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Dimensional lumber at HD
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a
project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). .. Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
"Jack" wrote in message ...
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. Usually, yes. And, it's NOT always a lot more expensive. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
"Jack" wrote in message ... Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. Actually no; it sometimes takes a while to find what I want, but it is always there. There is a 20 year old story about a Grossman's store that saw it sales of lumber go to zero. It seems the store policy was to scrap nothing, so the bins eventually filled up with crap and customers had to go elsewhere. Probably there is an occassional store like that still, but it has to be a rarity. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
"Jack" writes:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? I have another data point to contribute for ya. My neighbors who were completey rehabbing their home down to the foundation swear up a storm about the low quality of HD's lumber, and they always head to a proper lumber yard and no longer bother with HD. Best Regards, -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ |
Dimensional lumber at HD
"Jack" wrote in message ... Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. HD varies by region, but so do all the lumberyards, depending on the mills in the area. None have what I'd call first class, but some are better than others. Go back to HD next week and it may be much better. All depends on who the low bidder is and how fast they run the stuff through the kilns. It is not dried very well compared to furniture grade wood. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. Yes use steel studs if it is a non bearing wall. Real simple to use and you can pick up ten studs with out help! Rich |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. The "trick" is to find out what their lumber delivery schedule is. As people continue to pick over the lumber, the good pieces disappear the quickest, leaving the culls. Usually when a new shipment arrives the culls go to the next lower grade of wood and the picking starts again. That said, Lowes around here isn't all that much cheaper, but they do by far have a lot better lumber than the local yards, for some reason. I don't think the local yard has a schedule to recieve wood, but I know Lowes does here, at least. Oh, "here" is far upstate NY. Pop` |
Dimensional lumber at HD
One year I was looking for some 4x4 western red cedar posts 8 feet long. I
walked over to the stack at HD and saw a couple of perfectly straight, knot free posts. I bought them immediately. Next week I was in the store and checked out the cedar and found about 8 that were perfect. Each time I was in the area I would check but after the 8 perfect ones I never saw a good one again. They were all warped, twisted, bark edged, split, and full of large knots so big I could break a 4x4 in my bare hands. I was building a gate system that needed clear 4x4s so that I could cut them down to 3x4s. To finish my materials list, I had to go to a large lumberyard that carried specialty products, they custom ordered 10 clear posts for me. They were great but cost about $50.00 per post. The HD ones that I found were bargains at about $20.00 per post, the rest that they were selling I wouldn't give you $2.00 a post. "Pop`" wrote in message news:CBQmh.1912$SQ1.1672@trnddc03... Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. The "trick" is to find out what their lumber delivery schedule is. As people continue to pick over the lumber, the good pieces disappear the quickest, leaving the culls. Usually when a new shipment arrives the culls go to the next lower grade of wood and the picking starts again. That said, Lowes around here isn't all that much cheaper, but they do by far have a lot better lumber than the local yards, for some reason. I don't think the local yard has a schedule to recieve wood, but I know Lowes does here, at least. Oh, "here" is far upstate NY. Pop` |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Typically, yes, and yes but more costly isn't necessarily more expensive if account for waste and particularly if add in anything at all for the time wasted finding decent material (or, as in your case _not_ finding anything and doing it all over elsewhere). I have two general observations regarding the BORGS in general as opposed to the independents or chain "real" lumberyards. Whether they are conscious business models or not I don't know, but here goes-- The BORGS where I've been that had them (both blue and orange) seemed to open a bundle in the warehouse and wait until that one was nearly or completely picked through before bringing out any new stock. The independents, otoh, maintained multiple open bundles and also controlled to a much greater extent the picking through process so that individuals weren't able to completely "cherry pick" out only the clear sticks from a bundle leaving the rest for the next unfortunate to have to take. OTOH, if you had need for clear material, they would supply it either from non-construction-grade supply or for a premium to select from stock. As their market was primarily the professionals, and larger orders than the typical DIY'er, it is much easier to work in the odd piece in a house than for a small project of only a couple dozen pieces, say. The BORGS, however, were even unlikely to _HAVE_ anything other than construction grade or, often, even anybody who knew what it might be. (I asked one time if they did have any Doug fir and even the store manager had no idea what I could possibly be expecting to get that would have "fur" on it. :( ). I dread the day when/if the borg which is threatening to open here does actually do so as I fear it will be the end of anything except the "lowest-common-denominator" in availability as the market size is, I fear, too small to support anything else as happened w/ the other merchants and Wally-World after they came. :( |
Dimensional lumber at HD
It varies day to day. Don't bother with the cheap ones - the "Premium"
studs are $.50 more but you'll find straighter ones and they're less likely to warp after you get them home. Also, never hesitate to grab some tin snips from the tool isle and break open a fresh pallet of studs. The HD staff will give you dirty looks for it but they're not the ones who have to fix a bowed wall. -rev Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. I just buy good stuff at the local real lumber yard for a similar price. I told this story before. We were putting a deck on the house and I went to the local lumber yard and gave them the material list. They delivered the material and my neighbor remarked "so you must have been at 'the depot' all day picking this out". He couldn't understand that all of the big box marketing was mostly spin and there are better places to buy quality stuff. I asked one of the lumber yard owners why their stuff was better and she said they can order any quality material they want and they order quality stuff. If you go there yourself there is no picking needed because all of the wood is decent quality. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
In article , "Jack" wrote:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). .. Have you all had similar experiences? Yes -- much more so at HD than at Lowe's, though. Do you have better results at a lumber yard Definitely. even though its usually alot more expensive? And it usually is only a little bit more expensive. -- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com) It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
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Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote: Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. Jack: I find that our local lumber yards have better quality as well as cheaper wood. The same goes for gypsum services places regarding drywall, electrical supply houses regarding electrical stuff, plumbing houses, etc. Lowes, HD, etc. are the place you go when you really need something at 8 pm on Saturday, or when a pipe bursts on Sunday; I find that they are nearly always more expensive (or at best the same price) and the quality and selection are usually not quite as good. Cordially yours: G P |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? At the HD there is not a lot of supervision at the lumber pile. They just pull them down a pallet at the time and folk sort through them until someone complains that only crap is left. If you grab an HD employee and tell them you can't use the boards that are out and could they please pull down another pallet. If like you say all the boards are bad then they will be glad to pull down some new ones because, that is the only way they know to do it is if someone complains. If they won't then take your business elsewhere. HD's prices are often beat by local yards and the service is for sure. no one should ask you to buy boards you can't use. Great suggestion was metal studs though I am used to wood myself. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. Quality, convenient location, or low price. Pick two out of three. Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jeff Wisnia wrote:
Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area ... ...Do you have better results at a lumber yard ... Quality, convenient location, or low price. Pick two out of three. To leave out? :) The only one of the three that either borg had in Knoxville was potentially price -- it certainly wasn't convenient to fight the mall traffic and quality in dimensional lumber was a joke, so that only leaves one at best. And, if one factored in anything for time both in the selection/purchasing process as well as using the sorry material in the end, then the price ain't so hot either... :( (But the blue had a far higher chance of at least acceptable quality than the orange there, but not reliably enough so that I'd have given up Witt's or Cherokee or Anderson or...oh, to have only one of them here would seem heaven's doors opened. Of course, they couldn't have here what they did there w/ less than 5-10% the population, either.) But I know you didn't mean it all that seriously, just the mantra, Jeff... :) |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote:
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Most HD customers go to the lumber department expecting to find studs suitable for cabinet work. If precision is what you want, go to a hardwood supply house and buy kiln dried oak, maple, walnut, etc. For framing applications, you should talk with a professional framer and ask how he selects lumber. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Around here Lowes is noticably better the Home Depot. 84 Lumber only
had pine, but it was good quality. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Stubby wrote: Most HD customers go to the lumber department expecting to find studs suitable for cabinet work. If precision is what you want, go to a hardwood supply house and buy kiln dried oak, maple, walnut, etc. For framing applications, you should talk with a professional framer and ask how he selects lumber. S: Not quite. I do go there expecting studs that won't be premade airplane propellors or 'rustic cabin siding, 2" thick', or gigantic clothespins, and find I am sometimes disappointed. Cordially yours: GP |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Stubby wrote:
Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Most HD customers go to the lumber department expecting to find studs suitable for cabinet work. If precision is what you want, go to a hardwood supply house and buy kiln dried oak, maple, walnut, etc. For framing applications, you should talk with a professional framer and ask how he selects lumber. Naw, customers *should* expect to find the same quality lumber that can buy at the local real lumber yard (where the professional framer would get his supplies). What they find is a different story. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Lawrence wrote: - If you grab an HD employee and tell them you can't use the boards - that are out and could they please pull down another pallet. And then stand around and wait until they round up an employee licensed to drive the forklift, a employee trained to walk in front of the forklift with a flag in each hand, 2 - 4 employees trained to clear the aisle of all customers and set up the gates at each end and a manager or 2 to supervise the operation. That shouldn't take more than a half hour or so. After all that, you get to be the first one to sort through the new bundle trying to find the maybe 30% of material worth using. Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? At the HD there is not a lot of supervision at the lumber pile. They just pull them down a pallet at the time and folk sort through them until someone complains that only crap is left. If you grab an HD employee and tell them you can't use the boards that are out and could they please pull down another pallet. If like you say all the boards are bad then they will be glad to pull down some new ones because, that is the only way they know to do it is if someone complains. If they won't then take your business elsewhere. HD's prices are often beat by local yards and the service is for sure. no one should ask you to buy boards you can't use. Great suggestion was metal studs though I am used to wood myself. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
George wrote: Stubby wrote: Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Most HD customers go to the lumber department expecting to find studs suitable for cabinet work. If precision is what you want, go to a hardwood supply house and buy kiln dried oak, maple, walnut, etc. For framing applications, you should talk with a professional framer and ask how he selects lumber. Naw, customers *should* expect to find the same quality lumber that can buy at the local real lumber yard (where the professional framer would get his supplies). What they find is a different story. Ya pays your money and ya takes your pick. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
last time I went to HD
the contractors were lined up at the register 15 people deep. They must not be "professional contractors" right? you are a shmuck! a deal is a deal no matter where it comes from. do what I do when I need lumber at HD. make them pull a new lift for you to pick through...........they will and they do. "George" spewed without any consideration in message ... | Naw, customers *should* expect to find the same quality lumber that can | buy at the local real lumber yard (where the professional framer would | get his supplies). What they find is a different story. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a
project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? I haven't noticed any quality differences between our local lumber yards, Lowes, or Home Depot. It's mostly a matter of first come, first serve. If you're first to get to the pile, you can find lots of nice straight lumber. If you get there after it has been picked over, all that will be left is the warped and twisted firewood. :) The lumber yards work better for large orders like framing a garage or something, but they're not very convenient to go in and hand pick a few 2x4's for a workbench or something. Especially if I need to pick up a few boards late in the evening, along with a faucet, a rake, a plant, and a book. :) Anthony |
Dimensional lumber at HD
wildo wrote:
last time I went to HD the contractors were lined up at the register 15 people deep. They must not be "professional contractors" right? you are a shmuck! If you can't refute an argument you only make yourself look silly with childish name calling. Google "ad hominem" for more information. a deal is a deal no matter where it comes from. do what I do when I need lumber at HD. make them pull a new lift for you to pick through...........they will and they do. "George" spewed without any consideration in message ... | Naw, customers *should* expect to find the same quality lumber that can | buy at the local real lumber yard (where the professional framer would | get his supplies). What they find is a different story. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
HerHusband wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? I haven't noticed any quality differences between our local lumber yards, Lowes, or Home Depot. It's mostly a matter of first come, first serve. If you're first to get to the pile, you can find lots of nice straight lumber. If you get there after it has been picked over, all that will be left is the warped and twisted firewood. :) The lumber yards work better for large orders like framing a garage or something, but they're not very convenient to go in and hand pick a few 2x4's for a workbench or something. Especially if I need to pick up a few boards late in the evening, along with a faucet, a rake, a plant, and a book. :) Anthony |
Dimensional lumber at HD
On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:29:30 -0500, George
wrote: Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. I just buy good stuff at the local real lumber yard for a similar price. I told this story before. We were putting a deck on the house and I went to the local lumber yard and gave them the material list. They delivered the material and my neighbor remarked "so you must have been at 'the depot' all day picking this out". He couldn't understand that all of the big box marketing was mostly spin and there are better places to buy quality stuff. I asked one of the lumber yard owners why their stuff was better and she said they can order any quality material they want and they order quality stuff. If you go there yourself there is no picking needed because all of the wood is decent quality. For a rank amateur, HD and Lowes can be more face-saving than a real lumber yard with a real clerk who knows something about wood. At the first two, you take your chances but the check out clerk isn't qualified to tell you you bought junk, and if you use self-checkout, there is no one at all who can second guess you. Sure they might not be straight, but for many people it's worth it. At a real lumber yard, he'll say, What can I do for you? or Which grade do you want, and if you don't know you look stupid. (at least a lot of people feel that way.) The same thing for electrical supplies, probably even more so. You have to tell the guy at the electrical supply house what you want. At self service, you can spend hours staring and pondering until you finally decide what you think maybe you should buy. Or you can buy something and easily return it if you buy the wrong thing. I don't know for sure, but I don't think professional supply houses that sell to the trade like doing returns. Maybe 50 dollars if someone bought 1000 dollars worth in the last few months, but not 4 dollars for someone who spent 4 dollars. Concommitantly, I've noticed that clerks in wholesale places are a lot friendlier and more helpful, becuase they deal with professionals and arent' stuck answering hundreds of stupid questions all day long. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
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Dimensional lumber at HD
mm wrote:
- At a real lumber yard, he'll say, What can I do for you? or Which - grade do you want, and if you don't know you look stupid. (at least a - lot of people feel that way.) Sounds like a lack of confidence to me. If I don't know what I want or need, I ask an expert. I don't feel stupid for not knowing everything about everything. If the person behind the counter treats me like I'm "stupid", I simply take my business elsewhere. - The same thing for electrical supplies, probably even more so. You - have to tell the guy at the electrical supply house what you want. No, you don't have to tell the guy what you want, you only have to tell them what you want to do. Any electrical supply house that won't help you isn't worthy of your business. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten help from both sides of the counter - from the employee as well as customers (read: contractors) - at supplies house for all types of materials just by explaining to them what I am trying to do. Most people really enjoy teaching others. Just look at this newsgroup. - At self service, you can spend hours staring and pondering until you - finally decide what you think maybe you should buy. Or you can buy - something and easily return it if you buy the wrong thing. I don't - know for sure, but I don't think professional supply houses that sell - to the trade like doing returns. Maybe 50 dollars if someone bought - 1000 dollars worth in the last few months, but not 4 dollars for - someone who spent 4 dollars. The chances of having to return items to a professional supply house is reduced because you received professional help in choosing your items. Besides, just about every store will take back what you purchased from them. That's just about the standard everywhere these days. Even the supply houses have to compete on a certain level with the self service stores. Accepting returns simply makes sense from that perspective. - Concommitantly, I've noticed that clerks in wholesale places are a lot - friendlier and more helpful, becuase they deal with professionals and - arent' stuck answering hundreds of stupid questions all day long. Very true, and in many cases the advice offered is better than the advice offered by even the nicest employee at the home center. mm wrote: On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:29:30 -0500, George wrote: Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. I just buy good stuff at the local real lumber yard for a similar price. I told this story before. We were putting a deck on the house and I went to the local lumber yard and gave them the material list. They delivered the material and my neighbor remarked "so you must have been at 'the depot' all day picking this out". He couldn't understand that all of the big box marketing was mostly spin and there are better places to buy quality stuff. I asked one of the lumber yard owners why their stuff was better and she said they can order any quality material they want and they order quality stuff. If you go there yourself there is no picking needed because all of the wood is decent quality. For a rank amateur, HD and Lowes can be more face-saving than a real lumber yard with a real clerk who knows something about wood. At the first two, you take your chances but the check out clerk isn't qualified to tell you you bought junk, and if you use self-checkout, there is no one at all who can second guess you. Sure they might not be straight, but for many people it's worth it. At a real lumber yard, he'll say, What can I do for you? or Which grade do you want, and if you don't know you look stupid. (at least a lot of people feel that way.) The same thing for electrical supplies, probably even more so. You have to tell the guy at the electrical supply house what you want. At self service, you can spend hours staring and pondering until you finally decide what you think maybe you should buy. Or you can buy something and easily return it if you buy the wrong thing. I don't know for sure, but I don't think professional supply houses that sell to the trade like doing returns. Maybe 50 dollars if someone bought 1000 dollars worth in the last few months, but not 4 dollars for someone who spent 4 dollars. Concommitantly, I've noticed that clerks in wholesale places are a lot friendlier and more helpful, becuase they deal with professionals and arent' stuck answering hundreds of stupid questions all day long. |
Dimensional lumber at HD
I agree with this assessment. The guys/girls at the local lumber yard are
always very helpful. Same thing with the electrical/plumbing supply houses. I find asking for help instead of trying to be a know-it-all homemoaner helps too. Also, there typically isn't anybody around on the floor at the local HD, but Lowes is always loaded with staff. "DerbyDad03" wrote in message ps.com... mm wrote: - At a real lumber yard, he'll say, What can I do for you? or Which - grade do you want, and if you don't know you look stupid. (at least a - lot of people feel that way.) Sounds like a lack of confidence to me. If I don't know what I want or need, I ask an expert. I don't feel stupid for not knowing everything about everything. If the person behind the counter treats me like I'm "stupid", I simply take my business elsewhere. - The same thing for electrical supplies, probably even more so. You - have to tell the guy at the electrical supply house what you want. No, you don't have to tell the guy what you want, you only have to tell them what you want to do. Any electrical supply house that won't help you isn't worthy of your business. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten help from both sides of the counter - from the employee as well as customers (read: contractors) - at supplies house for all types of materials just by explaining to them what I am trying to do. Most people really enjoy teaching others. Just look at this newsgroup. - At self service, you can spend hours staring and pondering until you - finally decide what you think maybe you should buy. Or you can buy - something and easily return it if you buy the wrong thing. I don't - know for sure, but I don't think professional supply houses that sell - to the trade like doing returns. Maybe 50 dollars if someone bought - 1000 dollars worth in the last few months, but not 4 dollars for - someone who spent 4 dollars. The chances of having to return items to a professional supply house is reduced because you received professional help in choosing your items. Besides, just about every store will take back what you purchased from them. That's just about the standard everywhere these days. Even the supply houses have to compete on a certain level with the self service stores. Accepting returns simply makes sense from that perspective. - Concommitantly, I've noticed that clerks in wholesale places are a lot - friendlier and more helpful, becuase they deal with professionals and - arent' stuck answering hundreds of stupid questions all day long. Very true, and in many cases the advice offered is better than the advice offered by even the nicest employee at the home center. mm wrote: On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:29:30 -0500, George wrote: Jack wrote: Went to a few HD's and Lowes in my area to get a dozen 2x4 studs for a project. After going through the piles for 15 minutes at each place to find straight lumber, I gave up. Most of the stuff was twisted. (Bowed studs I could have used in a pinch). . Have you all had similar experiences? Do you have better results at a lumber yard even though its usually alot more expensive? Thanks. I just buy good stuff at the local real lumber yard for a similar price. I told this story before. We were putting a deck on the house and I went to the local lumber yard and gave them the material list. They delivered the material and my neighbor remarked "so you must have been at 'the depot' all day picking this out". He couldn't understand that all of the big box marketing was mostly spin and there are better places to buy quality stuff. I asked one of the lumber yard owners why their stuff was better and she said they can order any quality material they want and they order quality stuff. If you go there yourself there is no picking needed because all of the wood is decent quality. For a rank amateur, HD and Lowes can be more face-saving than a real lumber yard with a real clerk who knows something about wood. At the first two, you take your chances but the check out clerk isn't qualified to tell you you bought junk, and if you use self-checkout, there is no one at all who can second guess you. Sure they might not be straight, but for many people it's worth it. At a real lumber yard, he'll say, What can I do for you? or Which grade do you want, and if you don't know you look stupid. (at least a lot of people feel that way.) The same thing for electrical supplies, probably even more so. You have to tell the guy at the electrical supply house what you want. At self service, you can spend hours staring and pondering until you finally decide what you think maybe you should buy. Or you can buy something and easily return it if you buy the wrong thing. I don't know for sure, but I don't think professional supply houses that sell to the trade like doing returns. Maybe 50 dollars if someone bought 1000 dollars worth in the last few months, but not 4 dollars for someone who spent 4 dollars. Concommitantly, I've noticed that clerks in wholesale places are a lot friendlier and more helpful, becuase they deal with professionals and arent' stuck answering hundreds of stupid questions all day long. |
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