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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
 ·Charter
 ·surpasshosting
| reply to bcool
Re: What happened to customer service? As a contractor myself, I have formed many opinions regarding suppliers.
First and foremost Lowes' Depot sucks. They do. Lowe's sucks slightly less than the Depot. But at the end of the day, they both suck. I'm NOT saying I never buy anything there. When I'm in a pinch, I do.
If I need something small, I'm going to the closest Lowe's Depot.
I've learned that for construction materials, you go to a supplier.
When I need siding, I go to a siding supplier. They actually get excited about siding. Instead of 2-3 choices, they have hundreds of styles and colors - in stock. You can go in the warehouse and look at them.
I normally hire out plumbing and HVAC, unless it's something very simple.
For flooring, you go to a flooring wholesaler. For cabinets, you go to a cabinet wholesaler. For windows, a window supplier.
I think what most people find hard to believe, is that most suppliers are much cheaper than the "big box" stores. The people know more about the product, and the installers are generally better (not always). I know a couple of guys who work for Lowe's as subs, but they also work for others.
I think the biggest problem you are going to run in to is being rural. There is no competition. I notice this when I get about 20 miles from civilization. Everything is more expensive, and the customer service is "lacking", to put it mildly. They suck more than Lowe's Depot.
We had some chains around her that went belly up because they couldn't compete. True Value, Carter, 84 Lumber, "Do-it" - they all sucked. They were resistant to change. They were used to being the only game in town.
We still have a few survivors (Hackmann, RP Lumber, etc...). Strategically located nowhere near a Lowe's Depot. They still have the mentality that they can charge 2X as much for the same Chinese crap that Lowe's Depot carries, with less selection.
You mentioned you are building a new house. Your subs should know where to go for materials.
A huge mistake that I often see homeowners make - They try to be their own general contractor and they want to supply the materials in the mistaken belief that it will save them money. You'd be much better off just finding subs that are honest about their markup.
Ask for bids with labor and material separate (if they don't do it already). That way you know.
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...because I care. | |
Reviews:
 ·Velcom
| I'll give you a bit of Canadian perspective.
-We have one local hardware store chain (Crappy Tire) where they hire lots of young staff that doesn't know jack squat, when you can hunt down an employee (hard to find). Only shop there if you know EXACTLY what you want and where to get it.
-I am boycotting Lowes because they don't offer the 10% discount to Canadian troops like they do with American troops. If they're gonna operate in our country, then they better show some respect. I shopped there a couple of times before they withdrew the discount and I found the staff available, eager, but not very knowledgeable.
-When it comes to big box stores, HD's da bomb. I just hunt down an older guy in the department and chances are he'll help me find what I'm looking for or figure out the solution to my problem in those rare cases where I don't know exactly what I'm doing.
Real suppliers should be the first place to go to, but if you're working during regular hours, chances are you won't get to talk to them. They typically work M-F 7:30-16:30.
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If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.
—George Bernard Shaw | |
| said by FiReSTaRT:I'll give you a bit of Canadian perspective.
-We have one local hardware store chain (Crappy Tire) where they hire lots of young staff that doesn't know jack squat, when you can hunt down an employee (hard to find). Only shop there if you know EXACTLY what you want and where to get it.
canadian tire is hit and miss, some locations are great, my local one for example. the hardware dept is managed by the former owner of a local hardware store. (no they didnt put him out of business). Canadian Tire is an anomoly in the big box world, the stores are huge but all independantly owned, when you have a problem you call the owner and they usually make it right.
as for the other side of the big boxes in canada, we have Rona, who has 2 chains of full size stores but also they are like true value, a chain of independant franchises. they were a co-op until recently. they even have a chain of 75 000 +/- sq ft stores that are franchised, often owned by people who have had hardware stores in a community for a long time.
that being said, im saddened to see my town gain a rona regional (locally owned) but lose 4 hardware stores and 2 lumber yards | |
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