Tips on buying *stuff* in FIRST

[vivek16]

Well,

I wasn't sure where to put this thread or if one like it exists (didn't see one) but I am sure everyone has a few tips on buying stuff in FIRST.

I'll start.

When you are buying tube stock, bar stock, or rod, it is often cheaper to get large uncut sections.

For example, I was looking to buy some 3/8" hex shaft and I needed 6". I hit the wrong drop down tab and clicked 6' instead. It was around 7 dollars. I corrected my mistake and it was still like 6.25 dollars! Thinking it was a mistake, I checked the price for 1/16 of an inch and sure enough, it was still 6 dollars. Turns out, they charge 6 dollars for cutting the metal so I can save significantly by just purchasing a 12' section of the material (this way I have enough for many years to come and it is only 7.25 because it is unaltered by the supplier).


If purchasing sheets of some material (rubber, plastic/lexan, or metal), the above trick works. If buying thick(er) sheet metal such as 1/4" aluminum, look into flat bars of it instead of having them cut from a plate. For example, I can buy 1/4x6x15" bar for 17.5 dollars where the same with sheet metal would be higher (for my supplier anyway. It seems they charge 6 dollars to cut for bar stock and 10 to cut plate.)


Also, if buying from the same company, try to get your whole order shipped together to make it cheaper. This is especially true if you have lighter parts (like pneumatic fittings) where the weight is not much of an issue in shipping.

hope it helps, Vivek

[MrForbes]

Also look into shipping costs of both approaches...often the bulk piece will be oversize (or freight) shipping, while a small piece can be shipped UPS for under $10.

If you are fortunate enough to have a well stocked metal supplier in town, this isn't so much of an issue.

[Tim Baird]

When you're going to buy materials and components, it often helps to call in and talk to an actual person. While you're asking for quotes and placing your order, tell them about who you represent and what you're buying this for. A lot of companies will donate materials or give you a nice discount to help you out.

And if they don't, you're left with MSRP and you didn't lose anything anyways. Can't hurt.

[AdamHeard]

From my experience with a large supplier (Coast Aluminum) the more you order, the better price you will get (buying 20 pieces of 10ft extrusion vs. 1 piece) and after a point they will even give free delivery.

[vivek16]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Also look into shipping costs of both approaches...often the bulk piece will be oversize (or freight) shipping, while a small piece can be shipped UPS for under $10.

If you are fortunate enough to have a well stocked metal supplier in town, this isn't so much of an issue.

Ah, thanks for bringing that up, we have a metal supplier in town so we hardly ever pay for the shipping of metal.

[Cory]

Whenever ordering from McMaster I always call instead of doing it online.

This allows me to figure out what kind of shipping I need to get something to me by a given time, as well as letting me specify a shipper (for instance, California Overnight will deliver a package shipped by 7 PM the previous night by 10 AM the next morning, for a fraction of the cost of UPS or FedEx). Most of the time I get next day arrival via standard ground shipping.

Seconded on the metal. I never buy in less than stock lengths (12' for solids, 20' for tubing and extrusions) unless it's a very big solid (needed some 3.25" OD 6061 round stock, and some 4"x4" 6061 barstock. Something like $550 for 12' of the former, and $750 for 12' of the latter). If you're buying tubing, extrusion, or smaller solids, they're going to charge you the full price of the length for a cut section, or charge you $20+ to make a cut. A good sales person will tell you if it's cheaper to buy the whole length even if you need the shorter piece.

Don't buy 6061 from McMaster. It's WAY overpriced. I can get the same stuff from Coast for 50-75% the price of McMaster. McMaster's prices on 7075 however, are not bad. Don't buy bearings from McMaster either. We paid 1/10 the price from a local source. Call Motion Industries or a similar company and ask them to quote you the cheapest bearings their suppliers have.

[Triple B]

we used some 3.5" AL for our wheels in 2008. when we called to get a price on the bar stock it was quite pricey, i asked for small drops and they had several hundred pieces about 2.5" long, we only needed about 1.75' long, so we picked up 30 of them, they were less than $2 each and now we have enough for future use.
mike d

[=Martin=Taylor=]

ALWAYS deliver parts to a personal residence rather than the school. Some schools don't receive boxes/mail on the weekends.

Its always frustrating to do nothing all weekend and then receive all the parts on Monday

[MrForbes]

Delivery address might depend on how the parts are paid for, though! For example, anything purchased by our school with a PO needs to be shipped to the district receiving office.

[Dick Linn]

If you can use some of the sizes of these surplus aluminum jig plate, they are a bargain:

http://www.sandsmachine.com/alumweb.htm

Local metal suppliers usually have a pile of "dings and drops" or "shorts" and may give you a good deal on some of that. At least you may get the quantity price on regular stuff if they know you are a FIRST team.

[vivek16]

Ok, the main supplier we use is discountsteel.com

They have a local warehouse that is close enough that we can just go pick it up. Their metal prices are from two years ago (online anyways) so you will save a little if you order online and go pick it up yourself. I think they have warehouses in Minneapolis, MN and Fortsworth, TX

thanks, Vivek

[JudyVandy]

Rankin Automation in Broomhall, PA, gives FIRST teams a really nice discount on 80/20. We found them really nice to deal with, too.