[GreenKeys] Using McMaster Carr: one wrench buyers experience

[S. Dashiell Hammett]

McMaster Carr can be one pain in the butt if you are not careful.

I once ordered half a dozen different size Torx wrenchs, same physical size 
as Allen wrenches by phone and used my credit card.  A few hours after the 
sale I thought of a size i forgot to specify so I called in again and made 
the mistake of asking if they could append my order and add one wrench.  I 
did not know that they had sales offices all over the US using the same call 
in number and a computerized order entry system that was not easy for their 
agents to use.

What the second salesperson did was replicate the whole order with typos.  
The wrenches started coming in from different locations.  After six boxes 
from three different McMaster Carr warehouses had arrived,  I not only had 
three sets of the wrenches but two expensive pairs of pliars which I had not 
ordered but stock number wise appeared because of a single typo in the order 
number.  My original $25 order had charged up to well over $300 through 
their automation.   I began the process of trying to return the materials 
and get credit.

Their return system is a similar headache.  Two of the packages i returned 
did not come back to me but McMaster Carr warehousing claimed their records 
did not show receipt.  I used the USPS delivery confirmation but was told it 
did not help them any.  USPS claimed they could only show delievery but 
could not confirm location !  I finally let it all go and took the wife out 
to eat.

The moral:  send a check.

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