Saw this the other day about McFeely's....

[Toolpig]

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/06/07/grainger-subsidiary-acquires-mcfeelys/

 

[woodshopdemos]

TP,
   Thanks for the post. This is the first I heard of it and congratulations to Jim. He has built a great company ? way more than square drive screws. I hope that this buy out will reward him for his service to the industry.

 

[pakkmule]

Now there's a small company!

 

[T. Michael]

I was a bit surprised the other day when I went into Graingers, and they had a sign up that said 'We're now selling fasteners!'  And they had biins of square drive screws.  Now I understand.  Great for both companies.

 

[William Murphy]

I was a bit surprised the other day when I went into Graingers, and they had a sign up that said 'We're now selling fasteners!'  And they had biins of square drive screws.  Now I understand.  Great for both companies.

I wonder if Grainger will be able to sell Festool also?

Bill

 

[Bob Marino]

TP,
   Thanks for the post. This is the first I heard of it and congratulations to Ray. He has built a great company ? way more than square drive screws. I hope that this buy out will reward him for his service to the industry.

John,

Here my 2 cents and I hope it's ok with the Board and McFeely's. Jim has done a fabulous job with McFeely's -service, knowlege and tools and I truly wish him all the best in whatever endeavor he chooses to enter  - whether that be another business or a well desrved and rewarding retirement or any thing in between.
But generally, almost reflexively, I cringe when I read or hear that companies are bought out by/offered to other companies. Many times the employees of a sold/merged company are let go or offered their job at a lesser salary or forced to relocate across the country. Yes, I know 'That's business" and I am not saying this is the case here - I have absolutely no knowledge other than what's posted here. I wish all employees of McFeely's the best!

Bob

 

[Barry]

Interesting side bar to this would be.....Are all festool orders gonna be charged local sales tax due to the fact that there is a Grainger store in pretty much every state.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I haven't attempted to do business with Grainger's for several years because at their stores in NE Ohio they used to refuse to do (retail) business from individuals as contrasted with companies and professionals, even if I was interested in true industrial-type equipment, e.g. TEFC motors.

Are they open to doing business with anyone and everyone today?

 

[Ned]

...to do business with Grainger's...

Are they open to doing business with anyone and everyone today?

Not in California and not on their website, so I think things haven't changed.

Even now that I can easily present credentials, I don't deal with Grainger.

IMO, one of the very best web presences is McMaster-Carr, www.mcmaster.com.  McMaster's range easily competes with Grainger, they will sell to anyone, and don't have a minimum order.  Their website is one of the best uses of PDF format I've ever seen.  Everyone gets these benefits.

A particular benefit for me is their LA location.  Only the most exotic of items need to come from another branch.  If I order by 2pm, I get the order UPS Ground the next day.  Their minimum shipping charge of $4.50 is less than it would cost me to drive down out of the mountains and run around Southern California trying to get stuff.  It's supposed to hit 110 F (43 C) down there today.  No thank you.

Ned

 

[Per Swenson]

  Hi All,

Bunch of opinions about this,

Good for Jim.  Comes a time to cash in those chips.

As Bob sez, mebbe not so good for Mcfeelys in the long run.

Good for us as consumer's? I doubt it.

Jim had a home spun way about doing business that was

refreshing in the impersonal internet age.

Like every one else I have issues with Grainger.

We have a satellite counter store a par 1 from the front gate

of Picatinny Arsenal.  3 miles from my house.

Walking in there and doing business is a exercise in futility.

And I have a account.

Now it says they will be marketed as a "independent brand"

Whats that mean? They are gonna pretend they don't own it?

I dunno.  I do know the only constant in this life is change.

Hopefully for the better for all involved. This is called progress.

But it never seems to work out that way.

Per

 

[Rob Tolentino]

I bought an RO150 FEQ and some bags for my CT22.  They're still being shipped from Lynchburg, VA.  Are they keeping their operation in VA or moving everything to Wisconsin?

 

[Ron Pegram]

Hey Rob,

We are moving our offices to Janesville, WI at the end of this month. Orders placed until the 28th or so will ship from VA.