Keeping Supplied When Your Distributor Doesn't Care

[billdeserthills]

Called my distributor today for a 7mm swivel spindle, unfortunately as usual, the part number isn't on the old part-- I do know one is carried by Omnia, but my distributor quickly did themselves out of my purchase after they insisted that they were unable to look up a part number, even though they have been for the last 25 years--I told her "No problem, I'll go ahead and buy them from E-bay", & I just did--

In fact judging from the minimum shipping charges the distributor usually levies (about $18.50 for a small package) I find E-Bay can be a real money saver for my business. Believe it or not I spend $$ to $$$ every month on items for my business there and many of them cost half as much as my distributor charges, sometimes even less

[cledry]

Called my distributor today for a 7mm swivel spindle, unfortunately as usual, the part number isn't on the old part-- I do know one is carried by Omnia, but my distributor quickly did themselves out of my purchase after they insisted that they were unable to look up a part number, even though they have been for the last 25 years--I told her "No problem, I'll go ahead and buy them from E-bay", & I just did--

In fact judging from the minimum shipping charges the distributor usually levies (about $18.50 for a small package) I find E-Bay can be a real money saver for my business. Believe it or not I spend $$ to $$$ every month on items for my business there and many of them cost half as much as my distributor charges, sometimes even less

Your distributor shouldn't be charging shipping. I think I buy primarily from about 5 distributors and none charge shipping.

[billdeserthills]

Called my distributor today for a 7mm swivel spindle, unfortunately as usual, the part number isn't on the old part-- I do know one is carried by Omnia, but my distributor quickly did themselves out of my purchase after they insisted that they were unable to look up a part number, even though they have been for the last 25 years--I told her "No problem, I'll go ahead and buy them from E-bay", & I just did--

In fact judging from the minimum shipping charges the distributor usually levies (about $18.50 for a small package) I find E-Bay can be a real money saver for my business. Believe it or not I spend $$ to $$$ every month on items for my business there and many of them cost half as much as my distributor charges, sometimes even less

Your distributor shouldn't be charging shipping. I think I buy primarily from about 5 distributors and none charge shipping.

Unfortunately HL Flake doesn't stock 7mm spindles & neither does any of the other distributors who won't charge me freight. What's the difference, I was prepared to pay $8 apiece for these things, plus the freight, before I found them on E-bay for half that price with free freight

[cledry]

Try taking it back to eBay a year later when something breaks but is still under manufacturer warranty. I wouldn't buy an HES strike, or a Trilogy or a LCN closer off of eBay for example.

I buy little things off eBay, the spindle is a safe bet, as are key blanks, small items or obsolete items. I needed an obsolete Schlage F handle design, found it on eBay brand new in the box. I bought a Mercedes chipless shell that isn't even available from Ilco, Silca, JMA etc. from a Chinese seller, they were fine. So it has its place.

I get pissed off at distributors on occasion too. Certain ones are better than others.

[billdeserthills]

Try taking it back to eBay a year later when something breaks but is still under manufacturer warranty. I wouldn't buy an HES strike, or a Trilogy or a LCN closer off of eBay for example.

I buy little things off eBay, the spindle is a safe bet, as are key blanks, small items or obsolete items. I needed an obsolete Schlage F handle design, found it on eBay brand new in the box. I bought a Mercedes chipless shell that isn't even available from Ilco, Silca, JMA etc. from a Chinese seller, they were fine. So it has its place.

I get pissed off at distributors on occasion too. Certain ones are better than others.

If you think after a year I'll be able to recall which distributor sold it to me for a warranty return--well it isn't gonna happen. I've been shopping on E-bay for many years, certainly long enough to get screwed over. Today's E-bay is much better at weeding out the dishonest sellers, I just returned a defective keyboard yesterday & at the shipper's expense

[cledry]

Try taking it back to eBay a year later when something breaks but is still under manufacturer warranty. I wouldn't buy an HES strike, or a Trilogy or a LCN closer off of eBay for example.

I buy little things off eBay, the spindle is a safe bet, as are key blanks, small items or obsolete items. I needed an obsolete Schlage F handle design, found it on eBay brand new in the box. I bought a Mercedes chipless shell that isn't even available from Ilco, Silca, JMA etc. from a Chinese seller, they were fine. So it has its place.

I get pissed off at distributors on occasion too. Certain ones are better than others.

If you think after a year I'll be able to recall which distributor sold it to me for a warranty return--well it isn't gonna happen. I've been shopping on E-bay for many years, certainly long enough to get screwed over. Today's E-bay is much better at weeding out the dishonest sellers, I just returned a defective keyboard yesterday & at the shipper's expense

Good point, I wouldn't recall where I purchased small items either. On more expensive items such as door operators etc.. I sure as hell keep good records. Certain items fail even though they have a good warranty. I installed 3 Trilogy prox locks this week, I know they tend to fail so I put in my dispatch program for that job a pdf copy of the order. You learn which items to keep track of.

I have a distributor that warranties anything they sell even if I don't buy it from them. I guess they are willing to deal with the returns for the sake of our business. I returned about 20 LCN 4040XP last year alone. Allegion also takes back just about anything from us.