Problems with Jamestown Distributors

[bhaskell]

Jamestown Distributors has always been a great reliable source for boat building supplies, until now.

Just be warned to count all the items in your orders, especially the screws. I have received three different orders now, that were suppose to have boxes of 100 screws in them. Each box had 60 or less screws. I've talked to them, and they promised to send the rest, but when that box came it was still short.

Hope the get there act together soon. In the mean time count your items.

[Ian McColgin]

Heaven forefend!

They have always been honorable and I imagine that if everyone checks and keeps on them, they will solve the problem, which we hope is with their supplier and not Jamestown themselves.

[Scott Rosen]

What Ian said. I've always found them to be prompt and reliable. I would give them another chance and the benefit of the doubt.

[Bob Cleek]

Yea, I'd give Jamestown a pass, too. They've always been good to me, too. It may be their supplier whose screw counting machine messed up. You can't expect them to open every box that comes from the manufacturer and count the screws. All it would take is for the machine that counts the screw to be left set on a smaller screw size for the count to be off when the larger batch gets packaged. Automation is like that. I can't say Jamestown has ever screwed me! LOL

[Mrleft8]

Curious...... I got boxes of screws from Hamilton that were short too....... Perhaps it's an Iraqi conspiracy....

[Figment]

Actually, Jamestown once DOUBLED part of my order by mistake.

I was half-guilty, half-psyched until the second invoice arrived a few weeks later. In time, they'll do right by you, and by themselves. They know that their clientele are not stupid.

[bob goeckel]

i've just received 3 separate orders and they were just fine. except for the extra 40 or so screws that i didn't order!!!!! hey bhaskell wanna buy some screws? :D

[Stu Fyfe]

They've been right on with all my orders. Good thing. too! They're kind of like the only girl in town. If you know what I mean.

[Ken Hutchins]

I've had a UPS problem twice between Jamestown and me, but Jamestown was quick to get replacements sent off.

[ccmanuals]

Nothing wrong also with doing some shopping around. Below are some good folks and I'm sure there are others, I.E

Clark Craft Fasteners: http://www.ccfast.com/

Southern Crown: http://www.southerncrownboatworks.com/

Fasco Fasteners: http://www.fascofastener.com/index.htm

McMaster & Carr: http://www.mcmaster.com/

Chesapeake Marine Fasteners: http://www.chesfast.com/

[Buddy Sharpton]

I swear by, not swear at or about, Jamestown and Southern Crown.

[Bayboat]

I've had an account with Jamestown Distributors for many years, and I regard them as the best marine supply house in the business. They and others are obviously having trouble with their automated fastening-counting procedures. That doesn't mean they are trying to cheat you. If you receive a short-count box of screws, first look at your invoice. I have received short boxes, but the invoice has charged me only for the number of fasteners in the box. If the box is short, but the invoice charges you for a full box, just let them know and they will quickly make amends. In some other cases, when I order by phone the salesperson lets me know if they are understocked and have to send a short box.
I know they do their best, so don't sell them short.

[gaffman]

Jamestown is not the operation it was five years ago. They've changed personnel, locations, and the way they do business. They're still okay with me though. Everyone makes a mistake. I once ordered pot holders ($45.00) from Hamilton and they sent me the Stove ($650.00) instead. When they received the stove back, they sent me a free hat. How about that!

[bhaskell]

Jamestown is making it all right. I was sure they would. They told me that their weighing machine was off. Don't mind them being wrong once but it was the three times that worried me.

Want them to stay in business and do well, but sure want them to get the orders right too.

[Donn]

Not intended as a hijack, but I received my first Lee Valley order recently, and also got my first ever catalogs from them. Works of art!

[Ed Harrow]

You do business with them damn Canucks. ;)

[Donn]

Almost every day! :D

[Bob Cleek]

Leigh Valley, Lie Nielsen, and cocaine... God's way of telling you you've got too much money!

[Donn]

I'm a careful consumer, Comrade Cleek. Lee Valley's $22 stainless Hori knife compares to $36 elsewhere. A fine tool at a fair price.

[JimConlin]

I've often been surprised at how quickly and fully my orders to Jamestown are filled.
Even if I order in mid-afternoon, they often ship the same day.

[JeffH]

Must be contageous. We received a Fastco order of 2,000 3" #20's that came, curiously, in a box filled with little plastic packets of 10 each. Or so said the label. I was fastening the covering boards that had a pair of screws at each deck beam, and I kept coming out odd at the end of each packet. Turned out about half the packets, each clearly marked and labled for individual sale and said to contain 10, actually had 11. Oops.

Side note: The quality from Fastco was bad. Each batch of 10 (or 11) had different slot widths, different shank lengths, different thread cut depth. Made them extremely aggravating to drive.

Ditto what Jim said. Various orders of nuts & washers from Jamestown have arrived within two days.

Jeff

[ 04-17-2003, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: JeffH ]

[bob goeckel]

hey my order was wrong this week i received 103 burrs instead of the 100 i ordered but they only sent 2 cartridges of 5200.(wish they had messed up that part of the order and sent 3) heads are gonna roll! plus the order took 4 days to get here, shameful!!! :D

[Carlsboats]

The only time I have had trouble with Jamestown is when I bought a box of bronze screws that kept
shearing off when power driven.
When I returned them with my complaint, Jamestown not only replaced the box but also ran a bunch of them into oak as a test, to compare my old box with screws from another batch they had in stock.
They have stuck with me on every order, and everybody I know there knows something about boats --which can't be said for certain other suppliers. My only complaint now is that they operate only out of the Bristol store, which is a longer drive for me.

[Bayboat]

"He who buys second class materials and second class tools will end up with a second class boat."
Ancient boatbuildler.

[Figment]

My only complaint now is that they operate only out of the Bristol store, which is a longer drive for me. Yeah, but 100 yards down Wood Street is a little hole in the wall market called Goglia's. It's still the best $5 grinder I've ever had!