Local Dollar

[mscher]

Re: Local Dollar

I live in a major metropolitan area. Sticking with hardware stores as a topic, I can visit a local ACE hardware store or Home Depot. They're the same distance from my house.

I go to the ACE first. Why? Because they stock actual hardware. They have an aisle that is nothing but drawers full of nuts and bolts and screws. Need aluminum machine screws? They have them in every available size. Ditto stainless steel, brass, and Grade 8.

Need some #6 wire? They sell it by the foot, and even have 2-conductor wire in that size. How about a trolling motor plug and socket? No problem. Did the recoil spring on your lawnmower break? They've got it, even if your mower is 15 years old.

That's why I go there first. If they have what I need, I buy it there, even if it would be a little cheaper at Home Depot. If they don't have it, I go to Home Depot, which might have it...maybe...possibly...

I reward the local store, not because I want to "support local businesses," but because this particular ACE Hardware has figured out that they can compete with Home Depot by supplying all the hardware needs of the community, not just the average needs. If I need a brass replacement float for a 50 year old toilet, like the one in my house, I know that Home Depot doesn't have it. The local ACE does.

If I need one 1/2" X 4" Stainless Steel bolt and matching washers and a nut, I can't get that at Home Depot. I can at the ACE. So I go to the ACE.

Small businesses can successfully compete with the Home Depots, but they have to work at it by supplying what Home Depot won't. If they do that, folks will come to their store first, not last.

If my local ACE hardware didn't carry a full line of stuff, I would never go there, and they'd soon be out of business. It's not hard to compete with Home Depot, but you do have to try. Home Depot sells the lowest common denominator of stuff, for less, but they don't sell what you need half the time.

You are correct that this is the key to survival for these small businesses.

Offering a unique selection and item quality, that the big stores cannot match.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Local Dollar

Here is an argument that will imply being cautious with dealing with local.

I needed a pallet Jack (hydrolic), so after reading this thread I looked up the local yellow pages and ordered one from a small local business.

They were going to tell me when it was in....don't have any in stock.

They didn't...I had to ring them.

They want too much for delivery....fine, Anita puts the trailer on the car and goes and gets it.

Tells me it is actually a truck tyre business and no one was really friendly.

Get it home, and bingo, it won't release....(go down)....then it won't go up....read the instructions....everything is fine....won't work....so ring the sellers....office lady asks Barry....hear him in the background "tell him to read the f@#$%^ label on the handle"....go and do that....every thing is right....just won't work....ring back....they send out a young bloke to look at it.....he tries adjusting it....now you can pump it up, but only with small pumps...pump down too far and it releases...also you can only release it if you have the handle right down...won't release when the handle is up....which is useless in the trucks....and the young bloke reckons it's fine....won't take it back...tells me he will get Barry to ring me.

Now, when I made 1st enquiries, they told me they only sell good quality German ones, not cheap useless Chinese.
So I pay $550 for this German one, and the Chinese at the 'big national chain' is $327.

I am not saying don't deal with local....I try and try and try....but I don't need this S@#$.....I am busy....I want something that works....I want reasonably priced delivery....and I don't want to be left with a dud that never worked that cost 50% more than the Nation Chain Store....who have a totally different approach to their customers.

I am really jacked-off at the moment, so don't let my experience cloud your decisions.
I'll cool down soon.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Local Dollar

Phillip, isn't it amazing how, even in today's shaky economy, companies don't seem to want people's business? They certainly have absolutely no interest in earning customers' business.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Local Dollar

I don't want to withdraw my post above, but I feel it is not necessarily appropriate to the topic.
The person I dealt with is abnormal.....just my luck to pick him.

The situation deteriated to a point i asked the office lady if I could return the pallet jack (truck)....after it was looked at twice it still didn't work...and the bloke wouldn't take it back with him, and expected me to accept it in a non working condition...and the lady said yes, that was ok.
So I told her I would return it on monday....that I would go and buy another now.
Then next day around comes another bloke, who got it going....it had been assembled incorrectly.....but I had bought another.

I took it back this morning.
The owner flew out of the workshop with an iron bar in his hand......right up to me....screaming abuse. I did nothing...stunned....if I had run I think he would have assulted me.

Then storms out to the trailer....the abuse was foul and loud....then he said 'you sent that f...'n c... of a wife of yours to pick it up' etc...he tore the door on the trailer open, ripped the pallet jack out and crashed it onto the ground then continued on about how it was now used and no good to him.

I got my bucks back....it was a really nasty situation.
Strange thing, I was never scared....I was too shocked I suppose. Just stood there stupidly.

So the point I wish to make here is chaps, I am wrong to let my experience cloud my judgement of all small businesmen, then express them here, and i will continue to buy local whenever possible.

Please accept my apologies.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Local Dollar

No apologies needed Phil. I think you handled the situation with constraint.