# Are there any Dopers who have ordered from Uline? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2019, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274 "2019-02-10T05:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/1 "2019-02-10T05:45:03Z")
They’re a company that sells Costco-sized quantities of office supplies. Since my home-based business has recently become MUCH busier, I’m wondering if this might be a good idea for me. I do know that you have to buy a certain amount from them or you will pay a fortune in shipping charges. Anyone have experience with them? ---
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/2 "2019-02-10T05:53:35Z")
Yes, typically way overpriced. Best for mid size companies who counter that with the convenience of a single source with decent quality but don’t buy enough to negotiate their deals. I use them if i just don’t find it anywhere else or need several things that basically only they can provide as a consolidated package. Service is good. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/3 "2019-02-10T06:01:02Z")
I’m mainly in the market for padded envelopes and packing tape. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/4 "2019-02-10T07:26:58Z")
eBay has lots of suppliers of packaging materials; for example threerb/Valuemailers Lots of the packing tape available is low quality; the Staples brand of natural rubber packing tape is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/5 "2019-02-10T07:33:43Z")
When we were having our floors and carpets redone we ordered a shit load of boxes to put our stuff in from them. (We stashed the boxes in a Pod in our driveway.) Stuff came on time, was in good condition, and we didn’t price compare but the price seemed reasonable. I’d order from them again, but we still have the boxes for next time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/6 "2019-02-10T07:33:57Z")
I only use the Scotch brand in packing tape; anything else has an annoying tendency to split and stick to itself. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/7 "2019-02-10T12:42:03Z")
It’s a fun catalog to leaf through. Sorry, that’s all I got. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/8 "2019-02-10T13:35:06Z")
[Moderating] Since this is asking for personal experiences, let’s move it from GQ to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/9 "2019-02-10T14:32:34Z")
Uline is easy to order from and you get things quickly. Prices are higher than Amazon, Walmart, or Ebay for most items. You can find better deals elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/10 "2019-02-10T14:54:23Z")
Agreed that you can find better deals elsewhere, but that means you have to spend time finding those better deals and managing multiple vendors. Uline’s customer service is top notch, once I had the list of things I wanted to buy, one phone call got it done in record time. Really, shockingly easy to order, I never had any products not be in stock and shipping was quick. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/11 "2019-02-10T15:09:13Z")
My experience is the same as others; they’re not cheap but they are fast and reliable and products are good quality. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/12 "2019-02-10T15:49:44Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’m mainly in the market for padded envelopes and packing tape. Staples is just as good IME, plus they deliver for free (some restrictions may apply). I’ve perused the Uline catalogue, but have never gone beyond perusal… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/13 "2019-02-10T15:59:23Z")
I’ll bet this is a company that _doesn’t_ encourage thinking outside the box… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/14 "2019-02-10T16:28:09Z")
Now it may not matter at all to you, or it might encourage you to buy from this company, but you may not be aware that the founders and owners of the company are [big-time backers of Republican candidates and conservative causes](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/us/politics/liz-dick-uihlein-republican-donors.html), spending about $26 million in the 2018 election. (Incidentally, Dick Uihlein’s family founded Schlitz beer.) As I said, perhaps you agree with their politics or perhaps you don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/15 "2019-02-10T16:29:13Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > It’s a fun catalog to leaf through. > > Sorry, that’s all I got. > mmm You _obviously_ have never gotten a [McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/) catalog, and I still miss the Edmund Scientific of my [youth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Scientific_Corporation#End_of_an_era). Once I went through their catalog and toted up everything I thought would be cool to buy.\* It came to over 6,000 1978 dollars. \*Not necessarily useful, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/16 "2019-02-10T17:57:07Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Agreed that you can find better deals elsewhere, but that means you have to spend time finding those better deals and managing multiple vendors. Uline’s customer service is top notch, once I had the list of things I wanted to buy, one phone call got it done in record time. Really, shockingly easy to order, I never had any products not be in stock and shipping was quick. This post summarizes my experiences. I used to do all the shipping & receiving supplies ordering at work and Uline was on point, every time. We’d hold a drawing for the sports themed thank you gifts they’d award for hitting certain purchase amounts. Unlike a lot of other vendors, they don’t spam you with email, phone calls, sales reps that ‘happen to be in the area’ time & again. They do send a lot of catalogs, though. Frequently, the shipment would arrive the morning after ordering, before I even got to work. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/17 "2019-02-10T18:27:52Z")
I’ve only used them for oddball things I can’t get anywhere else (like lithographer’s tape, anti-slip tape that can be used outdoors and really really big manila envelopes) but I’ve been pretty happy with their service and the products. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/18 "2019-02-10T18:38:59Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > You _obviously_ have never gotten a [McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/) catalog, and I still miss the Edmund Scientific of my [youth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Scientific_Corporation#End_of_an_era). Once I went through their catalog and toted up everything I thought would be cool to buy.\* It came to over 6,000 1978 dollars. > > \*Not necessarily useful, mind you. heh twice a year I get a catalog from hamacher-scmemmler ….if I had a few hundred thou……… ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dopers-who-have-ordered-from-uline/829274/19 "2019-02-10T23:19:17Z")
Thanks, everyone, for the input. I guess I’ll just stick to Office Max, Staples, or Amazon. I get most of my merchandise at thrift stores and rummage/estate sales, and at the latter, I often purchase things by the box, especially at the end of the sale. I just figure that I paid $5 (or whatever) for the things I wanted, and everything else is free. I once got a box full of partially used rolls of tape. ZOMG, I sure found out why most of them were partially used; like I said in an earlier post, it was cheap tape that was constantly splitting and sticking to itself. There’s a lot to be said for using the good stuff.