RIP Orchard Supply Hardware

[scootergmc]

So where do I go now for metric fasteners?

Plenty of places have metric fasteners. If you're looking for specialty stuff you may have to stray.

 

[Abacinator]

OSH hasn't been old-skool OSH for quite some time. To be honest, I've walked in there, walked out and ended up going to Home Depot more than a couple times. Too bad.

And if you really need serious hardware, ya just gotta get it from McMaster-Carr, et al cuz you're simply not going to find it at Ace, HD, Lowes, etc.

Sucks a local icon is going away, tho.

OSH, Sears, Toys-R-Us. Victims of poor management and short term thinking.

Not poor management IMO. What's happening is exactly what the holding companies intended.

 

[MysterYvil]

Not poor management IMO. What's happening is exactly what the holding companies intended.

Mrs. said the same thing. I believe the both of ya.

 

[aminalmutha]

Not poor management IMO. What's happening is exactly what the holding companies intended.

True, tho how did they land in the hands of holding companies?

The guy who is sinking Sears is a dirtbag and will make out very well in the end.

Toys-R-Us was a shitshow, so I was not surprised they tanked.

OSH... well, they didn't get to this point being dynamic. But yes, someone will make a lot of money out of each of these deals.

 

[jt2]

Not poor management IMO. What's happening is exactly what the holding companies intended.

Yep. Vulture Capitalism at its worst. But it isn't Lowes that did this. It was Eddie Lampert. He plundered OSH and saddled it with debt. Just like he's doing with Sears. His hedge fund is raking it in from interest payments on loans from his fund, paid for by sales of brands like Craftsman and now Kenmore, and will be the first to feed on Sears' carcass when it dies.

 

[clutchslip]

Not poor management IMO. What's happening is exactly what the holding companies intended.

I am going to disagree, here, a little bit. Eddie Lampert bought Sears for the Real Estate. He is just another example, to me, of people getting money, power, and support when they are completely unqualified for any of it. He didn't want to lose money selling Craftsman and Kenmore.

When he organized the holding company, the real estate for Sears and KMart was indeed worth more than than the income valuation. So his initial premise was correct, from someone who didn't understand retail and the true value of all the Sears brands. However, the 2008 recession came along with more online shopping and even his 'correct premise' was down the toilet.

The real estate is worth considerably less than he paid for it. The Holding Company is a POS when it comes to branding and retail, thus the brands have sold for much less than they are worth, too. In short - Eddie Lampert is a complete and utter failure, even at trying to dismantle Sears to save his real estate losing ass. The guy pisses me off to no-end as someone who has been in retail.

 

[clutchslip]

Yep. Vulture Capitalism at its worst. But it isn't Lowes that did this. It was Eddie Lampert. He plundered OSH and saddled it with debt. Just like he's doing with Sears. His hedge fund is raking it in from interest payments on loans from his fund, paid for by sales of brands like Craftsman and now Kenmore, and will be the first to feed on Sears' carcass when it dies.

Indeed, a dirt ball. I was typing while you posted. The worst kind of American "capitalism".

 

[UDRider]

Why do you guys hate capitalism?

 

[wazzuFreddo]

The people who need to GTFO of those places are the asswipe solar panel salesmen. I've had to get rude with them to make them back off.

this is when I get to use the “I know more than you”

 

[aminalmutha]

this is when I get to use the “I know more than you”

These guys would probably respond with "SIR! SIR! ARE YOU NOT INTERESTED IN SAVING MONEY!?!?! SIR! I'M TALKING TO YOU SIR! SIR! I CAN SAVE YOU MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!" and follow you half way across the store.

Been der, dun dat.

I told one guy something along the lines of "You need to get the fuck out of my face." And another guy something along the lines of "Get the fuck out of my face."

 

[Eldritch]

The best thing about OSH is that you could easily get help. You couldn't walk from one end of the store to the other without getting multiple offers for assistance.

Big box stores, on the other hand, good luck with that:

[youtube]IEhHEOIYgMY[/youtube]

I am Ron Swanson's spirit Animal. Also, the ideas of a spirit animal is useless.



I still use the Ace by my place all the time for weekend projects. I used to use OSH in San Rafael if I needed a bigger shop, but I started just using The Depot once the OSH buyout happened.

 

[doc4216]

I guess I am pretty lucky that I still have Paganos on the island. They are our local mom and pop. I only shop there and local nursery. I have been fortunate enough to be able to stay away from Home Depot and Lowe’s for the last couple years.

 

[Bay Arean]

Yeah, I am kind of a non-box hardware store follower. I been to Pagano's. Unfortunately, our Ace in Richmond closed when the owners retired. That was an old school place. We still have Pastime in Albany/EC which is okay but not great. I still miss Yardbirds!

THis leaves Jackson's in San Rafael. Haven't been there in a few years, but its an employee-owned store and I liked it pretty good. It may be one of the last good independents unless someone rises from the ashes of this latest closure.

I never been to a Lowe's because they strangely have chosen not to operate in my Designated Loser Zone or Richmond-SP up until now. I guess they will open one somewhere soon. Not sure if the Pinole OSH is big enough. That store has been pretty nice the last few years, very well stocked etc. I will miss it.

The thing about Ace franchises is that they vary tremendously. THe one in Richmond had the affiliation but it was a very serious store run by the Eames brothers. That place was the best for weird, obscure or out-of-date stuff like thermostats for 30 year old heaters that you aren't supposed to have etc etc. They could answer every plumbing issue I ever had and get me fixed up.The liquidation was heartbreaking but I finally got deep into the bowels of the area behind the counter, as it was a full-service, where you go in and ask for the stuff and they go find it for ya. Incredible selection and knowledge there.

Despite the volume, the plumbing selection at Home Depot is actually quite limited. I have to go to Pastime everytime my kitchen sink waste pipe rusts out because Depot does not have the part, period and never will. There are professional pllumbing places but quite often only open during business hours when I am work. The greatest value of big-box stores is being open when you are desperate to fix something. IF they have the shit you need. Same with electrical. I can get good stuff at Laner, IF they are open when I can get there, for example.

Oh, and I think Ashby Lumber/Hardware is decent too. Isn't there some place in SF that is pretty good? Years ago, I was receiving manager at the Woodsmith Store in Berkeley and the manager used to mention a place in the city but I have forgotten the name.

 

[auntiebling]

The people who need to GTFO of those places are the asswipe solar panel salesmen. I've had to get rude with them to make them back off.

One of them followed.me around for about 5 minutes... like a CHP stalking someone on 5 I swear. I saw him doing it, let my guard down and then he pounced


I just blurt out "I rent" asap now. They lose interest pretty quick.

 

[Lunch Box]

I hate Home Depot, but the Ace hardware across the highway from the brewery is flat out ridiculous. An item that costs $5 at HD costs $8-12 at Ace. I’ll happily pay a 10-25% premium to shop locally, but paying a 100% premium is fucking ridiculous.

 

[Abacinator]

I shop at Home Depot all the time because it's so close to where I live. Everything else is inconvenient.

 

[clutchslip]

I hate Home Depot, but the Ace hardware across the highway from the brewery is flat out ridiculous. An item that costs $5 at HD costs $8-12 at Ace. I’ll happily pay a 10-25% premium to shop locally, but paying a 100% premium is fucking ridiculous.

Yeah, they really cut their own throat when they do this crap. It's a terrible mistake. People are too hip to pricing to try to gouge on some items. The idea behind the ACE franchise has been to not only have ad and brand leverage, but to have buying power. They should use it to compete, rather than to make-up for the expenses in small retail with a few items.

They started doing it on the individual widgets, too. Bolts and nuts that should be $.30 are $1.00. They don't have much competition in that regard, anymore. But, it seems like chump change compared to the goodwill that fair pricing brings.

Regardless, I realize that I need to support my ACE even more after this post, despite the minor gouge, or there will be no place to get any darn bolt, nut, screw, or anything else, that isn't the bottom of the quality ladder, and comes in quantities one does not require. YIKES!

 

[Dr. Evil]

So where do I go now for metric fasteners?

Grew up wrenching on Volvos. The local True Value never let me down.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

. Isn't there some place in SF that is pretty good? Years ago, I was receiving manager at the Woodsmith Store in Berkeley and the manager used to mention a place in the city but I have forgotten the name.

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)

that and the store in the middle of SF , 13th/Mission , called "Discount Builders Supply & Hardware". It's mid-size between a family store and HD. ... now that one.. HAD The Glass that I needed. HomDep--DIDN'T.

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"

 

[Eldritch]

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)

that and the store in the middle of SF , 13th/Mission , called "Discount Builders Supply & Hardware". It's mid-size between a family store and HD. ... now that one.. HAD The Glass that I needed. HomDep--DIDN'T.

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"

DBS is fucking gold. It is the go to for a lot of professional contractors in the City.