Hardware store chain with no customers

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: ag_ghost
Old news:
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/lowes-completes-orchard-supply-hardware-stores-purchase-cm272790

Kevin



I can't understand why Lowes didn't use that money to build some more of their own stores; their own stores are doing well.

 

[kozanoglu]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
^^^ There is one traditional hardware store in town where you can buy high quality items not available at the big home center stores, but the one hardware store chain I'm referring to doesn't have that advantage; they're stocking the same items that the home center chains are stocking, but at higher prices.


Do they share the same name as an insurance company?

Geico or Progressive?

 

[crazyoildude]

its a forum you are protected in many ways

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Strange....ACE Hardware does pretty good here...


We have two Home Depots and two lowes not very far from us, and an ace that is closer than any. Mits always bustling. Ditto for the Benjamin Moore paint store across the street.

 

[Cutehumor]

Recently, I went to tractor supply. I needed a ball valve for my air compressor. It was $17 made in china. I drove to home depot I bought a ball valve made in China for 7 bucks. Prices are higher in small hardware stores.

 

[Vikas]

Local hardware stores (Aubuchon/Ace/TrueValue) that I visit are always busy with customers. Of course, the closest big box store is at least 10+ miles away. I have visited at least four different stores to accumulate my LED bulb stash and they all were all lively and had very good customer service.

If a big box store opens up within couple of miles of the local hardware store, they may not be able to last but so fare there are no signs of that happening.

 

[rjundi]

Small home building places end up doing well with higher end brands coupled to great service at customer level and corporate contractor accounts. The ones that don't go that route fold...

 

[ag_ghost]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4

I can't understand why Lowes didn't use that money to build some more of their own stores; their own stores are doing well.

it could simply be a way to access adequate real estate already zoned for commerical use. OTOH, companies often buy other firms to simply access the customers of the outfit that has been acquired. I don't know if that is case here, but I do know of other acqusitions driven by that objective. The OSH near me have large signs outside saying they're remodelding.

I think there can be a niche between large "big box" outfits like Lowes and HD and smaller classical hardware stores; it'll be interesting to see if they try that approach or eventually just shut down the small ones and try to "upgrade" the survivors to the Lowes brand. The closest Lowes to me is 8 miles and this OSH is < 3, so I think that's a possibilty.
Kevin

 

[Kestas]

It used to be that the small hardware stores carried items that matched the aging neighborhood. You could depend on going to the neighborhood hardware store and find something that fit whatever you were trying to fix.

 

[dlundblad]

I suppose it's safe to say our small town hardware store is slowly going away too. I'll use them for a few random odds and ends, but that's about it. Seems like the only real business they get is contractors early in the morning. Menards and Lowes is in the next town over as well.

 

[splinter]

Sad to see the little guys fade away.

I specifically patronize our local Ace and True Value for the little stuff as they're almost always helpful and friendly. "Good morning, Mr. splinter!"

Prices are close to Home Depot and Lowes on many items but not having to go to the big box wankers is so worth it to me. Most of the time.

 

[bdcardinal]

Home Depot usually gets a lot of my business because I can walk there. Their entire inventory is on their iPhone app, and it tells me the aisle it is on so I don't have to talk to anyone.

There is an OSH here that has an amazing hardware section. Everything is neat, organized, and in stock. Unfortunately their prices are way out of line. They used to have extremely helpful people, a lot of times retired contractors and tradesmen, but now it is staffed by people who have to ask for help themselves.

 

[Dave Hess]

I like to be in and out of a store within 30 minutes.

Really don't like asking for help because most of the time they don't know the answer. BITOG gives better tips and advice.

 

[UncleS2]

I think Ace, True Value & independent stores tend to do OK in small towns where it's a long drive to a Home Depot or Lowes. Here, it's about 32 miles south or 28 miles northwest to HD/L's. Or, from my house, it's about 3 miles to Ace Hardware. For me, 99% of the time, that's no contest at all.

 

[The_Jeff]

There's a hardware store up here that's scraping by... every other light is on. FIL is a carpenter and he runs all sorts of stuff through them-- them as middleman to the wholesaler, with a 10% markup.

They have chicken/dog/horse food, but you have to know, to ask.
Same with cutting glass.

Those who know them, know what they can do. But they can put up a poster that reads, did you know we also...

 

[tom slick]

My local OSH stays fairly busy, the local True Value always has more employees than customers. Both are located within 10 miles of a Lowes and Home depot. The Home Depot is a dump but carries some nicer stuff than the clean and orderly Lowes.

The local Ace stores do very good business and are always busy and have good help. They also carry stuff that match the local houses like Zinsco breakers.

 

[Dave Hess]

Big box home improvement stores has unlicensed contractors prostituting themselves for work and handing out promotional flyers.

 

[raytseng]

pretty much every osh i've been too has a resident "old guy" or a couple "old guy"s who you can ask how to do something. So if you need the guidance on exactly how to do a job they tell you how to do it and exactly which product you need.

Prices maybe 0-10% higher than the big box store especially if you don't go on a sale day.
Trying to get that same advice at the big box store is the guys reading the labels on the items back to you and you spending 30minutes doing the same.

But as said above, perhaps they are getting phased out.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: UncleS2
I think Ace, True Value & independent stores tend to do OK in small towns where it's a long drive to a Home Depot or Lowes. Here, it's about 32 miles south or 28 miles northwest to HD/L's. Or, from my house, it's about 3 miles to Ace Hardware. For me, 99% of the time, that's no contest at all.

Very true, same is true for me. 'cept where I live those who have money (or at least are making decent money) are probably driving daily to those larger towns for work. I know I will often hit up HD on the way home if I have a project.

But for a quick item it's certainly faster--and cheaper once gas is factored in--to shop locally.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
It used to be that the small hardware stores carried items that matched the aging neighborhood. You could depend on going to the neighborhood hardware store and find something that fit whatever you were trying to fix.

There's one Ace HW in the Garden District/Uptown area that has just the sort of fixtures the Victorian (and older) homes nearby need -- fixtures you wouldn't find at Home Depot or Lowe's, probably. Plus there's no Home Depot or Lowe's close by.