Brett said:
@Jordan
It’s like buying from a plumbing supply store—everything’s overpriced until you open an account and negotiate it down.
Even with an account, you still have to negotiate to get decent prices.
@Jordan
Here’s the trick: create a business account on their site and order small items every month for six months. After that, they’ll upgrade you to a credit account, which helps build your business credit. That’s how I started my contracting company last year.
@Lael
Sounds like how my parents, as immigrants, built their credit—renting furniture at crazy rates just to establish credit history.
@Jordan
We order cardboard boxes in bulk, and a local manufacturer offered us a custom printed box for 50-60% less than Uline. Even when we showed Uline our tape prices from another vendor, they couldn’t compete.
@Jordan
I buy Uline products cheaper at my local box store. They get a better rate than Uline’s own site.
Piper said:
@Jordan
I buy Uline products cheaper at my local box store. They get a better rate than Uline’s own site.
With $11 billion in revenue, they must have some very loyal customers.
@Jordan
I spend about $1500 a month with Uline. My rep price-matches most of what I need and offers free overnight shipping. My employees love picking out free items from them. I asked for fewer catalogs, and they sent less, but not by much. Overall, I’m a fan.
Eli said:
@Shane
They make women wear skirts like it’s the 1950s!
Corporate requires business professional attire for everyone—skirts or pants, jackets for both men and women. It’s not a skirt-only rule. Maybe it was like that in the past, but things have changed.
Ben said:
I checked their site for some products I use, and they were way more expensive, like 150% higher than what I usually pay.
I used Uline a lot at my previous job. If you’re ordering in bulk, email their sales team for a deal—it’s way better than the catalog prices. But for small orders, look elsewhere.
Ben said:
I checked their site for some products I use, and they were way more expensive, like 150% higher than what I usually pay.
Where do you shop instead?
Ben said:
I checked their site for some products I use, and they were way more expensive, like 150% higher than what I usually pay.
Their profit margins are big enough to cover the catalog costs. But personally, I don’t support the Uihlein family or their politics.
Ben said:
I checked their site for some products I use, and they were way more expensive, like 150% higher than what I usually pay.
Exactly!
Ben said:
I checked their site for some products I use, and they were way more expensive, like 150% higher than what I usually pay.
You can get better prices from Uline if you’re buying in decent volumes.
They have good margins. They aren’t the cheapest, but they’re reliable and convenient.
Leith said:
They have good margins. They aren’t the cheapest, but they’re reliable and convenient.
I was mostly joking with the original post since their business model clearly works. We just don’t get many catalogs in the mail these days.
@Jordan
I used to transport mail as a contractor, and I hated Uline catalog days. Pallets of them, 48x40 inches, stacked two feet high.