Revolution!!!

**AVENGED** · 11-07-2011, 01:57 AM

No, Not Against The Government. Against Chain Stores, Box Store. The General Movement Twords Non-Ma And Pa Stores.

My Grandfather Was A Master Carpenter. And I Recently Remembered Something He Once Told Me. I Had An Old Desk, The Drawers Had No Track, Just Wood On Wood. And He Once Told Me, "If It Squeaks Put Some _____ Wax On It" I Had Forgotten What Kind. So I Head To Home Depot, And Get The Kid Who Happened To Be Assigned To That Section That Day And He Recommends WD-40... "Its Wood" Then He Recommends Tri-Flo. I Just Left. I Miss Reno Hardware. A Local Hardware Store With People Who Were People People, And Loved What They Did. Often You'd Come In To Buy Something To Repair Something, And They'd Tell Ya How To Do It Without Buying Anything. They Were There To Help You, Not Just To Sell You Something And Collect A Check. They Had Coffee And Doughnuts. And There Was Always A Group Of Old Carpenters That Were Retired And Would Stand Around, Drink Coffee, BS And Help Costumers. Because They Loved What They Did. I Say Revolt! Ma & Pa Stores Will One Day Be In History Books Unless We Help Support Them! Yes They May Be A Little More Expensive, But You Get To Know The People And Build A Friendship That Is Beneficial To Both Parties! Case In Point, A Small Coffee Shop Around The Corner. Owner Works There 7 Days A Week, And Knows Almost All His Costumers! Once I Ordered Coffee, But Had Forgot My Debit Card On The Desk While Ordering Online. I Told Him I'd Be Right Back With It And He Replied "Nahh, I'll Get Ya Next Time, Don't Worry About It." So The Next Time I Was In I Told Him I'll Pay For The Coffee Before, And He Once Again Replied " Don't Worry About It, Its On The House." He Knows Me, My Girlfriend, Both Of Our Dogs By Name. You Don't See That Kind Of Service Or Relationship Any More, Especially With The Chain Stores. So If You Can, Develop A Friendship, Help Support What Was Once Part Of The American Dream, And Made This Country Great!!!!

**shiftyer1** · 11-07-2011, 02:52 AM

I do miss that kind of relationship. I'm only 34 but it wasn't long ago that I pumped my gas at a local station, bought coffee or soda's on a tab. At the end of the month it was payed off and we started over again. I didn't do most of my business there but made it a point to stop at least once a week, JUST because of that relationship. Just one of those places that by the time you filled up, got a drink or snack and bs'ed with folks there an hour had gone by.

**Rick** · 11-07-2011, 08:14 AM

I know how you feel. I used to take stuff into our local hardware store just see if he had it. It became a game of sorts. He won all the time. I finally ordered an English lugnut just to take in to him. It was a left hand thread and I knew he didn't have it. He looked it over and said if I came back the next day he'd have one finished for me (there was a machine shop in back of the store).

But I also have to give the box stores around here credit. Our Lowes and our local Ace Hardware staff a lot of old guys that know the business. Most have done trades work in their past and are really good to work with. While the mom and pop store is an American icon the local Lowes manager lives two houses down. He has a wife and a couple of kids and employees a lot local folks. He also puts a lot into the community in terms of athletics. It's just part of Americas evolution I guess.

**Sparky93** · 11-07-2011, 10:47 AM

That's weird, as I read the thread I noticed at the top of the thread there is a Lowe's add and at the bottom there is a Home Depot add. Kind of a strange coincident.

**Skinner** · 11-07-2011, 11:32 AM

Yep Got to Love the Mom and Pops Stores My Local Ace Is One .you Walk In and Before you get to Say Piping you Have Had 6 People Asking you if you Need Help. This Store Sells horse Stuff Also and All the Shots you Need to Keep them and you Pets and Other Critters you Have Healthy. They Have a Cat there Named ACE also And all the Kids My Youngest ALIKE ask for Him and If they Can't Find Him You Have the Kids Looking All over the Store for Him .So Yes I Love My Ace /Mom and Pop. I Will Check There 1st when I Need stuff and Lowes and HD will Be Last.So I Don't Go to Them Alot.

**natertot** · 11-07-2011, 12:01 PM

I have a little hardware store like that 10 minutes away. It's called Brant's Hardware. It's a one and only, family owned and ran store that's been around since the end of the 1800's. The people there are great. I've received great tips on everything from plumbing to gardening. They also have a small machine shop and deal with sand and gravel too. The prices aren't more than big stores from what I can tell. Just a great place to go.

I still believe that big stores have there place as well. Lowe's and Home Depot have put alot back into the local community. Same with Wal-Mart and Target. Actually, I'm working at Target this year for the holidays. They have treated me well and they treat the other employees good too.

**Rick** · 11-07-2011, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sparky

That's weird, as I read the thread I noticed at the top of the thread there is a Lowe's add and at the bottom there is a Home Depot add. Kind of a strange coincident.

Actually, it's not. The ads are targeted based on the words in the posts. Once the ads saw my reference to Lowe's it set up an ad for Lowes. Home Depot may have paid to have ads targeted against Lowes. Either that or the Home Depot ad was delivered on industry type. The algorithms that are used for banner ads are pretty sophisticated.

**hunter63** · 11-07-2011, 02:44 PM

Good love those ads......search 'dirty socks" and you will get....."buy your dirty socks Amazon...com".

But yeah we still have one of those hardware stores around here....used to be an old guy with bad legs, just sitting on a bar stool buy the door directing traffic, know where everything was, waht it was and how much.
He even knew that your really didn't want what you asked for, sometimes, so would direct you to what you needed.

He's gone now, but they do have several people that really know their stuff, and even a couple of young guys that know a 10-32 pan head screw is.

**AVENGED** · 11-07-2011, 11:03 PM

Lowes And Home Depot Are Spying On Us!!!!! I Have To Say The Few Times I Made It To An ACE They Were Pretty Good. Anyone Remember Ernst?

**crashdive123** · 11-07-2011, 11:58 PM

You do know that ACE Hardware is a for profit corporation that employs around 100,000 people right?

**Sparky93** · 11-08-2011, 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

Actually, it's not. The ads are targeted based on the words in the posts. Once the ads saw my reference to Lowe's it set up an ad for Lowes. Home Depot may have paid to have ads targeted against Lowes. Either that or the Home Depot ad was delivered on industry type. The algorithms that are used for banner ads are pretty sophisticated.

I wondered if it wasn't something like that, now I know!

**your_comforting_company** · 11-08-2011, 06:07 AM

This is a good place to express my frustration with our local mom-and-pop store. Last thing I ordered that they had on hand for 6 months, is missing some materials that were billed on the invoice, but not delivered. If I can't convince either of the two building supply stores here to keep the things in stock that I use on a regular basis to make a living, I will have no choice but to move to the chain stores. I don't want to, but I have to get supplies somewhere, and apparently the ma-and-pa stores around here don't think I'm important enough to serve.
It's not like Home Depot has them at a cheaper price anymore. It's not like they have more selection. The deliver fee is actually cheaper here at home than any of the chain stores, and you do get to deal with the same folks every time, most who have done some of the work I do and know a little bit about it, at least; these chain stores like Lowes, you never get to talk to the same person twice, nobody knows their @$$ from a hole in the ground, and it's 30 miles out of the way.

Not sure at this point what the future holds for me, but it is definately time to rethink my stance on the whole "Chain / m&p store" fence. If I can't get what I need locally to stay in business, I'll be forced to go somewhere else. Not because I want to, because I have bills to pay, mouths to feed.
I left both local stores last week mad as fire...

**BENESSE** · 11-08-2011, 09:07 AM

Here's why I hate Home Depot...but am still forced to go there when all else fails.
First off, they got a s-load of stuff, shelves piled high and wide...but always seem to be out of what I need or they'd never heard of it. (even though I go in w/info printed off internet)
When I manage to snag someone for help, they're useless. Here's the latest example:
I needed some tub caulk. What I used 4 years ago I didn't like. So I go in and am faced with 3 different brands. I read the small type on each product, but still not sure. I ask a guy working there about the diff. He scratches his head and starts reading the small type on each tube. I said, I'd already done that, here's what I need it for, here's what I didn't like about the stuff I used before. He says...get this...he says, they're all about the same. So glad I asked.
"You can do it, we can help"... a clueless ad agency probably came up with it and HD lapped it up.
I've already written to headquarters about my many lousy experiences and they've even been back in touch with me about it. Said they care about my oppinion, want to do better. That was 2 years ago.

**Rick** · 11-08-2011, 11:10 AM

YCC - Let's look at this with a different set of eyes. The large chain stores have national contracts with Wood Company A (plug in shingles or anything else). I don't know but I suspect the local Lowes/HD order their wood through corporate and the cost is on the corporate books and the local store is getting a "loan" for the wood much like a car dealer does for cars. I doubt the local Lowes/HD pays up front for all their goods. I may be wrong but that would be the logical way for them to do it. That's pretty much how a franchise works.

Pa and Ma on the other hand don't have that luxury. They have to pay up front for that load of wood or that load of shingles. They have neither the corporate price break nor the clout to negotiate special rates and financing. They couldn't tell GAF what they want to pay for shingles any more than you can tell Lowe's what you want to pay. So, they are pretty much stuck paying for stuff out of pocket just like you. That's not an enviable position to be in. Have you ever wanted to buy 300 bundles but only had the money for 100? Sure, we've all been there and that's often what they are faced with. Plus, they may be low on inventory on 12 items with only enough cash to buy 6 items.

Maybe you could have them be your buyer of sorts. Work out a deal where they order for you and have it delivered directly to the job site or to you rather than their store. I'll bet if you talk to the manager and explain your dilemma he'd work something out with you. I would think you have a couple of days between getting the green light on a job and actually being able to start laying wood or felt with the tear off in between. Perhaps he/she can have it delivered in that time. You'd handle the material less often and shop where you want. Just trying to think outside the box a bit.

**bob kk** · 11-10-2011, 07:48 PM

Our Ace closed a few years ago. Now it's Lowe's or Home depot or drive quite a way to find a real hardware store. Ace and another store called do it your self center worked together if one didn't have it they would call the other one for you. Sure do miss them.

**natertot** · 11-10-2011, 08:48 PM

Rick, I don't know about about HD, but I worked seasonally at Lowe's and they did own everything at the store outright. They bring in more than enough money to pay for the inventory. Most of the mark up is 60% or greater than the price they pay. The employees will never admit this, but the zone managers have the ability to give reduced prices on alot of things.

**crashdive123** · 11-10-2011, 09:28 PM

Keep in mind that in addition to the items purchased, that mark up has to cover.....
Employee salaries
Electric bill
Gas bill
Water bill
Sewer bill
Insurance
Employee retirement programs
FICA
Taxes
and on and on

**Rick** · 11-10-2011, 10:37 PM

Well, like I said, it was a guess on my part. I'm surprised they do it that way. That puts a new franchise in a pretty deep hole before the door opens.

**natertot** · 11-10-2011, 11:58 PM

It does put everything in a pretty deep hole to begin with. The store I worked at, I helped start the store up. The first day, we didn't even have TP in the bathrooms the place was so empty. Anyways, the store recouped the inventory costs in the first three months of being open. In just a little over a year the store had broke even with the cost of the building and everything else. The store now averages a 3.5 million dollar a year profit.

By the way, to my knowledge, Lowe's isn't a franchise. They are all owned by the company.