Why I buy on the Internet...

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SuperDave

SuperDave

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
682
Location
Sherwood, Oregon - 97140, USA.
... Three trips to the "local" Woodcraft store for some fill-in inventory/supplies. Cost in gas; about $6 round trip. Just a few highlights:

Cigar Barrels: No inventory, none on order.:(
Cigar Bushings: One bag in inventory, none on order.:(
Basic Black Acrylic Blanks: No inventory, none on order.:(
Plastic Polish: No inventory, none on order.:(

Have you shopped with us before?" [:eek:)] (yes, but my last time...)[}:)]
"Did you find everything?" [:eek:)] as I hand over the bag-o-bushings... and my club discount card...

"You saved .89 cents today" [:eek:)](and you lost $30.00, so I win)[}:)]

It use to be paying a bit more locally for convenience and immediacy outweighed the savings from on-line sales, especially with the shipping some companies want to charge. Not any more. Now, I can spend $18 in gas and save .89 cents and still have to buy everything on-line.

I'll cut down the neighbors trees for blanks before I spend another dollar in Woodcraft.

Dave has left the room[}:)]
 
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I'm right there with you brother. I was in Home Depot today, and it seemed like every other thing that I needed, they were out of. They had 400 of every item around those items, but not what I needed. Sometimes I think the people that are supposed to take inventory for the upcoming orders are just sleeping through their shifts. Either that, or everyone else in the county was looking for a 6" buffing wheel and some 1" screws today. Grrrr.

Thank God they had 348 different types of jack hammer bits in stock, or it would have been a real waste of a trip. [B)]
 
Karl,

I hate going to Home Despot. I went there to get WHITE rattle can paint. No joy. Plenty of Hot Pink! I Had to drive 10 miles to Lowe's. It's the same thing every time.

Then they want you to check yourself out to save on their labor!! It's Either that, or you wait in line for the only check stand with a clerk. So I go to the contractors desk or the return desk and make them check me out and don't even bat an eye when they give me the dead-eye look.[}:)] Same thing is happening in all the grocery stores...
 
Originally posted by PAPATURNER

It appears that Wally World trained them all.
By the way I agree with you both.

Perry
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Our Walley World has plenty of checkers, and if the lines get long, they add more, unlike Lowe's and Home Despot. I was in Lowe's, standing in the only open check out line (at the return desk) with 5 people in front of me. The "Manager" ask if I found everything OK. I replied yes, but I see you can't find any checkers. I asked why the put in self check when it's never open, He said the didn't have anyone to watch it.
 
Most retail stores at this time of the year are getting ready for inventory. The less inventory on the shelves the quicker it goes and the less it costs the store owner.

This combined with the fact that sales are normally down after the holiday rush just makes sense for them to wait until mid to late February before restocking.
 
Buying on-line these days only makes sense. And for things way beyond pen turning supplies. Gasoline cost is a big reason. Time saved is another big factor. But, selection and price comparison are probably the most decisive factors. I'm getting the 'itch' for a wide screen HD TV. Best prices in local stores is $1000.00 to $1300.00 for the size I'm considering. My son pointed me to sites that sell the same things for $600.00 to $800.00, some with free shipping. Downside: I get a bit of cabin fever from not leaving the house for, sometimes, three days in a row.
 
For the last few years I have been "online" shopping more and more. Most of the stores that I shop with have reduced or even free shipping from time to time and I usually save the 10% Tennessee sales tax.

I'm done with Home Depot,Woodcraft and Lowe's is on my short list but then I guess it is the lesser of two evils with Home Depot and Lowe's. For awhile I ran back and forth but finally Home Depot just mad me so mad I won't go back, it's just not worth it to get that upset.

Online I can take my time and usually know exactly if an item is in stock and if not when it will be. For me it is just simply better and more convenient. It taught me to be more patient also.
 
Sounds like some of y'all need an online source for Valium. ;) Lighten up, life is way too short to spend it pissed off.

Don't sweat the small stuff, and don't pet the sweaty stuff.
 
you mean there are stores for pen stuff that you can actually walk into? what will they think of next;)
the closest store to me for a few years was in Salt Lake City. roughly 12 hour drive. but then it is CSUSA.
 
Self-checkout registers mean one less person that the store could have hired. [}:)]

If the store wants me to do their job ... then give me a discount cause I just saved them money. Arghhh! [}:)][}:)]
 
The flip side to all this is that stores are in a battle to stay up with the competition. And the internet just ushered in more competition.

How can they compete with Joes online hardware imporium where some guy works out of his garage? Simple, hire fewer employees to assist the walk in customers! Hey, they are giving us EXACTLY what we asked for... lower prices... at any cost!

I wonder what the local retail scene will look like in 10 years? You probably won't have to worry about Lowes or Home Depot anymore because they will be gone, and you have to buy everything online, even the 30 2x4's you need for the backyard project.

And in 10 years those cigar pen kits you want, well, all the local Woodcraft and Rockler stores are gone too, you now have to order all your pen supplies directly from China since all the suppliers had to fold also due to penmakers insisting on even lower kit prices and started dealing with the factories direct.

The catch is that now the online shipping isn't free anymore and it takes three months to get even the smallest order so stock up when you can!:)

And just a side note: My local Woodcraft and Rockler stores will order anything I want and get it in within a week, about as quick as any online source. But for those rare instances when you are in the middle of a project and find that you need an item NOW, it sure is nice to hop in the car, go visit your friends at the local store, have some coffee and chat about what's new, then have it back in the shop an hour later. Try that with internet shopping! :D

I try to support them as much as possible, even if it sometimes means spending a few dollars more on some items. I just like having them around!
 
Online shopping has turned out to be a blessing for me. I was real hesitant at first, but I just have an old truck on it's last breath and don't like to drive it too far.

I've saved a lot buying my CA glue from Mannie. Also, I purchased a group of acrylic blanks from Woodcraft online and the ground shipping was free at the time. I've found others, like Woodturningz and Arizona Silhouette are very reasonable with shipping prices. I like buying my woods from fine folks like Big Rob, Kalai (Chris)& others at IAP---I've never been to Hawaii and likely never will---but, I have a nice stash of Hawaiian woods.
 
Originally posted by Texatdurango

The flip side to all this is that stores are in a battle to stay up with the competition. And the internet just ushered in more competition.

How can they compete with Joes online hardware imporium where some guy works out of his garage? Simple, hire fewer employees to assist the walk in customers! Hey, they are giving us EXACTLY what we asked for... lower prices... at any cost!

I wonder what the local retail scene will look like in 10 years? You probably won't have to worry about Lowes or Home Depot anymore because they will be gone, and you have to buy everything online, even the 30 2x4's you need for the backyard project.

And in 10 years those cigar pen kits you want, well, all the local Woodcraft and Rockler stores are gone too, you now have to order all your pen supplies directly from China since all the suppliers had to fold also due to penmakers insisting on even lower kit prices and started dealing with the factoried direct.

The catch is that now the online shipping isn't free anymore and it takes three months to get even the smallest order so stock up when you can!:)

And just a side note: My local Woodcraft will order anything I want and get it in within a week. I try to support them as much as possible, even if it sometimes means spending a few dollars more on some items. I just like having them around!
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Dave, this is NOT directed towards you, just a general comment. I agree with you, but it's our fault.

George, you are absolutely correct. They are giving us exactly what we've told them we wanted and now we complain about it. We now complain about quality. When we could get quality, we complained about price. Now that we can get price, we complain about service or availability. How I hate to see the demise of the local hardware store that had sales people with knowledge.
 
Originally posted by TBone

.... How I hate to see the demise of the local hardware store that had sales people with knowledge.
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Remember the good ole days when you could walk into a Home Depot and ask "Sam" where the pressure treated 2x4's were? Now you are lucky if you can stop someone who even knows what a 2'x is! 'Course they had to pay Sam a little more, but his knowledge came with the deal! :)
 
Dave, the Columbus, Ohio store is well stocked and has <s>dozens</s> scores of blanks and a very nice inventory of pens and supplies. They just got a new brand of CA glue - in thin, med., thick and GEL. I'm gonna need to try the gel.

Chris
 
Originally posted by Blind_Squirrel

Originally posted by SuperDave

Then they want you to check yourself out to save on their labor!!
Click to expand...

Dave,
That is opportunity knocking! Now you can add "part time cashier for Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart" to your resume. :D
Click to expand...

Or you could take the initiative that I heard of a couple of customers in Wal-Mart that "checked" themselves out... according to my friend who witnessed the incident, the couple arrived at the check out with two(2) full carts of groceries and other items... they "scanned" each item and their bill was $42.44 including taxes.

Creative scanning...?? [}:)]
 
At Woodcraft, it is a Franchise issue. You can tell that by the simple fact that some of you have great results at your local Woodcraft while some of us do not. Letting inventory drop over the holidays, when that should be one of their peak sales periods, is just ignorant or cheap; take you pick. A well run retail store will forward buy to cover increased demand for peak selling periods and promotions, assuming they actually track their sales. It all comes back to the level of the Franchise's involvement. Our Woodcraft won't even carry enough inventory to cover a promotion. They seem to figure that since you are now in the store, you will pay more for a substitute item. I chose to walk.

As for it being nice to visit the local store for some time critical supplies, that is exactly what I was trying to do three times in a row. Each time I am told that they won't get another order for 3-4 weeks. When asked if the items are even on order, the answer is "NO." So, it won't be 3-4 weeks because they have not even ordered them!

As for the BORG giving us lower prices, I get a better selection and much lower prices at the ACE Hardware store 15 miles away. Unfortunately, they don't carry turning stuff.

As for us getting what we asked for, I am not sure how we asked for mega stores to have the highest prices around, no service and lousy product mix. Blame the Internet all you want for those issues. Bottom line is many stores (Target and Wal*Mart for instance) have embraced the Internet and incorporated it into their overall market development plans. You can order on-line and pick up at the store. You can order on-line for Woodcraft, (and I have tried that at our local store) and I have had to wait nearly two months only to find out that the 4" JET face plate is not available... and only after I called them for the third time because they don't call their customers.

If any retail stores close their doors and want to blame it on the Internet, China, whatever, all they really have to do is look in the mirror. If they want to keep their customers, then service them so they keep coming back.

I paid more for groceries when I stopped by the locally owned IGA on the way home, because they remembered my name, I could get my meats sliced any way I wanted without feeling like I was interrupting their business, they bagged and carried things to my car without even asking "do you want help out?" (and yes I could carry my own bags but when the "courtesy clerk" does it as part of their job description, why not let them?) Now we live in an area with only national chain stores and service is a four letter word.

Like the saying: "Lead, follow or get out of the way." Some stores will lead and others will follow their lead and some will get out of the way (close). The first two will benefit themselves and their customers and the last one will get what THEY ASKED FOR, which was "please shop at my competitors, or on-line, because meeting my customers needs is too much work."

Customers will drive the market; always have and always will. Stores that cannot or will not adapt or change, will close, as they should. Economic evolution in action.

Power to the Customer!!:D

Disclaimer:</u>

Only one man's opinion. Your mileage may vary. Take two of anything and call someone in the morning, side effects should be mild and if "IT" lasts for longer than four hours see your doctor immediately.
 
I prefer my local woodcraft, i make weekly trips there. Sometimes I don't buy much, but I go there because i've become friends with a good amount of the clerks there. They're always curteous, friendly and stocked. Plus they treat me as anyother wood turner and respect me only though i may be 14 going on 15. I may actually be looking to get a summer job there as a sales clerk.
 
I'm a big fan of buying online*. I like to see some things in person first though. Bill, Ernie, Tim & Tracey, Ryan and all the wonderful vendors in this group make this such a fun hobby. The storefront guys have pretty good online sites as well when you can't find it in the store. Heck... I usually can find something I need when I make the journey to a storefront. I figured out pretty quick which ones to just go ahead and get it online and save a trip.

* especially when there's free shipping!!:D:D:D
 
I think I would of called Woodcraft first, before making the trips.
I also would of made a list so I wouldn't of made 3 trips. My local Woodcraft is only 14 miles away, but I always call to make sure they have what I'm looking for. Unless I go to just hang out awhile. Now that I do from time to time. Thats why I like my local Woodcraft, not to mention the guys and gals that work there.

Thanks
Dale
 
I do both, but prefer the local stores. One perfect example is what happened today: I was turning a bowl, and ran into a problem. My fault, but the end result was the belt for the lathe had a "flat" spot in the grooves. Looked online, and the best I could get one was a week. Went to the local Woodcraft, and they were out. However, the owner was there, and since I do go there and hang out (and spend money), he gave me the belt off their floor model of my lathe until they get a shipment in later this week, so I am gong to be able to happily turn tonight and tomorrow. That kind of service can't be beat. As far as inventory, they are usually well stocked with pen kits, blanks, tools etc. This is really the first time I have not gotten what I wanted the first time.
 
Originally posted by 7miles

I think I would of called Woodcraft first, before making the trips.
I also would of made a list so I wouldn't of made 3 trips. My local Woodcraft is only 14 miles away, but I always call to make sure they have what I'm looking for. Unless I go to just hang out awhile. Now that I do from time to time. Thats why I like my local Woodcraft, not to mention the guys and gals that work there.

Thanks
Dale
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I usually have a note book with a list. These trips were three weeks apart and for unplanned needs. As for the phone calls, my wife said the same thing. After 35 years in retail and retail development, I told her "that's like calling the grocery store to see if they have bread and milk.";)
 
The two local Wally World superstores put in the self check-out things a couple of years ago, then one of them removed it about a year ago and the other took them out 6-7 months ago. They lose a lot of money with those things. The local Home Depot just put it in a few months ago. I'll be interested to see how long it lasts.

Even though I live in the largest city in the state, I buy virtually all my pen making supplies on the net. The only exceptions are sandpaper and CA, both readily available locally.
 
I buy 100% of my supplies for penturning over the internet, mostly from USA and Canada.

Turners Retreat in England is listening to penmakers and is stocking better platings instead of only 24k for everything.;)

Although he stocks some stuff that I can use it is still cheaper for me to buy from accross the pond.[?]

Also, as I have walking difficulties even a trip round our local shops is too painfull.[xx(]
 
The nearest brick and mortar store that carries pen making supplies is just over 120 miles away it's a woodcrafts store just out of Nashville, with gas at 3 bucks a gallon it would cost me 24.00 for gas, I can get a lot of stuff shipped in for a lot less than that. In most cases I know what I'm going to get, or whether it's in stock.
 
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