Quick Tractor Supply Rant

EddieWalker · Mar 29, 2008

The one here in Tyler is terrible at keeping certain things in stock. Especially grease fittings. I talked to the manager, who told me he was the owner of the store, and he told me that he has a full stock of fittings and is rarely out. That was either a lie or he just doesn't have a clue.

I also asked about some stuff in the catalog and where was it in the store. I was told they don't stock those items, but that I could order them and pay for shipping. With the added price of shipping, they were allot more expensive then Home Depot or Lowes.

I tend to only go there for bolts, or something I'm postive they will have in stock. It seems that for casual shopping, it's not worth the drive to see if it's in stock or not.

As to the discounts, they have been very good at honoring them when I've used them. I also think thet their brand of products is of pretty good quality. I think it's called Master tech or something like that. Anyway, I'll buy their air tools before I buy Campfield House whater it's called from Home Depot or Lowes. Same with their wrenches and sockets. No problems at all with thier tools. Welding rod it good there too.

I'm compareing prices of fencing and both Lowes and Home Depot seem to have better prices. TSC has more options, but for what I'm looking at, TSC is only going to be good for speicalty items like insulators for the electric fence.

Eddie

Farmwithjunk · Mar 29, 2008

Well, you guys who shop at that TSC in Lexington SC, Has that store ever fired a manager because (and I quote the NEW manager) "He was too helpful to customers"?

I rest my case.

Skyco · Mar 29, 2008

Ok..you win! If helpfullness is a problem they'll never get rid of the one here

Eddie mentioned bolts. The one in Aiken SC used to carry bulk metric hardware along with the grade2/5/8 stuff, which I thought was fantastic with all the metric tractors/cars/trucks/motorcycles/atvs etc. Must have been too popular cause they got rid of all the bulk metric...If I'd have known in advance I'd have really stocked up on it.....

PAGUY · Mar 29, 2008

We recently had one open in our area next to a Home Depot and I am impressed with the amount of stuff offered for sale. Things that are found in hardware stores where the prices are usually higher. One thing bugs me though is there lack of Kubota articles. John Deere is representative thru out the store along with Allis-Chambers. My guess is they need more maintenance than Kubota products. LOL.

What they should offer is what Wal-mart offers. Shop on-line at Wal-Mart and either have it shipped to your home and pay shipping or have it shipped to the local store and have on-site pick-up with no shipping charges. An excellent idea in my opinion.

WSJ · Mar 31, 2008

Yep, sort of sets your teeth on edge to see the add and the thinking (or lack of) behind it.

However, I went into the local TSC store today with the self-same add and talked first with the assistant manager who talked with the manager and the upshot was that they agreed (quite willingly, and without any fuss on my part) that it was silly, that they didn't know what the corporate folks were thinking, and that if I made a total purchase of $400 or more, including the 6' KK rake (regular price $429; sale price $399.99), that they'd give me the $50. So I picked up a couple salt blocks and bought it. Can't complain too much - $350's a good price for that rake. -WSJ

csutton · Mar 31, 2008

charlz said:
Does the inventory in some of these stores vary due to their location? The reason I ask is we have a local chain that is like TSC. Every store stocks different items, apparently tuned to the local environment. If you need cultivator parts you have to drive to the one out in a farm town.... the yuppie town one doesn't sell many cultivator parts I guess Some are way more 'garden' or 'horse' than others that are more 'farm' or 'livestock'.

You might have a dizzying array of prices but ALL of them are cheaper that what I would pay out here for the same implement.

Charles

You would think they would, but I spoke with the manager in the Temple, TX store, and he told me that they ship him a snowblower every year. (Temple gets maybe 1/2" of snow every 3-4 years if that). As far as the nuts and bolts, I agree its a good deal to buy by the pound.

SCDolphin · Apr 1, 2008

TSC in Lex SC sux 2. Nobody in there has ever seen real horse crap and could not pee out of a boot if the directions were on the heel!

dixie306 · Apr 2, 2008

Some things are the same all over, the store here doesn't even carry plow bolts, when I ask for them, I got a "HUH" whats that? the KK tiller I bought is listed on line at 1700 here, when I got to the store they're marked 1600, nice surprise but still makes the store look bad. Now that I've kicked them, I'll kiss them, when I had problems with the PTO shaft, the manager went above and beyond to make me happy

RobJ · Apr 2, 2008

SCDolphin said:
and could not pee out of a boot if the directions were on the heel!

I'm not sure I could pee out of a boot either!!

Directions or not. I could pee in a boot!! I have seen horse crap.

Regional pricing is nothing new, all the big chains do it because of shipping, costs to run the store, taxes, personel costs, etc.

I'm not a big fan of their web site either, however the stores do seem to have that stuff you need when all the other tractor places close at noon on Saturday. They stay open until 9pm.

AndyMA · Apr 2, 2008

RobJ said:
Regional pricing is nothing new, all the big chains do it because of shipping, costs to run the store, taxes, personel costs, etc.

The demographics of the buyer is a major factor. Charge those more who they feel can afford it. Just look at major food chains and compare the prices in some markets for stores only a few miles apart. Those in poorer urban areas can be considerably less than the prices in the more affluent suburbs.

Andy

studor · Apr 2, 2008

I go to upstate New York on a fairly regular basis and try to stop in at the Tractor supply stores because they have items on their website that I do not see here very often and they will not ship to Canada. In all cases I have found them to be friendly but incompetent retail staff -- like a lot of places these days! The storekeeping ranges from shoddy to good -- never excellent. Inventory control seems to be a combination of oops (we are out) and FISH (first in still here). Pricing is completely irrational -- some items are priced higher than elsewhere, some are 1/2 the price! Prices on the internet never match the store. -- in the retail business these are all usually signs of new management required but they seem to keep opening new stores! Maybe you do not have to be that good to sell to us simple country folk! Oh well --just another rant from a foreigner

RobJ · Apr 4, 2008

hehe,

Reminds me when I was so poor I didn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of.

rcrcomputing · Apr 7, 2008

studor said:
I go to upstate New York on a fairly regular basis and try to stop in at the Tractor supply stores because they have items on their website that I do not see here very often and they will not ship to Canada. In all cases I have found them to be friendly but incompetent retail staff -- like a lot of places these days! The storekeeping ranges from shoddy to good -- never excellent. Inventory control seems to be a combination of oops (we are out) and FISH (first in still here). Pricing is completely irrational -- some items are priced higher than elsewhere, some are 1/2 the price! Prices on the internet never match the store. -- in the retail business these are all usually signs of new management required but they seem to keep opening new stores! Maybe you do not have to be that good to sell to us simple country folk! Oh well --just another rant from a foreigner

I shop at a place called Atwoods. The stores are bigger than the TSC stores I've seen around here. Other than that, most of what you say is true for them as well. Though I do like them MUCH better. The carry much more stock. They have no online store. But do list the specials on the web site. They only have 30 stores.
As for the employees, uhhhmmm, you get what you pay for... And since we all want cheap, I'd assume they don't pay their help much.

JRF · Apr 11, 2008

I visited the Lexington S.C. store a few months after it came to the area.
I am about 30 miles from a very good Agri-Supply store and do my shopping there. Business carried me to Columbia for a day and decided to ride over to Lexington and check out this great new store everyone was talking about.
I was very disappointed. It was such a small little store with not much inventory. It would take 5 of those stores to fit into the Agri-Supply I shop at. About a year ago, a TSC opened in the same town as the Agri-Supply, so I decided to shop in and check it out. Same old story. Haven't been in one since. If anybody has an Agri-Supply close by, check them out.
JRF

Rara Avis · Apr 11, 2008

JRF said:
I visited the Lexington S.C. store a few months after it came to the area.
I am about 30 miles from a very good Agri-Supply store and do my shopping there. Business carried me to Columbia for a day and decided to ride over to Lexington and check out this great new store everyone was talking about.
I was very disappointed. It was such a small little store with not much inventory. It would take 5 of those stores to fit into the Agri-Supply I shop at. About a year ago, a TSC opened in the same town as the Agri-Supply, so I decided to shop in and check it out. Same old story. Haven't been in one since. If anybody has an Agri-Supply close by, check them out.
JRF

We who are out of the mid-Atlantic area have to settle for the website...
Agri Supply - Where we have Something for Everyone for your Farm Shop & Home

Skyco · Apr 12, 2008

Well the Lexington TSC Outhouse got me again...inspecting one of my trailers this morning I saw all 4 of the valve stems were shot and about to break-off. So off to TSC to get some. Yep- needed 4 and they had 2

on the plus side the 2 they had were half the price of Autozone for the exact same item/brand.

asylum575 · Apr 17, 2008

Where do you guys get these coupons from? I signed up for the email specials and get the 15% Online only sale. I'm looking for a 5 ft rake and 4 ft box blade and you can't buy it online. Both are $399.99 and haven't been on sale. I just can't pay full price. It's an illness, probably hereditary, I got it from my father.