LocostUSA.com

Dont know how popular they are around the country but i know there a big chain in the Midwest. I just got back from there with some amazing prices. I just used my company account, payed with my personal card, and got our 45% off corporate rate!

For example i got 8 - 1/2-13 nylon lock nuts for $0.09 each! This should help my costs when i get all my grade 5 and 8 bolts!

The last time I tried Fastenal they wouldn't sell small amounts, you had to buy by the box. I need some 1/2" NF nuts, so I'll try again today.

Lenny

I was really excited about Fastenal when I first heard about them and saw there website. It was frustrating for me not to be able to go, as they were only open when I was working. I finnally had a day off and went in, and it was a complete disapointment. Their prices/selection was no better than my corner mom and pop hardware store, plus the fastenal guy was rude and would not help me find what I was looking for. I will not be back.

I had to buy a full bag to get the eight I needed. Anyone in the market for seventeen 1/2" NF nuts?

Lenny

Ditto. I'm lucky to have McMaster close by. They don't have a retail store, but at least I get 0 day shipping.

damn guys sorry to hear. I guess if your company works through them they will go an extra mile for you, if not your SOL. They said to me that they only sell by the bag for nuts and bolts, but there was a ripped open bag so he sold them individually... so maybe rip the bag open next time

Looks like it's a universal situation with them because I've had the same experience with them in Canada. Like the others have said, I was optimistic that they would be a good source for the varied types of fasteners we need to build our cars. I not only got the "only full boxes" line but rudeness. Even if I needed a full box there are other suppliers and I won't be going back to Fastenal. Funny the difference between them and Metal Supermarket. When people were talking about MS the comments were pretty positive across the board. Some companies just don't get it or care about customer service.

Ron

Metal supermart... Wish there was one around me!

Lucky we have a Fastener shop right here in town, a small town. They have just about everything, at bulk price and you can get one screw at a time if you want. They seem to do pretty well too.

Fortunately the local ACE hardware has most of the fasteners I've needed, if I need something else I usually hit mcmaster up.

I think there is a Fastenal in town somewhere, but the local autoparts store guys seemed to have the same experience you guys had lol.

I've been to a Fastenal here in town, and they've been helpful. One time the guy just opened a box of 100 and gave me the two nuts I needed, no charge. Another time a different guy said it's the whole box or nuthin.

I really like Kwik-Set Fasteners (sp?) here in Lexington. They are over-the-top friendly, have a great selection, and don't mind spending five minutes to sell you $4 in bolts. They also have a full line (I think) of Del City electrical components, such as good nylon crimp-on terminals. I'm not sure if Kwik-Set is national or local.

-dave

I just purchased seven 10 X 60 X 1.50 flange head bolts. The local store did not have them in stock, said they would come out of Columbus, two day delivery, $1.60 each and they would phone when they arrived. I said sure. Nine days later I stopped in to see about my bolts. Columbus did not have them, they would be shipped from Milwaukee, two or three day delivery. I said sure. Well, they finally arrived, three weeks to the day from the initial order, total cost $13.26, which included a 20% discount for the crappy service. Shipping and handling, you know.

I really appreciate the ability to purchase onezies and twozies, not to happy about the service and delivery charge, as they said it was shipped on the company truck. I guess if you buy stuff in stock, the Bolt Fairy delivers it to the store, no cost.

Bill

I have a small fabrication shop. We buy fasteners hundreds of dollars at a time and my expierience with fastenal has been mixed. They are nice to us because they want our business. We began to use other suppliers because they were offering the same product for 1/2 price with better service. As far as one or two pieces at a time we still use the local hardware store or Mcmaster.

I went in to buy the (2) jam nuts for the miata ball joints (16x1.25 or 1.5 IIRC...) they didn't have them in-stock and said they'd be able to throw them on the next truck up from anothe store. I said, great, no rush, give me a call when they come in.
Well they came alright, apparently AIR FREIGHT VIA F-22's in a laser guided drop package, retrieved mid-air by trained spotted owls, and inspected by autonomous robots contstructed entirely of Platinum. They wanted about $6 a nut (plain steel mind-you) and the CHARGED ME FOR THE ENTIRE FUEL BILL to drive the nuts up from the other store, to the tune of about $11.

I said, "You've got to be joking..." Nope. They were as humorless as Hillary Clinton in a teddy.

I refused to pay the fuel charge and they eventually sold me the overpriced nuts. I will never go back.

The place I go to is called "Bolts Plus". I think they only have 3 locations, all of which are in my area. They are great! First time I went there, I wanted a nut for a trailer ball. They got me the exact size I needed. When I asked them how much I owed them, they said "This one is on us today. Tell your friends". I buy my 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2 bolts/ nuts from TSC, but every other fastener from Bolts Plus. When I only need a couple of one item, I usually give them a buck for what I need. They are very fair about it.