Buyer's Guides (Selected)

Contents:

Scope Note and Methodology
General
Chemicals
Computer
Consumers
Electronics
Engineering
Materials
Physics

Scope Note and Methodology

The Web is the best place to find current buyer's guides. However, they vary in quality, depth of coverage, and specificity.  Listed below are publications and sites that are comprehensive, attempt to provide quality control, and include special features, such as links to suppliers full catalogs, specifications, and/or ratings.  Few provide prices because these vary so much by supplier, quantity, and discounts. Those that do have prices are indicated by .  For generic cost ranges, check such references as the Commodity Yearbook [338 C734ab REF].

A simple strategy for finding buyer's guides for any product is to begin with a metasearch site (such as Dogpile) and enter the search buyers guides <product> or buyers guides <product category>.  Another approach is to use "suppliers" or "distributors" in place of "buyer's guides."  Try the most specific term first, then broaden as/if necessary.

Examples:

coffee pots                                                             sheet rolled stainless steel
buyers guides coffee makers                                   buyers guides steel
buyers guides kitchen                                              buyers guides metals
buyers guides consumer                                          buyers guides industrial

General

Products and services used in manufacturing; principally by U.S. firms. Arranged by product, then by state and city; lists  manufacturer and/or distributor with address, contact numbers, and size of firm. Supplementary indexes: brand name and company.  A neat feature is the CAD drawings for many standard engineering parts and plant components, either generic or company-specific.

Kompass.
LOCATION: 605.8 U58 FM-1-REF
British equivalent of Thomas' Register.

Lehigh University Office of Institutional Purchasing Resources
LOCATION:  http://www.lehigh.edu/~inpur/resources.html

Chem Sources USA
LOCATION: 661.05 C517 FM-1-REF
Chemicals: alphabetically by compound.

Chem Sources International
LOCATION: 661.05 C5717 FM-1-REF
Chemicals: alphabetically by compound.

  Chemical Marketing Reporter
LOCATION: current periodicals FM-2-South
Commercially important chemicals: quantities, spot prices.

Chemical Week Buyers Guide
LOCATIONS: 660.282 C572 FM-1-REF &  http://www.chemweekbuyersguide.com/public/
Current prices for chemicals appear in weekly issues of Chemical Week (current periodicals area), but not in the Web version.

Fisher Scientific Catalog
LOCATION: http://www.fishersci.com/
Chemicals and laboratory equipment, with prices. Includes MSDS sheets.

Sigma
LOCATIONS: 661.8 S577b FM-1-REF & http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/suite7/Area_of_Interest/The_Americas/United_States.html
Laboratory and bulk fine chemicals.  Web version supports CA Registry number searching as well as product/chemical name.  Prices require registration.

Computer

ComputerESP
LOCATION: http://shopper.cnet.com/
Computer products: hardware, software, accessories, supplies.  Search by name or category.  Prices and specifications, often in easy-to-compare table format.  Occasional links to reviews of products.  Users' ranking of suppliers.

Consumers

  Compare Net
LOCATION: http://www.compare.net/
Consumer products. Begin with a simple keyword search or browse a category.  Within categories, a sophisticated interface allows detailed specifications for features (with definitions), price ranges, and comparison of specific models and brands for major product lines.

MySimon
LOCATION: http://www.mysimon.com
Consumer products.  Begin with a simple keyword search or browse a category.  Product features and brands can be specified within product lines.  Suppliers pay no fees for listings.

Electronics

ECN Product Database
LOCATION:  http://www.reed-electronics.com/ecnmag/index.asp?layout=productDatabase
Searchable list of (over 30,000) products, manufacturers, and distributors.  Search by company, product name, category and/or regioin.  Indicates type of firm (manufacturer, distributor, representative) and ISO 9000 or Mil Spec compliance.

Photonics
LOCATION: 621.360294 P575 FM-1-REF
Electronics: alphabetical product list, with manufacturer and/or distributor. Separate volume for companies with addresses, phone numbers, and size of firm.

Engineering

EE-Evaluation Engineering Buyers' Guides
LOCATION: http://www.evaluationengineering.com/
Testing equipment.

TechExpo Buyers' Guide
LOCATION: http://www.techexpo.com/buyers-guide/
Hi-Tech in engineering and medical/life sciences. Equipment; electronics; software.  Some 2000 firms (mostly U.S.).  Very brief descriptions; email addresses for more info.  Extensive categories plus search engine.

Materials

Ceramic Source
LOCATION: 666.02 C411 FM-1-REF
Ceramics and pottery.

Metal Prices
LOCATION: http://metalprices.com
Current (free registration) and historical (requires paid subscription) prices for selected high-use metals.

Metal Suppliers Online
LOCATION: http://www.suppliersonline.com/
Commercial supplier of industrial grade metals.  Search by product type and supplier; good property data.  Registration (free) required; permits searching of subsidized subset of suppliers.

Modern Plastics Encyclopedia
LOCATION: 668 P715 FM-1-REF
Plastics and polymers.

PhysicsWeb Buyer's Guide
LOCATION: http://physicsweb.org/buyers/
Laboratory and research equipment.