I suppose I'm just too content

**lrr** · 12-28-2013, 07:47 PM

Funny, I don't get too interested in going down the tool aisle at HD either. It may be that I've bought most of the Ridgid brand items I wanted. Back when they carried jointers in the store, I bought their 6" model. Basically the same as the Craftsman at the time (slightly different cabinet, and colors of course were different) but the Ridgid was on sale when I bought it. I also have their 2930 2HP router with fixed and plunge base. I like this router quite a bit in my router table since it can be adjusted from above with a small tool, similar to the Porter-Cable routers. I've only used the plunge base a few times. I still like the ergonomics on my old (1975) Craftsman that has the trigger switch in the grip. I own the Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander, a very versatile tool. I also have a belt sander that is fantastic -- variable speed and soft start. I forgot, I also have a Ridgid 1/4 sheet sander (nothing special, it was free with my belt sander), and a 10" compound miter saw, too. The last purchase I made at Home Depot for a tool was for the little Ridgid palm router. I love that router, and it has a 1/4" roundover bit in it at all times since I seem to use that bit all the time. Wow, I sound like a Ridgid fanboy! But I do not have any of their cordless tools, oddly enough.

I have even less desire to shop for tools at Lowe's, other than they carry Bessey clamps at pretty good prices. Also, if you use your Lowe's card, you get a 5% discount on any purchase (not the occasional "special" deal from Home Depot when they send card holders a psot card to get 5% off). Since Lowe's prices are typically the same as HD, I tend to go their for some generic purchase where I know I'll save a little.

Since I'm nearing retirement, my purchases over the past couple years have been higher end products -- Festool, Powermatic, Laguna, etc. And I'm looking at Felder and Hammer for combo jointer/planer and possibly a second large bandsaw. I'd love to have one for "scrolling", and one for resawing. (Maybe just a pipe dream at this point ...)

They should last a lifetime -- especially for me ...

**Cochese** · 12-28-2013, 09:39 PM

I've not really looked at the tools either place lately. The Bosch Colt for $100 caught my eye at Lowes a couple of months ago, but that's it.

I'm in savings mode for more expensive tools at the moment. Beefy router, track saw, perhaps a Domino...but I do need a quality finish sander and a corded trim router. Those have kinda been put on the back burner to see how fast I can save.

A lot more of my browsing is done at Highland or Lee Valley these days.

**jdon** · 12-28-2013, 11:58 PM

I have a kid headed to college in September.

One major reason for cutting down on impulse buying. Congrats, or condolences, as the case may be.

**cwsmith** · 12-29-2013, 12:33 PM

I don't know quite what it is, but visiting Home Depot, especially their tool isle has become less and less attractive to me. In this past year, I think I've gone there only a couple of times and have bought nothing.

The two stores that I used to visit (Corning and Binghamton areas) seem to have less and less in the way of actual tools, no big tool displays, and nothing really new that has caught my eye.

Everything seems to be just disrupted in some way, missing parts, damaged, dirty or whatever. Never a salesman in that part of the store or anyone really assigned with responsibility for it. The whole thing appears to be just of the contractors who need to get in and get out quickly to replace a tool.

I stopped in at the Binghamton-area store yesterday to pick up some light bulbs and noticed that they only have one cashier now, everything else is self-checkout and I refuse to use "robots". Very few customers in the store. Lowes, on the other hand has lots of cashiers, no self-checkouts (hurray), and though their tool displays are always well organized and manned.

I wonder what HD's "numbers" are looking like?

CWS

**Cochese** · 12-29-2013, 01:04 PM

I'll take the self checkouts 10 times out of 10. Much faster.

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**jussi** · 12-29-2013, 02:37 PM

I feel the same way as well. I think it's because when I first started woodworking I didn't really know anything so when I saw a tool in real life I would be like a kid in a candy store. I would go up to a ridgid router and read the description printed and be like oooh this thing has a soft start, 6 speeds, and comes with 2 bases. Well after a while you realize most modern routers all have those features and some have features the ridgid is lacking. Or you would see a buck brothers plane all nice and shiny and think it was a great plane for the price. Then you read reviews in mags or comments on forums about how it's not such a great deal and you will have to do alot of fiddling with it to work properly. Of course for me, drinking the green kool aid certainly didn't help. And neither did learning about the existence of companies like Lie Nielsen, Lee Valley, and Bridge city.

That and after some time you probably have equivalent tools of everything they have on the isles. And it's either better or you're content with what you have and have no need to upgrade.

**durango dude** · 12-30-2013, 04:42 PM

Local HD must have nailed their inventory for Christmas.

There's almost nothing left over from Black Friday ----- all the "special" crates are gone - and replaced by storage offerings (Rubbermaid, tool boxes, etc).

There's a couple of gun safes left over - and that's pretty much it.

Way I figure - some dude with a computer figured almost exactly what they'd sell --- and shipped it. So what did my store sell? Almost nothing of value to a woodworker! (that's not what sells).

**dbhost** · 12-30-2013, 05:04 PM

What I wanted to buy from Home Depot woodworking tools wise, they quit selling. I have gotten to be a HUGE fan of the Hitachi KM12VC, which of the box stores, Lowes carried, the items I really wanted from Home Depot?

Most notable, the Ryobi DP121L 12" drill press.

They did brign the Ridgid 6" jointer back, although in my current shop config, a floor model jointer is going to be tough to pull off... I think it is an online only item though...

Yeah, I can honestly say I no longer go to Home Depot to drool. Now it is Woodcraft, or Rockler...

**cwsmith** · 12-30-2013, 07:54 PM

I know a lot of folks like the "robot" self-serve checkouts. For me, not so much... er, actually NOT at all.

It's not that they are complicated or anything, it's just that it replaces someone's job. I grew up in a time when those kinds of jobs were "starters"; a good place to learn the ropes of working, earn a work history of sorts.

(Actually, Thomas J. Watson [IBM's creator] started out as a part-time clerk in the little hardware store in Painted Post... I wonder what would have happened if that job wasn't available because of a self-serve machine?)

We used to do that (starter jobs) with pumping gas at the local station, or bagging groceries, etc. Too much of that has gone by the way side in my opinion. I like service, I like dealing with people and I rarely mind the wait as you can always strike up a conversation, even a short one, with someone new.

I won't support doing away with people by replacing them with a self-serve robot.

CWS

**greenacres2** · 12-30-2013, 08:51 PM

Originally posted by cwsmith

Snip...
(Actually, Thomas J. Watson [IBM's creator] started out as a part-time clerk in the little hardware store in Painted Post... I wonder what would have happened if that job wasn't available because of a self-serve machine?)
...Snip

CWS

Perhaps he would not have been able to pay for the education that led him to found one of the companies that made self-serve check-out possible?? Imagine the irony...

earl

**LCHIEN** · 12-30-2013, 08:56 PM

Maybe he would have founded IBM five years sooner...
and its market value would be twice as much now.

one day soon, its almost possible today, the robot cashiers may be androids, carry on a casual conversation while checking you out and might pass the Turing test (can't tell a live person from an android).

They may even check you out and make a pass at you!

**Cochese** · 12-30-2013, 09:30 PM

Originally posted by cwsmith

I know a lot of folks like the "robot" self-serve checkouts. For me, not so much... er, actually NOT at all.

It's not that they are complicated or anything, it's just that it replaces someone's job. I grew up in a time when those kinds of jobs were "starters"; a good place to learn the ropes of working, earn a work history of sorts.

(Actually, Thomas J. Watson [IBM's creator] started out as a part-time clerk in the little hardware store in Painted Post... I wonder what would have happened if that job wasn't available because of a self-serve machine?)

We used to do that (starter jobs) with pumping gas at the local station, or bagging groceries, etc. Too much of that has gone by the way side in my opinion. I like service, I like dealing with people and I rarely mind the wait as you can always strike up a conversation, even a short one, with someone new.

I won't support doing away with people by replacing them with a self-serve robot.

CWS

The more people they have at the front end, the less they have out on the floor. There is only so much money for payroll, no need to waste it on people to be bored in one place all day.

That's where I started too, and I don't wish that job on anyone.

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**capncarl** · 12-31-2013, 07:55 AM

I will not use the self service check out under any conditions. The big box stores have laid off a lot of full time workers and have dumped their responsabilities on their suppliers. Now we have a store full of shelf stockers that do not know anything about the store except their racks.
capncarl

**LCHIEN** · 12-31-2013, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by capncarl

I will not use the self service check out under any conditions. The big box stores have laid off a lot of full time workers and have dumped their responsabilities on their suppliers. Now we have a store full of shelf stockers that do not know anything about the store except their racks.
capncarl

So these are things Amazon has done, too. The box stores are just trying to compete?

Or maybe we use Amazon because the don't provide any real services anymore?

Do you use Amazon at all? There's no full service there - all self service. Just stockers and shipping-packers

I suppose I'm just too content

I suppose I'm just too content

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