I feel I have to join this thread, as my experience with
Metalliferous could not have been better. I have been a customer of
theirs since 1997. Most (95%) of all my tools come from there as well
as sheet, wire and chain. We used to live in the city (NY) and now
moved out to the country in NJ. I sure miss my biweekly visits! I
love going there, know almost everyone by name. The thing is having a
business in New York is very expensive. Basically, you can’t afford
to ship back-orders for no charge, but I do agree you should have
been told about it.
New Yorkers get to the point, it’s a busy place and very crowded
too, so don’t expect the same easy going feel as when you call other
areas of the country. And as Noel pointed out, they can be really
wonderful when you need help. I love New Yorkers, can tell you some
wonderful stories, but that’s for another time.
And as for the person whose order was more expensive, the price of
metals has been crazy, Metalliferous website catalog is a PDF of
their actual catalog, not a live site like Fire Mountain Gems for
example. Nowadays very few sites can have live prices, it’s just a
reflection of the times. Always call before ordering.
Sure hope you will give them another try. Usual disclosure, just a
happy customer.
A friend of mine just ordered based on their website. They
contacted her and told her it would be twice as much, since they
hadn't updated the website in a while.
I’m not sure that’s fare - with prices changing daily one never
knows exactly what something will cost, no matter from whom you
order. I haven’t expected “web site nor catalog prices”? to be true
for the last 2 years. All website suggests to “call and
check prices before ordering”.
It is not only misleading but unless well posted, a variant of bait
and switch. Now, of course, the question is finding a DA who will
actually enforce commercial code, but maybe in NY someone is willing
to fill Spitzer’s place in that fight.
I have always liked Metalliferous. They can be quirky and have a New
York character, but they certainly are not slick and corporate. OK,
there has been problems, but I have had problems with some of the
really big name suppliers also. If you have never been to their store
on 46th Street you are missing out on an adventure. They get lots of
surplus and odd-ball parts and tools that can be very cool. If they
seem impatient on the phone they are just the opposite in the store.
They are very tolerant of lookers and slow poke shoppers peering in
all the thousands of little bins.
New Yorkers get to the point, it's a busy place and very crowded
too, so don't expect the same easy going feel as when you call
other areas of the country.
This is a variation on boys will be boys excuse. Its busy in Oregon
and we like points too, but we can be courteous about it. I deal
with folks in San Francisco, also a busy crowded place, they’re easy
to deal with. I don’t buy this as as excuse for poor customer
service.
It seems from those who have bought at the store and those of us who
buy by phone 2 different Metalliferous. They are nicer face to face
then on the phone. Vera, I’d love to go visit, but the commute from
Oregon is a killer. I envy the fact you can walk in and see all
their stock face to face.
My problem is I like the company, I like their products, you can get
things from them that no one else has. I even like attitude…but it
needs to be tempered with friendliness and a desire to help. And
about their shipping charges! WOW, they don’t seem in line with
shipping charges from other places, back east, that I have ordered
from.
If most of their market is mail-order they could grow their business
considerably with someone more personable on the phone.
I too hope their are reading this thread and things improve.
They do have a note of their web site that they are redoing their
metal catalogs. Their silver one is complete – and from what i see,
has a lot better arrangement of on how to order and
what’s what.
I do business from time-to-time with them, mainly because of their
lower prices. I really don’t like to fax my orders, I prefer to
order via a web cart, which they don’t have.
I agree with what others have said, tho.
In my experience with any company whose customer service is less
than sterling, a call to the manager with a super-sweet factual
non-ranting complaint usually is appreciated. Sometimes they don’t
know or understand what kind of impact their employees are having on
their business. Sometimes a friendly call can make a difference.
You know, with this discussion, I thought to look to Metalliferous.
What they told me (condescending enough to leave me biting back
retorts) that anything at Tucson they now have and their metal
basically comes from the best and biggest metal sellers, so theirs is
as good as those sellers.
Umm…yeah. I HIGHLY recommend Hoover and Strong or Stuller…Rio
Grande is nice also.
Because if they are getting their stuff from these guys, they’re not
going to charge you any less. Why pay more AND put up with attitude?
Egads, though, that wasn’t just attitude…it was offensive. I was
put through to someone who couldn’t be bothered to be respectful and
commented in ways that told me he thought I was far beneath him.
Most companies I work with that happen to be in New York do not
speak to me offensively or with attitude. If they did, they wouldn’t
have my business.
I too have done business with Metalliferous, only once and almost a
second time but mannerisms had nothing to do with the extent of
business dealings. I live in northern British Columbia so mail
ordering is a must, before calling a store I’ve made it a habit to
document all on the products I want to purchase and make
alternate product decisions in case something is not in stock. I also
review the Shipping section so I understand what the store’s shipping
policies are. This helped when I phoned Metalliferous, I was
refreshed by the NY accent and approach simply because it was new to
me and had a very forthright, down to business conversation with
Vinnie; although abrupt I never felt like I was a nuisance. When I
received the package, all items were packed solidly and were in good
condition including the metals. I didn’t pursue a second order
because one item wasn’t in stock but the woman I dealt with was quite
pleasant.
Can you legally do that (charge more than advertised)?
almost every printed catalogue has prices subject to change without
notice printed somewhere on it…so yes but within reason relative to
the spot price of x…
If your wholesale price goes up,? you’re saying that the price
cannot be increased?? A web site isn’t “advertising” it’s showing
product. In most cases, these days, prices go up. When you order any
precious metals, do you really expect to pay the price listed in the
catalog?? (not realistic since the spot changes constantly/)
My spouse wholesales dry goods, flour, rice, beans, sugar,
etc…prices on those goods also change daily. Flour alone, went from
$6.45/50 lbs to $37.22/50 lbs in only a few weeks…I know the news
media keeps telling the public that food costs have gone up 12% but
their is not what is really happening. Should my spouse
disregard the increase in prices to him? I think not.
Be an Orchid member for any length of time, and you will see this
online bashing over and over, only the recipient changes. It goes in
cycles.
For any negatives, there are far more positives. As in anything, the
negatives are the most vociferous. Individual experiences, are
exactly that, individual experiences. For all else, there is
Lotromin.
I too am a die hard fan of Metalliferous the catalog is a very very
convenient tool to find the right item and then you contact them and
get current prices. Not sure what the problem is there all suppiers
i have bought from have cautions about current prices. She didn;t
seriously thing she would get silver at the 6 dollar an ounce price
lol many old catalogs have based on 12.00 /troy ounce etc listed
helps to read about ordered precious metals. sighs Anyway only
problem I ever had was not enough money to buy all I wanted LOL
This is an internet phenomenon about everything. Only the unhappy
people tend to post all the time. When my wife had gallstones and
went on line to look up about whether to have her gall bladder
removed, almost everything she read was negative. The problem is the
people who are happy don’t have any reason to post usually. She went
ahead and had the operation and has been perfectly happy. And no she
didn’t then go online to the forums that she read and post her good
experiences. So the negative voices tend to drown out the positives.
Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
I’m from The South. I have dealt with Metalliferous. I do not suffer
fools gladly. I like Metalliferous. I’ve never been snapped at on the
phone. Once I ordered a whole list of things. One of the chains was
close but wrong (one digit off on the part number). Zap - here comes
a new one. No carping. I work in silver - they have silver in wide
variety. Other vendors show a heavy preference for golds and
platinum. I do not want ya’ll to bad mouth them so much they shut
down the phone ordering. I repeat- I like them. The orders are
quickly taken from my list. If it’s not in stock, they tell me right
then. I’ve asked questions about some things and gotten good answers.
Other people have various tiny wires for laser welding. I only found
tiny fine silver wire at Metalliferous. Do ya’ll have your list, part
numbers and quantities well organized when you call them or do you
kinda flip through the catalog deciding on things while you’re on the
phone? I’ve had several nice quick chats with them on the phone while
the computer comes up or is processing. If you call ‘e in the winter
and you heard on the news that there’s a nasty storm in NY City, it
won’t kill you to say "I hope you didn’t have too much trouble
gettin’ thru the blizzard today." Do you sound like you have a smile
in YOUR voice when you call? Think about that too. Anyhow, I like 'em
and if their store was down here, I’d walk in and tell 'em so.
The other great thing I’ve found about Metalliferous is that they
will rapidly turn around an email price inquiry. I was trying to get
through to them by phone and was getting some odd chemical supplier,
and so emailed them and the next morning Vinnie had the whole order
priced out and in my in box.
For those who think their online pricing is a problem, the old adage
holds - if you think the price is too good to be true, then it
probably is - it seems pretty obvious that those prices are out of
date, altho it would be nice if they would update the website to
reflect current prices.
I’m not completely sticking up for them either though, as I’ve had
the issue with the silver sheet arriving in 'way less than in perfect
condition.
New Yorkers get to the point, it's a busy place and very crowded
too, so don't expect the same easy going feel as when you call
other areas of the country.
I’ve never even heard of Metalliferous before now. But a New York
attitude is not an excuse to be rude (And my husband is from the
Bronx). This is exactly why companies like Stuller in Louisiana have
gotten so big - they are courteous, like normal people. When I first
started out 28 years ago, most suppliers were in NY, and it was a
real challenge to get an answer to a question or problem. They
didn’t want to be bothered. But over the years, I’ve seen a change
in most of the NY companies - they realized they were losing major
business to Stuller, Southeastern, Hoover & Strong, etc. and have
put people on their phones who have a much better attitude. I guess
Metalliferous hasn’t learned that yet.
Be an Orchid member for any length of time, and you will see this
online bashing over and ove
I could not agree with you more. And I have never shopped at that
company. But I would love to. All those different products would
bring out the CRAFT in me. By the way, what is Lotromin?
it seems pretty obvious that those prices are out of date, altho it
*would* be nice if they would update the website to reflect current
prices.
All it would take would be for someone to set up some kind of
spreadsheet programme with the appropriate calculations for each
product so that when you enter the spot price of each precious metal
for that day, the updated prices are calculated for each product. I’m
presuming that’s how most companies do it. The company I use has
updated prices on their website but they only charge your card when
your order is ready for dispatch, which is usually the next day - by
which time of course the price has changed - but not usually by a
lot. They obviously have some system whereby that day’s prices are
entered and all products change automatically - it would be far too
time-consuming for someone to enter everything individually!
It’s funny and ironic to hear of Stuller as being a yardstick of
courtesy.
When they were here in Seattle, my experience was that the staff was
routinely impatient, rude and dismissive at the “Service Center”. It
became a standing joke…
I should say that I am originally from NY and all this talk about NY
attitude is growing tiresome. For what it’s worth…