When You Buy Can Make A Difference

Poppa · Jun 2, 2004

( I'm sure you have 84 Lumber or Carter Lumber near you somewhere. I've found prices for some things are actually LOWER than Home Depot or Lowe's. Most people (including myself) figure the price will be lower at the big box store, but that's not always true.
)

I actually found the same thing a couple years ago when I was installing a deck. Needed a couple boxes of lag bolts. HD didn't have enough of the right size so I decided to go to ACE. Figured I would get ripped off from the little store. Price turned out to be half what HD was charging. I was so amazed I actually asked the manager if the price was right and then told him why after he confirmed it. He smiled. After that I started checking since they are right across the street from each other. Power tools were the only thing HD was cheaper on on a regular basis and not very much. Also, a drill might be a couple bucks cheaper but the darn bits were more expensive and often ate up the price difference.

Mike

MikePA · Jun 3, 2004

Yep, we have both 84 Lumber and Carters in the area. Never tried Carters, but 84 Lumber prices were usually higher than the box stores. I'll have to compare.

 if you look at the fact that you're not pushing a heavy cart full of lumber through a crowded box store! 
The nice thing about the Lowe's is that the stack of 4" x 4" x 8' PTs is outside on the front sidewalk (under roof), at the end of the store. So, it's easy for me to back my truck up and load 'em myself. Also lets me pick the straight ones, although, I've bought almost 100 so far and have only found 1 or 2 that were so crooked I left them in the stack.

AndyM · Jun 3, 2004

Yep, we have both 84 Lumber and Carters in the area. Never tried Carters, but 84 Lumber prices were usually higher than the box stores. I'll have to compare. 

I've been buying lots of 4 inch PVC drain pipe, and the price at Carter Lumber is almost $2.00 less than the box stores! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif ($3.69 versus $5 something). I shop on price first, but if there's only a few cents difference, I give my business to Carter Lumber (two locations, six miles in each direction) first, before driving to the box stores (20 miles away, 40 mile round trip). Any savings I would have gotten from the box stores would have been eaten up in gasoline anyway, and I can get back to work on my project faster if I'm in the middle of something and I have to stop to buy something! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif The ACE Hardware store six miles away gets a lot of business from me also when I need something in a hurry!

I've learned a lot of which types of items are cheaper at Lowe's and Home Depot and what's cheaper at Carter Lumber or 84 Lumber.

It pays to compare first! Just because it comes from a big box doesn't mean it's always cheaper! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Junkman · Jun 3, 2004

My local lumber yard is cheaper than all the box stores, delivers for free, always picks good lumber, and takes back any excess or if a bad piece gets into the mix. 30 day billing with a 2% discount if you pay the statement in 10 days. Couldn't ask for more or a better place to do business with. Second generation family owned operation. Just delivered 3 Andersen window replacement sash for defective ones that I purchased almost 20 years ago. Andersen replaced under warranty and they delivered them for no charge.

slowrev · Jun 3, 2004

Mike,
I just drove about 100 4-5 inch round PT posts last week @ 4.65 each. Bought from a local wood treating company. Lowes was too high. Driving those suckers is the only way to go /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MikePA · Jun 3, 2004

Driving those suckers is the only way to go 
Amen! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2004

Junkman,

I'm as green as my tractor with envy over a place like that. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sounds like you've got it made. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I have a Lowe's and HD literally next door to one another here and tend to prefer the Lowe's (for no real reason, I guess). Sure wish I had an outfit like you do, though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Jun 3, 2004

( I have a Lowe's and HD literally next door to one another )

And we have them right across the street from each other (I don't know which one was there first). /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

JDgreen227 · Jun 4, 2004

Junkman,

Don't rub it in, I would LOVE to have a lumber supplier like you describe. The one I mentioned caters mostly to the professional building trade and not the homeowner so I'm sure the majority of their customers are not concerned about the appearance and/or quality of the materials they sell.

Junkman · Jun 4, 2004

They still have one bad quality about them. They insist on getting paid !!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif