[sdiy] alternatives to McMaster

[Danjel van Tijn]

thanks for the suggestion. I checked them out but their online system
lists no prices and no shopping cart. In the end you go through pages
of a pdf catalogue which is no advantage over Acklands Grainger. The
McMaster system is so much nicer!


On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 12:08 PM, Cynthia Webster
<cynthia.webster at gte.net> wrote:
> Hi Danjel!
>
> Try www.Spaenaur.com  (800) 265-8772  (519) 744-3521
>
> They're in Canada and have an amazing catalog.
>
>
> Cynthia
>
>
>
>
> Danjel van Tijn wrote:
>>
>> The most time consuming aspect of all my DIY stuff is the mechanical
>> parts. Whether it is designing and sourcing panels or simply procuring
>> the necessary nuts and bolts that I need.
>> A huge complication for Canadians is that McMaster does not ship to
>> us! The reason has something to do with strange export laws that
>> changed (which I do not understand given that we supposedly have a
>> free trade agreement). McMaster is such a tease since it has the
>> absolute best web interface for finding parts as well as the biggest
>> selection.
>> There is one loophole for getting parts: longterm Canadian customers
>> of McMaster are still able to order from them but no new customers are
>> allowed to. As a result it is sometimes possible to find businesses
>> that will order in parts for you under their name but they will tack
>> on an admin fee.
>> I would have thought that with the economic crisis they would change
>> export laws so that they could increase sales/business and help
>> stimulate the economy, especially when it affects such a massive
>> industry.
>>
>> Does anyone know of any alternatives to McMaster or any other tricks
>> for getting parts from them into Canada?
>>
>>
>> cheers,
>> Danjel
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>>
>>
>
>