Admiral Steel and a lesson learned

S

Shotgunone

Joined
Oct 1, 2000
Messages
244
I ordered a few (4) pieces of steel from admiral to see what there quality was like. Obviously not a big order just a sample of some things I use. Like 1- 12"x 12" of .040 410 ss; 1 - 6"x12" .064 410 ss; 18" piece of ats34; and 24" of 416 1/8"x 1 1/4" bar stock. Total cost was $41 and some change. Well I got my order.

And I got my bill too!!! Shipping was $22.00 :eek: :eek: :eek:

Now I am slow at math but $22 for shipping 4 pounds UPS Ground to Texas is a little much don't you think? Of course in all fairness they did ship it in two packages $10 for one $12 for the other!!!

I emailed them with my concerns. They said the packaging and handling charges were normal throughout the industry. :confused: And the bar stock was in another part of the warehouse that is why it was shipped seperate? :rolleyes:

I'm not saying NEVER AGAIN but it will be after there are no other options trust me. :mad:

PS. I don't like there 410 liner material it is scratched up big time and gummy as H_LL to grind. And don't mill worth a crap. (May not be 410 :confused: who knows).
 
I can't say for the materials you listed but Mc Master-Carr has the best prices for O1 anywhere(including any knife material supplier). The shipping is excellent. There are so many odds and ends you can get from them. And in the end of this month they will carry carbon fiber sheets and the sample piece perfect for 1 or 2 sets of handles is 9.00 bucks 1/8 thick.
 
Yeah, Shotgunone...I had much the same experience, the last time I ordered from Admiral...

It took just over 14 weeks, total, for them to get a SINGLE piece of 1"x32"x1/8" ATS-34. I'd ordered a couple of pieces, and got them quite rapidly (just under two weeks). However, my ATS wasn't with them. So I called, and was told that it was being shipped separately (which seemed strange, but not altogether untoward). I waited, and waited. When a month had gone by (I know, I probably waited too long, but hey, I'm not doing this for a living, so I figure I can afford to be patient--it's good for the soul), I called, and the real joy began. For the next month, I got treated to call after call of Admiral being dismissive, stonewalling, and generally doing everything but calling me a bald-faced liar. Finally, with grudging resignation, they decided to LET me have another piece! Mind you, this is all over a $25 piece of steel!! Obviously, these folks don't regard the knifemaker market as a major concern. Fine. Like Oddball says, "...To Hell with you, then, Man...fifty feet of bridge I can pick up PRACTICALLY ANYWHERE!!!"

I figure I'll give them one final chance, but if they botch it again, they're on the 'Avoid' list.

Kal
 
I ordered 60$ worth of 5160 and L-6 and paid over $40 freight. The first tube took a week to get here. The second tube took 3 weeks.Whats the name of that place in Portlsnd OR?
Take Care
TJ
 
NO NO NO:rolleyes:
Try Trugrit.
I ordered some 440C from them got a piece that looked like it was Blanchard ground for the hot rolled price. Period.
Nicer guys, a smaller selection granted but better products and service.
My last order from Admiral two out of three pieces were bent. Had to ship em back, they did replace them but what a waste of time.
 
Originally posted by TJ Smith
I ordered 60$ worth of 5160 and L-6 and paid over $40 freight. The first tube took a week to get here. The second tube took 3 weeks.Whats the name of that place in Portlsnd OR?
Take Care
TJ
Click to expand...

Pacific Machinery & tool steel is in Portland, and Ryerson is in Seattle & Portland.
 
Suddenly Admiral's $70 to ship $70 worth of BG-42 to Australia doesn't look so bad!
 
Code 3, do you know if they have web sites? I'm not happy with Admiral's shipping prices or quality either. The last ATS34 I got was some lousy looking steel, warped, pitted, and they sent steel that wasn't the length I ordered. I ordered 72" and they sent 91", at a greatly inflated extra charge. I was going to order some L6 from them, but I think I'll shop around.
Tom
 
Guys,
Give Crucible a try...order 154CM instead of ATS34. There isn's a smidgin bit of difference.
 
I've had the same inflated shipping charges as well. The worst part about it is I know what it costs to ship UPS. I paid over 20.00 dollars for shipping a 3 pound package form Admiral to Ohio. It should have been about 1/3 of that price. And the multiple package shipping is crazy.
 
I've had pretty good experiences with Admiral Steel. I ordered two bars of 440C, 6' in 1/8", and 3' 3/32". They gave me more steel than I ordered. I got almost an extra foot on the 1/8" 440C, and they gave me a bigger bar of 3/32" as well. I'm very happy with their service. I pay by money order, and I ask for shipping quotes in advance. Prevents billing surprises.

I have been charged very reasonable shipping prices, usually around 10 dollars. It probably isn't too far from UPS's actual shipping fee, plus they have to do packaging and handling too. If you buy about 30 pounds of long steel bars, I don't think its unreasonable to expect a shipping price of 30-40 dollars to move it halfway across the country in those huge tubes.

Shipping for the sheets doesn't look so good though. I'll stick with buying bars from them. Also, their ATS-34 in 5/32 thickness and below is cold rolled. Maybe thats why a lot of people are complaining about their ATS-34 (usually is hot rolled).
 
Hmmm ?, I ordered a piece of BG 42 2 x 1/4 x 12". It cost $29.12 if I remember correctly. When I got it just a week later, I noticed the invoice said $42. !!!! What the *#@! That's just way too much for shipping. I ordered from Tru grit and got some for about an $8.00 shipping cost. From Sheffield it's betwen $7. and $8. as well. I just recently had to order from Admiral again and I'm just waiting for it right now. They are getting some steel special and I don't know the cost of shipping yet, can't wait to get burned )0: See ya.....RDT
 
Man this is wierd! I've been buying from Admiral for several years now and they've never charged me more than $10 shipping, even on some large orders. I wonder what the deal is? Maybe someone should email Terry and mention this, maybe he can talk to shipping and receiving and straighten things out. Do you guys order online or over the phone? I always order online. Don't know why that would make a difference though.
 
I can't stand Admiral. I had ordered many times in the past from them. The customer service is rude as hell, EVERY time. I order from Ryerson Tull, those guys are great and charge realistic shipping. I doubt they have ATS-34 though. I ordered some 416 from Sheffield I believe it was. Very good customer service. I'll smelt my own ATS-34 before I order from Admiral again.
 
I'll have to say that the one order I've made with Admiral (a little over $100.00 worth of 5160, 1084, L6 and 15n20) came with a hefty shipping fee. Well over $40.00 if I remember right. They had to ship the 15n20 separately because it comes in sheets and won't fit in the tubes but even with that I thought the shipping was exhorbitant.

Michael, you live in the Florida panhandle like I do, so what's up
with the different shipping costs? Doesn't make sense does it.
 
I get excellent service from Airgas on precision 01, cost is right, no scale, and shipping very reasonable--Dan
 
It's a shame, but lots of companys use their shipping and handling costs to pad their profits. I just bought a piece of Micarta from one of the main knife supply companies, and the shipping was $7.20. The package couldn't have weighed even a pound. I ship lots of packages myself, so I have a good idea what shipping should cost. The only knife supply outfit that doesn't do this is Pop's knives. His shipping charges to me have always reflected his actual shipping cost.
 
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