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LockedHardware Stores

posted on August 05, 2009 at 08:09AM Inappropriate?

What is your favorite thing about your local Hardware store?  Why do you choose to go there instead of a big box or a mall store?  What would make you choose a Sears Hardware store over a competitor?

We want to improve our free standing hardware stores and would appreciate your input.

replies: 6 latest post: August 02, 2010 at 01:45PM by IRISHNANNY
Displaying all 6 posts
posted on August 05, 2009 at 08:54AM
 

I'm sure not every Hardware Sears store does it, but the ones here do... don't tell customers a mall store has something in stock when 1)they don't call the mall store to actually find out and 2)we simply don't have it in stock.

 

I've had too many customers leave angry because they were told we have something in stock and they drive "all" the way to us to buy it... only to find that we don't have it after all.  The person at the Hardware Store checked our inventory with the computer instead of calling our store.  You DO NOT do that.  Yet, most of the Hardware Stores do that around here - then we have to deal with the angry customer.

 

I've also had some Hardware Store associates tell a customer one thing about what they need or want and it simply isn't true.  Lack of knowledge.

 

As I said... that seems to be a lot of the ones around us.  I know it isn't all the Hardware Stores.  It's frustrating, that's all.

posted on August 05, 2009 at 09:11AM
 

What makes places like Lowes better is the amount of space for the product. Sears has good stuff but its in a corner of the store, or a fraction of space.  Craftsman's line is a cramped area, feels dark, narrow and not friendly to anyone who is not hardcore about tool brands.

If the brand and hardware were expanded or re-designed to be more light, open and aired out, I would shop there. Seriously it does actually matter, as much as it seems like a silly issue.

posted on September 11, 2009 at 03:07AM
 

The tool area in the store I work at is pretty expansive and very well lit (near lights and fixtures).

Now, the paint section is TINY there!

The exercise equipment has done "jumped the isle" and is rapidly displacing all the Paint section.

posted on September 12, 2009 at 01:37AM
 

A really good hardware store has some surprise stuff, that not even some of the store workers know "what it is".

:)

Like:

Would you believe spare dressing wheels for a star-wheel dresser tool?

I was floored, when I saw them!

Got me TWO sets...

The store hardware guru had to "look up" their price.

They didn't have no barcode on um!

Sweet...

posted on May 10, 2010 at 12:04PM
 

Yaa...

The replacement points to a star wheel, bench grinder wheel dresser tools are now in little plastic bags on a hook, at the local Ace Hardware store.

Now, THAT is down-right nostalgic.

Where'd the grooves in my grinding wheels go?

Oh, they're gone...

Meet my little friend!

I still got my 12 inch long, cast-iron, painted red Sears Star-wheel dressing tool, that I occasionally use on my old U.S. made Emerson, Craftsman square motor bodied bench grinder.

I've got to get better wheels (white, pink or blue) for it, sometime...

posted on August 02, 2010 at 01:45PM
 

i miss the mom and pop hardware stores,when you needed something you always got it, or they have it for you the nextday, i dislike the big stores,thier;r cold and you get very little help from the people who work in them, if you dont want to work or just want a paycheck get out of the job

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