What Insane/Crazy Price did You Pay Today?

[NoTrespassing]

Raw aluminum is double from 2021, almost triple from 2019.

 

[WVH1977]

I cannot agree more. In fact, IMHO, many hardware and auto supply chains today are only geared to/focused on the wealthy.

Two cases in point.

One: In our 'capital' city, there were two hardware stores, literally side by side on a main street. I used to sit on a bench across the road, eating my lunch, and watched people walking in and out of both stores. Most often, people walked into the smaller family owned business and walked out carrying something. Many people walked into the 'local chain' and sometimes came out with something, or if empty handed, they turned right and walked into the smaller store and came out with something. I was looking for a hard to find 'temp controller' for an older electric skillet. The chain store did not have it. When I walked into the smaller store, I described to the owner's son just what I was looking for. He said, "Dad, where are skillet controls?" and his dad pointed, the son climbed a ladder, and I walked out with my needed item. After that, when I was in the area, I went to the smaller store first. Unfortunately, when the owner, retired, could not find a local buyer, and ended up selling out to the chain next door. They cut a hole in the wall and absorbed the former hardware store's space. (Black painted storefront sign)

Two: Down near where my cousin lives, there was another long time local family owned hardware store. Just recently my cousin told me that it had sold out to a chain. Last week he called me and was really disappointed. He said that he had run into a long time employee of the store, who had recently been let go. That person reported that the new chain owner had contracted with some firm to come in and 'clear all current inventory' and erect/set up shelving and displays for the 'chain store inventory'. They reported that all former inventory was sold to some conglomerate that dispenses with old/odd inventory. The old hardware store was another local treasure trove where you could go and buy anything and everything. My cousin never left the store without what he was looking for, and often times, he came out with other items as well. The new 'local chain' has a similar store near me. I have gone there only a few times and more often than not they either did not have the item that I was looking for, or if they did, they had only 1-2-3 of the items I needed, but said, "We can order more of that and have it here by xxxday!" I would always reply, "I can go to AMAZON and do the same thing for less money and walked out. It turns out, the hardware chain policy is to "stock 2 or 4 of an item" and when the qty on hand drops below a certain number, reorder. So, if you have one of an item and you need one or more to finish a job, probably you will end up either waiting, visiting multiple stores, or ordering from AMAZON.

Do not get me going on product packaging.

I hear ya. The ACE I used was a small hardware store like 6 months ago. They finally decided to retire. Ace came right in and revamped the whole place, including parking lot. The good news is when the other owner closed up they had a sale where everything was like 90% off. I got a couple buckets worth of metal hooks, shelving, nails, screws, etc.

I think the days of small local owned hardware stores is soon to be a thing of the past.

 

[WVH1977]

I hope hooligans don't steal your swings and chains(or ropes). That is not the most secure type of swing hardware.

I am in the middle of nowhere on a dead-end drive. One more neighbor next to me and then big swamp. I am hoping I will be ok. But you never know this day and time. I got a few security measures in place.

 

[lman]

We can all thank the people like the one who deleted my post for the inflation we are experiencing. We are limited to complaining and not exposing the reasoning behind it. I cant leave the house without it costing me a min $50 and Im sure most are in the same boat. A slice of bread is $100 in Lebanon. Thats what we are looking at in this country. Shout out to the moderators for their great work on censorship.

Get used to it. Elon Musk doesn't hang around here.

 

[ultrarunner]

All my go to hardwares have closed… all around since 39’s and 40’s with some a full city block..

I miss one stop and getting what I need… plus my truck never broke in unlike Hone Depot… the times are a changing.

Friday I ordered medical filter $546

Today I went to track and price up 50%… $950!

 

[2manyrocks]

Got to suspect it's some algorithm that figures demand, how many are in inventory and then adjusts the price.

This didn't happen so much when it was physical inventory in a store that was tagged by a clerk and nobody wanted to spend the time to change all the price labels. Plus face to face customers were more likely to complain to the owner who they probably knew personally back in the day.

 

[fishman]

My son has worked at the local Ace Hardware since he could drive, part time during school and full-time most summers, four years as I recall. The pay isn't great, certainly compared to the stuff in the city, but he is learning important life skills about helping people in our small community and also what everything in a hardware store is for. I for one am grateful there is that opportunity for him and other high school kids. I am also grateful that I can actually get hardware items right when I need it because sometimes you don't have two days and sometimes you really don't want to drive to the big box store which is a 50 minute round trip.

The local Ace also supports the community in many ways, including allowing local non-profits to set up in the parking lot and do bake sales, sell raffle tickets, whatever. They also let food trucks sell out of the parking lot which is a big help in an area with few other options. The Ace is a community hub here, and it is a blessing no other word for it.

The reason they are able to make a go of it in small communities is that the franchise owner has several established stores that carry the new stores until they support themselves. The owners are a good family and the patriarch unfortunately died from cancer at a much to young age. Last week while my wife and I were at the new cancer building at the hospital, I noticed a plaque commemorating that the large plush waiting room was compliments of that family, including the son who is my son's manager.

So while it is fashionable on this great site to wax nostalgic about the good old days and poo poo what is currently available, I promise you that my son is experiencing his own "good old days" right now. He absolutely loves his job and the people he works with, especially his boss. It keeps him sane while he attends college.

Sorry, this post got way too long.

 

[ultrarunner]

The local hardware stores actively supported the community and offered many a first job.

I liked the old ones because they had things a Home Depot did not have

 

[grsthegreat]

View attachment 744344

April 11, 2020

Is that per liter

 

[IndyJay]

Is that per liter

I think that is US Gallon but I'm trying to think of what may have happened since then that could have caused prices to escalate so rapidly. Maybe I'll go sit on the front porch and see if any of my neighbors have some ideas on what happened and how we might fix it.