Quick Tractor Supply Rant

[Bird]

I don't question your on-site experience Bird. But the OP gripe was about differences between store and online pricing. I bet Corsicana and Hillsboro don't have the same ZIP code though. At least that's the theory behind website ZIP-based pricing.

//greg//

Well, you're right, Greg, but I don't guess I understand your point. I wasn't responding to the OP gripe, but to your post about price differences between Texas and NH, and I don't have to bet; I know Texas and NH don't have the same ZIP code.

 

[greg_g]

Well, you're right, Greg, but I don't guess I understand your point. I wasn't responding to the OP gripe, but to your post about price differences between Texas and NH, and I don't have to bet; I know Texas and NH don't have the same ZIP code.

We obviously both missed the other's point. I did some work for Central Tractor, a one-time competing farm store chain. Regional pricing was corporate policy. The buyers at the Iowa headquarters paid the one wholesale price for that roll of fencing. But the marketing people then set different retail prices for the same roll in different parts of the country. The areas that had higher wages and/or more disposible income were charged more for the merchandise. Hence my NH and TX examples.

//greg//

 

[sixdogs]

I saw a Fimco 15 gal sprayer on-line at TSC for $79 at a particular store. I went in to that store and the guy hymms and hawws about he's not sure if he can order that price or not. I told him I saw it on-line and it was no big deal since I could order it mail order from somewhere else for the same dollars. They are $79 everywhere this time of the year I said but I wouldn't want him to violate what he believes in.
Wow, talk about a reversal of attitude. I paid $79 and got a "thank you" from the guy.
Golly I hate that place.

 

[Runner]

Reporting Back:

Well, I was somewhat surprised. First, the closest TS actually had both items in stock. They did pretty good on the pricing. They did allow the $50 off coupon for the KK rake.

They also had the 15 gal trailer sprayer in stock. However, their store price was $249 as opposed to the $219 on the web site. I wanted/needed it, and they sold it for the $239 listed in the flyer.

So, I guess I saved about $30 overall.

Anyway, the rake will be used for my gravel drive renovation which will be the subject of a thread over in "projects" and the sprayer will be to keep the dandelions under control.

Paintjob on the rake was kind of on the low end, even for KK stuff, looked like someone had been beating on it with a chain. I'm not too worried about that, as it may get painted green in the future.

 

[CDsdad]

I've only been in one TSC, and have seen their online site. Seemed to me it was a cross between a cheap K-Mart and a discount salvage store that had just got in a bunch of smoke damaged tractor stuff and some Carhartt clothes. I was unimpressed to say the least.

 

[charlz]

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

 

[Bird]

I've only been in one TSC, and have seen their online site. Seemed to me it was a cross between a cheap K-Mart and a discount salvage store that had just got in a bunch of smoke damaged tractor stuff and some Carhartt clothes. I was unimpressed to say the least.

I don't own any TSC stock or have any financial interest in the company, but I have shopped and bought a few things in 4 of their stores in Texas and one in Oklahoma. And as with many places, some stores are better than others, some of their products I'd consider a bargain, and some I wouldn't buy. Nothing new there. I once bought a 5' box blade from them, and welds broke in less than an hour. They replaced it with another new one and welds broke on that one in less than 2 hours. They obviously got a shipment with defective welds and I wasn't real happy about it because each time it was a 50 mile trip one way. However, they gave me the option of taking it to a welder, bring them the receipt and they'd pay for it, weld it myself and they'd pay a reasonable amount, take yet another new one, or get a full refund of my money (I took the refund). You know you just can't ask for anything more than that. I also liked buying nuts, bolts, screws, etc. by weight instead of counting each individual item.

I bought my rabbit cages, water and feed dispensers, rubber boots, gas cans, a pneumatic grease gun, a drill press, clips and pins for the 3-point, rubber mats, oil & grease, a farm jack, and no telling how much other stuff and haven't been dissatisfied with anything except those box blades, or thought that I could have gotten a better deal elsewhere.

But I won't hesitate to go elsewhere anytime I think I can get a better deal elsewhere.

 

[CDsdad]

.....And as with many places, some stores are better than others,....

I wasn't trying to imply the whole outfit sucked. Just the one I went in. I don't like their website either.

I'm sure they have some good stores. There are no TSC stores at all near me. The one I went in was in TX. I was working down there and was really just curious to see what they had.

 

[Bird]

I don't like their website either

Yep, they used to have a good website (I thought) but they "upgraded?" it. I sent them a message that I thought it was a good one until they ruined it.

 

[mjarrels]

Local TS here always seems to be doing a "seasonal change over" and always has this big open space available that is never filled for some reason?

mark