Midwest folks - Menards rebates

[DeuceLee]

just in case there's anyone out there thinking that the menards rebates are a waste of time so they've never tried it, it's actually not that bad...

I started a couple yrs ago by buying something that was pretty big, iirc regular price was about $200 at menards and everywhere else, sale price was $160 and there was another $50 MIR...it was too good to pass up...

i started to use the $50 on purchasing things that was either free after MIR or dirt cheap after MIR...you do have to spend $10 on non-rebate things if you're getting it free after MIR but if you own a house, there's tons of things you always need anyways...

the thing that i didn't know until i started sending the MIR's in is most of the item is sent to the same address, so you can put 5 or 10 MIR's in one envelope and send it at one time...most of the MIR's don't expire for a month, so you can save the MIR's until you get a bunch of them

so I just keep recycling the MIR's and even though i spend $10 on something i was going to get anyways, i get like $20-$30 worth of stuff for free...you guys should try it, so what if you don't need an extra 4 measuring tapes, save them for a x-mas gift

[natausch]

Pretty huge fan and they never hassle you when using them.

[Dutchman46]

Menards!

Now, If only they would take care of people with disabilities. Have You ever seen a Menards power wheel Chair? Different topic for a different place?

[DeuceLee]

Pretty huge fan and they never hassle you when using them.

i concur...usually i HATE MIR's...seriously, those rebates that you mail for $2 back and that's it? what a pain and not worth it...menards rebates are pretty easy and you can bunch them up for a decent rebate back, and then repeat the process

[kevincan]

I like the Menards Rebates. They are always quick sending them out and I have never had problems getting them. I just mailed in a rebate for my new door on the house.

I know some people don't like them because you can only use them at Menards. I seem to be in their store all the time so it doesn't bother me.

[jlm]

One of the things I really miss now that I'm no longer in the midwest is Menards. The rebates are pretty good deals, and unlike Home Depot and Lowe's (my only real options now), they actually have weekly sales with actual price reductions. Lowe's and Home Depot's idea of a "sale" is to put a bigger sign with the regular price on it. Not to mention their everyday prices are generally better than the other stores, too.

[DeuceLee]

One of the things I really miss now that I'm no longer in the midwest is Menards. The rebates are pretty good deals, and unlike Home Depot and Lowe's (my only real options now), they actually have weekly sales with actual price reductions. Lowe's and Home Depot's idea of a "sale" is to put a bigger sign with the regular price on it. Not to mention their everyday prices are generally better than the other stores, too.

i concur 100%...for most of general things that I need around the house, i go to Menards...

the only nice thing about HD and lowes is their tools on clearance, that's about it...their sales on tools (once or so a yr such as $300 off $1,000 at HD) and selection on tools is better too, but that doesn't occur often...for everything else, the sales and low prices at menards is much better

[sailor55330]

For me, Menards is good for a few things.

Lumber typically seems to be in greater variety and of better quality & price than HD or Lowes.

Their selection of landscaping supplies is pretty good (blocks, etc)

Their tool selection leaves a lot to be desired

Overall, Menards prices are about the same as my local orange & blue stores, but the name brands aren't there. For some things, that's not an issue (brooms, trashcans, etc), for other things, it does matter.

My Menards does have a motorized chair available near the front door.

Sad to say, one of the biggest factors I like about Menards---the female employees are 10x easier on the eyes.

[tsbrewers]

personally I do as little shopping there as I can. I have heard many stories about john (the owner) and how he treats people and his employees. Just a personal choice I have made, not really trying to push others this way. I know it doesn't mean anything to him, but considering I am a contractor, it does add up.

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/cur...essageid=13642

Brew

[sailor55330]

Interesting article on the owner. I personally have not dealt with Menard's in the business world, but I do have a colleague who has and who has personally interacted with the owner. Eccentric, quirky and arrogant have been words he has used, when he is being polite. Apparently, Mr. Menard is a very shrewd business man, but also extremely demanding of his employees.

While I do not know the exact strategy of Menards with regards to tools, it seems to me as a casual shopper that they severly lack in the name brand tool department. I see a few Bosch items and maybe a few Delta shopmaster items. OTher than that, it seems like it is nearly all "Tool Shop" brands. A few years ago they carried Jet. I wonder if this is by design or if they are having difficulty getting the big guys (Dewalt, PC, Hitachi, etc) to grant them distribution--and yes I know the first two are the same company.

Anyone have any inside info as to why they don't offer the more mainstream items?

[tsbrewers]

They used to have a much better tool section. actually a pretty darn good one, and carried all the big brands. Dewalt, Makita, etc. but they must have decided to 'go cheap' with everything and just started to have the generic and store branded stuff. This seemed to happen about 15-20 years ago, IIRC. I am wondering if they felt most of their clientele was the average homeowner or DIY person that didn't want to spend $500 on a miter saw, but would spend $150 on a generic one since they probably would only use it a couple times?

Hate to admit it, but growing up I used to like going to walmart for pretty much everything. But they seemed to do the same thing around that same time. You used to be able to find fairly good quality stuff there, for pretty reasonable. Now it just seems to be all chinese junk.

Sears was another one that used this business plan too. But at least they seem to have come to their senses and started trying to sell better quality goods recently, and their craftsman tools have inproved. Sears is another store I won't go in to, but that is another long story.

I think there must have been a big harvard grad or something that came out with a new business model of selling poor quality stuff for very cheap in the 80's or something. Because that is when it seems like we became a throw away society. Heck think about how terrible most cars were in the 80's and early 90's! But I really think this has started to shift again back to quality, or at least back to buying the best you can afford. And many business seem to be following suit.

HF has even been changing over the last year or two. They used to carry tons of overlapping stuff. Like 7 different brad nailers, or 15 different die grinders. Tools that basically did the same thing, and basically were all about the same price. But I have noticed they are really getting away from that and just selling one or two of similar things. Also seeing a little more name brand things you used to not see.

I just find it interesting watching stores evolve, good or bad.

Brew

[sailor55330]

The main reason for switching to cheaper quality stuff from overseas is simple. Profit margins go through the roof. I compete with import product from China and I promise you the quality is usually 1/2 of the domestic stuff, but the price is 2/3 less or more in many cases. Business will sacrifice quality for price nearly every time when you are talking about major retailers. They have conditioned us to accept the same. Think about it---If you walk into a given retailer, doesn't matter who, and the item that you used to buy is not on the shelf, chances are pretty good that you will buy what is there...in other words, the retailer just told you what you needed.

The other thing I've noticed is that we have definitely become a confused society on what we expect from manufactures. Think about this. If you have a $20 toaster that quits, you are content to throw it away and get a new one, but if you spend $30K on a car and something breaks, you are just happy it's fixed. Seems to me that the more we spend on items, the more demanding we should be in it's quality. I don't always see that in society, plus with today's "I want it know" attitude, it's easier to buy the cheap stuff and replace it in 6 months when it breaks.

Actually, I hate all retailers now that I think about it.

[FL Buckeye]

I like the Menards rebates too, but there is no Menards where we now live. We do shop there when visiting in OH or IL, and mail in the rebate forms. Then we have to hold on to them until another trip north. We happen to be going to Bowling Green, OH this weekend and will be taking some rebates with us. Too bad another $30 or so in rebates hasn't been sent to us to use yet. I will have to save them for another trip. In June I found their 2x lumber prices much better than HD or Lowes. I had thought about driving the truck up to OH and bringing back some 5/4 cedar. At HD & Lowes here in TN, 5/4x10 PT that was $5.97 last year is $8.97 this year. Menards had the 5/4x10 cedar for $9.90.

[DeuceLee]

i've heard about the owners attitude and issues...it doesn't bother me that much as long as i'm getting the deals...same thing with walmart...i believe, for the most part, in our justice system...i'm not defending them and it doesn't bother me one bit if walmart or menards get sued for doing stupid stuff, it just keeps them on their toes. I'm happy for the gal that got 1.4mil cus menards was being sexist...i hope walmart gets what the deserve in their latest court case...

i concur with you guys...the only power tool i've bought from menards is the sonicrafter, and that's not their home brand or a cheapie brand...for power tools, i'd hit lowes and HD way before menards as far as brick and mortar places goes...not only that, but this forum has all the best deals already anyways

I'm just saying its too hard to pass up on free measuring tapes, irwin tools, tapes, sand papers, gardening stuff, and many others after the easy mail in rebates...if it's not free, some of the stuff is ridiculously cheap after MIR...

[natausch]

Being from Sheboygan I feel something of a need to defend the Kohler family. The article went out of its way to compare the net value of Herb Kohler and John Menard.

On a corporate level there couldn't be more of a difference. Kohler primarily manufacturers high quality plumbing fixtures in the United States; Menards peddles whatever is cheapest to make a profit. As far as I know the only product line Kohler manufacturers in China are their gas powered generators.

John Menard generally spits on the face of the Wisconsin Industry Magnate and should probably be deported to Minnesota to prevent him from further ruining the good names of family owned Wisconsin corporations such as Woodman (Woodmans), Kohler (Kohler), Ariens (Ariens), Judy Faulkner (Epic), Florsheim (Florsheim Shoes), and Stayer (Johnsonville).

Yes I understand it is strange for us mere mortals to stand up for the good name of wealthy business owners, but Wisconsin family run corporations have a strong history of offering high paying jobs that stay in the community.