Where do you guys buy hardware.

[Oaktree]

We live in a fast food, instant gratification society now that WE created. Time is money. Most like the convenience and thus the Big Box stores, online retailing, etc.

I don't have any problem with chain restaurants or big box stores. You at least know what you're going to get walking in the door...the days of the greasy spoon are long gone, and not missed at all at least by me.
I know some dislike big box stores because they tended to decimate "Main St.", but IMHO Main St. did itself in. The "full service" aspect wasn't enough to compensate for high prices, lack of parking and not-always-convenient hours (almost never open Sunday or evenings, when most DIY'ers are likely to need something).

I'd be lucky to get $100,000.00 an acre on a good day.

Were you joking or are land prices really that high in Canada?

No tractor dealers to speak of but 5 Tim Hortons and 7 Starbucks within a mile radius of the farm.

I hope the Tim Hortons in Canada are better than the one in Bangor, Me. that we stopped at on our vacation. Slow service, cold, mediocre food and high prices and they only seem to be open in the morning (or at least they were closed mid-afternoon). I don't see them making much of a splash here if our experience was typical. Burger King (which is if I'm not mistaken the same company as TH) or McDonalds run rings around them.

 

[N80]

You at least know what you're going to get walking in the door

Nope. That's the whole problem. You have no idea what you're going to get. Again, my problem was empty and disorganized bins. The idea that they will have what you want is an illusion.

...the days of the greasy spoon are long gone, and not missed at all at least by me.

Nope. We have plenty of them around here. I love them. Know the owners. Know the staff. Far better food than fast food chains without the insolence and inefficiency. I won't set foot in a fast food chain store. Bad food, high prices, bad service. Who could ask for anything more?

I know some dislike big box stores because they tended to decimate "Main St.", but IMHO Main St. did itself in. The "full service" aspect wasn't enough to compensate for high prices, lack of parking and not-always-convenient hours (almost never open Sunday or evenings, when most DIY'ers are likely to need something).

Nope. It was all pricing the smaller places out of the market. Yes, maybe the Sunday issue was a problem. But that's a problem with a culture that can't slow down for one day and has to have everything NOW.. And it sure hasn't hurt Chik-Fil-A. I strongly support places that close on Sundays. It has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with being humane to your employees. Parking? I'll take bad parking 10-to-one over the massive amounts of traffic around everyone of these massive retail corridors.

 

[Big Barn]

I don't have any problem with chain restaurants or big box stores. You at least know what you're going to get walking in the door...the days of the greasy spoon are long gone, and not missed at all at least by me.
I know some dislike big box stores because they tended to decimate "Main St.", but IMHO Main St. did itself in. The "full service" aspect wasn't enough to compensate for high prices, lack of parking and not-always-convenient hours (almost never open Sunday or evenings, when most DIY'ers are likely to need something).



****Were you joking or are land prices really that high in Canada?****



I hope the Tim Hortons in Canada are better than the one in Bangor, Me. that we stopped at on our vacation. Slow service, cold, mediocre food and high prices and they only seem to be open in the morning (or at least they were closed mid-afternoon). I don't see them making much of a splash here if our experience was typical. Burger King (which is if I'm not mistaken the same company as TH) or McDonalds run rings around them.

***Land is scarce in my area so consequently pricing is high.

Homelessness is a problem and conditions are almost impossible for first time buyers.

Former Alberg farm lots fetch $6M; nine of 16 sold

^^this is the property near me that I was referencing. ^^

Terry

 

[Garandman]

We live in a fast food, instant gratification society now that WE created. Time is money. Most like the convenience and thus the Big Box stores, online retailing, etc. The DIYer is becoming a rarer breed sadly but inevitably so. My son at 28 is just now realizing he should have paid more attention to dad's projects and tools. Now we are an hour apart and the luxuries of teaching and using tools are not at his doorstep.

And now he sees the value. I was always the repair man.

Strongly disagree.

Maker Spaces are popping up all over the country. The one nearest me has all kinds of metal working equipment, welding facilities, and low cost classes on how to use all of it. Many high schools and colleges have “fab labs” and public libraries have 3D printers available for personal projects as welll.

By The Numbers: The Rise Of The Makerspace | Popular Science

 

[tcreeley]

There is only one place to reliably get tools/hardware in town but they are hard to get to. The local hardware store has some stuff, and the local feedstore some other stuff. I hit Amazon for the hard to find stuff. Tractor supply is a joke unless you want a walk behind snowblower. Lowes and Homedepot are good for wood and the odd item- portable generator. Messicks for NH tractor stuff.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I have a terrific old-fashioned hardware store near me. If they don't have it, they can get it.

And they close their doors promptly at 5 PM M-F, and at NOON on Saturday.

I can rarely shop there, even though I'd like to.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Never heard of a maker space before. Interesting in a off hand way. I do we wish we still had the general hardware stores we used to. I realize not all of them were great. But most of the ones that stayed in business were. I am not a fan of the box chains in any fashion flavor or type. Realize its a scale of economy deal. I am not so sure on the so called price savings provided by the chains when i compare prices to my local mom and pop restaurants or lumber yard or auto parts store. Even some of them are small chains / franchise type of deal. My biggest gripes is the lack of customer service and products lines only having a few of the most often sold items on the shelf. Was talking to a local lumber yard about that issue and was told they sort of figured why should they stock items if the box store did not. People were used to waiting for special orders. To say i do not agree with that business plan is a understatement. Sad to see it happen but not much is going to stop it I suspect.

P.S. for those that are in the construction business its also a bit of frustrating experience to buy products from a store that competes with you. Because now they provide installs for window, carpet, tile, siding, Hvac, etc. etc.
Often i run into customers who comment on their experience with the box store service. It’s amazing how many bad comments i hear and yet they go back for more of the same service. Thank goodness i have been in business for so long. Would be just one more deal as a new business owner to have to compete with a box store.

 

[Wagtail]

Strongly disagree.

Maker Spaces are popping up all over the country. The one nearest me has all kinds of metal working equipment, welding facilities, and low cost classes on how to use all of it. Many high schools and colleges have “fab labs” and public libraries have 3D printers available for personal projects as welll.

By The Numbers: The Rise Of The Makerspace | Popular Science

We've got those all over Tasmania... called a Community "Men's Shed". (Yes, of course women are more than welcome) They're stocked with wood & metal working tools (hand tools, lathes, etc...) plus expert advice from local people/retirees.

 

[N80]

Old thread. I know, I started it. But just need to blow off steam again.

Need to build a simple portico/cover over the back door of my cabin. Basic lumber. A few sheets of metal roofing.

Went to Lowes today. During this virus bit I have not gone out much. Not scared. Just don't feel like being part of the mask circus and virtue signaling/shaming.

Put the mask on. Its about 90 and humid here. No fun. Bad traffic.

Get to Lowes, put metal roofing sheet on cart, get screws. Go to get lumber. No 2x6x8 treated lumber. That can't be right. Ask very nice employee. He looks all around. Yes, we have two. I need 5. The two that are left look beat up and twisted.

He kindly points me to the 2x6x10s. I can do that but there will be more waste. Oh, well. He stands there a minute looking at them. "They're all pretty ugly."

I'm used to digging for decent lumber at the big box stores. These are two shelves up but I can get up there. The rack is close to full. I dig and shift and dig and shift. I only need three. I could not find a single one that had all four corners. Not one. Some had bark on them. And they aren't cheap. And these will be completely visible on the outside of the cabin so I do not want lumber with sliced off edges and divots.

I'm disgusted. Climb down. Leave everything else on the cart and leave the place.

An hour and a half wasted on a Saturday.

Check the local lumber store. Its a ways out of town. Not open on Saturday. Mostly contractors I guess.

I'll check with them sometime next week but they close at 5 every day. Which is about when I get off work.

Just kind of sad and disgusted.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's happening all over. The factories that create pressure treated lumber are not able to stay open because employees keep getting the covid. Even worse is trying to buy an appliance. We ordered a freezer on July 4th with a delivery date of September 28th. Its now been pushed back to November.