Why I HATE Hardware Chainstores

[oldandslow]

So, my family and I put out a large garden (about 2 acres) every year. As you might guess we use a tiller quite a bit. Last fall, my old tiller, a Troy built rear tine, finally bit the big one after 12 years of use. I decided to go out and buy a new one. So I do some comparison shopping and finally decide on a Husque-Varna rear tine tiller from Bomgaars.

I buy one. I bring it home, put the proper amount of oil and gas in it, take it around the garden twice, and it starts smoking and loses all power. I freak a bit, but feel confident that Bomgaars will take care of me.

How wrong I was. I just got off the phone with the mgr and he tells me its the company's (Husque-Varna) problem, not his, and to take it to a repair shop and then bill the company. So I load the thing in my neighbor's old truck, find a repair shop, and find out engine was leaking oil into the piston and we have major damage. It's gonna take the guy quite some time to fix it and it will be costly.

So I call Husque-Varna and am told to work with the people who I bought it from...

I hate corporate America....

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Stryker

You could not purchase that from a local industrial fastner company? I used to work for a couple of them while going to college and 1/8 as well as 1/4 were regularly available at a will call counter - in various grades as well.

Just curious.

It wasn't that easy to just purchase things. We'd have to jump through hoops and get signatures and approvals for most purchases. However, we had a card that we could use for anything at Lowes so that was usually the first stop.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Agree with everything you said. Home Depot is okay, but I have always gotten better service and items from Lowe's.

I think there is a regional difference between Lowe's and HD. It seems in the South and Midwest that Lowe's is much more popular, and they seem to have better stores in general. However, if you follow remodeling and such online, people on the East Coast seems to be absolutely bonkers for Home Depot. I don't know if they don't have Lowe's there, or if their stores just aren't as good of quality there as they are here.

In my mind, there's no comparison. Our HD is completely unorganized, and you can never find anyone on the floor to help you out.

[ottawa_chiefs_fan]

I went to Home Dumpo last week to get 2 garbage cans. They had the cans but no lids. I walked for 5 minutes or more around this gigantic store to find someone to help me. went to the customer service counter - on the phone, returns - on the phone. So I went back, moved all the garbage cans out into the aisle and left. I FELT GREAT and **** Home Dumpo!!!

Originally Posted by vailpass

Maybe it's because you went to a small store without much volume power.
Home Depot or Loews would have hooked you up with a new one.

Actually - the reason for this policy is because people buy tillers, generators, and other one-time use or emergency use items and then return them - used.

Home Depot and Lowes would have told him the same thing. Their policies have recently changed.

For those of you with better service at Lowes - they're the very same. I spend about 10 hours a week in one or the other of these two stores and they're identical with their service. Sometimes you'll find somebody who is a little bit worse (or better) than the next guy but that's usually due to the individual.

FWIW, Home Depot (in my town) still offers a Veteran discount program. Lowes did until last week when they abandoned it. Guess where I'll be going for the materials I have to buy at a lumber yard now?

[vailpass]

In Phoenix Home Depot is everywhere and going great guns. The stores are clean and well stocked, and you can get everything you need.
Lowes are nice too, not considered as much of a hard-core hardware store. All of the contractors/construction guys shop HD.
Plus if you need an illegal dayworker of two they are right there in the back of some HD parking lots.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Menard's has great customer service.

[kpic]

Originally Posted by NewPhin

people on the East Coast seems to be absolutely bonkers for Home Depot. I don't know if they don't have Lowe's there, or if their stores just aren't as good of quality there as they are here.

We have both here (NJ). Both are within a couple of miles from me, they are exactly the same although the Lowes is a bit more for the "consumer" and the HD leans a bit to the contractors.

Both are fine though (our HD is very well organized). I usually go by price and availability on which one I go to.

[Chief Pote]

Next time use a credit card and dispute the charges when it happens. AND then tell'em to take where the sun doesn't shine.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by kpic

We have both here (NJ). Both are within a couple of miles from me, they are exactly the same although the Lowes is a bit more for the "consumer" and the HD leans a bit to the contractors.

Both are fine though (our HD is very well organized). I usually go by price and availability on which one I go to.

Pretty much how it is in FL. All HD's and Lowes are the same everywhere here. Usually go to whichever one is "on the way" to wherever else I'm going.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by oldandslow

http://www.bomgaars.com/index.html

They are all around NE, SD, ND, and MN.

was the ground still frozen?
J/K

what a pain in the a$$.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Actually - the reason for this policy is because people buy tillers, generators, and other one-time use or emergency use items and then return them - used.

Home Depot and Lowes would have told him the same thing. Their policies have recently changed.

For those of you with better service at Lowes - they're the very same. I spend about 10 hours a week in one or the other of these two stores and they're identical with their service. Sometimes you'll find somebody who is a little bit worse (or better) than the next guy but that's usually due to the individual.

FWIW, Home Depot (in my town) still offers a Veteran discount program. Lowes did until last week when they abandoned it. Guess where I'll be going for the materials I have to buy at a lumber yard now?

But if he's wanting service or an exchange, that rationale doesn't exactly fly.

[stlchiefs]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Plus if you need an illegal dayworker of two they are right there in the back of some HD parking lots.

I thought they had started stocking them on the shelves now?

[oldandslow]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

But if he's wanting service or an exchange, that rationale doesn't exactly fly.

Exactly. I just want it fixed or I want another one.

[plbrdude]

Originally Posted by Brock

Bomgaars? I never heard of this gigantic corporation.

prolly kinda like menards?

[Chief Chief]

Originally Posted by Brock

Do you expect to be able to purchase titanium bar at your neighborhood hardware store?

Is that the fancy term for 'titty bar'?