TSC - Worth it in your area?

[Jagmandave]

I went to the local TSC yesterday to buy a shorter top link, I noticed that even screwed all the way in, my box blade still tilted back. Anyway, the only thing they had was the same 16" that was on my tractor. I also looked for some bolt on or weld on hooks - nothing. This is not the first time I have not been able to find something I consider a very common part at out local TSC. My question, is it just this one? Maybe it's too suburban and doesn't really cater to "rural" trade?

Happy story ending, I went to the Ford tractor dealer a few miles down the road, he had exactly what I needed (a 12" top link) and he was about $3 cheaper too!

What's your experince been with TSC?

(Oh, and I had the same problem as others have noted before, seems the only one working there was the young girl at the cashier's desk - and she knew nothing about nothing!)

 

[rdln]

Yes, TSC has gotten less farm and more suburban, Mostly due to demographics and bean counters.

The town where I grew up should have had a TSC (or QF&F, etc.) since the beginning. Now they are there but also less farms and more smaller estate types. Case in point, You could buy running gear from TSC or Quality ten years ago but not now, the same applies to a larger CUT size tractor tires.

I have not made it a secret here that they have dropped CM chain products in favor of a cheaper chinese Koch brand and that just burns my arss. Before TSC bought QF&F I went to QF&F for every thing except chain products Instead I would go out of my way to TSC.

They have a lot of some things but not a little of everything like a dedicated farm supply store/tractor dealer would. Just like you could find schedule 40 4inch belled end pvc pipe at a plumbing supply house but not at HD or Lowes.

I know they are missing the boat when they dont cater to CUT owners by not carrying short toplinks. They only have long ford 9n type stuff like you found.

I have never had a problem with a lack of people to help there though.

Something else, when I added the rear work light to my tractor I bought it from a County Post (small version of QF&F) It was a Speaker Agribrite brand now all you find is Blazer junk at TSC. A tractor dealer would not be caught dead selling Blazer Brand.

Rant, rant, rant

 

[buckle97]

Dave, I have been to the TSC you are talking about (I grew up in Overland Park) and I know what you mean. I used to go there in high school (late 90's) to look at all the farm stuff because it was my dream to live in the country when I "grew up". I have found that each time I go there as an adult when I am visiting my parents in KS, I am more and more disappointed at the items they stock. Now that I am actually living in the country and need the items they should sell, I have found that they don't have some of the crucial things I am looking for. We don't have any TSC's near where I live now, so I can only speak of the same one you are speaking of.

Lawrence

 

[KennethBrown]

The closest TSC has one or two that dont know whats going on. The rest are good ol boys that work their on the side and can help ya out with just about whatever ya need.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

TSC stores have been around for a looooooooong time. I can't remember when there wasn't one around here. It was in Louisville, near the Bourbon Stock Yards. There were a couple tractor dealers in the same immediate area. (Case when it was just Case, and Massey Ferguson when they were still selling the NEW 100 series tractors.)

This TSC had everything. They even dealt in custom mixed feeds, tobacco seed, even bulk fertilizer. It was a farm supply business.

Several years back that stores owner had to bow to "corperate policy" and (1st) move to a more suburban location, (2nd) start selling what the other stores sold, (and 3rd) start catering more specifically towards the "yuppie market". They did. This store still has some "renegade items" from time to time, but you won't go there to find a shelf full of plow parts, nor filters to fit your tractor, nor even tractor tires. They can order SOME items, but you better know what it is, how much it should cost, and be prepared to wait quite a long time to get your parts.

In so many words, a great business was ruined. They lost most of their old market, yet haven't really mastered the NEW market and what it wants.

No wonder internet sales are doing so well for so many.

Poor service and little inventory. That's the 2 things that stick out in my mind regarding TSC.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Oh guys, please don't depress me. Our little town has just announced that it will be getting a TSC by January of next year. I was so excited because it will give me some place to hide out on a wet afternoon when I'm getting on my wife's nerves. Right now I have a 60 mile round trip in order to preserve the peace. So I don't care how bad they get, I'm going anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[billbill1]

Dave, I believe the TSC in Topeka carries more items than the one in Olathe or Lenexa (out around 120th street) They usually have what I want as long as I don't need help. The workers there just don't know what going on unless you happen to get the manager (and he is in great demand) They cater more to clothing and tools than years ago also seem to be more into lawn care type of equipment than farm equipment.

 

[Birdhunter1]

A town nearby has a TSC and I really don't go there very often. Dog food I buy in bulk by the pallet, tractor parts i go to the tractor dealer 1 mile from the TSC store, other stuff I may go to a Rural King, Orscheln's or Buchheit's. WHY, they have a better selection of stuff I need and havig choices to choose between and the items right there to compare to each other.

 

[KubotaSteve]

We have 4 TSC's within 30 miles of my house and all of them but one seem like a ghost store. They have very little on the shelves and finding someone to help you is like easter egg hunting. We went to get spark plugs for dad's MF-135 and they only had one of the type we needed and priced it for what 3 would cost. The store that is well stocked is better all around but it is the furthest away too.
I went to their website and sent an e-mail because I had sent my wife there to pick up a pair of fencing pliers while I was working on the fence. She called me and said the cashier told her everyone was in a meeting and she didn't know anything about the tools. The district manager got in touch with me as well as the store manager who dropped off a gift certificate at my house.

 

[BB_TX]

Companies as large and successful as TSC do extensive studies to determine what it should stock at any given store. Inventory that doesn't move costs money. They will stock some number of items with low turnover just to keep customers coming back. But there is a limit because it affects their profit margin. Walmart and other large stores are no different. A Walmart in Texas will stock inventory differently than one in the north, east, or west.

 

[EddieWalker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Our little town has just announced that it will be getting a TSC by January of next year. )</font>

Frank,

Where's it gonna be?

The TSC in Tyler usually doesn't have what I'm looking for, or they have half of it. I've talked to the owner about their zirk fittings before, and was told they just ran out. hahahaha I'd been there before looking for metric fittings for my little tractor and they were out then to. Two years later and they are still out. Every time I go there they are out. Either I'm just unlucky, or the owner is feeding me a line. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[Bird]

Frank, I've shopped and bought stuff from at least 5 different TSCs and they run the gamut from very helpful people to folks who know nothing to folks who just don't care. And yep, sometimes they don't have what I'm looking for. This past week they had most of the bolts I wanted but one particular length that I wanted was an empty bin, and they didn't have the Nylock nuts I wanted. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[RichZ]

Happily, we have a few TSC's in our area, and they're all a little different. I buy certain supplies from them every week, such as goat mineral blocks, which I use in large amounts, as I have a goat dairy. They also have the best prices for Red Brand fencing and T-posts, and various injectible livestock medications. They generally have what I need in both livestock supplies and hardware, and in my area, at least, when they stock something, you won't find it cheaper anywhere else. Last year, I bought a generac genrator at TSC and it was over $100 cheaper than the same generator at Home Depot.

TSC could definitely improve, but I'm very happy with it and with it's prices. I wish they carried a larger variety of livestock supplies. In my case, I don't care for their feeds, which are of pretty poor quality, but I buy my feeds in bulk from Cargill, so it's not a big deal to me. Some TSC stores maintain their stock better than others, and some have more knowledgeable staff than others. If you know what you need, you can't go wrong at TSC.

 

[riptides]

Fortunate to have three within 30 minutes of us. One rebuilt my Farmall Cub, the other provided a round pen and farm related things, the last supplies and general shopping. They compete with each other too. The store managers are helpfull at each, and have assisted in finding people to move stuff to our place when needed.

I enjoy going to each as I always walk out with something I need or scope out something I want.

We also have Southern S. nearby and they keep us in the feeds and foods.

Overall, I'd say I am lucky to be in the right place for shopping.

-Mike Z.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I have two TSC stores within 30 minutes of me and they are usually very helpful. They are limited on what they carry, cater to horse owners and some goat supplies. All have a good selection of KK attachments, and fence/gate supplies.

I have learned to call about pricing though. I will be buying about 130 T-post, 8', and two gates and 6-8 rolls of fence this week. There is a Southern States dealer in my town that a farmer started years ago on his farm. He is in a out of the way place and I just forget about him sometime. But I called him on the fencing and stuff. On a 8' T-post he is $.90 cheaper per post, same gates he is $10.00 cheaper, and $3.00 cheaper on the same rolls of Red Brand fence. He will save me around $140.00.

It will be hard for me to forget about him from now on. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Jagmandave]

Appreciate all the replies...
I think that because the store I went to is right in the heart of Suburbia, it affects what they stock, and based on some of the replies it does seem to be if not regional, at least a store to store situation as well.........
The good news is that there are tractor/implement dealers nearby too, so I know the right place to go for hardware. Since I have a "grey market" Yanmar tractor I use the dealers here on TBN for Yanmar specific parts, and have been well satisfied with their help.

I was just curious what other's experience had been..........