Nice thing passed on!

[Patrike]

I went to Home Depot looking for bolts last night -- no 5/16 24thread. So I dropped buy Brafasco this morning -- got 4 bolts 4 nyluc nuts and 4 reagular nuts. The guy handed me a baggy with stuff and said we'll catch you next time. ?????? I did not get it so I asked -- sorry, I don't understand. He says - We will bill you next time you come in.

I have been to this store twice in the last six months. I just said thank you very much and walked out.

I suspect the amount was less then 5 bucks so I made a 5$ donation to Burma fundraisers today at my building.

Patrick

[TheKid]

Excellent. Those HD ads have too many people brainwashed into thinking they have to go there for every little thing. If you notice the prices at HD for small stuff compared to a local hardware store, you'll see how you pay for that advertizing.
The local guy gave you something that cost him less than a buck. For that he gets your business, because you'll think twice about going to HD next time. He'll also know that you'll tell your friends and family, and they'll think about going to HD next time. That's what I like about shopping local whenever possible. The little extras and recognition you get are priceless. Nice of you to remind us of that.

[n9viw]

+1, thanks for sharing the good press. It's nice to hear that they still appreciate your business... no, they VALUE your business enough to do what it takes to ensure it continues. That's very rare anymore.

I, too, like to shop "the little guy" as much as possible; can't always, but I try. Our smallest hardware store is the local Ace, and the highschool lackeys there really couldn't care less if we shopped there or not. They don't know a ratchet from a framing hammer, "but let me get you someone who might..." and we get passed back and forth between people who don't know, don't care, and don't care to know. Oy.

When I need sixty feet of vert lap siding, paint, tools, trim, nails, etc., I could blow my paycheck on gas, parts, and time running around to various small places and maybe only get half of what I need and have to order the rest, or I could get it all in one trip at the 'big box store' up the road.

Menards, HD, Lowes, doesn't matter. They've forced out the lumber yards, hardware stores, and paint stores by putting all that in one place, and when that's all you've got as a truly viable option, that's what you've got to go with.

[TheKid]

It's too bad the hardware store hires people like that. We have two local hardware stores, both True Value, that are owned and operated by people who know and care about their products. The lumber yards that remain cater to professional contractors who do quality work. For the average homeowner, they started carrying the crap sold by HD and Lowes, and in most cases, beat their prices. For example, they carry the cheap siding sold by the big box stores, and thicker, higher quality siding preferred by better home improvement professionals.
We still have two paint chains, mainly because Ben Moore doesn't sell to the big stores.