Amazon Supply • Hacker News Board

Re: Amazon Supply

#31

Post by avar » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 7:40 PM UTC

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #23

amac wrote: post #15

I work for an Industrial Supply company and have monitored this since they bought SmallParts. Needless to say, Industrial Supply is a low margin, volume business that requires high service levels. Most Industrial Supply companies sell the same products, there really isn't a differentiator. As always in retail, price, selection and availability are crucial in making sales. This is a good match for Amazon, and obviousl…

Don't underestimate the benefit of physical presence. When I need something now , it is a huge benefit to be able to walk into Fastenal and buy it on the spot. Also, metal is heavy, again using Fastenal as an example, I can order online and pickup instore without paying shipping. Prices are higher than onlinemetals.com, or speedymetals.com but the convenience and no shipping cost often trumps that.

The corollary of that is: Don't overestimate the benefit of physical presence. Sure sometimes you need to buy metal on the spot, but you could say the same thing about books and electronics.

Amazon's targeting the customer that can forcast his needs a few days in advance, and that's a very big slice of the market.

Re: Amazon Supply

#32

Post by durkie » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 7:43 PM UTC

joezydeco wrote: post #22

artursapek wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you live?

My office is in the Chicago area, near O'Hare airport. Heavy industrial area which explains a lot... =)

I think they also have a big Chicago warehouse. We get the same thing living in Atlanta, and it blew away a bunch of clients that were down here working on a project that we could just drive to McMaster and get something within an hour at will-call.

I like Amazon alright, but I love McMaster. Hope they can keep it going.

Re: Amazon Supply

#33

Post by jonknee » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 7:54 PM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #16

I agree with most that the competitor here is McMaster-Carr. The collateral damage could be places like Lowes/Home Depot etc (brick and mortar supply stores) but agree with most here that SmallParts (which this was created out of) didn't have quite the execution that McMaster-Carr does. The other bit is there is the whole interaction model. In the fabricator world they seem to get an account with one of these compani…

Amazon let's you pay net-45 and prominently features this: http://www.amazonsupply.com/help/200543490/ref=sp_sn_loc

Re: Amazon Supply

#34

Post by jrockway » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 7:58 PM UTC

This is nice. I've occasionally wanted a big bar of copper, but I've never known where to buy it. (The links to McMaster, however, are probably the most helpful thing to come of this product announcement.)

Re: Amazon Supply

#35

Post by TylerE » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 7:59 PM UTC

gaustin wrote: post #28

Some cool stuff, but not much I need with any regularity. Other sources are more than fine. I'll be excited when they stock the types of high-carbon steels that Aldo Bruno[0] sells. I'm still waiting for someone to disrupt the hard to search supply shops like Jantz: http://www.knifemaking.com/Default.asp 0: http://njsteelbaron.com/

They are offering free shipping on orders over $50... I wonder if they honor Prime also? Might be rather lucrative (for the customer) as steel is deceptively heavy in bulk. Thinking about stuff like the 1" steel rod I used to use as material in shop class for lathe work.

Re: Amazon Supply

#36

Post by JshWright » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 8:08 PM UTC

TylerE wrote: post #35

gaustin wrote: post #28

Some cool stuff, but not much I need with any regularity. Other sources are more than fine. I'll be excited when they stock the types of high-carbon steels that Aldo Bruno[0] sells. I'm still waiting for someone to disrupt the hard to search supply shops like Jantz: http://www.knifemaking.com/Default.asp 0: http://njsteelbaron.com/

They are offering free shipping on orders over $50... I wonder if they honor Prime also? Might be rather lucrative (for the customer) as steel is deceptively heavy in bulk. Thinking about stuff like the 1" steel rod I used to use as material in shop class for lathe work.

Doesn't seem that deceptive to me...

Re: Amazon Supply

#37

Post by ggchappell » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 8:11 PM UTC

I guess I'm not quite sure what this is.

Say I want some gallium[1]. A search in Amazon turns it up, under "Industrial & Scientific". But a search in AmazonSupply (which claims to cover "scientific, industrial, & business") does not. So AmazonSupply is not just a rebranding of Amazon's existing I&S section. What is it?

[1] You want it, too. Gallium melts at 30C, so it's a solid on your table, and a liquid in your hand. Fun stuff!

Re: Amazon Supply

#38

Post by abruzzi » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 8:23 PM UTC

Unfortunately, I couldn't find most of the types of pieces I use (2"x 4" square tubing, 2" square tubing, 2 3/4" round tubing--all steel.) For a hobbyist, this could be a god send if they would carry the pieces I need. I have plenty of local places that sell the metal scrap I need, but all are attuned to construction/fabrication business hours, and none have weekend hours for a hobbyist welder that wants to build a bull bar for his Landcruiser.

Re: Amazon Supply

#39

Post by eru » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 8:30 PM UTC

jrockway wrote: post #34

This is nice. I've occasionally wanted a big bar of copper, but I've never known where to buy it. (The links to McMaster, however, are probably the most helpful thing to come of this product announcement.)

Interest: what do you need that bar for?

Re: Amazon Supply

#40

Post by eru » Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 8:32 PM UTC

dsl wrote: post #29

gcb wrote: post #9

It's exactly the same crappy stuff they have on the regular site. everything there i could find on amazon.com, and from my experience buying small lab tools from them, it's a 80% return rate. last one was a set of precision tweezers which only 1/3 of them properly closed in alignment. The good brands are 2x and 3x the price at a proper store.

Sounds like you have had the usual experience with 3rd party sellers on Amazon. Never ever buy from them! These parts are being directly stocked and sold by Amazon.

> Sounds like you have had the usual experience with 3rd party sellers on Amazon. Never ever buy from them!

As a counter-anecdote, I can't remember problems with 3rd party sellers. But then I'm only buying stuff like books.