Chen said:
You only get one catalog a year? I get one every quarter, haha.
Yeah, I didn’t want to admit I get one every month or so too. Maybe it’s once a quarter.
They’re not a good company. The owners are awful people.
Alden said:
They’re not a good company. The owners are awful people.
I always make a point to tell customers about Uline’s politics. For some, I just say they’re a bit too political for my taste. I hate Uline catalog day, but it’s fun to see what they’re offering and then buy from somewhere else.
Alden said:
They’re not a good company. The owners are awful people.
Same here. They’re messing with my state.
As someone who competes with Uline, their profit margins are 100% to 150% minimum. People use them for speed and the ‘free’ stuff, not because they’re cheap.
Noor said:
As someone who competes with Uline, their profit margins are 100% to 150% minimum. People use them for speed and the ‘free’ stuff, not because they’re cheap.
Do you sell anti-fatigue mats? I’d love to stop buying from Uline, but they have the best mats, and I can’t find a good alternative.
Why do you think they’re a good company? From my perspective, they’re the opposite.
They’re a big supply house for warehouses, with next-day delivery like Grainger. Not cheap, but fast and reliable. Bigger businesses don’t have the time to hunt for deals.
We got a local box company to supply custom boxes for way cheaper than Uline’s plain boxes. Uline’s convenient, but expensive.
They charge more for everything. That’s how they afford it.
Their catalogs go straight into the recycling bin.
Uline is expensive, but they always have what you need in stock, and that’s why they’re successful. My boss sticks with them for convenience.
Lux said:
Uline is expensive, but they always have what you need in stock, and that’s why they’re successful. My boss sticks with them for convenience.
It’s strange how expensive they are, but I’m sure large companies get better deals on big orders. I’ve thought about buying boxes from them, but I can’t justify the cost at my size.
@Jordan
They have tiered pricing, though they don’t advertise it much. Bigger companies definitely get better rates.
@Jordan
With the local paper and box suppliers gone, Amazon has become the cheapest option, especially with free shipping.
@Jordan
They probably do, but even then, it’s more about convenience. Sometimes companies will pay extra for the convenience of reliable stock and fast delivery.
For people who buy supplies regularly, it’s easy to compare prices between big suppliers like MSC, McMaster-Carr, and KBC Tool. Uline hasn’t been competitive for me in 25 years, and their catalogs go straight in the trash.
They’re not a good company. I replaced them entirely this year, and I’m happy about it.