# Did you ever find a website that you know has cool stuff and you shouldn't buy anything **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039 "2024-05-24T20:20:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/1 "2024-05-24T20:20:47Z")
But you have to check it out for what you could get? > **[repurposedMATERIALS - America's Largest "Industrial Thrift Store"](https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/)** > > Shop a wide selection of used and surplus items for sale at repurposedMATERIALS. We buy surplus inventory & hard to recycle items. In case you need fire hoses, conveyer belts or used bowling alley flooring ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/2 "2024-05-24T20:29:05Z")
Looks really interesting and I could have used this 20 years ago quite a bit. I’m not sure what forum this belongs in, I’ll try IMHO as it doesn’t really fit #Cafe Society. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/3 "2024-05-24T20:30:23Z")
I’ve got my eye on a 55 gallon bung barrel for $30. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/4 "2024-05-24T20:44:41Z")
I did go down a rabbit hole one time when I wanted just one traffic cone (to put out in the road when I have to stand there to trim the front hedge) and must have spent an hour or two just looking at all the different kinds of cones and barriers and signage that is available to road maintenance contractors and such, [here](https://startsafety.uk/). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/5 "2024-05-24T20:47:18Z")
For me it was [https://sciplus.com/](https://sciplus.com/) many years ago. I used to use them fairly often and sometimes ended up buying stuff that left me wondering later why? [![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-g34rj6mm5p/images/stencil/500x100/web-jarvis_24_may_easteregg_v1_1714765034__40539.original.png) ](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-g34rj6mm5p/images/stencil/500x100/web-jarvis_24_may_easteregg_v1_1714765034__40539.original.png) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/6 "2024-05-24T20:51:02Z")
I love that place. I could use some things. Now where’s that CC? ---
**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:** [May 24, 2024, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/7 "2024-05-24T20:55:21Z")
In pre-internet days, I liked looking through specialty catalogs, like W. W. Grainer, McMaster-Carr, or the ones for medical professionals or hotels. Lots of weird stuff that I never need but they do. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/8 "2024-05-24T20:57:24Z")
Pre-Internet was [Harbor Freight](https://www.harborfreight.com/) and [Oriental Trading Co.](https://www.orientaltrading.com/) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/9 "2024-05-24T20:58:47Z")
E-Bay-Dot-Com. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/10 "2024-05-24T21:37:08Z")
Silk Road. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/11 "2024-05-24T22:08:00Z")
AliExpress. … but it’s just $5! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/12 "2024-05-24T22:37:46Z")
> **[ULINE - Shipping Boxes, Shipping Supplies, Packaging Materials, Packing Supplies](https://www.uline.com)** > > Uline stocks over 42,000 shipping boxes, packing materials, warehouse supplies, material handling and more. Same day shipping for cardboard boxes, plastic bags, janitorial, retail and shipping supplies. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/13 "2024-05-24T23:36:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > the ones for medical professionals Ah yes, the Fischer Scientific catalog had so much cool stuff. I worked for them for a year in Pittsburgh designing laboratory robotics and we had to spec out things from the catalog whenever possible. So I researched it and McMaster-Carr for many hours. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/14 "2024-05-24T23:39:11Z")
Careful. I ordered from ULine, and now they send me a Sears catalog sized catalog every few months ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/15 "2024-05-24T23:40:58Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > W. W. Grainer Probably a typo, but I assume you mean Grainger. They have a ton of cool shit. [The New 2024 Grainger Catalog 415 - Grainger Industrial Supply](https://www.grainger.com/content/general-catalog?gucid=N:N:PS:Paid:MS:CSM-2296:8DK268:20500731&gclid=a1abb426b719100127c2d2779234f4e2&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=a1abb426b719100127c2d2779234f4e2) ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/16 "2024-05-24T23:41:51Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > … but it’s just $5! And $4.99 shipping. And it will arrive next year some time. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/17 "2024-05-24T23:43:50Z")
This is the kind of place Adam Savage frequents. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/18 "2024-05-24T23:44:04Z")
Yes, I meant Grainger. They’re now advertising extensively on TV. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/19 "2024-05-25T00:17:58Z")
Yes, or as we refer to them, “kindling.” ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039/20 "2024-05-25T02:29:51Z")
Uline was the best back when I did eBay and other online selling and reselling services, but it’s probably been 12 years and I still get their massive catalog. I’ve probably bought from a majority of the places mentioned so far. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-ever-find-a-website-that-you-know-has-cool-stuff-and-you-shouldnt-buy-anything/1002039.md?page=2)