Better than Home Depot!

Yalerider · Oct 11, 2005

Alright, whats with you guys trashing my favorite store(next to Wilco that is). I usually know what I want anyway so don't use the shelf stockers.

FL_Cracker · Oct 11, 2005

We did it to ourselves. We want lower prices, and we push until the stores remove all the service and personal that we like. All because we run to the next lower price.

Today loyalty is "The Lack of a Better Opportunity"

Cheap, Cheap, Cheap ~~~ Stinks, Stinks, Stinks

Now we must live with the monster we created.... If you don't like HD the go back to the local hardware store that we dropped like a hot potato for a little better price. Oh yea, their gone....

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

meledward23 · Oct 12, 2005

( Alcohol Tobacco Firearms, should be a convienence store instead of a government agency........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Second That!

meledward23 · Oct 12, 2005

( We did it to ourselves. We want lower prices, and we push until the stores remove all the service and personal that we like. All because we run to the next lower price.

Absolutely, and you will notice only about half of those that complain about Big Box Stores actually dont use them. The other half still use them. And since the portion of the population that complains about them is below 30%(guessing) then that isnt much of a market anyhow.

I am amazed when I am in the company of my friends friends (I only have two friends) so it is usually all their buds I hob nob with on rare occasions. Oh yeah I am usually suprised at the number of them that are Wall, Lowes, Home Loyal. They wouldnt think of shopping anywhere else......

Hmmm..... Have to say, I dont get it.... For me, it is TSC, some off the wall general hardware store (locally owned has every bolt, nut, and screw ever invented (three times as many as a Home Depot)).

Oh well..... One days soon Kroger and Home Depot will Merge, then Lowes and Walmart will Merge, then finally those two conglomerations will merge and you can shop in one 30 acre enclosed roof and get your hardware, apple, whisky, rifle, T-shirt, underpants, and Toilet Paper....

hobbyfarm · Oct 12, 2005

( I am really tired of everything being made so cheap, and breaking. When will we realize as a nation that if we keep losing our American job to china then we will have no quality items left...let alone any jobs left.....)

Have you ever shopped for a drill press?
As far as I've been able to find the only one NOT made overseas is the General made in Canada.
Most everything else is Taiwan (china light /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). And, of course, the Generals are expensive.

hobbyfarm · Oct 12, 2005

( One days soon Kroger and Home Depot will Merge, then Lowes and Walmart will Merge, then finally those two conglomerations will merge and you can shop in one 30 acre enclosed roof and get your hardware, apple, whisky, rifle, T-shirt, underpants, and Toilet Paper.... )

Ooops,
You forgot Kmart & Sears... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

erich · Oct 12, 2005

(you can shop in one 30 acre enclosed roof and get your hardware, apple, whisky, rifle, T-shirt, underpants, and Toilet Paper....)

My dad always said if Blain's Farm & Fleet ( it's a Mid west store) sold groceries he would never have to shop anywhere else! They had hardware, apple, whisky, rifle, T-shirt, underpants, and Toilet Paper not to mention tires, auto parts, Bib overalls, Cowboy boots, electronics and more stuff than I can list. He bought my first socket set there thirty five years ago so I would stay out of his tools. I still have it today.

When my son (the First Lt. Air Force Navigator) was five, he was all excited when we moved to Chanute AFB because down the road a bit there was a "Farm and Fleas!" just like at Granpa's.

Eric

jgh · Oct 13, 2005

20051013

(This is a rich thread, thanks to all for the entertainment!)

Couple (that's a Mark Chalkley "couple") of comments:
1- In NC (and elsewhere?), Lowe's name is on some grocery stores.
2- In Winston-Salem, NC, Leinbach's is the farm/tractor supply place to go, much like Pleasant's Hdw in Richmond is for general hardware.
3- Don't get me started on my "experience" with the newly combined Sears/KMart and their "new attitude" about the Craftsman warranty.
4- I have to say again that my experiences with several local Home Depots is actually fairly positive (we have a bunch here). Maybe I am just lucky and it helps to have fed people in my restaurant.
I had a major negative Lowe's experience about 6 years ago, but will say they jumped on fixing things after my complaint to North Wilkesboro HQ. And experiences since then have been better.
In short it never hurts to know names and personalities for the stores you deal with. They get the same treatment when they buy from me.

Just my 2¢ worth. This list is a great place! But it makes me stay up too late /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif!

And I'm getting more like Chalkley, every day (Wordy, that is!).

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Jim

Tim_in_IA · Oct 13, 2005

Blain's is my favorite store. You can get your Levi's lynch pins, hunting equipment, tools, and even toys for your kids during the christmas season. There is one near my wife's hometown, and everytime we visit the in-laws they know I'm going to be gone to Blain's for a while.....

Blain's Website

PILOON · Oct 13, 2005

Have you ever shopped for a drill press?
As far as I've been able to find the only one NOT made overseas is the General made in Canada.
Most everything else is Taiwan (china light /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). And, of course, the Generals are expensive. )

Even general has 2 qualities. True, their good ole GENERAL line is made in Canada, but I have it from reliable sources that the 'General International ' line is import (presumably Chinese) or again from the same factories as all the rest of the imports.

I noticed a lot of casting similarities as the run od the mill imports.
Being in Canada and near a major tool distributor that carries virtually all brands and every model makes it easy for me to compare.
Price tags will also tip you off.
One does not need to be a rocketr scientist to determine that the unit priced 50% lower than a similar speced unit is an import.

In my estimation many import castings coupled with a US made motor makes for a good tool. Just add a bit of 'fine tuneing' and you generally have a decent machine.

 Funny, we knock imports, but if an actual survey were made I'm sure that less than 10% of you (us) own a true MADE IN USA TRACTOR. (Kubota, Honda, Mitsubishi,Kioti etc) 

Face it, some import products are really good.