You never know....

[JoeinTX]

This may be the wrong forum for this, but it has to do with implements, so.
I posted on here a month ago regarding the positives/negatives of the Howse and KingKutter shredders. I got a good response from everyone (thank you), and decided the KK was my best bet in what was until that time a toss-up for my situation.
Well, being in no big hurry, I'm not burning a path down to the local TSC that is until last week when I needed few odds and ends and I decided while I was there I'd just go ahead and buy the rig. I looked it over, went in to get my other things and when I checked out I asked the sales girl (20 yo ???) if I could pay for it and pick it up later. I described what I wanted, asked if I could buy now and pick up later, two calls to the manager, and....she didn't even ring it up on my bill. Hmmm... I was serious, but there were folks behind me in line, it was getting on towards their closing time, and I just made the momentary decision to come back another day and pick it up. No big deal.
Then I'm sitting here this week and I run across an ad for a brand new Howse 5' from a private seller who bought but never even assembled it or used it for that matter. He's asking $500.
I can buy the ready made chain guard for it with the money I saved and the KK doesn't even offer or equip their unit for this. So, I buy the Howse and order a chain kit from Northern Tool.

This isn't a criticism of TSC, no, just an observation and I'll continue to visit them in the future. But, I wonder how often this kind of business is lost by momentary lapses in sales and service..? I'll still visit the local store for things, but now Northern Tool is my supplier.
Probably too long winded, but I'm just curious....

 

[KennyV]

From the sound of this I would guess the sales person is not working on commission at TSC.
Also sounds like you did OK /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif… KennyV.

 

[Pooh_Bear]

No way would I feel bad about that deal.
I couldn't count the number of times I bought something and found it afterwards somewhere cheaper.

Some days you're the windshield and some days you're the bug.
Sounds like this time you was the windshield.

Pooh Bear

 

[jinman]

Joe, I don't know what it is about TSC, but they generally have two or three people in a store who know the business and are good at their jobs, and all the others just seem to be "on the clock." I think TSC loses a lot of business because they just don't have great people working for them.

Last year I was at my local TSC and ordered some feed. The clerk told me I could back up to the warehouse and they would load it for me. After check-out, I drove to the warehouse entrance and backed up toward the door when an employee came running out waving his arms and saying I could not park there. I rolled down my window and he said I'd have to move and park somewhere else, he was abasive and irritated. I drove away and got out and went back where he was standing and just asked when I could park there to get my feed. He told me I would have to go into the store and pay for it first. Well. . . I was a little abrasive and irritated when I asked him what he thought the receipt I had been waving at him was for? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif His response was that people always try to park in front of the door before going inside and that's what he had thought I was doing. I explained that he should ask before barking orders at someone, and could I now please get my feed?

I was tempted to go back into the store and have a talk with the manager, but I decided I wouldn't bother. If I made the guy angry, he would probably just take it out on someone else. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[2nstonge]

I've mentioned my dismay about TSC in a few other posts...not bashing them for just the sake of bashing them but more of "how can a company run a retail operation like this?"

I was attachment shopping; tiller, rake, box blade...probably $3k at the end of the day. All of this stuff is locked behind a chain link enclosure, only the store manager had the key. On 3 different visits the manager was unavailable. The only 'help' from the staff was to tell me to come back when the manager was there, "when will that be?", "I don't know." was the reply. So, on the 3rd visit that week I go to the service desk & ask the clerk for pricing info, she pulls out a catalog but didn't know what a tiller was, or a box blade, (she figured out the rake). They were friendly and nice, just unable to provide any real assistance. Needless to say, I bought everything thru other suppliers & go to TSC just for my nickel & dime purchases.

My local TSC just opened a couple of months ago so I chaulked up some of it to them 'getting the kinks out', but on a recent visit this past week nothing seems to have changed.

-Norm

 

[KiotiJohn]

I was going to possibly buy a tiller from TSC. I had seen the KKs 60" and 72" there. I called to find out if they had other sizes. At first the young man said they don't carry that size, but then I told him they do as I had seen them on the internet. Then he told me they have to order them. Okay, I said, I'd like a 48" tiller, how long will it take to get it? He answered, "Well they only drop off once a month, and they were just here earlier in the week."
I just had to tell him to forget it, that I would buy the Woods tiller I'd been checking out."
I have yet to be able to get what I've gone for when shopping in the store. It's a great idea for a store, but I doubt they'll see much of me there, esp. since it's almost 30 miles from home.
John

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> ...they generally have two or three people in a store who know the business and are good at their jobs, and all the others just seem to be "on the clock." </font>

Wow, you don't know how lucky you are! There are 2 TSC's within 40 miles of me, one in Fort Pierce about 7 miles from where I live now, and one in Okeechobee about 6 miles from my property. It doesn't matter which one I go to, or when I go, they never have more than 3 people in the store period! And, generally, the range of those who know their business is 0 to 1. If you don't know what you want before you go to TSC, forget about it.

The concept behind the stores is so good, with them often being the single source of supply for some items (at least in my area), that they have been able to grow DESPITE really crummy training and service.

 

[EddieWalker]

I use TSC to start my comparison pricing. I get the blue book, (catalog) every year and look on their website. They are usually fairly good, but I always find a better price some place else. The cutter is a good example. I priced theres and found a better deal with my tractor dealer. Same with fencing, McCoys was much lower on t-posts and goucho barb wire.

They do send me discounts every now and then, and that will put there prices below Northern Tool and most of the other stores. I bought my fuel pump for my diesel trailer with a 15% discount.

I ran into the owner of the store one time and asked why they were always out of grease fittings. He told me they were in stock and I needed to ask for assitance if I couldn't find an item. Not a very friendly response, nor an accurate one.

My guess is he doesn't know what's going on in his store or I'm just to dumb to find metric zirk fittings when there are standard ones next to the empty hooks on the wall.

Either way, I bought them elswhare.

 

[Dachshund]

I guess Ill be the lone wolf on this one! Just opened a new TSC about 40 miles away from me. We stopped in 1 hour after they opened up (thier first day). Things were jumbled around, and they didn't quite have all the bugs worked out yet. There were three women, and 2 18-19 year old boys working. Figured I was doomed. Found out they all had been trained well - they found what I needed (even though things weren't in the right places yet), and answered all questions. Got up to check out and the register/credit card/check machine wouldn't work. The manager comes by, straightened things out and gives us a 10% discount for time wasted. Got a free hat, too!. Been there several times since and phoned them a few times - get my answers or parts real quick. Been treated real nice every time, except the one time I got there 10 minutes after closing time /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Couldn't get in! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[JoeinTX]

Well, this wasn't really a hatchet-piece on TSC. I've used them before and I'll use them again. I've heard of many good experiences, like yours, and they seem to keep throwing up new stores all over the place so I guess they're business is going great.

I didn't think I got "bad" service, it was more unconcerned service than anything else. How many times does an individual with a buying decision made and money in hand happily go into a place after a (fairly) big ticket item and the seller finds a way botch the whole deal when all they had to do was take the money???
I had just never had this particular kind of thing happen to me on something like this and I was just a little surprised.

 

[creeper]

I tried to by some electric fencing at TSC yesterday and they got another strike. They only stock as many rolls as 1 cust buys, so if nobody buys more than 2 rolls you will never find more than 2 rolls in the store, I dont understand it,seems like a strange stocking policy. A couple of good guys if you can catch em there, but always 1 register open and empty spots on the shelves. Its a shame because they have potential to be a good supplier. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[have_blue]

You would be surprised at how low the wages are at such retail stores. Most have poor or no benefits either. That makes the turnover rate pretty high, and experience and competency very low. When I go into a store or even a dealer, I either fend for myself or look up the oldest-looking person I can find.

 

[thegreatrandini]

5 years ago or so my local TSC had men and women working there... They were always very busy and service was great. They new something about everything they sell...Now I go there and it's just boys and girls.... They don't know don't care. They use to carry bags out to your car without asking. Last time I had two fifty pounders from inside the store and I ask if they would help....When the kid came up front he said "why not just get cart?" I was embarrased.... I just said never mind and carried one out then came back and got the other....The jerk kid was still standing there.... The store is never busy like it use to be and there are more homes now.... I can't understand why not just pay the Men and Women a decent wage and have a booming business?????

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 5 years ago or so my local TSC had men and women working there... They were always very busy and service was great. They new something about everything they sell...Now I go there and it's just boys and girls.... They don't know don't care. They use to carry bags out to your car without asking. Last time I had two fifty pounders from inside the store and I ask if they would help....When the kid came up front he said "why not just get cart?" I was embarrased.... I just said never mind and carried one out then came back and got the other....The jerk kid was still standing there.... The store is never busy like it use to be and there are more homes now.... I can't understand why not just pay the Men and Women a decent wage and have a booming business????? )</font>

We've been seeing the same thing in our local TSC. I have a theory.... The manager has spent time at our local Home Depot, and saw how THEY operate. Apparently he wants to be "The Big Orange Box" of farm related goods.

That would be, NO QUALIFIED HELP, NO WORK ETHIC INSTILLED INTO THEIR EMPLOYEES, and A TENDENCY TO MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR WHAT THEY NEED.

The local TSC has ONE "senior employee". I made it a point to find out what he drives. That way, I can drive by, look and see if his pick-up is in the lot. If not...? I keep right on driving.

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Some days you're the windshield and some days you're the bug. )</font>


<font color="green">COOL!</font> /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[thegreatrandini]

Yup you are very smart there Indy........If you need help you need someone knowledgeable.......

 

[Pooh_Bear]

Well I went in there for the first time today.
Except for the merchandise, it could have been an Ace Hardware store.
I went in the store and just inside the door was table with a stack of TSC catalogs on it and a sign that said Free: Take One. So I got one and looked up what I wanted. Then I found an employee there and showed him what I wanted. He got it for me with no problems. (sway bars and a lynch pin).
I then checked out and left. In and out in less than 10 minutes.
And now I got a catalog to read in the bathroom.

I got no complaints about them so far.

Pooh Bear

 

[WALT]

TSC has opened two stores in CT. in the last year, including one in my town. The openings were met with great expectations, with friends proclaiming " now we have the REDNECK NORDSTRAM'S in town". TSC has many items previously not availible locally. Your comments on customer service are accurate.

It reminds me of my first real job, working at the local lumberyard, during high school. The salesmen, for the most part, told you what you wanted to hear. The truckdrivers & yardmen, gave me the knowledge I still use today. It's hard to teach common sense, but if you learn from some experienced co-workers, it rubs off on you. We didn't make much money then (late 70's & early 80's) but you worked hard to try to better yourself.

The large retail outlets seem to put the colored smock on the new broom and turn them loose on the public. I know better than to ask how a product is used, I'm happy to be directed to where it is. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Ultimatley, do the employees enjoy working for the company, or are they just passing the time until something better comes along???? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

WALT