Rio Grande jeweler's supply substitute

fitzo

fitzo

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Rant on:

Anyone know of another vendor who carries a huge range of goods like Rio Grande and hasn't gotten so big for their britches they make 4 errors on a 25 item order and just shrug it off?

I just ordered two sizes of gravers. They put the same size in ziplocks with different part numbers. Simple error, no anger from me. I call up to tell them about it so others don't have the same hassle. Of course, they offer a return. I say, "No, just credit the 2 bucks difference back to my account against the next order." "Oh, we can't do that without getting the returned merchandise." $500 order and they quibble about $2. I told 'em never mind.

Well, that's a place that has gotten too large to deal with people in a customer-friendly way. I spent thirty years with that type of corporate rigidity BS and don't feel like dealing with it any more if I'm not forced to.

Anyone have a "full-service" alternative they find friendly? I need not only tools and supplies but jewelry findings and raw materials. Thanks.

Rant off.
 
Boy that sucks Mike... they've always been the place to go to when you can't find that special item anywhere else.

I admit that I've spent hours at a time just going through their damn catalogs! :o

I would like to hope this was one bad experience and not their new trend! :grumpy:
 
Mike,

Sheffield has Gravers and I've used American Jewelry Supply 1-800 821-6346.
They are a small outfit locally in California.

Ken
 
Mike,
As you ,like I, spent 30 years in Corp. America, you know that to escalate a concern, once you get to the right level, will normally get solution to a problem. I'd use their 800 number to do it as well.
As to alternate suppliers, Signity for set gems, GRS/Glendo for engraving supplies, Hoover and Strong for gold and silver. I am at a loss for jewelry findings supplier other than Rio Grande.
Maybe Stacy Apelt will see this and have other sources....
I'd still escalate at Rio Grande. I have experienced that whether or not the customer is always right, they DO provide the money to pay the wages!
An "order taker" may not understand that...a sales person will know that....a professional marketing person will live by knowing who pays the money to pay the wages!
Good Luck!
 
http://www.monsterslayer.com/

Mike

The link is for a 550 Trading Post in Kirtland, NM that is one of the bigger (not Rio Grande's size) jewelry supply places for the Navajo Res. They are decent to work with, although I shop there in person.

Another large one is Thunderbird Supply http://www.thunderbirdsupply.com/default.aspx
I haven't dealt with them, though.

I haven't had problems with Rio Grande, but I go there in person, too. They are kind of impersonal-big store type of service.
 
Thanks for the links and sources so far. I've written down or bookmarked them all. Steve, those places have a pretty good selection, especially for the finding stuf Nanc uses and all those overpriced Swarovsky crystals. :)

Sorry for my rant earlier. I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday beating my head against the wall dealing with the corporate stooopid of my health insurance, so I was up to here with people who can't do any thinking. Rio Grande put me over the top I guess. :o I actually called so they'd be aware there were a couple product problems; so others wouldn't get errors on their orders. I won't even bother telliing about the cockeyed jeweler's anvil tilting in two directions or the missing stuff I NEEDED that they had said was in stock. :rolleyes:

Rio Grande is a good place to "shop" since they have everything; and like Nick said, that catalog is like a candystore for craftsmen. Like MSC, the prices are top buck. Unlike MSC, they aren't near as customer-convenience oriented. If I had this problem with MSC, they'd see I spent thousands of bucks a year there as an individual and they'd say, "Sorry, we'll get the right stuff to you tomorrow, no charge. It's under $25, so don't worry about sending our mistake back." At the least, IMO Rio Grande should have said, "Oh, we sent you the wrong thing. Well, there's a $2 price difference so we'll credit your account if you don't wish to send it back."

Perhaps I'm just too demanding of good performance. John, in an earlier day, I'd most likely have decided to pursue this and climb up the ladder and then watch the doodoo roll downhill onto the mindless cube-farm. Nowadays, I just quit shopping there.

It may take several sources to get what I want from now on, but it's out there to find.

If anyone else has retail sources, please post them. Thank you very much.
 
Stuller Settings, in Lafayette, LA supplies everything from a HT oven to laser welders to 8000 grit paper. There is not a tool or supply I ever needed that they don't sell (usually cheaper than everyone else). They ship any order received by 5PM out and you have it tomorrow. One error per thousand items is about their max. They take care of any problems stat. You have to be a business. You have to register an account. State that you make jewelery and high art knives. Best customer service I ever came across. Their tool catalogue is a real joy to browse through.
http://www.stuller.com/public/register.aspx
Stacy
 
Hagstotz in Philly is where Bill Moran and Mark Sentz sent me for silver wire for handle inlay back in '05. I bought some from them and the service was very good.
 
TB hagstoz and sons seems to have everything that I need and more. They are also willing to do small runs of special alloys Like shakado, shibuchi and shibuichi for me. here is their link. http://www.hagstoz.com/
 
fitzo said:
"Oh, we can't do that without getting the returned merchandise." $500 order and they quibble about $2. I told 'em never mind.
Click to expand...

Nothing pisses me off more than something stupid like that happening. Especially when you needed what was ordered "yesterday" , now you're another 3-5 days out. Service after the sale means EVERYTHING to me ! Fitzo, I have had really good luck with a company called Metalliferous http://www.metalliferous.com/
 
Thanks for all the help! :thumbup: Plenty of new places to cover my needs and Nanc has found good findings places, too. She really liked stuff at Thunderbird, Steve!
 
bladsmth said:
Stuller Settings, in Lafayette, LA supplies everything from a HT oven to laser welders to 8000 grit paper. There is not a tool or supply I ever needed that they don't sell (usually cheaper than everyone else). They ship any order received by 5PM out and you have it tomorrow. One error per thousand items is about their max. They take care of any problems stat. You have to be a business. You have to register an account. State that you make jewelery and high art knives. Best customer service I ever came across. Their tool catalogue is a real joy to browse through.
http://www.stuller.com/public/register.aspx
Stacy
Click to expand...

Im also a Stuller lover. Its not too easy to get on board but once you are in their system its great service and overnight speed.
 
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