Support Your Local Hardware Store

[JoeyGee]

I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I need to speak like people to me.

I have a local ACE Hardware store (a chain, but a franchise owned/staffed by locals) that I know has knowledgeable employees and parts not carried by the big box stores. Even knowing that, I get lazy and often go Lowes, where I pay a little less for some items and can get a larger selection of supplies (wood, ply, etc). Every so often I am reminded not to do that when I can go to ACE.

I coach/mentor a high school robotics team. They did some research and found they could solve a problem with surgical tubing. Not vinyl or poly tubing, it had to be surgical. Lowes doesn't carry it, but ACE does. I went in, chatted with the owners and got what I needed.

As we all know too well, local mom and pop stores are disappearing. We need to support those that are left.

[bigstick509]

I agree totally. I have ACE less than a mile away and make a conscious effort to shop there when possible. The big box stores are a little further away when needed but if we don't support local merchants the next time I need a quick part they might not be there anymore.

[dbhost]

I try to support my local Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, and Handy Dan's Hardware stores. (Handy Dan's is a small chain probably doesn't go outside of Harris / Galveston counties in Texas). However I have noticed that the hours of operation from the local guys aren't exactly all that compatible with my work schedule. They are open when I am working...

[sailor55330]

I too, will try to help the small business when I can. Unfortunately, I only have 1 True Value within about 20 miles, so it's limited. I will go there for things like lawn fertilizer, but I've learned that you have to be careful. Most of the employees try to be knowledgeable, but they aren't always better than a big box for knowledge.

Funny story----I recently put in new faucets in my bathroom, which is pretty straight forward, except when the vantity top was put in, the installers took the slip nuts for the ptrap with them. While not normally a problem, the builder of the house used "quick" connect slip nuts which only turn 1/4 and lock in place on tabs. No retailer carries these--they all carry the threaded type, which wouldn't work due to some poor decision making on the contractors part when the house was built--they left me with the female end of the quick connect glued to the drain stub with about 1/2" protruding from the wall. So ultimately, I needed to find the quick connect slip nuts--- but they don't exist at normal retailers. I go to my local TV, the guy asks me what I'm looking for, and says..."never heard of that". His solution was to get an ABS undersized drain coupler, mount it to a wooden faceplace, put it on my lathe at a slow speed and "turn" it to the proper diameter, then put it over the existing stub on the wall and cement it in place to seal any leaks.......I said, well, that could work, but why don't I just reuse the one coupler I have for the wall connection and then replace the rest of the P-trap with threaded components......he stopped and said, "well, I guess that would work too.".

Had to laugh.

[capncarl]

I go way out of my way to try to buy local but they will not let me.
I really do too try to support my local shop owners, even to the point of TRYING to use the locally owned grocers and pharmacys. Not much luck with the grocers and pharmacys, I think they are defeated and nearly in the grave because their meats and groceries are higher priced and lesser quality than the chains.

We haven't had a real old type hardware store here in 30 years.
The problem I have with the local hdw. stores is their open hours. They try to cater to house building contractors and close at 5 pm on week days and are only open from 9- 1 on Saturday and closed on Sunday. I'll respect anyone for closing on Sunday, no problem there, but they loose a lot of my business because of their Saturday hours and a lot of working stiffs business because of the 5 pm closing.

Then comes the merchandise. All of the chain hardware stores sell exactly what lowes and HD does, and I believe it is stocked by the same contractor. Their line of tools is really lacking and never have anything I need. I'm finding myself going to Tractor Supply more often now because they are open when I need something and have more that the chain hardware stores.

[All Thumbs]

The home centers around here do an awful job replenishing things that run out. And they often have limited quantities of small bits of hardware. Everything is in a bag with a barcode and they think having two 1/4" by 1" long hex couplers is sufficient when the local hardware store has a bin of them, probably 200+ units. Most everything at the home center like Lowes or Home Depot is a compromise, they're looking to undercut each other by switching brands to someone that has figured out a less expensive way of making something.

[capncarl]

I know the guys in the home centers must hate my guts. I was shown a trick by a plumber I ran into at Lowes. He had a shopping and a hand shopping basket. When he would find something in the wrong bin in the plumbing parts he would
just put it in his hand shopping basket, he might empty the whole bin in there if it was in the wrong one, and when he went to check out he would drop off the shopping basket full of wrong place parts at the courtesy desk. I started doing this when I have time but I'll usually drop it off at the contractor desk instead.

[bigstick509]

Bravo, one small step...

[tfischer]

I try to support my local Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, and Handy Dan's Hardware stores. (Handy Dan's is a small chain probably doesn't go outside of Harris / Galveston counties in Texas). However I have noticed that the hours of operation from the local guys aren't exactly all that compatible with my work schedule. They are open when I am working...

That's my problem... I have a Lowes and HD within a mile. There's a True Value about the same distance in the other direction but it's not open much outside of "standard business hours". There's a pretty nice Ace about 6 miles away but it's a lot more time to get to when I have to drive by the big boxes first.

[twistsol]

I shop locally whenever I can. We have a lumber yard / home center in town, Interstate Building Supply, that will deliver to my house or shop and unload everything for me for $6.00. Their prices are comparable to the big box stores in most cases, they're open to haggling if not, and where they've done work for us, (carpet, foam insulation) their guys are top notch. I can also call them any time and whatever I've ordered is in my house or shop when I get home.

We have a local Ace and I'm there at least once a weekend. They can help you find stuff, but don't seem particularly knowledgeable. It's mostly staffed by high school kids.

[tfischer]

I shop locally whenever I can. We have a lumber yard / home center in town, Interstate Building Supply, that will We have a local Ace and I'm there at least once a weekend. They can help you find stuff, but don't seem particularly knowledgeable. It's mostly staffed by high school kids.

Service at my Ace is top notch... I've had them help me for 15 minutes or more looking for specific strange hardware where the total bill came to like $3.

[capncarl]

What I do like about HD & Lowes over the locally owned lumber supply stores is being able to wander aimlessly through their lumber aisles. I like to go back and forth from one stack to the other seeing what give me the most bang for my buck. Sometimes I am able to catch a particularly good batch if boards. When I'm after a certain board I may drag out every board in the rack and sight down it and search for knots and other defects. Unlike some others around here I do make it a point of putting everything back where I found it, if it was in the right bin, if not I'll put it where it belongs. Sometimes I'll have boards picked out of nearly every bin until I really find the right combination, then I'll load them up and put up the rest. More often than not I will completely change my plans mid stream when I find or do not find what I want. Loading up a cart and wrestle it through the store a small price to pay for this privilege. Now if they would just stock some lumber that is worthy of my search.

When you are dealing with the small shops you just can't do this. They have better lumber but they just don't get it, I want really good stuff. None of my local small shops carry the select or hobby lumber like red oak, cherry etc. They might let you go back and pick through the boards but there is always some guy hanging around to help you and give you funny looks when you turn down a board that is warped like a propeller.

I didn't think I'd say this, but chalk one up for the big box stores for me!

[capncarl]

I know this thread is about support your local hardware store but I just have to throw this in. Have you ever wondered how the big box stores know what aisle you are going to be visiting? And can have it barricaded off for an hour while they diddle around with the forklift! They must have ESPN!

[Cochese]

I know this thread is about support your local hardware store but I just have to throw this in. Have you ever wondered how the big box stores know what aisle you are going to be visiting? And can have it barricaded off for an hour while they diddle around with the forklift! They must have ESPN!

The big problem I have with Home Depot in particular is their aggressive HVAC person. I generally either only go to HD when I have to, or head straight to the back aisle and go to where I need via that route.

You also talked about banking hours, that's what the local yard has and it's annoying as all get-out. Thankfully I work from home and can go during the week, but otherwise I wouldn't mess with them.

My BIL works for Fastenal, so he gets me fasteners basically at cost. A penny for 100 quality Robertson drive screws.

[LCHIEN]

The ACE nearest me has better organized, filled and properly sorted hardware bins. Usually neat and clean, well stocked and no parts in the wrong bins. The Lowes is bad for this (often parts in the wrong bins and out of stock in some sizes - usually the on I need) and just not neat. And the HD is in between.

Its also easier to find someone who wants to help you.