I enjoy any excuse to buy a new tool. Whether it’s a new quiet impact driver or cordless router, if I feel it will help me get the job done faster, then I want it.
But lately, I’ve been in a rut when it comes to where I shop online. My typical go-to’s are Amazon Prime and Home Depot, if they don’t have what I’m looking for then I’ll occasionally turn to a specialty retailer or abandon my search altogether.
As a tool writer, I’m tasked with testing tools from all the major brands. I have my personal preferences when it comes to certain tools, but among the top 5 or 6 tool brands the quality is very similar. But it’s where you purchase them that can make the biggest difference in your experience.
Enter Zoro
A couple of months ago I was approached by Zoro to check out their tool and product offerings. To be honest I wasn’t that familiar with Zoro and had never ordered from them before. That’s not surprising considering my previously mentioned habit of only sticking to Amazon or Home Depot.
I think competition is great and I enjoy supporting businesses that are big on community. Zoro was recently named one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Chicago, so I was happy to take their call and learn what they are all about.
Tool Selection
Despite their size, the big-box retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, do not sell every tool. And some are really more particular to their own house brands.
Zoro provides a much larger selection of tools that fit all sizes of budgets. From Milwaukee to Black & Decker, and everything in between.
I am partial to the pro brands and Zoro has the latest from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and Makita. The current release tools are all here, so you know you are getting the newest in tech and power.
Not Just Tools
Zoro is an e-commerce company that sells thousands of tools, but what separates them from a retailer like Acme Tool, is that they sell over 4 million products (including tools) to help run your business or household.
Zoro seems singularly focused on providing everything that a small to medium-sized business would need to survive and thrive on a daily basis.
A quick perusal of Zoro.com runs the gamut of plumbing and HVAC, electrical and lighting, facilities maintenance, automotive, and office supplies and furniture.
Everything In One Order
If you’re like me, you’d rather order what you need from one store. I want to avoid having to search emails and trying to remember where I placed an order.
Tools are definitely Zoro’s wheelhouse, but what I really like about their offerings is that they have everything else a business or household would need.
Before jumping into the tools, I needed some gear for my backyard.
I picked up a giant tarp to protect our new skate ramp, two contractor-grade garden hoses and reels, a utility cart, Proto screwdrivers, and a new replacement screen for our sliding screen door. If I had a bigger budget I would have used it to upgrade our home office with a new printer, desk chair, and lighting.
Free Shipping
What I really came to Zoro for was the tools. I’ve been coveting the Bosch #GOP18V-28N oscillating tool with Starlock and the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Surge ¼” hex hydraulic driver 2760-20.
The price of these tools matched other online retailers, but Zoro had them available to ship that day and included free shipping! In fact, free shipping is included on any order over $50. No need to pay a membership fee or mix-and-match items. If an item is under $50 then the shipping is only $5.
Free shipping also usually means “slow”, but the tools arrived the next day! I’m not sure where Zoro’s fulfillment centers are, but I was shocked to receive my box of tools so quickly. The rest of the products arrived the following day, which allowed me to start my projects that weekend.
Zoro’s shipping and return policies are super straightforward, and there is no fine print to comb through. You can return items for any reason within 30 days for a refund or replacement. Just print a return label from your Zoro account and send back the undamaged tool or product.
Stellar Customer Service
Prices, shipping, and product are all great reasons to shop somewhere, but the real x-factor that sets Zoro apart from the rest is their customer service.
You can actually call and speak to a real person who works at the company and is proud of it. Zoro didn’t cut costs by off-loading their call center overseas or to a third party, customer service calls are handled directly by Zoro employees.
Although my order went smoothly and I had no issues with my tools or products, I wanted to chat with someone from Zoro to test their claim of “Customer Service from Real People”.
Jill promptly answered the phone and helped me locate a few different products on their website. She proudly stated that Zoro had exceeded their goal of 3 million product offerings by a million, which means they have more than 4 million products available.
She also explained that they ship UPS ground and have multiple fulfillment centers across the country that are in place to expedite the 3-5 day shipping time frame.
Order From Anywhere
We all take our phones and do our research when shopping in person. Reviews and pricing from a wide variety of sources are all easily available.
Zoro.com is one of the most mobile-friendly e-commerce websites I’ve used. It functions just as easily on your phone as it does from your desktop. A prominent search bar and fast loading pages ensure you find the product you need as quickly as possible.
I highly recommend you check out Zoro the next time you need to buy tools or products for your home or business. As a bonus for first time customers, buy from zoro.com/toolcrave and save 15% on your order!
Check back for a couple of follow up posts on my experience using my new Zoro tools and products.
