where to get chemicals and lab supplies

[Peter Apps]

Where is everyone getting their chemicals, consumables and general lab stuff ? I am working in Botswana, and the supply chains (which were never the best anyway) have unravelled completely; an ordinary chemical that I ordered in January arrived this afternoon, huge numbers of items that Merck sells are on back order, and Fisher Scientific has stopped replying to e-mails. Occasionally I buy from China, but payments can be a nightmare and the shipping (by Fedex) is hopelessly eratic.

Is there a supplier that ships to Africa, holds stock, and doesn't take months to deliver ?

Thanks, Peter

[Consumer Products Guy]

Glad that I'm retired !!!

[James_Ball]

I wish I could help, but we have the same delays here in USA, even from Fisher, Sigma Aldrich and others.

Took me 6 months to get an order of plastic pipette tips, and just try to get Diazald for Herbicide derivitization.

[rb6banjo]

Even items as simple as 20 mL headspace vials are impossible to get in the US. We ordered some in March and they still haven't arrived.

[Peter Apps]

So it's not just me. I suppose there is some comfort in that.

Peter

[Consumer Products Guy]

I wish I could help, but we have the same delays here in USA, even from Fisher, Sigma Aldrich and others.

My pointy-haired boss would've accused such as being my fault.

Chromatography computer software issues were also "my fault" like I drove the mouse incorrectly....

[01310040231]

It has been very difficult and we were forced to look for other suppliers. We have found some independent suppliers and some of them have better pricing than Fisher or VWR. The shipping cost is another issue, so we are ordering more bulk supplies to reduce our cost per item. For example, we found Globe scientific and Bioland scientific for pipette tips. Also, we found some generic brand of chemicals are as good as brand chemicals. We were waiting for 4 months for a brand Sodium hydroxide pellets; when I contacted VWR; they offered their own brand which was in stock at 1/2 price of the brand name with the same quality. I wished they had offered this to us much sooner but I guess this is the price we had to pay for ordering on line.

[MichaelVW]

and just try to get Diazald for Herbicide derivitization.

Dang - if it would be of use without the source being documented, I've got a 125g container from Sigma I opened ~one time and will never need again. I'm not sure what the rules are about shipping something like that, though. :\

[James_Ball]

and just try to get Diazald for Herbicide derivitization.

Dang - if it would be of use without the source being documented, I've got a 125g container from Sigma I opened ~one time and will never need again. I'm not sure what the rules are about shipping something like that, though. :\

Normally considered an explosive, so probably not easy.

[Steve Reimer]

MichaelVW wrote:
James_Ball wrote:
and just try to get Diazald for Herbicide derivitization.


Dang - if it would be of use without the source being documented, I've got a 125g container from Sigma I opened ~one time and will never need again. I'm not sure what the rules are about shipping something like that, though. :\


Normally considered an explosive, so probably not easy.


I've had that problem with dinitrophenylhydrazine