TSC Pricing

[johnk]

I have been going to TSC's in my area for the last 8 years and it just seems to me that when they opened more and more stores around the country the prices sure got elevated. I think previously they were Farm and fleets. I know metal has gone up but the price on some of their 3 pt stuff really escalated. Has anyone else noticed this is or is it just me? I still buy my nuts and bolts in bulk there but everything else seems to be getting quite pricey...How bout the log splitters and the mowers? Home Depot and Lowes gives them competition. It used to be a good place to shop for unique farm items {fencing, tractor equipment etc.) but the regular items you can purchase in other box stores seem cheaper than the TSC stores lately. Whats your opinions??

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I just had a TSC open near me, and this is what I've noticed: their website lists a great selection of products, some of them at good prices, some not-so-good. The actual store mostly seems to have the not-so-good priced items. For instance, I've been looking at field fence for my goats. The reasonably priced options are all special-order items, and what they have in stock is only slightly more competitive than my local feed store, which is notoriously expensive. They tell me they will honor the web prices on the special orders, but so far I've been getting the run-around about how to actually go about doing an order.

 

[Kahuna]

I am in south central Illinois and the TSC stores here started out as Tractor Supply Corporation. Farm and Fleet is another franchise and set of stores. TSC's main competition here is Rural King which have stores in IL, IN, KY and I think they just opened one in OH. Rural King has a much larger selection of items from tools, clothes, paints, garden items, automotive, farm, hardware, household, etc. TSC specializes in more farm related items like welders, higher grade tools, work clothes, farm items, etc. It seems the bulk of Rural King items is China imports (with a good deal American as well) where the TSC appears to carry a little better grade of quality with not near as much inventory. I would say Rural King outsells TSC by 15 to 1 because of their selection and everybody wants a cheap price.

Yes, TSC is more expensive but I haven't noticed them raise their prices drastically because around here they have always been higher. Anything with a lot of steel in it had taken drastic price increases in the last two years. Prepared scrap iron is bringing $140 a ton or better.

 

[deereguy]

We shop at TSC regularly (because they are the closest and their hours are better than a mill), mostly for feeds and odds and ends used on the farm and they seem to find ANY reason to inflate prices. I understand they need to make a profit and pay employees, leases, electricty, etc. I enjoy going there in the summer and getting stuff in the AC and I realize I pay for that. Seems like the prices have gone up in feed (again, I get the cost of fuel, corn and, beans have gone up) and shavings (again, I was told it was for a slower building trend), but I can't see them raising THAT much. It really urks us when you go there to get some feed and they are sold out, they say the truck won't be in till Monday and its Friday.

 

[chh]

Here in Oklahoma TSC doesn't come close the competing with the feed stores on feed. On many of the other products they seem to compete very well on many items. Now if they would get a new manager in the Muskogee store so that it would get cleaned up and organized I might start buying more things there again.

 

[RichZ]

Around here, in eastern upstate NY, TSC is the cheapest at what they sell. Their prices have gone up, but it's proportional to the inflation of whatever the item is. For example, I still find them to be the cheapest in fencing supplies, and I buy all of my fencing supplies from TSC. I also buy livestock supplies (other than feed), cleaning chemicals for my milkhouse, some hard ware (especially bulk hardware) and other farm supplies at TSC.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I always thought it was ironic that TSC sold so much King Kutter equipment. My opinions of EACH are very much the same. They're good for a handful of things, but for the most part, I'm not their biggest fan.

OK, No sense getting all wound up about KK since this thread is about TSC.

I live approximately halfway between 2 TSC's that are polar opposites. One is a model of efficiency, well managed, well stocked and always well staffed. The other store should be closed and burned to the ground for the sake of TSC's reputation. It's that bad. There is ONE reason I don't care much for TSC. Apparently no "corporate standards".

Next, PRICES. TSC has a few "bargains". VERY few. They have some cheap junk. Some of that ISN'T PRICED cheap though. TSC does carry a few items of respectable quality. On occasion, they'll even be selling that at a respectable price. Rare though.

And from someone who is old enough to recall the days when TSC was a FARM SUPPLY STORE and NOT a rural lifestyle novelty store like it is today, I'm slowly drifting further and further away from being a customer.

With 3 REALLY NICE well stocked farm equipment dealerships with-in a 30 minute drive, coupled with the availability of anything imaginable via the internet, there's a good chance I might not be buying much at TSC in the coming years.

Your results may vary.

 

[mjarrels]

Pricing here isn't bad... but selection is! Stopped in a few weeks ago for some new longjohns... nothing but XXL and XXXL... sorry guys, don't have a 42" to 52" waist...

mark

 

[Kahuna]

I can't get long johns that big here at the TSC, only small sizes. Send some over to IL.

 

[LBrown59]

They have always been 2 different outfits.
When Farm and Fleet closed up here years ago TSC rented the building F&F was using .
== L B ==

I have been going to TSC's in my area for the last 8 years and it just seems to me that when they opened more and more stores around the country the prices sure got elevated.
I think previously they were Farm and fleet.
I know metal has gone up but the price on some of their 3 pt stuff really escalated. Has anyone else noticed this is or is it just me? I still buy my nuts and bolts in bulk there but everything else seems to be getting quite pricey...How bout the log splitters and the mowers? Home Depot and Lowes gives them competition. It used to be a good place to shop for unique farm items {fencing, tractor equipment etc.) but the regular items you can purchase in other box stores seem cheaper than the TSC stores lately. Whats your opinions??