There’s this little hardware store down the street from me, and since I can’t drive, I ride my bike over there. I’ve been there several times to pick up sandpaper, brushes, etc… their selection isn’t great, but one of the guys who works there is an owner of a local skateboard company, and was once a pretty high-level bodyboarder… He noticed the types of materials I was buying and asked if I was making a surfboard… well I was.
So I was in the shop today and saw a nice English-made Stanley block plane (I have a cheapo harbor freight one), he promptly told me that he gets them in the shop for 11 dollars. I only had twenty and I knew the mark-up would be well over 20 dollars. He gave it to me for 12. Their shop does have a decent selection of tools of high-quality brands too, so yeah, just wanted to let people know that you lose contact with soulful people when you walk into corporate Lowes… support our local hardware store!
I couldn’t agree more, supporting local shops whether it be hardware stores, surf shops, grocery stores or any little corner store is a great way to help stimulate your local community. People like the convenience of the giant corporate stores like Walmart, etc. but there is nothing better than supporting something that started and is run by your community and the people in it. Local businesses are generally happy to have you in there and as a customer and will work with you to help keep you coming back where as the big corporations don’t care about you or your needs all they want is your money.
Anyway, great post and I’m glad to see there are others out there supporting the people who are trying to make a living doing what they love in their community!
That’s what it’s all about isn’t it? Support the home team. It’s sad to see these “Johhny come Latelys” move into a town and get involved with local politics and proceed to sell out all those that helped build up the town to inter. and national stores. I know young guys in the trades that don’t know any different from the Home Depot paradigm and they let those outlets waste their time following little old ladies buying plant food and light bulbs. There is NO WAY IN HELL I’m going inside of a store to load up and purchase lumber. This is blatant sub-standard service (???) and just what you get for patronizing these places. Use local shops and develop a rapport with them and you’l find it MUCH MORE expedient and mutually beneficial. People only concerned with the bottom line will get just that…the bottom. Sorry for the rant, but this is true with surfboards and shapers (who really wants a chinese popout) so why is it acceptable with other goods?
Plus, the local shops usually have some old guy that can actually answer your questions about wiring, plumbing, or whatever. Try finding the one person in Home Depot that can answer a simple question. Mike
Howzit rooster, That is so true about having knowledgable employees. I had a friend who is a really good construction guy and Home Depot told him he knw to much for them to hire him. They want people they can train to do what they want them to do. The only time I ask HD guys anything is where do I find it.Aloha,Kokua
The local hardware stores near my house are owned by friends or their family. They always have people there that know the business and give you the best customer service.
I went down to get shower valves about a month ago and when I asked the guy about the valves I grabbed he said they were the right ones. Then as I’m looking at other stuff he comes up to me and says that really don’t have to buy a new valve which costs about $20+ each. He said I could just replace all the worn out washers and o rings, then we went and got everything I’d need to rebuild them. I saved a lot of money. The store lost a few dollars in sales, but they gain a loyal customer who will spend a lot more over time.
I always tell the owners I know what great people they have and there are several workers that have that rep.