Screws revisited

[bucksaw]

And when you are pricing screws online you need to factor in Freight because it can make a big difference in the cost per screw calculation. A local source may be your best overall source and may help keep your neighbor employed.

[Ed in Tampa]

And when you are pricing screws online you need to factor in Freight because it can make a big difference in the cost per screw calculation. A local source may be your best overall source and may help keep your neighbor employed.

Bucksaw
I totally agree!
First it was Ma and Pa stores that carried the essentials and if you needed anything extra they ordered it for you. They also offered advice and many times would even showed you how.

Then came the "Big Box" Stores they carried nearly everything and for the most part offered good advice but the real clincher was the price.

One day the internet came to life and now we have internet hardware stores.
They offer some advice in the form of charts, graphs and perhaps a video.
Prices were super and there was nothing you couldn't get.

Result the Ma and Pa stores disappeared, no longer could you go in and discuss your problem and come away with "If it were me I would do it this way." type answers. Also gone was the ability to buy just what you want and only what you want.

The Big Box were great however you usually had to buy four bolts and 6 nuts because that was how they were packaged. Also as competition increased to cut cost the expert advice decreased. Soon the prices weren't all that good but by then the Ma and Pa competition was crushed.

The internet was the savior yes it had super prices, but you still had to take the produce was ordered and there were those order mistakes, backorders and etc. But as business increased so did the prices, they made their selling point, "but you don't pay sales tax" so people jumped on them. Slowly they slipped in higher and higher shipping charges but they were still lower than the Big Box when you consider sales tax and all. However even that worm has turned and now more and more states are collecting sales tax, the shipping charges are outrageous and the prices to begin with aren't all that good.

I vote we go back to Ma and Pa hardware stores. Where I could go in touch, feel and test everything before I buy, get expert advice and even "come on I'll show you how to put it in." I figure these stores could probalby make it now when you figure in the prices some mail order is charging if you include shipping and sales tax.

Well there is an old saying what goes around comes around. I suspect we will one day flock to the opening of Ma and Pa hardware stores where you can buy just one bolt the size you need. Or the clerk can tell you how to wire the ceiling fan you just bought or some old timer over in the corner will say, "hey young fellow why you working so hard? Just use this, like this and you will get it done in no time."

[JPG]

Bucksaw
I totally agree!
First it was Ma and Pa stores that carried the essentials and if you needed anything extra they ordered it for you. They also offered advice and many times would even showed you how.

Then came the "Big Box" Stores they carried nearly everything and for the most part offered good advice but the real clincher was the price.

One day the internet came to life and now we have internet hardware stores.
They offer some advice in the form of charts, graphs and perhaps a video.
Prices were super and there was nothing you couldn't get.

Result the Ma and Pa stores disappeared, no longer could you go in and discuss your problem and come away with "If it were me I would do it this way." type answers. Also gone was the ability to buy just what you want and only what you want.

The Big Box were great however you usually had to buy four bolts and 6 nuts because that was how they were packaged. Also as competition increased to cut cost the expert advice decreased. Soon the prices weren't all that good but by then the Ma and Pa competition was crushed.

The internet was the savior yes it had super prices, but you still had to take the produce was ordered and there were those order mistakes, backorders and etc. But as business increased so did the prices, they made their selling point, "but you don't pay sales tax" so people jumped on them. Slowly they slipped in higher and higher shipping charges but they were still lower than the Big Box when you consider sales tax and all. However even that worm has turned and now more and more states are collecting sales tax, the shipping charges are outrageous and the prices to begin with aren't all that good.

I vote we go back to Ma and Pa hardware stores. Where I could go in touch, feel and test everything before I buy, get expert advice and even "come on I'll show you how to put it in." I figure these stores could probalby make it now when you figure in the prices some mail order is charging if you include shipping and sales tax.

Well there is an old saying what goes around comes around. I suspect we will one day flock to the opening of Ma and Pa hardware stores where you can buy just one bolt the size you need. Or the clerk can tell you how to wire the ceiling fan you just bought or some old timer over in the corner will say, "hey young fellow why you working so hard? Just use this, like this and you will get it done in no time."

One by One the "GOOD/REAL" Hardware stores have folded their tent and moved on. The only thing CLOSE is Ace and Do It Best. I can get online, determine if an item is sold by them, walk into the store and either get it then or they WILL order it and I can pick it up next Friday when the weekly truck comes in. Try that at Home Depot or Lowes or whatever You have locally. Also the hardware(nuts/bolts/screws/misc/do-dads)(the REAL Hardware) is NOT in bubble packs or bags, and the unit cost of a full box is MUCH less than the smaller packages(not like SOME big box 'stores')..

[beeg]

Ed, that sounds like my local ACE Hardware, buy the quanity ya want, if they don't have it, order it for ya. Ya need help, they are there for ya.

[rkh2]

Ed, I agree with you. I work part-time at a big box store and even though I am quite knowledgeable in my area of expertise being a retired electrician, I have seen some coworkers that have no more knowledge than the customer in particular questions relating to electrical, plumbing or hardware. I have a Mom & Pop plumbing supply store in my town and I can always find what I need to fix a issue. Even though the price is a wee bit higher, they have the parts and I don't have to drive 20 miles to get it. The big box stores only carry pretty much what is being used more and if it is something that was manufactured some time ago, they usually will not carry something like that especially if there the item is not something that sells quickly. Also noticed lately that the majority of the wood screws and bolts and nuts are all manufactured in China. The last box of wood screws I bought were Phillips head made in China and it took me 12 screws to do 8 that I needed. Four stripped out using a low torque setting on my driver. I will pay more for quality!!

[dusty]

Ed, that sounds like my local ACE Hardware, buy the quanity ya want, if they don't have it, order it for ya. Ya need help, they are there for ya.

Ace Hardware outlets are getting to be like gas stations though. There is one on every corner. Well, not that bad but...there are more of them than I think is good for survivability. I have three within five miles or me.

The older of the three is pretty much like you describe, Bob. They are very helpful, have most everything they sell in stock and seem anxious to get it if they don't have it in stock.

The newer of the three has what I would describe as a "Big Box" mentality. There are a lot of people standing around but not many of them seem anxious to help and when you do engage them there are no answers. They don't know.

Needless to say, when I leave the house to go to the hardware store - you know which one I am going to visit.

I used to shop at a mom and pop hardware store (called Gramp's Place) many years ago - before I moved to where I live now. I liked that place. I need to go by there to see if they are still in business.

Remember when you bagged your own nails into paper sacks and paid by the pound.

[Ed in Tampa]

Remember when you bagged your own nails into paper sacks and paid by the pound.

Dusty
That is how our parent kept us kids out of trouble during the summer. They bought a 5 pound bag of 16 penny nails, gave us a hatchet or two and left us loose in the woods behind our houses. We spent the summer building and remodeling our tree houses, forts and cabins.

I ptiy the guy that ever tries to lumber that stand of trees. There has to be near a hundred pounds of nails in those trees.

[kalynzoo]

Why is it that when I need a screw from my screw bucket the only ones I can find are 1/16 too long or 1/2" too short

[dusty]

Why is it that when I need a screw from my screw bucket the only ones I can find are 1/16 too long or 1/2" too short

Hit it with a hammer if too long. Use two if too short.

[JPG]

Hit it with a hammer if too long. Use two if too short.

Try cutting/grinding the end off the long ones.

For the short ones, go to a big box store and ask if they have Screw Stretchers!:D