In less-grumpy news...

[rebeccmeister]

The other day, threemeninaboat blogged about the ULine catalog. Sometime very shortly thereafter, I happened to order an acid storage cabinet from them (for lab chemicals), and they stuck a copy of the catalog in the box with the order, naturally.

I don't know why a catalog of industrial work supplies is so satisfying, but it is. Flipping through it sure beats trying to look all this stuff up online, having to guess at names of things and dimensions and such. I have to imagine they don't always have the most competitive prices on everything, but on the other hand, after a certain amount of shopping around I stop caring.

Comments

[threemeninaboat]

LOL. I'm glad you like your catalog.

[bluepapercup]

When you are ready to be grumpy again I will tell you why ULine is terrible.

[threemeninaboat]

We already know, but there's often no other place that provides Thing, Shipped.

I have the same icon at work BTW. I want to see them the next time I'm in Japan but seeing animals in Japan is often.... iffy.

[bluepapercup]

If you are ever in California there's a small place in San Jose called Happy Hollow that has capybaras roaming around. :D

[rebeccmeister]

I am now emotionally prepared.

[bluepapercup]

The short explanation is that they are owned by a couple who are humungous Trump supporter have donated millions of dollars to his campaign as well as substantial amounts to other disgusting right-wing politicians. Most famously, Liz Uihlein pens public right-wing screeds full of the usual lies, exaggerations, and stereotyping. Additionally, employees are now reporting that she thinks covid-19 is a hoax, and the company's response to protect their employees reflects this.

There was a crowd-sourced effort a couple years ago to put together a list of Uline alternatives, you can find it here: https://burlesquedesign.com/blogs/main/say-no-to-uline

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. :(

[rebeccmeister]

Thank you for letting me know, and it's also helpful to have a list of alternatives! I can use the catalog to figure out what I want, and then obtain the items from some less atrocious companies. And I greatly prefer knowing over not knowing!

[rebeccmeister]

Updating to note that I was able to find everything I wanted to acquire through a couple of the alternative sites recommended on this list. I am so pleased to NOT be ordering these kinds of items from Uline OR from a couple of the other Large Terrible MegaCorporations With Highly Questionable Ethics.

Online shopping for office supply-type stuff has been so frustrating for me in general that I am SO HAPPY to have these lists of suggestions.