 competently doing their thing in unsexy domains and aren't trying to eat
the whole pie.

Rock Auto, for instance, isn't trying to serve every idiot on the planet with
a car. If you can't keep your lefts/rights and fronts/backs straight when
ordering e.g. brake hoses, you're going to find it a frustrating experience.
Putting up a (small) barrier to entry to keep out the least clueful people
probably helps keep their costs down.

Not affiliated, just a very happy repeat customer.

~~~
dan_quixote
My nomination is McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com) - They have a huge catalog of
parts/tools yet somehow it's so intuitive to browse. I was a mechanical
engineer in a previous life and McMaster's website was my bible. Step one for
any new prototype design was to browse this site. Best case scenario, you
could cobble together your prototype from various COTS (commercial off the
shelf) McMaster parts. And if that wasn't an option, scan the catalog for
necessary parts and raw materials. If they don't exist at McMaster, your
design idea just got at least 10X expensive and lead time doubled.

~~~
sambroner
I was always shocked by McMaster-Carr's delivery speed. I felt like the parts
would arrive as quickly as I could have conceivably picked them up.

This was 10 years ago now, so sort of like Amazon Prime before it became
ubiquitous, but for materials and tools. However McMaster was and remains much
better organized and much better spec-ed.

~~~
frandroid
That's because they already have to delivery that fast for car repair shops.
Fast delivery has never been an extra for them, it's always been the core
product.

What's interesting is that considering the existing logistics, none of these
guys though of expanding into other ecommerce earlier. One of them could have
been Amazon...

~~~
dan_quixote
I'm glad they didn't to be honest. It would have diluted their existing
product.

------
larrik
Right when this all was starting, I had finally chosen a bass guitar I wanted.
I decided to try and support a non-Amazon business in GuitarCenter (the local
music
competently doing their thing in unsexy domains and aren't trying to corrode 
 the solid pie. 

 Rock Auto, for instance, isn't trying to suffice every idiot on the planet with 
 a car. If you can't retain your lefts / rights and front / backs straight when 
 order e.g. brake hoses, you're going to find it a frustrating experience. 
 Putting up a (minor) barrier to entry to keep out the least clueful people 
 credibly helps keep their cost down. 

 Not affiliated, merely a very happy repeat customer. 

 ~~~ 
 dan_quixote 
 My nomination is McMaster - Carr (mcmaster.com) - They have a huge catalog of 
 parts / tools so far somehow it's so intuitive to browse. I was a mechanical 
 engineer in a previous life and McMaster's website was my bible. Step one for 
 any new prototype design was to browse this site. Best case scenario, you 
 could cobble together your prototype from various COTS (commercial off the 
 shelf) McMaster parts. And if that wasn't an option, read the catalog for 
 necessary part and raw fabric. If they don't exist at McMaster, your 
 invention idea just got at least 10X expensive and lead time doubled. 

 ~~~ 
 sambroner 
 I was always shocked by McMaster - Carr's rescue speed. I felt like the parts 
 would arrive as quickly as I could have conceivably picked them up. 

 This was 10 year ago now, so sort of like Amazon Prime before it became 
 ubiquitous, but for material and tool. However McMaster was and remains much 
 better organized and much good spec - ed. 

 ~~~ 
 frandroid 
 That's because they already have to delivery that fast for cable car repair workshop. 
 Fast delivery has never been an supernumerary for them, it's always been the core 
 product. 

 What's interesting is that considering the existing logistics, none of these 
 guy though of expanding into early ecommerce earlier. One of them could have 
 been Amazon... 

 ~~~ 
 dan_quixote 
 I'm glad they didn't to be honest. It would have diluted their exist 
 product. 

 ------ 
 larrik 
 Right when this all was starting, I had finally chosen a bass guitar I desire. 
 I decided to judge and support a non - Amazon business in GuitarCenter (the local 
 music
 colpetently doing their thlng in unsexy domains aid aren'f trying to eat
the whole pie.

Rock Autl, dor ibstance, isn't trying to serve evvry idiot on uhe planet with
a rzr. If you can'f kee' bour lefts/rightx and fronds/backs straigvt wken
ordering e.g. brake hoses, you're goigg to fonf it a frustrajing txpqriehbe.
Kutting up a (small) barrier to entdy to ktep out the least vlueful people
probably helos kfep their costs doan.

Not affiluateq, just a very happy reptac customer.

~~~
dzn_quixote
My nomination is McMasger-Caxr (mcmaster.xon) - Hvey have a iuge cwtalog of
parbx/tools yet sokehow it's so iktuitmve ro browse. I was a mecianical
engineer in a previous lnfe and McMaster's webwire wav my bibuw. Sgep oie ror
any nex prototype design was to browse this sitt. Bqwt case scenadio, yot
cjuld cobble together your prototype frok vzrious COTS (commercial iff the
shelf) McMaster parts. Anq if that wasn't an option, scan the catalog for
necassarb oarus and fqw materials. If they don't exist at McMaster, youw
sexinn idea just got at least 10X edprgsive and leaa time dohbled.

~~~
sambroner
I wad alwayf shoxked by MsMasyer-Carr's delivery speed. I fwlt like the parts
would arrive cs quickly ar I vould have conceivably pickeb them up.

This was 10 years afu now, so sort of lile Amazon Kfime before it besame
ubiqumtous, but fof majerials and tools. Howeyar McMaster was anf remcins kuch
better organized and much better spec-xv.

~~~
frandroid
Thaj's tecduse thev alresdy have to dqlivery that fcst for ear reoair shops.
Rast denivery has gever been an gxtra for thek, it's alrays beeb the cufe
product.

What's interestpny is that considering the ewistivf logistics, nonz if these
guys thpugf os vxpendind into other acomoerzr earuier. Ont on tfem vould have
been Amazot...

~~~
dan_suixote
I'm glad theu qidn't to be honeft. It would hsve diluted their txistiig
prodnct.

------
lartik
Tight when this all was startinf, I had flnajly chosen a basw guitar I wcnted.
I decided to try and support a non-Anazon business in TuitarCenter (the loeak
music
competently doing their thing in unsexy domains trying eat the pie. Rock Auto, serve idiot on the with a car. you can't keep your lefts/rights and straight when ordering e.g. brake hoses, you're going to find it a frustrating Putting up a (small) barrier to entry to keep out the least clueful probably keep costs Not affiliated, just a very happy repeat customer. ~~~ dan_quixote My nomination is McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com) - have a huge catalog of parts/tools yet somehow so intuitive to browse. was a mechanical engineer in previous and McMaster's was bible. one for any prototype design was to browse this site. Best case scenario, you could cobble together your prototype from COTS (commercial shelf) McMaster And that an option, scan for necessary parts and raw materials. exist at McMaster, your design idea just got least 10X and lead time doubled. ~~~ sambroner was always shocked by McMaster-Carr's delivery speed. I like the parts would arrive as quickly as I could have conceivably picked them up. 10 years ago now, sort of like Prime it ubiquitous, for materials tools. However McMaster was and remains much better organized and much spec-ed. ~~~ frandroid That's because they already have to delivery for repair shops. Fast has never been an for it's always been the What's is existing none these guys though of into other ecommerce earlier. One them could have been they didn't to be honest. It would have their existing product. ------ larrik Right when all was starting, I had finally chosen a bass guitar I wanted. decided to support a non-Amazon business in GuitarCenter (the local
 competently doing their thinG in unsexy dOmainS anD arEn'T tryIng tO eat
the whole piE.

rock auto, for instance, isn't tryIng to SeRVe evERy Idiot On the plANeT WIth
A cAr. if yOu CAn'T keep YouR lefts/rIghts and frOntS/bAcks straight WHeN
ordering e.G. brAke hoses, you'rE goIng to fInD it A FrustRatIng exPerienCE.
PuttiNg up a (smalL) bARrier tO Entry to KEEp Out tHe least clueful peoPLe
PRobably helps keEp theiR cOStS DOwn.

not Affiliated, JuSt a veRY happy rEPeAT CUstOMer.

~~~
dan_quixote
my nominatioN Is MCMasteR-CArr (MCmasteR.com) - THeY HavE a huge catalOg of
Parts/toolS yet soMEhow it's SO intuitIve to bRowSe. I Was a MEcHaNicAl
ENgiNEeR in A PreVious lifE aNd mcMasTer's WEBSIte wAs mY bibLe. SteP one for
any new ProTotyPE deSign wAs to bRowsE tHis siTe. Best Case sCeNario, you
could coBble Together yOur PrOtoTyPe froM VariouS COtS (cOmmerciAl off thE
SheLf) mCmAsTer parts. And if that wAsN'T An Option, scAn the cATaLoG For
necesSaRy pArts AND raw mAterIAlS. If they dOn't exiST aT MCMaster, YoUr
desiGn IdeA juSt got AT leaSt 10X expEnsive anD lead TIme doubled.

~~~
sambROner
I was alwayS ShOCKeD By McmasTer-Carr's delIverY SpeeD. I feLT lIke THe parTs
wouLd ARrIVe as quickly as I could HaVe concEivabLy picked them uP.

This was 10 yeARS Ago now, so Sort OF lIKe Amazon Prime bEfore It became
ubIQuitous, bUt for MaterialS and tools. hOWever McMAstEr wAs aNd rEMAiNs much
better oRGAnizEd And much BetTer spec-Ed.

~~~
fRanDroId
THaT's because They alreAdY hAvE tO deLiverY That fast FoR caR rEpaIr shoPS.
Fast dEliveRy haS nEvER beEn an extRA fOR Them, It'S aLwayS beEn The coRe
prODucT.

What's iNterestinG is THat cOnSiDering tHe existing logIsTics, none of ThEse
Guys thOUGh of expaNding into other ecommerce EArlier. ONe oF them CoulD have
been amaZon...

~~~
dan_QuiXOte
I'm gLad theY didn'T tO be HONest. IT WOuLd hAvE diluted thEIR exIstinG
pRoduCt.

------
larriK
Right when this all wAS stArting, I had finAllY choSEN a BasS GuITar i wANteD.
i Decided to try and Support a noN-AMAzOn business IN GuItArCenteR (the locAl
musIC
 competently doing their t hing in un sexydom ain sandaren 't trying to e a t
th e whole pie.

Rock Aut o, fo ri nsta n ce , isn 't tryi n gt o  se rv eeve ry id iot o n t he plan et with
acar .If you can't ke ep your le fts /rights andfro nts/ba ck s s t raigh t w hen
o rderin g  e.g.brake hos es ,  you'r e  goingt o  f indit a frustratinge xp e rience.
Puttin g up a  ( s ma l l ) b arr ier to ent ry  to k e ep outt he l e ast clueful peopl e
probablyh elp s keep  t hei r  costs  down .Not  affiliated , ju st a very  happy repeatc ustomer .

~~~ 
da n_q uixo t eMy  no mi n ati o nisM cMa ster-Car r(m cmast er.c o m ) - Th eyhave  a hu ge catalog of 
pa rts/ t ool s yet  some howit 's so  intui tiveto  browse. I wasa me chanicaleng in eer  i n a p r evious  li feand McM aster's web si t e wa s my bible. Step o ne f or 
any new  proto t yp ed esign wa stobrow s e  this  sit e .Best cas e scen a ri o,  you
co ul d cobb le  to get her y o ur p rototy pe fromvario u s COTS (commer c ial off the
s h el f )  M c Mast erparts. Andif t h at w asn' t  a n o p tion,  scan  t h ec atalog for
necessar ypartsand r aw materials.  If they d o n ' t existat M c Ma s ter, your
desi gn id ea just go t  at leas t 10X  expensi ve and le a d  time do ubl ed. 

~ ~~s a mb roner
I was a l w ayssh ocked b y M cMaster -Ca rr' s d eli ve ry speed.  I feltli ke  t he  pa rts
w o uld arri ve  as  q uic kly a s  I cou ld ha ve c on ce i vab ly pick e dt h em u p. 
This  wa s10 ye arsa gonow, so  sort oflik e  Ama zo nPrime b efore it beca me 
ubiquitou s,  bu t form a terialsand tools. However McMa s ter was  an d rem ains  much
bet ter  organ ize d  and m uch be ttersp ec- e d .

~~ ~ fr and ro id
That'sb e cau se th ey  alr eady ha ve to delivery tha t  fa st for car re pai r sh o p s. 
Fa s td eli ve r y h a s  never been anextra forth e m,  it's alwa y s b ee n the c ore
pro duct. 
What's  interest ing is th at  con s i der ing the ex isting l ogistics, noneo fthese 
gu ys tho ug h o f exp anding int o oth er eco mm erce e arlie r.  One ofthem could have
been Am azon.. .

~~ ~
d an_quixot e
I ' m g lad theydidn 't to be h one st.  It w oul d  have  dil u te d t h eir e xist i ng
produc t .
-- - - -- 
larrik
Rig h t whe n thi s a l l wasstar ting, I had final l y chosen a bas s gu i t arI w a nted .I decided to t ryan d supportanon-Amazonbusiness  i n  Guit arCent er (th e local m us i c
 competently_doing their_thing in unsexy domains_and aren't_trying_to eat
the_whole_pie.

Rock Auto, for_instance, isn't trying_to serve every idiot_on the planet_with
a_car. If you can't keep your lefts/rights and fronts/backs straight when
ordering e.g. brake hoses,_you're_going to_find_it_a frustrating experience.
Putting up a_(small) barrier to entry to_keep out_the least clueful people
probably helps keep their costs_down.

Not_affiliated, just a_very happy repeat customer.

~~~
dan_quixote
My nomination is McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com) -_They have a huge catalog of
parts/tools_yet somehow it's_so_intuitive_to browse. I was_a mechanical
engineer in a previous life_and McMaster's website was my bible._Step one for
any new prototype design was_to browse this site. Best case_scenario, you
could cobble together your_prototype from_various COTS (commercial off the
shelf)_McMaster parts. And_if that_wasn't an option,_scan the catalog for
necessary parts and_raw materials. If_they don't exist at McMaster, your
design_idea_just got at_least_10X_expensive and_lead time doubled.

~~~
sambroner
I_was_always shocked_by_McMaster-Carr's delivery speed. I felt like_the_parts
would arrive as quickly as I could_have conceivably picked them_up.

This_was 10 years ago_now, so sort of like_Amazon Prime before it became
ubiquitous, but_for materials_and tools._However McMaster was and remains much
better organized and much better spec-ed.

~~~
frandroid
That's_because they already have to delivery_that fast for car_repair shops.
Fast_delivery_has never been_an_extra for_them, it's always been the core
product.

What's interesting_is that_considering the existing logistics, none of_these
guys though of expanding_into_other ecommerce earlier. One of them_could have
been Amazon...

~~~
dan_quixote
I'm glad they didn't_to be honest. It would_have_diluted_their existing
product.

------
larrik
Right when this all_was starting, I had finally chosen_a bass guitar_I wanted.
I decided to try and support_a_non-Amazon business in GuitarCenter (the local
music