RIP Orchard Supply Hardware

[Removed 3]

ev-ry sin-gle branch of Cole Hardware in the city is better than any ACE I have seen (and of course than home depot.) Not saying they are cheaper. BUT I have had at least one faucet item that was actually in-stock in their dinky "family" 4-branch store, rather than at Home Depot (well that was a wasted trip to HD ) (also stocks ACE/Craftsman items)

...

if I need help I literally go to the first one. Although I got help from the second one too, I think you have to find the right guy, maybe it was "Neal"

Cole Hardware has been around for a long time and has a great reputation :thumbup

 

[Bay Arean]

Cole Hardware has been around for a long time and has a great reputation :thumbup

Yeah, I think that was the one I remember hearing about but have never been.

Also, you guys were talking about specialized fasteners. I think there are pro stores like Bay Bolt and J&M Fasteners for stuff like that. There was yet another place that specialized just in stuff like that whose name I cannot remember. Getting old sucks...Mebbe it was Fastenal???

 

[Removed 3]

Yeah, I think that was the one I remember hearing about but have never been.

the downside is, it is located in Cole Valley, just like anywhere in S.F., it's gonna be hard to find parking. best thing to do is to have someone drop you off and pick you up afterwards. There are a lot of muni transit options around there too (near Haight-Ashbury)...

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

not just in Colevalley--despite the name--so you may will find one in Rockridge nowadays. (in the City I went to the MISSION branch a bunch... $$$ .. but it actually burned down.)
And Polk St.

but really Cole is mostly not for pros, while the Discount Builders is really a "family style warehouse supply"

 

[Bay Arean]

the downside is, it is located in Cole Valley, just like anywhere in S.F., it's gonna be hard to find parking. best thing to do is to have someone drop you off and pick you up afterwards. There are a lot of muni transit options around there too (near Haight-Ashbury)...

Yeah. That's why I never been there. I love hardware stores but not that much. For that matter, I wish I was willing to take my bike to Monroe but its the same deal for me, living in the north east bay. Just not worth it.

Back on the Ace thing: I actually know a guy whose family used to own an Ace affiliate in East Bay who would, in a pinch, shop at Home Depot and mark up merch at their store and actually make the sale. So unless its a store I know, I am always skeptical about any Ace affiliate. They could be great or just for dummies, depending on the ownership. Also, the Ace branded stuff is often pretty crappy or just average. These specialiy plumbing and electrical supply houses have a better grade of stuff, if you can get there on your work schedule.

 

[Abacinator]

Yeah, I think that was the one I remember hearing about but have never been.

Also, you guys were talking about specialized fasteners. I think there are pro stores like Bay Bolt and J&M Fasteners for stuff like that. There was yet another place that specialized just in stuff like that whose name I cannot remember. Getting old sucks...Mebbe it was Fastenal???

There used to be the Screw Shop in Concord...

 

[CABilly]

This sucks. There's an OSH right by my house and it's super convenient. I take Gomer there whenever I need something and he likes to walk through the store and get pets from all the employees.

HD allows pets as well, but it's farther away and in a busier shopping center. And fuck their Trumpsucking leadership. I guess I'll have to find an Ace but damn I think their prices are higher than OSH.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

HD .... .... their Trumpsucking leadership. .

Is this true? :dunno

OMFG. So basically between Lowe's closing OSH, or, HomeDep... we're a bit screwed screwed between the hammer and an anvil.

 

[1footdown]

10-30% sale this weekend. No returns. and
so much stuff at 10% off was getting bought up like crazy!!

 

[jt2]

10-30% sale this weekend. No returns. and
so much stuff at 10% off was getting bought up like crazy!!

It was crazy. Most everything was at 10%; the only items I saw at the 30% level were oddball hardware. Yet people were going to town.

Not me, 10% isn't worth the 'no returns' deal.

 

[Climber]

It was crazy. Most everything was at 10%; the only items I saw at the 30% level were oddball hardware. Yet people were going to town.

Not me, 10% isn't worth the 'no returns' deal.

Agreed, I'm holding out for 50% at least. :teeth

 

[Johndicezx9]

Went to the one here, prices are still kinda on the high side so the 10% brings it into range with other discount stores.

The store officially closes Nov. 2

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Looked at a shower head that I recently bought on Amazon. OSH had it for $180 + 10% off. I bought it on Amazon a couple weeks ago for $80.

They're gonna have to come down a lot further to entice me when the exact same shit is half the price on Amazon.

 

[fraz]

Looked at a shower head that I recently bought on Amazon. OSH had it for $180 + 10% off. I bought it on Amazon a couple weeks ago for $80.

They're gonna have to come down a lot further to entice me when the exact same shit is half the price on Amazon.

Yeah, I bought a couple expendable things like masking tape, sandpaper, paintbrushes I needed anyways.

Looked at pin nailer I need:
OSH = $119.00
OSH discount = $107.10
Amazon new = $88.95
Amazon mfg refurb = $79.95

Hard to get too excited and all of the good stuff will be gone before percentages increase.

BTW, when I went in middle of day. Place was pretty packed and the overwhelming demographic? White-haired people :afm199

 

[Climber]

Yeah, I bought a couple expendable things like masking tape, sandpaper, paintbrushes I needed anyways.

Looked at pin nailer I need:
OSH = $119.00
OSH discount = $107.10
Amazon new = $88.95
Amazon mfg refurb = $79.95

Hard to get too excited and all of the good stuff will be gone before percentages increase.

BTW, when I went in middle of day. Place was pretty packed and the overwhelming demographic? White-haired people :afm199

The key finds when the discounts get really good are going to be the items that aren't used by too many people. There should be some great bargains for patient people who time it right. :teeth

 

[CABilly]

.

BTW, when I went in middle of day. Place was pretty packed and the overwhelming demographic? White-haired people :afm199

I might try to get a Yeti tumbler if they mark em down more.

As for the geezers, it was the same at my store yesterday. I had my dog with me and they all had stories of the hundred dogs they'd each owned. It was like the care facilities all decided to load up and make picking the bones at OSH the day's outing. It's nice shopping with people who are willing to have a casual conversation with a stranger with no endgame. Maneuvering through the store was a bit frustrating because it was always a battle of trying to let the other person go. Then they'd start chatting instead :laughing

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Anyone know if they do tool rentals like Home Depot does? Snagging rental used stuff may be good for getting DeWalt cordless tools

 

[auntiebling]

Forst round of clearance sales seem to bring inflated prices as a leading house specialist company is handling it, they'll also bring I new merchandise handles that wasnt nessarily usually sold at the store to entice sales. They're counting on mob mentality

 

[fraz]

As for the geezers, it was the same at my store yesterday. I had my dog with me and they all had stories of the hundred dogs they'd each owned. It was like the care facilities all decided to load up and make picking the bones at OSH the day's outing. It's nice shopping with people who are willing to have a casual conversation with a stranger with no endgame. Maneuvering through the store was a bit frustrating because it was always a battle of trying to let the other person go. Then they'd start chatting instead :laughing

Haha, true. Hard to get upset at genuinely nice people without an agenda. A real dying breed.

Speaking of dying breed, I am pretty sad for loss of OSH. Here in SC we have a tiny Home Depot and the OSH. They remodeled and restocked it recently and it is a much better store to shop at than HD. When I saw Lowe's owned OSH I was hopeful it may stay and become a tiny Lowe's to compete with the tiny HD.
In speaking to an informed employee, he said Lowe's decided to close all stores and axe all the employees. It's kind of crazy because this store has been much more profitable since the changes and doing better than a lot of them. The kid actually shared some numbers stats.

As an update to fraz' smart shopping and why retail is failing (yes I realize I am part of the problem)...

Looked at pin nailer I need:
OSH = $119.00
OSH discount = $107.10
Amazon new = $88.95
Amazon mfg refurb = $79.95

Found same "mfg refurb" on ebay last night and picked it up for $67.99... SCORE!