMaster-Carr to any company, either if they are a startup or have been in business for years! With an eaasy to use website, to fast shipping, McMaster-Carr is every companies dream supplier!

Strengths: Everything from shipping, to product variety, even their convenient website and easy orders.

Needs to improve: None. Just wish they had one here in Oregon!

MacMaster is the an engineer's toy land. They have an easy to navigate website that makes sourcing components, equipment, and material extremely simple and at competitive prices. I've ordered anything thing from quarantine cages to bolts from McMaster. They are definitely one of our go to vendors. They even provide part drawings and models of various items...how awesome is that? The only bad thing about McMaster in my opinion is the excessive packing they use to ship your items. I can be overkill, I ordered an item that measured roughly 4x4x4 inches and it came in a box that was about 18x18x18. They ship extremely fast for all in stock items though.

Strengths: Huge selection of products, fast shipping, easy to navigate website, competitive pricing

Needs to improve: Not a weakness but packaging for shipped items can be overkill.

I don't use McMaster Carr as much as I used to but I still enjoy the experience. I go to the website, search for my items and place the order with a few clicks. Within seconds I get a confirmation of my order. It is then followed with a shipping confirmation. McMaster Carr is simply Awesome!!!

Strengths: McMaster Carr always seems to have what I need. There are very few times when someting needs to be shipped from another location. The website is extremely easy to use.

Needs to improve: I think the packaging could improve. I have never received damaged product but at times I have received a small item packaged in a large box. This seems wasteful to me.

McMaster-Carr is a Startup's friend. If you need some form of raw material or industrial supply, there's a good chance they'll have it, from Medical Grade PTFE Heat Shrink, to Machine tools and thermostats. In California, you can often order as late as 8-9pm and still get it the next day. Just by setting up an account online, they will give you a $500 credit line. Customer Service is top notch. Their inventory of calibrated equipment (including Certs) saves so much time, by eliminating the extra step of having to get equipment calibrated after purchase

Strengths: Large inventory of industrial supplies, $500 automatic credit line, Overnight delivery, competitive pricing

Needs to improve: None

My go-to vendor for hardware components. Excellent and reliable.

Strengths: They are an excellent resource for getting all kinds of hardware you need to build things quickly. Their website search is very easy to use and they make it easy to order items. Their phone-in customer service is excellent as well. I like that a lot of hardware items have Solidworks models attached, which makes it easy to import them into my assembly files.

Needs to improve: Occasionally, the item I order is not in stock at the local warehouse, and those items usually take a few more days to arrive. Mcmaster is usually not the lowest cost vendor for most items, but it's great for small volumes.

The customer service is great, everything ships extremely fast and is always on time. I've never had any issues.

Strengths: McMaster-Carr has almost every type of material/device/component you can think of. It is always the first site I go to when I'm looking for a specific type of fixturing device or material needed for a fixture. The website/online catalog is also extremely user friendly and allows you to really get a great visual of what you looking to order including dimensions and function.

Needs to improve: The only weakness of McMaster-Carr is that it's probably one of the most expensive sites for ordering parts, fixtures, tools, etc. You can find similar stuff on other sites for cheaper.

Excellent Customer Service. Products arrive the next day, even if I've ordered through their website in the late afternoon/evening. Ordering on account is super easy. Purchase orders go through without any issues.

Strengths: Our company uses McMaster-Carr regularly. Excellent Website. Easy to order (and re-order). Trackable items. Extremely quick shipping. Items are usually at our shop the next morning. Invoicing and payments are accurate. Items shipped are accurate. Returns and refunds are easy. Excellent customer service

Needs to improve: McMaster is usually really great about everything. On occasion, there I find some of their prices are a little higher on some metal products. Prices are competitive though. They are pretty much in the ballpark.

Overall, working with McMasterr Carr is very smooth. I'm sure other buyers and engineers out there will agree. When you need something, check McMasterr Carr. :)

Strengths: McMaster is like a one-stop shop for just about everything that a manufacturer needs. You can find mechanical, electrical, commercial and all industrial tools, equipment and parts on their catalogue. Their ordering website is very easy to use. Most of the time, the products are in stock and can delivery next day.

Needs to improve: Custom manufacturing, in my experience, is not their expertise. I did ask them to work on certain aluminum extrusions. I didn't receive feedback from the customer service reps after my initial call.

Anytime i need a quick reference for items such as screw standards/sizes, i just visit the section on screws, and all pertinent info as you would find in the machinery's handbook will be there. Background on types of metals or plastics, similarly, info/background is all available.

Strengths: Greatest and most functional website ever in the history of the world and you get your order delivered same day if ordered before 10am. Anything you need as an engineer, machinist or technicians its probably in here.
Website is incredibly functional.

Needs to improve: Pricing is a little higher than other places, but that's what you will pay for immediate delivery and availability.

Excellent service!

Strengths: McMaster-Carr is simply the best source out there. You will find pretty much anything, from Fasteners, Piping, Raw Materials, etc., the list continues. The best part is their database! most of their stuff have a well detailed Drawing/Data Sheets. As a designer, being able to download 3D fasteners and put them into your assemblies, is extremely helpful (a life savior). They have great customer service, and a fast and quick delivery.

Needs to improve: Honestly, I can't think of any weaknesses. They're really that good! I always find myself going to their website to download data sheets & drawings, to submit to my job's documentation system.

if you need something quick and off the shelf, mcmaster-carr is your place. they carry a ton of various types of components (screws, equipment, tools, you name it, they’ve got it) and will ship it next day for you. sometimes they will even ship it the same day depending on your proximity to a warehouse. it’s great for last minute orders although the shipping costs and pricing are not for the budget conscious.

Strengths: one stop shop, easy to order from, lots of variety and inventory, great for prototyping, quick turnaround time

Needs to improve: shipping costs and piece price

I think Mcmaster-Carr is great with the vast selection, but sometimes it can hurt them as well. You get a little overwhelmed when looking for something specific and the multiple part#s for the type of material you want throws me off a bit.

Strengths: McMaster-Carr has a very nice variety of things you can buy from components, wires, lab supplies. They have it all.

Needs to improve: There website takes a little getting use to before you can navigate easily. They have too much stuff that it takes a bit getting use to before you can just click and order.

Excellent customer service.

Strengths: McMaster is on par with Grainger, but seems to be more customer service oriented. They have an amazing selection of raw materials, tools and supplies which our company uses on a regular basis. They have a rapid turn-around and next day delivery of mission critical items. Yeah, I know we should often plan better, but sometimes things slip through the cracks and we are finding ourselves ordering late in the afternoon and getting delivery the next day. Their catalogs and websites are great resources for identifying alternative parts and equipment.

Needs to improve: You get what you pay for. Prices are full retail.

I've been using McMaster for almost 20 years and love it more now than ever. Most orders ship the same day and arrive the next day for a very reasonable shipping cost. I don't think I've ever had them ship the wrong item, and you can return most items with no questions asked.

Strengths: They have absolutely everything you might need to clean, fabricate, organize, fasten, turn-on, shut-off, plumb, connect, seal, light, machine, finish, polish, cut, protect, move, store, heat, cool, dispense, mark, or ship at your facility.

Needs to improve: They don't have same day delivery, but I'm not complaining

Amazingly fast delivery, if you happen to be near one of their distribution centers.

Strengths: - A very well organized catalog.
- Great search engine for finding parts and similar parts
- Great visuals for almost everything they sell

Needs to improve: - Shipping costs are not apparent during checkout - Proprietary McMaster catalog numbers, ie: you won't be able to search using a manufacturer's part number - You don't always know who the manufacturer of the item until received. (I guess a customer service agent can tell you, but this type of information is common among other e-vendors.)

Mcmaster-carr provides my company with a wide selection of plastic tubings and tiny components that are used in our medical devices. We use their plastic tubings for our pump motor assembly. They're connected to transducers on the boards. I test and calibrate the amount of pressure that's within spec. Their components that we use are put together during our sub - assembly process. Great quality tubing and components. Never had any problems during the testing phase. Highly recommend this vendor to any other manufacturers out there.

Strengths: Wide selection of parts and supplies

Needs to improve: None

McMaster is an industry leader for various component supply. We source from their wide selection of regulators and switches for our production needs and are pleased with the levels of product quality and customer service. Their staff is extremely experienced and do their best to accommodate our orders as we're a small firm. They are attentive, convenient and try to point us in the right direction. Easy ordering via their online catalog streamlines everything. Great experience and will continue to do business with.

Strengths: product quality, reliability, customer service, turnaround time, knowledgeable staff

Needs to improve: none

McMaster is the go-to component supplier for off the shelf parts you need. They carry almost everything from raw materials to vacuums. If you need something for your project, most likely McMaster has in stock. They ship out really fast, most of the time the same day if you order by 3 pm. And if you're in the West Coast, most likely it will arrive the next day.

Strengths: Vast selection of off the shelf components, fast shipment, good customer service, good purchasing website

Needs to improve: May not always carry the unique length/size hardware you need