CANNING JARS IN NYC: Where to get them

POST #831
Living in New York City, we often get spoiled into thinking that we can get anything here (I know I imagined that it would be that way back when I was still scheming to get here).  Surprise! There are lots of things you can get in other parts of America which are virtually inaccessible to New York City residents — We have no Walmart, and canning jars (Mason/Ball jars) are really hard to track down. I’m lucky that I happened upon an interesting blog, Autumn Makes and Does, with a posting about how to get jars in NYC, and with lots of follow-up postings from her readers, with their own information abut where to get jars.

Last week, I followed Autumn’s advice to go to Ace Hardware, order on-line, and then pick up at an Ace Hardware in the city without  paying shipping.  I ordered on Friday night, and my jars were in the store on Monday.  I couldn’t pick them up until today, and I couldn’t make a copy of my on-line purchase receipt, but the folks at the store were sweet, and let me have my delivery once I told them my true name and showed them an ID which reflected that name.  (My total for a flat of 12 qt. jars was $14 something — $8 cheaper than even amazon with amazon prime)

Here are some other suggestions for places to find canning jars in NYC:
True Value will also ship free-of-charge jars you buy on-line to the local store you specify. The jar prices are competitive with Ace Hardware. There are a number of True Value stores in Manhattan.
Rainbow Ace Hardware at 1st Ave and 75th: Highly-rated canning supply section, with flats of jars in all sizes, lids, canning gadgets and utensils, as well as pectin and pickling spices. Prices said to be not bad for NYC.
Home Depot, 23rd Street: various sizes of jars, and lids.  They say that, if you find a lower price elsewhere, if you talk to the Head Cashier, they will match the price.
Surprise Surprise, 3rd Ave and 12th St:. Carries jars at prices ranging from $1.50 – $2.99. Small discount for flats.
23rd Street Hardware, 23rd Street between 3rd and Park: This is a True Value store. Good selection of jars and lids. May be willing to special order what you don’t see. You can also order on-line and have your order delivered free-of-charge to this or any other True Value store you choose.

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I GOT THE JARS!

I was totally amazed to receive my Mason jars (Ball/Kerr brands) last week, only 4 days after I had placed my order on-line (and, because I had had problems with the confirmation, over the phone, as well  — long story short — I did not get an on-line confirmation, so I called the 800 # right away, and got a very friendly helper who made it all happen)

It seems that what we tend to call Mason jars are now Ball jars and Kerr jars, and those are both produced by the same folks (makes it easy…. oh! you fear monopoly!  no!  they are still in the business of helping US)

I have bought jars here and there, and (while on vacation) seen them for sale elsewhere, but I was intensely pleased by the service (24 jars delivered to the door of this car-less person), and the price (I have searched all over New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx — okay, I did not go to Staten Island), and I have never been able to find more than 6 jars (of any size) available in once place, and, then, the jars have always only been available at “one-sie” prices.

The deal at the official Ball/Kerr/Mason jar site (btw, they are not paying me) is the best, even if you are not transportation-challenged as I am (I never could have dragged home 24 jars on the subway… add stress pay over top of the jar cost plus tax…)

I ordered extra “dome” jar tops (I think the “dome” means that they sometimes puff up when you are making fermented things), because my jar lids had begun “fermenting”.. it could be the salt, it could be a time issue, or whatever.   Whatever, my jar lids did not look nice or safe to me.

I also ordered some plastic “storage lids” (maybe hanging out in the refrigerator made those other lids die).

I got a huge box in about 5 days, it was easy enough, propping it on my grocery cart, to carry from my mailbox place to my home.  I pawed through the “peanuts” to find everything, and I was in heaven.  12  16 oz jars, 12 32 oz jars, replacement lids, and the storage lids.

If you are fermenting, or even storing, anything, on a regular basis (particularly if you give away), consider going directly to the factory (http://www.freshpreserving.com/)

(no, they are not paying me… this is all about being a very satisfied customer, who, after searching the world over –okay, NYC–, has found the best source for her needs.)