What was TSC thinking

[prof fate]

TSC opened here about 2 or 3 years ago. Nice store. Typical of 'chinese big box' store IMO.
RK opened here this past april - second largest store in their chain. FULL store, great prices...not so full now, prices still good.

I bought an auger at TSC- no issues. Local store didn't have it so had to drive 40 miles to the one that did.

I find service easier to find/better at TSC, but not as good as it could be. RK is not as good, but it is slipping.

When I opened stores you'd stock em to the gills and over hire - you'd be busy as all get out and this was a 'first impression' sorta thing, plus you knew not all your employees would stay (or you'd want them all to stay.). So this is expected..a bit dissapointing.

Local TSC isn't stocked well on pins at the moment...If it continues i'll write to the company and see what happens! RK has less 'tractor' stuff, nothing much for gardening. Our local agway isn't hurting all that much (higher prices but much better service - no loading of your own car, they'll do it. )

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Our local TSC seems to sell a lot of stuff for horses; I see customers carrying out a lot of bags of pellets, etc. I go there to buy sunflower seed for the birds, and to peruse the bargain table where I occasionally pick up something exciting, like a Chinese made folding knife, or an "indestructible" doggie toy. They do have such things as implement tires; and having purchased one for my mower, I now know it's easier and cheaper to buy them at the implement dealer, where they will mount them for you.

 

[kc5dlo]

I still shop at TSC and had good customer service when the manufacturer quit on me a couple of years ago on a pellet stove. 2 of the 3 stores I shop at have been open over a decade and the 3rd has been here about 2 years. none of the stores are staffed like the first 2 when they came to town. Used to be they seemed to almost always have 2 checkers at the registers. Now it is always just one checker and it can take quite a while to get out of the store sometimes. I think it the same at most stores like Walmart and grocery stores now as well.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I still shop at TSC and had good customer service when the manufacturer quit on me a couple of years ago on a pellet stove. 2 of the 3 stores I shop at have been open over a decade and the 3rd has been here about 2 years. none of the stores are staffed like the first 2 when they came to town. Used to be they seemed to almost always have 2 checkers at the registers. Now it is always just one checker and it can take quite a while to get out of the store sometimes. I think it the same at most stores like Walmart and grocery stores now as well.

Yeah, I noticed that too. Seems Walmart and Homeland are letting their customers languish in line, until they go to the self service registers. I hate those things, and twice have left them with incomplete transactions...I also noticed last time at Walmart, they had three "associates" standing around to help the self service customers, while the lines stretched out into the aisles. They were too busy playing grabass to help any one any way.

 

[majorwager]

I shop at my local TSC regularly, primarily purchasing livestock feed. The store is always well stocked and staffed, received timely assistance when sought.

Further appreciate the ample selection of speciality hardware and fastener items including pins and implement parts. Many members of our farming community can be counted as their customers.


I find their prices competitive and reasonable. Noticed many of the negative comments seem to originate w/ Texas members? Regional operating procedures might differ w/in the Company.?

EDIT:
2 lane, Can you sight just one specific example, you personally witnessed, that represents the last line of your post above? I'd have quoted it but that "stuff" isn't worth repeating.

 

[Argonne]

Yes, I知 of the opinion TSC is loosing it. Case in point, I needed four new clearance lights for my dump trailer.
B. John

I had EXACTLY the same experience. Needed 4 clearance lights, and only two in stock. I went to the manager, who is a great guy, and he said that corporate turns a deaf ear to store managers' requests for stocking changes. His mantra to corporate is "If I don't have it, I can't sell it", but they never, ever, listen.

He told me that if I would complain to corporate on the subject, I might get some action, and he encouraged me to do so. I wrote corporate a long email using the particular clearance lights as an example of a) Something that almost never gets purchased one-at-a-time, and b) Something that has plenty of room in the bin or on the pegboard hook to stock a usable number.

Corporate never answered me, but they did forward my e-mail to him along with a notification that they were doubling his stocking level of that particular model of clearance light in his store...one SKU down, five thousand to go.

Another time I stopped there to pick up a few pipe fittings. I needed 3ea 3/4" close nipples for my project. They had one in stock, and their stocking level is two despite a big empty bin that would fit 25. Wrote another e-mail trying to get the concept of stocking enough of something to be useful to even a single customer through to them. Mentioned that when customers are disappointed a few times by this stocking level idiocy, they won't return, ever. Result? His stock level of 3/4 inch close nipples is now 4.

I love TSC, but there are things I don't even try to buy there. They have a really serious problem with their inventory control department that could be solved by one person with a functioning brain that has actually been out of his cubicle a few times, and he could bring their entire chain inventory up to speed in a couple of months...no college degree needed.

 

[Argonne]

Just remembered another good reason to go to TSC. They have the VERY BEST rubber boots that I've ever tried. I can wear them all day long and not be in pain. This has never happened before!!!!

You got that right. I went with my wife to buy some muck boots, dreading the $100+ bill. While she was trying some on, I ran across some Servus (Honeywell) ones they had. I pleaded with her to try them on, and she loved them. Fifteen bucks! Yas!!

 

[goeduck]

You got that right. I went with my wife to buy some muck boots, dreading the $100+ bill. While she was trying some on, I ran across some Servus (Honeywell) ones they had. I pleaded with her to try them on, and she loved them. Fifteen bucks! Yas!!

When did Honeywell buy into the boot business? I have some of their stock, but good grief lets focus on the core business. Is there profit in cheap boots?

 

[Argonne]

When did Honeywell buy into the boot business? I have some of their stock, but good grief lets focus on the core business. Is there profit in cheap boots?

I don't know the back story, but Honeywell owns Servus who is a major and well respected firefighter turnout gear manufacturer. I was shocked to find Servus anything at TSC, and double shocked that it was so cheap to purchase.

 

[goeduck]

I don't know the back story, but Honeywell owns Servus who is a major and well respected firefighter turnout gear manufacturer. I was shocked to find Servus anything at TSC, and double shocked that it was so cheap to purchase.

Well muck boots are ridiculously expensive for what you get. I have a pair that I like if I am going to be in them all day but probably should look at Servus next time I am in TSC or Wilco if they are decent quality and that cheap.