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From: Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: OT: Search tricks?
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:41:53 -0700
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On 8/22/2024 7:33 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>> My latest "escapade" is the result of Amazon botching an order;
>> canceling it the day it was to be delivered.  So, now to find
>> those same items elsewhere having already lost the days that
>> I could afford to lose WAITING for their arrival.  "Who has these
>> items TODAY, in town and IN STOCK?"
> 
> Ok.  That means you know the maker and model of the item that you
> intend to buy.  In other words, you're not searching for a item to
> buy, but instead are searching for a vendor that has that item in
> stock.

Yes.  I am "letting my fingers do the walking"...

> Most online shopping sites have filters to help you select products,
> availability, shipping preferences, etc.  Pick a likely online vendor,
> find the item that you intend to buy, and see what they have to offer
> in terms of availability, shipping and nearby stores that might have
> stock.  For example, if I find something on Harbor Freight, and the
> item is not in stock, I can select another store that has it in stock.

Here is the first page of results of a search for "leviton two gang
stainless steel wall plate"
<https://www.amazon.com/s?k=leviton+two+gang+stainless+steel+wall+plate>

  1 Leviton SL262 C-Series 2-Gang 2 Decora/ Decora Plus/GFCI, Type 430
    Stainless Steel
  2 Leviton 84016-40 2-Gang, Duplex Device Receptacle Wallplate,
    Standard Size, Device Mount, Stainless Steel
  3 Leviton 84409-40 2-Gang Decora/GFCI Device Decora Wallplate,
    Device Mount, Stainless Steel
  4 Leviton SO262 2-Gang Decora/GFCI Device Decora Wallplate,
    Oversized, 302 Stainless Steel, Device Mount, Stainless Steel
  5 Leviton 84009 2-Gang Toggle Device Switch Wallplate, Standard Size,
    Device Mount, Stainless Steel
  6 Leviton 84009-40 84409-40 2-Gang Toggle Switch Wallplate, Standard
    Size, Device Mount, 1 Pack, Stainless Steel
  7 Leviton SL23 C-Series 2-Gang Blank, Type 430 Stainless Steel, 1 Count
    (Pack of 1)
  8 Leviton 84005-40 2-Gang 1-Toggle 1-Duplex Device Combination Wallplate,
    Standard Size, Device Mount, Stainless Steel
  9 Leviton SJ826-40 2-Gang, 1-DECORA (R) Brand (R), 1-Duplex Receptacle
    Stainless Steel, Midway Size Wallplate, Stainless Steel with blue
10 Leviton SL701 C-Series 2-Gang Single 2.465" Diameter Opening, Type
    430 Stainless Steel
11 Leviton SL703 C-Series 2-Gang Single 2.15" Diameter Opening, Type
    430 Stainless Steel
12 Leviton S126 2-Gang 1-Toggle, Decora/GFCI Device Combination Wallplate,
    Device Mount, Stainless Steel
13 Leviton 84109-40 SS WP 2G TGL OVERSIZED
14 Leviton 84016 2-Gang Duplex Device Receptacle Wallplate, Standard Size,
    Device Mount, Stainless Steel
15 Leviton 43080-2S4 4PORT DG QP WP STAINLESS STEEL
16 Leviton S746-N 2-Gang 1-Decora/GFCI Centered Device Decora Wallplate,
    Device Mount, Stainless Steel, Image
17 Leviton 43080-1S2 2PORT SG QP WP STAINLESS STEEL
18 Leviton S701-40 2-Gang Power Receptacle Wallplate, Flush Mount,
    Standard Size, Device Mount, 302 Stainless Steel
19 ENERLITES Decorator Switch or Receptacle Outlet Metal Wall Plate,
    Corrosion Resistant, Size 2-Gang 4.50" x 4.57", UL Listed, 7732, 430
20 ENERLITES Toggle Light Switch Stainless Steel Wall Plate, Metal Plate
    Corrosive Resistant Cover for Rotary Dimmers Lights, Size 2-Gang 4.50"
21 Lutron Claro 2 Gang Decorator/Rocker Wallplate, Stainless Steel
    (1-Pack) | CW-2-SS
22 Leviton 84116 SS WP 2G DUP OVERSIZED
23 Leviton 43081-1L2 2-Port Angled Stainless Steel QuickPort Single
    Gang Wallplate with ID Windows
24 Leviton SJ126-40 2-Gang, 1-Toggle, 1-Decora Stainless Steel, Midway
    Size Wallplate, Stainless Steel
25 Leviton SL748 C-Series 2-Gang 1 Duplex, Type 430 Stainless Steel
26 Legrand Pass & Seymour SL703CC12 Stainless Steel Type 430 Wall
    Plate, 2 Gang, One Power Outlet Opening, 4 Mounting Holes,
27 Leviton 84085-40 SS WP 2G BLANK/REC 1,406 HOLE STRAP MNT, Image
28 Leviton 84401-40 1-Gang Decora/GFCI Device Decora Wallplate ,
    Device Mount, Stainless Steel
29 Leviton 2-Gang Decora Device Wallplate, Standard Size, 302 Stainless
    Steel, Non-Magnetic, Device Mount, Over-Molded Gasket - Stainless
30 Leviton 84121-40 3 GANG 302 SS 2 TGL 1 DUPLEX OVERSIZE WP
31 2 Gang Decorator Outlet Covers Double Switch Plate Metal Rocker Wall
    Plate, Stainless Steel Receptacle Outlet Covers for Light
32 ENERLITES Blank Device Stainless Steel Wall Plate, Metal Corrosive
    Resistant Cover for Unused Outlets Light Switches Holes, Size 2-Gang 4.50"
33 OVERSIZED 2 Gang Blank Stainless Steel Light Switch Cover - Jumbo Two
    Gang Blank (no holes) Metal Wall Plate, 430 Stainless Steel -
34 [5 Pack] BESTTEN 2 Gang Decor Metal Wall Plate with Plastic Film,
    Decorator Stainless Steel Outlet Cover, Durable Corrosion Resistant
35 ENERLITES Combination Blank Device or Decorator Switch Metal Wall
    Plate, Corrosive Resistant, Size 2-Gang 4.50" x 4.57", 770131, 430
36 Legrand Pass & Seymour SL262CC10 Stainless Steel Type 430 Wall
    Plate, 2 Gang, Two Decorator Rocker GFCI Cover,
37 Double Light Switch Cover Metal Wall Plates Toggle Switch Plate
    Covers 2 Gang Stainless Steel Switch Faceplate, 4-Pack
38 Leviton 84409-A40 Disinfectant Treated Decora Wallplate, 2 Gang,
    Standard Size, Powder Coated Stainless Steel
39 SS13-40 C-Series 1-Gang Blank, Type 302/304 Stainless Steel
40 ENERLITES Double Duplex Receptacle Metal Wall Plate, Stainless
    Steel Socket Outlet Switch Cover, Corrosive Resistant, 2-Gang 4.50" x 4.57",
41 Leviton SL263 C-Series 3-Gang 3 Decora/ Decora Plus/GFCI, Type 430
    Stainless Steel
42 ENERLITES Combination Toggle Light Switch or Decorator Switch Metal
    Wall Plate, Corrosive Resistant, Size 2-Gang 4.50" x 4.57", 771131, 430
43 Leviton 84003-40 1-Gang Duplex Device Receptacle Wallplate, Standard
    Size, Device Mount, Stainless Steel
44 ENERLITES Combination Two Toggle/One Duplex Receptacle Metal Wall
    Plate, Oversize 3-Gang, 5.51” x 7.48”, UL Listed, 771221O, 430
45 Leviton SSJ82-40 2-Gang, 2-Duplex Receptacles Stainless Steel, Midway
    Size Wallplate, Stainless Steel
46 [5 Pack] BESTTEN 2-Gang No Device Metal Blank Wall Plate with Ｗhite
    or Clear Plastic Film, Corrosion-Resistant Stainless Steel
47 Leviton SS26-40 C-Series 1-Gang Decora/ Decora Plus/GFCI, Type
    302/304 Stainless Steel
48 [5 Pack] BESTTEN 2-Gang Duplex Stainless Steel Wall Plate with
    Protective Film, Standard Size, Corrosion Resistant Metal Outlet

Of these 48 results:  17 fail to mention "Leviton" (19, 20, 21, 26, 31,
32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48); 6 are 1-gang (17, 23,
28, 39, 43, 47); and 3 are 3-gang (30, 41, 44) -- i.e., NOT "2-gang".

Home Depot produced 1307 hits for the same search criteria.  And, it
was equally apparent that their results were as "mixed" as Amazon's
(including plastic/nylon materials as well!)

Lowes yielded 81 results -- none being "leviton" (different manufacturers
have different ideas as to how large a wall plate should be)

Was there something inherently tricky about my search criteria that a
company with pockets/resources (and "clout" with its vendors to insist
on accurate, descriptive, searchable product descriptions) like Amazon,
Home Depot or Loews couldn't interpret accurately?

I could understand some "local" shop ("electric supply company") having
a half-assed site with something as inane as FTS implemented (no heuristics)
but these people have the resources to make it convenient for THEIR
customers to spend money with them!  (why would I order a product for
DELIVERY if the "stock on hand" was incorrect?  And, I'd have to wait
three to ??? days to discover that the part won't be here when I expected...)

>> I could spend the day driving from one store to another looking
>> through aisles to see if they carry them and have them in stock.
> 
> Or, you could spend a few minutes checking some likely vendors who
> claim to have it in stock or claim to have expedited service.  Again,

That doesn't get me the item *today*.

I ordered these items over a week ago, with a 2-3 day delivery time.
When the parcel was scheduled to be delivered, I received an email claiming
it was "undeliverable" (with a link to a URL that explained possible
reasons instead of a SPECIFIC reason... I assumed "damaged" as the most
likely) having been returned to its vendor.  My account showed the
package RESHIPPED thereafter with a two day delivery window.  On the
appointed day, an email informed me that the order had been *canceled*
(but, not by *me*!)

So, instead of my plans to have it on hand before it was needed, I
was now faced with having to locate an alternate supplier that would
100% guarantee its prompt delivery.  Shirley, that wouldn't be Amazon!

Two different Home Depot stores showed stock on hand of ~10 pieces
(each location).  Both lied.  Should I try the other two HD's in town?

> because of shrinkage in retail stores, stock count from an automated
> warehouse is far more accurate than stock count from a retail store.

Yet *Amazon* was the initial source of the problem...

> Note that most stores do a physical inventory count once per year for
> the benefit of the auditors, not the customers.
> 
> If you bought in large quantities from a wholesale warehouse, you
> would probably ask for regular inventory counts of the items you
> routinely purchase.  With such a report, you can order "from
> inventory" and have a good chance of actually getting what you order.
> However, in the quantities we buy for our own use, none of us would
> qualify for such a service.
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