I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a 1/4"
ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
rivets.
HD and Menards are almost next-door to each other, three miles from home.
Lowes (my preference) is twice as far.
So I go to HD... find the bolt with no problem. Find the nylon spacers with
no problem -- but none to be had in 3/8" length, of any diameter. No rivets to
be found, anywhere on the fasteners aisle. Finally found an employee, who
tells me they're in the tool department. Go over to tools. Steel rivets
available in boxes of 15 or 50. Aluminum only in boxes of 50.
Head to the checkout with my twenty-two-cent bolt. Only two registers open,
long lines at both, both cashiers waiting on price checks. GRRRRR.
Put the bolt down, head out the door, go to Menards.... where I find the
spacer, and a package of 15 rivets, in a matter of moments... and then
discover that the longest 1/4-20 bolt they sell is *four* inches, so I have to
go back to HD for the stupid bolt anyway.
Man, I wish I'd just taken the time to drive the extra three miles to Lowe's.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Doug Miller wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, "Kevin S." <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Doug Miller wrote:
>>
>>>I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a
>>
>>1/4"
>>
>>>ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
>>>rivets.
>>>
>
> [snip]
>
>>For that sort of stuff, you are really much better off going to an
>>actual hardware store like Ace or True Value.
>>
>
> I know it, and I usually do. There's an Ace about the same distance away as
> HD/Menards, but in the opposite direction. What made the the difference for me
> that day was that we needed milk, too, and there's a grocery store on the way
> home from HD/Menards but not on the way home from Ace. I think it might have
> taken less time to make one stop at Ace, and then drive to the grocery. :-(
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Ouch. I know, I've spent many a trip fruitlessly looking for hardware
at Menards while the wife was in the grocery store next door, only to
have to stop at Ace on the way home.
150 miles to a HD? Dam, in NJ you cant be more then 10 miles from at least
one HD whereever you go. On my way to my parents house which is about 45
minutes away I pass at least 4 of them.
Rich
"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Came close to having a HD only forty miles away, but they couldn't reach
an
> agreement with the land sellers.
>
> They were going to build across from Menards.
>
> Nearest is 150 miles, so please excuse me for not commiserating.
>
> "Rico" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Paul O. wrote:
> > > Been there done that, now I always drive the extra miles to Lowes.
> Better to
> > > do that than have all the aggravation at HD.
> > >
> >
> > I have a Lowes and HD almost next door to each other. I go
> > to whichever one didn't cause me a problem on the last trip.
> > I alternate on a fairly regular basis.
>
>
LOL Trent was using that "New" math... 20 x 5" = 100"...
"Doug Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, Trent©
<[email protected]> wrote:
> >On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:28:14 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
> >wrote:
> >
> >>I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt
> [snip]
> >
> >Shuda bought the long bolt...and a nut. Took it home...put on the
> >nut...cut it to length...back off the nut.
> >
> If I needed a 5" bolt (see above), what good does that do me?
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 16:12:13 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>, Trent© <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:28:14 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
>>wrote:
>>
>>>I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt
>[snip]
>>
>>Shuda bought the long bolt...and a nut. Took it home...put on the
>>nut...cut it to length...back off the nut.
>>
>If I needed a 5" bolt (see above), what good does that do me?
:)
Have a nice week...
Trent
Cat...the OTHER white meat!
On 21-Aug-2003, "Dianne & Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Retail Customer Rule #1: [...]
Understandable complaints.
What I don't understand is why folks expect full-price service
at low-service prices. There are places that will provide great service
if you want to pay for it. If you want to pay the lowest possible
price, expect clueless staff, stock problems and long waits.
Unfortunately, around here at least, many full service places are going
out of business, since consumers have largely voted with their dollars
to buy cheap. I'm not convinced that driving the price to minimum has
been entirely good for us.
Mike
On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 16:19:52 -0400, "Dianne & Greg"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Retail Customer Rule #1: If there are twenty items on a rack, and 19 of them
>will scan at the correct price, please choose the twentieth one.
>
>RC Rule #2: Do not look at the price on the shelf tag. It couldn't possibly
>be correct.
>
>RC Rule # 3 Be sure to get angry at the cashier. It's more than likely her
>fault that the item won't scan.
>
>RC Rule #4 --Be sure and call the store before coming in, to make sure we
>have all ten items you are coming in for, in several sizes and prices. The
>sales people have nothing to do but answer the telephone, and we aren't
>supposed to give our attention to the customers who actually bothered to
>drive to the store.
>
>Yes, I work in retail. And I spend a hell of a lot of time either working as
>a back up cashier (instead of assisting the people still shopping) or
>answering the phone for a bunch of idiots who want me to be their personal
>shopper. And my feet hurt.
>
>Dianne
And then there's the restocking...for folks who get tired of
waiting...and just leave the item in the checkout lane!
You have my heartfelt sympathy, Dianne. I don't think a lot of people
realize the guff folks like you hafta take...on a daily basis. They
only see THEIR slowdown...when indeed there is one. They don't see
the 95% of the time that things go smoothly and quickly.
Thanks for being there for us jerks! lol
Have a nice week...
Trent
Cat...the OTHER white meat!
On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 03:26:59 GMT, Michael Baglio <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On 21 Aug 2003 02:12:37 GMT, [email protected] (ToolMiser) wrote:
>
>>What bothers me in addition to the long lines is when (grocery stores included)
>>don't have open an express lane. If there are two lanes open, one should be
>>express. It should be the Retailers Law!
>
>Isn't "express" spanish for "in training"? The only thing more
>irritating than being in the express lane with a catatonic checker is
>the woman ahead of me paying with a check from the Bank of Venus.
><screech> "MANAGER, aisle 1..." </screech>
>
>I'm sticking with Homer Simpson on this one. There should always be a
>"single-guy" line.
>
>"I've gotta 12-pack, here's a twenty. I don't need change. Seeya!"
>
>Michael Baglio
>Chapel Hill <watch this space...>
People often confuse 'express' with 'fast'. As we've all been shown
at one time or another, they are NOT the same. lol
Have a nice week...
Trent
Cat...the OTHER white meat!
On 21 Aug 2003 02:12:37 GMT, [email protected] (ToolMiser) wrote:
>What bothers me in addition to the long lines is when (grocery stores included)
>don't have open an express lane. If there are two lanes open, one should be
>express. It should be the Retailers Law!
Isn't "express" spanish for "in training"? The only thing more
irritating than being in the express lane with a catatonic checker is
the woman ahead of me paying with a check from the Bank of Venus.
<screech> "MANAGER, aisle 1..." </screech>
I'm sticking with Homer Simpson on this one. There should always be a
"single-guy" line.
"I've gotta 12-pack, here's a twenty. I don't need change. Seeya!"
Michael Baglio
Chapel Hill <watch this space...>
"Trent©" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 03:26:59 GMT, Michael Baglio <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >On 21 Aug 2003 02:12:37 GMT, [email protected] (ToolMiser) wrote:
> >
> >>What bothers me in addition to the long lines is when (grocery stores
included)
> >>don't have open an express lane. If there are two lanes open, one
should be
> >>express. It should be the Retailers Law!
> >
> >Isn't "express" spanish for "in training"? The only thing more
> >irritating than being in the express lane with a catatonic checker is
> >the woman ahead of me paying with a check from the Bank of Venus.
> ><screech> "MANAGER, aisle 1..." </screech>
> >
> >I'm sticking with Homer Simpson on this one. There should always be a
> >"single-guy" line.
> >
> >"I've gotta 12-pack, here's a twenty. I don't need change. Seeya!"
> >
> >Michael Baglio
> >Chapel Hill <watch this space...>
>
> People often confuse 'express' with 'fast'. As we've all been shown
> at one time or another, they are NOT the same. lol
>
>
> Have a nice week...
>
> Trent
Retail Customer Rule #1: If there are twenty items on a rack, and 19 of them
will scan at the correct price, please choose the twentieth one.
RC Rule #2: Do not look at the price on the shelf tag. It couldn't possibly
be correct.
RC Rule # 3 Be sure to get angry at the cashier. It's more than likely her
fault that the item won't scan.
RC Rule #4 --Be sure and call the store before coming in, to make sure we
have all ten items you are coming in for, in several sizes and prices. The
sales people have nothing to do but answer the telephone, and we aren't
supposed to give our attention to the customers who actually bothered to
drive to the store.
Yes, I work in retail. And I spend a hell of a lot of time either working as
a back up cashier (instead of assisting the people still shopping) or
answering the phone for a bunch of idiots who want me to be their personal
shopper. And my feet hurt.
Dianne
"Dianne & Greg" <[email protected]> writes:
>RC Rule # 3 Be sure to get angry at the cashier. It's more than likely her
>fault that the item won't scan.
They're not angry at *you*, they're angry at the *store*.
Some people assume that the nearest employee (in this case the
cashier) will pass complaints up the line to someone who can do
something about them. In a well-managed business this would be a
reasonable assumption. Unfortunately many employees have given up
on their managers, so they don't bother.
It's the customers who *don't* complain that you should be
worried about-- they'll buy from your competitors next time.
> I have a Lowes and HD almost next door to each other. I go
> to whichever one didn't cause me a problem on the last trip.
> I alternate on a fairly regular basis.
>
> Rico
=============================================
If you are like me..then you alternate every other trip....!
If I need 3 or more different items then I know before I hop in the
truck that I will have to stop in both because neither of them will have
all 3 ... That is a given !
Bob G.
Chris wrote:
>
> [email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a 1/4"
> > ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
> > rivets.
> >
> > Man, I wish I'd just taken the time to drive the extra three miles to Lowe's.
>
> Doug,
>
> I've said this before in this forum, HD may suck, but the alternatives
> aren't any better (in my area anyway).
>
> I needed a 3' 3/8" threaded rod, a few 3/8" nuts, and 3 3/8" threaded
> inserts. As a bonus I would have liked to get a sleeve 2' long,
> plastic or brass to fit over the rod.
>
> Based on past experience with HD, I figured that I would have to find
> everything myself, and I probably would not find it all, at least not
> all at the same store (there are 2 within 5 miles of my house). So at
> lunchtime today I headed over to the Sears Hardware about 3 miles from
> my place of employ. My last visit there I was impressed with the
> large number of hard to find fasteners and hardware that they stock.
> What they have "in-stock" is a little different: I found that over
> half the bins were actually empty. Also their selection of raw metal,
> rods, etc was very sparse. I could have got half of what I needed,
> but in a different size. I left empty handed.
>
> On the way back to the office I stopped at a hardware store. This is
> a large hardware/lumber place with several locations in my area and a
> reputation for being pretty good. I found the threaded rod 30 seconds
> after walking through the door. I couldn't find the threaded inserts.
> The salesperson did not understand what a threaded insert was. Ok,
> maybe I wasn't using an industry standard term, but that's what I know
> them as. I described it to him. Blank stare. I finally found a
> blister pack of T-nuts. These would not do for me, but I showed them
> to him and explained that "they are *like* this, only they are
> threaded on the outside to screw into the wood, instead of using tacks
> or brads like the T-nuts." At this point another salesguy overheard
> this and said that they are down by the slide out boxes of hardware.
> Nope, just more T-nuts. I put the threaded rod back and left there
> empty handed too.
>
> I am stopping at HD on the way home tonight to see if I can get
> everything in one shot. If I have to wait 15 minutes on line it will
> still be less than the time I spend this afternoon NOT getting what I
> was looking for.
>
> -Chris
My local True Value hardware store stocks the inserts, maybe try one in
your area. For the sleeve, could you use 3/8" I.D. plastic tubing? I
know they sell it by the foot.
Scott
--
An unkind remark is like a killing frost. No matter how much it warms
up later, the damage remains.
Trent© wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 01:54:25 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
> wrote:
>
>
>>You did read the *entire* post, didn't you? See the part near the end where I
>>said I went back to HD to buy the bolt? I picked up the same one I set down.
>
>
> I *WAS* trying to be facetious, Doug. Sorry you took it so seriously.
> But if ya wanna get serious for a moment...no, I didn't read where you
> said you went back and bought the bolt. Maybe I missed it.
>
> I did read THIS, however...in your first post...
>
>
>>...so I have to go back to HD for the stupid bolt anyway.
>
>
> I don't recall reading where you actually DID go back. If I missed
> it, my apologies.
>
>
> Have a nice week...
>
> Trent
>
>
> Cat...the OTHER white meat!
Trent,
I didn't read it either. IIRC he said he was going back to HD to pick
up the bolt, not that he did. I could have missed a later post, but
probably didn't. Waiting at a checkout can be a royal PITA. I really
hate it at grocery stores, banks, or waiting for the dentist, doctor,
tires being put on my car/truck or any other place that doesn't seem to
appreciate how important I am and how valuable my time is. When I go to
real lumberyards, ACE hardware and Mom&Pop stores they don't always have
everything I need and sometimes I have to stand in line.
Life can be a real bitch.
Hank (used to run so I could stand in line)
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-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
In article <[email protected]>, "Kevin S." <[email protected]> wrote:
>Doug Miller wrote:
>> I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a
> 1/4"
>> ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
>> rivets.
>>
[snip]
>For that sort of stuff, you are really much better off going to an
>actual hardware store like Ace or True Value.
>
I know it, and I usually do. There's an Ace about the same distance away as
HD/Menards, but in the opposite direction. What made the the difference for me
that day was that we needed milk, too, and there's a grocery store on the way
home from HD/Menards but not on the way home from Ace. I think it might have
taken less time to make one stop at Ace, and then drive to the grocery. :-(
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
It used to be that anything beyond the most standard of hw, I would
have to mail order. Then along came Hechinger and wow, they carried a
fair amount of stuff more. But, they still didn't really cater to
woodworkers or furniture builders so I still had to rely on mail
order. Then along comes HD (and later Lowes expanded their hw stuff)
and they got all these cool bins of fascinating hw, drawer slides,
etc. For a while it looked pretty good. But, they don't really carry
a wide range of things and are nowdays often out of stock on just the
item one needs. Sure, for a quick pick me up I'll run out to the
HD/Lowes. But usually for a project I'm building I still have to mail
order what I need.
Seems like these folks have decided they'll only sell what sells the
most and those odd items that aren't really in high demand, well,
they're not going to have the expense of keeping that inventory.
Least, it seems to be heading back that way - especially at HD.
Renata
On 22 Aug 2003 11:00:45 -0700, [email protected] (Chris)
wrote:
>Doug,
>
>I've said this before in this forum, HD may suck, but the alternatives
>aren't any better (in my area anyway).
>
>I needed a 3' 3/8" threaded rod, a few 3/8" nuts, and 3 3/8" threaded
>inserts. As a bonus I would have liked to get a sleeve 2' long,
>plastic or brass to fit over the rod.
>
--snip of tale of traipsing around town, looking for stuff,
unsuccessfully --
>
>-Chris
(no stain for email)
Not in Oxnard, CA. I picked up some nursey items about 7AM and
checker told me to go inside to wait in line as the register was
closed. Pointing to the sign just got a pointy finger, thankfully it
was toward the inside line instead of the sky.
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 16:13:09 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:
>
>>Use the self pay or go to the nursery- at the local HD there seems to be an
>>open register at the nursery....
>
>Our HDs don't have self-pay lanes. Didn't think about the nursery, though.
>Thanks for the tip. I'll try it sometime.
I recently remodeled my bathroom and went looking for a sink and faucet.
Both HD and Lowe's had the Kohler items that I wanted at the same price.
The only problem was that the hole spacing in the sink at HD would not
fit the faucet they had and vice versa at Lowe's. Fortunately they are
across the road from each other so I bought the sink at HD and the
faucet at Lowe's.
Peace ~ Sir Edgar
=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=
=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8=F8
In San Jose: the new HD on Hillsdale, near Target, and the bit older one
down on Capitol Expressway. There's a very nice HD on Saratoga
Sunnyvale road, but too far for me to go. I just happened to be over
there one day, so I popped in for a look-see.
dave
Buttonhole McGee wrote:
> Dave, I wanted to ask you - you posted recently a tale of woe and
> mentioned that you go to a Despot further from home when you want a better
> experience. As another Bay Area denizen, I'd love to know which location
> is preferred....
>
> On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:59:25 +0000, Bay Area Dave wrote:
>
>
>>I feel your pain. :)
>>
>>dave
>
>
"Chris Merrill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> rjs wrote:
> > I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
> > to give him money to stand in long lines. I have noticed that the
> > poorer the neighborhood the store is in the fewer the checkers and the
> > longer the lines.
>
> Funny, I have never understood why a retailer should have 20 checkers
> standing around all day just in case they might get 20 customer at once.
Cant say that I have ever seen that happen before.
>
> And I really don't think they care that Doug made his $1.50
> purchase elsewhere. They don't make money on that stuff...
The employees probably dont but the store manager should. Those low dollar
items almost always have a very high percentage of mark up.. That high
gross profit adds up and pays the bills more so than a large item taking up
floor space that has a very low percentage of mark up.
Paul O. wrote:
>
> Been there done that, now I always drive the extra miles to Lowes. Better to
> do that than have all the aggravation at HD.
>
I have a Lowes and HD almost next door to each other. I go
to whichever one didn't cause me a problem on the last trip.
I alternate on a fairly regular basis.
Rico
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patrick mitchel wrote:
> > I checked with Lowe's for you. They didn't have ANY of that stuff. Ya
> > done good! Now...feel better?! lol
> >
> >
> > Have a nice week...
> >
> > Trent
> >
> >
> Use the self pay or go to the nursery- at the local HD there seems to be an
> open register at the nursery....
Shhhh! That's supposed to be secret.
Rico
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but they will make money if he is a loyal customer. Stores that can't
keep common stuff in stock irritate their customers and do themselves no
good. Him going elsewhere may become a habit.
dave
Chris Merrill wrote:
> rjs wrote:
>
>> I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
>> to give him money to stand in long lines. I have noticed that the
>> poorer the neighborhood the store is in the fewer the checkers and the
>> longer the lines.
>
>
> Funny, I have never understood why a retailer should have 20 checkers
> standing around all day just in case they might get 20 customer at once.
>
> And I really don't think they care that Doug made his $1.50
> purchase elsewhere. They don't make money on that stuff...
>
Doug Miller wrote:
> I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a 1/4"
> ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
> rivets.
>
> HD and Menards are almost next-door to each other, three miles from home.
> Lowes (my preference) is twice as far.
>
> So I go to HD... find the bolt with no problem. Find the nylon spacers with
> no problem -- but none to be had in 3/8" length, of any diameter. No rivets to
> be found, anywhere on the fasteners aisle. Finally found an employee, who
> tells me they're in the tool department. Go over to tools. Steel rivets
> available in boxes of 15 or 50. Aluminum only in boxes of 50.
>
> Head to the checkout with my twenty-two-cent bolt. Only two registers open,
> long lines at both, both cashiers waiting on price checks. GRRRRR.
>
> Put the bolt down, head out the door, go to Menards.... where I find the
> spacer, and a package of 15 rivets, in a matter of moments... and then
> discover that the longest 1/4-20 bolt they sell is *four* inches, so I have to
> go back to HD for the stupid bolt anyway.
>
> Man, I wish I'd just taken the time to drive the extra three miles to Lowe's.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
For that sort of stuff, you are really much better off going to an
actual hardware store like Ace or True Value.
rjs wrote:
> I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
> to give him money to stand in long lines. I have noticed that the
> poorer the neighborhood the store is in the fewer the checkers and the
> longer the lines.
Funny, I have never understood why a retailer should have 20 checkers
standing around all day just in case they might get 20 customer at once.
And I really don't think they care that Doug made his $1.50
purchase elsewhere. They don't make money on that stuff...
--
************************************
Chris Merrill
[email protected]
(remove the ZZZ to contact me)
************************************
Came close to having a HD only forty miles away, but they couldn't reach an
agreement with the land sellers.
They were going to build across from Menards.
Nearest is 150 miles, so please excuse me for not commiserating.
"Rico" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Paul O. wrote:
> > Been there done that, now I always drive the extra miles to Lowes.
Better to
> > do that than have all the aggravation at HD.
> >
>
> I have a Lowes and HD almost next door to each other. I go
> to whichever one didn't cause me a problem on the last trip.
> I alternate on a fairly regular basis.
"Doug Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a
1/4"
> ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
> rivets.
>
> HD and Menards are almost next-door to each other, three miles from home.
> Lowes (my preference) is twice as far.
>
> So I go to HD... find the bolt with no problem. Find the nylon spacers
with
> no problem -- but none to be had in 3/8" length, of any diameter. No
rivets to
> be found, anywhere on the fasteners aisle. Finally found an employee, who
> tells me they're in the tool department. Go over to tools. Steel rivets
> available in boxes of 15 or 50. Aluminum only in boxes of 50.
>
> Head to the checkout with my twenty-two-cent bolt. Only two registers
open,
> long lines at both, both cashiers waiting on price checks. GRRRRR.
>
> Put the bolt down, head out the door, go to Menards.... where I find the
> spacer, and a package of 15 rivets, in a matter of moments... and then
> discover that the longest 1/4-20 bolt they sell is *four* inches, so I
have to
> go back to HD for the stupid bolt anyway.
>
> Man, I wish I'd just taken the time to drive the extra three miles to
Lowe's.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Been there done that, now I always drive the extra miles to Lowes. Better to
do that than have all the aggravation at HD.
--
Paul
[email protected]
"You can make it foolproof, but you can't make it Damned foolproof."
"Greg Sellers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Doug Miller wrote:
> >
> > I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex
bolt, a 1/4"
> > ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum
pop
> > rivets.
> >
> Been there and done the same, always missing something on my list...
> >
> > Head to the checkout with my twenty-two-cent bolt. Only two
registers open,
> > long lines at both, both cashiers waiting on price checks. GRRRRR.
> >
> I found out that the return counter can check you out too, they hardly
> ever have a line and if they do, I keep walking over to the garden
> center.
> If all of them have a line, put down the bolt and walk out....
And now you know why they never seem to have what you need in stock -
some dumbass decides that he's to important to wait in line and drops
merchandise all over the store instead of acting like an adult and
putting it back where he got it.
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:28:14 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:
>I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a 1/4"
>ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
>rivets.
[snip]
For hardware stuff like that I just head for the local farm supply
place. They have it all, in a higher quality and at a better price
than the borg does. On the other hand, the youngest checker in the
store is about 45, so there isn't anything to stare at while you wait
in line - and they do tend to have as much of a line as the borg.
Tim Douglass
http://www.DouglassClan.com
[email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a 1/4"
> ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
> rivets.
>
> Man, I wish I'd just taken the time to drive the extra three miles to Lowe's.
Doug,
I've said this before in this forum, HD may suck, but the alternatives
aren't any better (in my area anyway).
I needed a 3' 3/8" threaded rod, a few 3/8" nuts, and 3 3/8" threaded
inserts. As a bonus I would have liked to get a sleeve 2' long,
plastic or brass to fit over the rod.
Based on past experience with HD, I figured that I would have to find
everything myself, and I probably would not find it all, at least not
all at the same store (there are 2 within 5 miles of my house). So at
lunchtime today I headed over to the Sears Hardware about 3 miles from
my place of employ. My last visit there I was impressed with the
large number of hard to find fasteners and hardware that they stock.
What they have "in-stock" is a little different: I found that over
half the bins were actually empty. Also their selection of raw metal,
rods, etc was very sparse. I could have got half of what I needed,
but in a different size. I left empty handed.
On the way back to the office I stopped at a hardware store. This is
a large hardware/lumber place with several locations in my area and a
reputation for being pretty good. I found the threaded rod 30 seconds
after walking through the door. I couldn't find the threaded inserts.
The salesperson did not understand what a threaded insert was. Ok,
maybe I wasn't using an industry standard term, but that's what I know
them as. I described it to him. Blank stare. I finally found a
blister pack of T-nuts. These would not do for me, but I showed them
to him and explained that "they are *like* this, only they are
threaded on the outside to screw into the wood, instead of using tacks
or brads like the T-nuts." At this point another salesguy overheard
this and said that they are down by the slide out boxes of hardware.
Nope, just more T-nuts. I put the threaded rod back and left there
empty handed too.
I am stopping at HD on the way home tonight to see if I can get
everything in one shot. If I have to wait 15 minutes on line it will
still be less than the time I spend this afternoon NOT getting what I
was looking for.
-Chris
On Thu, 21 Aug 2003 01:54:25 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:
>You did read the *entire* post, didn't you? See the part near the end where I
>said I went back to HD to buy the bolt? I picked up the same one I set down.
I *WAS* trying to be facetious, Doug. Sorry you took it so seriously.
But if ya wanna get serious for a moment...no, I didn't read where you
said you went back and bought the bolt. Maybe I missed it.
I did read THIS, however...in your first post...
>...so I have to go back to HD for the stupid bolt anyway.
I don't recall reading where you actually DID go back. If I missed
it, my apologies.
Have a nice week...
Trent
Cat...the OTHER white meat!
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 22:38:35 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Chris Merrill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> rjs wrote:
>> > I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
>> > to give him money to stand in long lines. I have noticed that the
>> > poorer the neighborhood the store is in the fewer the checkers and the
>> > longer the lines.
>>
>> Funny, I have never understood why a retailer should have 20 checkers
>> standing around all day just in case they might get 20 customer at once.
>
>Cant say that I have ever seen that happen before.
>
>>
>> And I really don't think they care that Doug made his $1.50
>> purchase elsewhere. They don't make money on that stuff...
>
>The employees probably dont but the store manager should. Those low dollar
>items almost always have a very high percentage of mark up.. That high
>gross profit adds up and pays the bills more so than a large item taking up
>floor space that has a very low percentage of mark up.
>
High percentage of MARK-UP? You mean after FINDING the damn
thing?...lol...after Doug dropped it into a bin of EverReady
batteries? lol
It'll be weeks or more before they even FIND it! Then it'll take one
of the clerks a week or so to figure out what the hell it IS!
Then...he'll probably make up a new ticket for it...and put it in the
5" bolt drawer...so I can go buy it...and then bring it back...'cause
its too damn short! lol
And it'll all be Doug's fault!! lol
Have a nice week...
Trent
Cat...the OTHER white meat!
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 11:31:08 GMT, "Rich" <[email protected]>
pixelated:
>150 miles to a HD? Dam, in NJ you cant be more then 10 miles from at least
>one HD whereever you go. On my way to my parents house which is about 45
>minutes away I pass at least 4 of them.
I had 4 Borgs within 15 miles of me in LoCal but
the closest one here is over 125 miles away. It
was cheaper to order the Ryobi cordless drill/saw
kit and ship it than to drive that distance. They're
talking about opening one here in Grants Pass but
the shitty council doesn't want them here. I have to
go to Medford (25 miles each way) to get Lowes goodies
because the Diamond Home Improvement Center (a super
ACE, one of two) doesn't have nearly the variety and
I end up going to 4 hardware-type stores and a pipe
supply to get all I need at higher prices. I wouldn't
mind a Borg here in town.
- Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag? -
http://diversify.com Full Service Web Application Programming
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:28:14 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:
>I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt, a 1/4"
>ID x 3/8" long nylon spacer, and about a dozen 1/8" x 1/2" aluminum pop
>rivets.
>
>HD and Menards are almost next-door to each other, three miles from home.
>Lowes (my preference) is twice as far.
>
>So I go to HD... find the bolt with no problem. Find the nylon spacers with
>no problem -- but none to be had in 3/8" length, of any diameter. No rivets to
>be found, anywhere on the fasteners aisle. Finally found an employee, who
>tells me they're in the tool department. Go over to tools. Steel rivets
>available in boxes of 15 or 50. Aluminum only in boxes of 50.
>
>Head to the checkout with my twenty-two-cent bolt. Only two registers open,
>long lines at both, both cashiers waiting on price checks. GRRRRR.
>
>Put the bolt down, head out the door, go to Menards....
Sometimes I think the whole world is just in too much of a hurry. We
don't take the time to smell the roses.
You probably should have just waited in line. Ya might've met a
fellow woodworker...and maybe made a new, local friend.
> where I find the
>spacer, and a package of 15 rivets, in a matter of moments... and then
>discover that the longest 1/4-20 bolt they sell is *four* inches, so I have to
>go back to HD for the stupid bolt anyway.
Shuda bought the long bolt...and a nut. Took it home...put on the
nut...cut it to length...back off the nut.
>Man, I wish I'd just taken the time to drive the extra three miles to Lowe's.
I checked with Lowe's for you. They didn't have ANY of that stuff. Ya
done good! Now...feel better?! lol
Have a nice week...
Trent
Cat...the OTHER white meat!
In article <[email protected]>, Trent© <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 22:38:35 GMT, "Leon"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Chris Merrill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> rjs wrote:
>>> > I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
>>> > to give him money to stand in long lines. I have noticed that the
>>> > poorer the neighborhood the store is in the fewer the checkers and the
>>> > longer the lines.
>>>
>>> Funny, I have never understood why a retailer should have 20 checkers
>>> standing around all day just in case they might get 20 customer at once.
>>
>>Cant say that I have ever seen that happen before.
>>
>>>
>>> And I really don't think they care that Doug made his $1.50
>>> purchase elsewhere. They don't make money on that stuff...
>>
>>The employees probably dont but the store manager should. Those low dollar
>>items almost always have a very high percentage of mark up.. That high
>>gross profit adds up and pays the bills more so than a large item taking up
>>floor space that has a very low percentage of mark up.
>>
>
>High percentage of MARK-UP? You mean after FINDING the damn
>thing?...lol...after Doug dropped it into a bin of EverReady
>batteries? lol
You did read the *entire* post, didn't you? See the part near the end where I
said I went back to HD to buy the bolt? I picked up the same one I set down.
>It'll be weeks or more before they even FIND it! Then it'll take one
>of the clerks a week or so to figure out what the hell it IS!
I don't think they're ever gonna find it, 'cause it's in my workshop now.
>Then...he'll probably make up a new ticket for it...and put it in the
>5" bolt drawer...so I can go buy it...and then bring it back...'cause
>its too damn short! lol
Do you have a reading comprehension problem?
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
In article <[email protected]>, "patrick mitchel" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Use the self pay or go to the nursery- at the local HD there seems to be an
>open register at the nursery....
Our HDs don't have self-pay lanes. Didn't think about the nursery, though.
Thanks for the tip. I'll try it sometime.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Dave, I wanted to ask you - you posted recently a tale of woe and
mentioned that you go to a Despot further from home when you want a better
experience. As another Bay Area denizen, I'd love to know which location
is preferred....
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:59:25 +0000, Bay Area Dave wrote:
> I feel your pain. :)
>
> dave
"rjs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
> to give him money to stand in long lines.
I absolutely agree.. I have no problem waiting for help but DO NOT make me
wait to pay you money.
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 13:48:57 GMT, "Steve" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"Greg Sellers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
>> Doug Miller wrote:
>> center.
>> If all of them have a line, put down the bolt and walk out....
>
>
>And now you know why they never seem to have what you need in stock -
>some dumbass decides that he's to important to wait in line and drops
>merchandise all over the store instead of acting like an adult and
>putting it back where he got it.
I have never understood why a retailer would expect people who want
to give him money to stand in long lines. I have noticed that the
poorer the neighborhood the store is in the fewer the checkers and the
longer the lines.
In article <[email protected]>, Trent© <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:28:14 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
>wrote:
>
>>I needed just three items at the Borg today: one 1/4"-20 x 5" hex bolt
[snip]
>
>Shuda bought the long bolt...and a nut. Took it home...put on the
>nut...cut it to length...back off the nut.
>
If I needed a 5" bolt (see above), what good does that do me?
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)