Tractor Supply

[Rbeckett]

Went into the local tractor supply today looking for plain old tractor parts for my bush hog. Simple stuff, Hitch pins, a sway chain, replacement drive shaft safety cover, the kinds of parts they sell at a 'TRACTOR' store. They had any type of fluid you could imagine, and any and all manner of seasonal merchandise as well as clothing and footwear galore. The area of the store devoted to farm and tractor parts and supplies occupied no more than 500 square feet, not even one full isle. I walked around and looked for a replacement nozzle for the diesel pump and found all of that gone too. A quick walk through the tools was equally scary, a few Hobart welders all missing parts and obvoiusly incomplete, very spoty selection of rod and filler. No cut off wheels, just scary every where you looked. Is tractor Supply still a tractor and farm supply, or an upscale horse dress up fake cowboy store? I dunno, it just seem like they are slipping from their original market.

[daman1]

Your store must be pretty pathetic because you would have found all that stuff in mine.

[Sberry]

They miss some opportunities thats for sure.

[Hotfoot]

The TSC's down here are fine. Its where I buy my DeWalt Cut-Off discs...better price than elsewhere local on what I prefer for a cut-off....and I go through a lot of them for a home operation....but they can't match Lehigh Valley on Flap Discs..which reminds me, I need another 50 of those! :o

[Wyoming]

Foot,
Those Lehigh Valley flap discs any good? I know the price is right, but do they last longer than the el cheapo brands?

[Rbeckett]

Your store must be pretty pathetic because you would have found all that stuff in mine.
Daman I hope your right, I have 3 to look at, but the other two are a big town away in either direction and if it was a brand wide change it would be bad. Like you said it may just be a poorly run and maintained store. You can get boots and jeans but very little tractor/farm operation oriented stuff at that one
Bob

[SidecarFlip]

TSC's are a lot like welding supply stores in as much as some are more ell stocked in tractor and welding stuff than others. Our local store has all manner of farm stuff and welding stuff but it's a rural setting.

No matter what you buy at TSC however, it'a always scratched, dented, broken or missing pieces. That's why I call it Tough S h i t Charlies.

[daman1]

Daman I hope your right, I have 3 to look at, but the other two are a big town away in either direction and if it was a brand wide change it would be bad. Like you said it may just be a poorly run and maintained store. You can get boots and jeans but very little tractor/farm operation oriented stuff at that one
Bob
Yea maybe you'll have better luck in one of those stores,heck mine even has carburetor rebuild kits.

but yea i hear ya being a 'TRACTOR' store you would think they would have more things for that and less stupid things like toys,jeans,candy,dog food,horse stuff etc,etc..

or make the store larger!!!

[SidecarFlip]

Look at it this way. it's a store in the retail sense. Where is the profit margin and sales volume? Not in hard parts but in clothing and acessories. Typical markup on clothing is 150%. Typical markup on hard parts is 45%.

It's a no brainer.

If you want to be critical, try to open a specialzed retail outlet in this economy and see how long you stay solvent. I'll give you 60 days.

[daman1]

Where is the profit margin and sales volume? Not in hard parts but in clothing and acessories. Typical markup on clothing is 150%. Typical markup on hard parts is 45%.
Well isnt that the truth!

clothing there are priced ridicules,nothing ever moves.

$70 for a chintzy pair of cheap insulated cover hauls,,lol yea i'll get right on that TSC.

[SidecarFlip]

Well isnt that the truth!

clothing there are priced ridicules,nothing ever moves.

$70 for a chintzy pair of cheap insulated cover hauls,,lol yea i'll get right on that TSC.

You can always come down to Cabelas for some 'real deals'....

Let me know when you come, I'll meet you there.

I was at TSC today for a full port WOG valve. The clothing, toys and cheap imported crap was flying out the door.

Interestingly, Menards, the king of cheap, is appreciably higher on WOG valves, like double TSC.

[daman1]

You can always come down to Cabelas for some 'real deals'....

Let me know when you come, I'll meet you there.

I was at TSC today for a full port WOG valve. The clothing, toys and cheap imported crap was flying out the door.

Interestingly, Menards, the king of cheap, is appreciably higher on WOG valves, like double TSC.
Would love too,never been in that store.

[Rbeckett]

Wasnt really a complaint. Just noticed that a store I used to go to for anything I used on the farm had sorta strayed from that somewhat. I used to go to that store before I got sick last year and they had all the carb kits, radiators, belts, hoses, fittings, filters and misc tractor parts you could imagine. Never had a problem finding a U-joint for a bush hog, or tines for a cutter bar. Just this last visit the store had been rearrainged and all of the farm support stuff has seemed to have been replaced/removed. And I was wondering if it was system wide, or locally driven. It's a good little trip to the other stores and if they are all going the way of clothing sellers then I need to find another place to get those everyday farm needs rather than waste an hour driving there to find something they dont have. Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye and see what my local store does after the holidays.
Bob

[Sandy]

There's two TSCs about 40 miles apart here. Both stores are not the same, similar but not the same. Of course the crowds aren't the same either.

You can almost look at the trucks in the parking lot and tell what you're going to find in the store.

[SidecarFlip]

Would love too,never been in that store.

Not that far from the thumb to Cabelas. If you ever come, let me know. They know me by first name there (especially in the firearms department).:D

[daman1]

Not that far from the thumb to Cabelas. If you ever come, let me know. They know me by first name there (especially in the firearms department).:D
yea its not too far been by it a few times but never stopped,

[johnny_waz]

I miss, Quality Farm and Fleet. TSC is a disgrace! But I have to agree with 1 previous poster, unfortunatly the GOOD markup is in most of the crap that us farmers DON't need. I'm sure thats why Quality farm and fleet went under since they mostly catered to the farmer. I miss being able to go to the store on a sunday and buy a disc or plow shear in a pinch. Can't do that now with TSC. Oh, were sorry, we don't stock that, but we can order it and have it in a week.:mad: (Imlay City, Lapeer; Farm Country:eek:)


Edit: Hey Danman, do you know the Maurers in Bad Axe?

[daman1]

Edit: Hey Danman, do you know the Maurers in Bad Axe?
A few witch ones??

[johnny_waz]

Kevin Maurer

[daman1]

Hmmm no i don't think i know that name...

[mike landrich]

Foot,
Those Lehigh Valley flap discs any good? I know the price is right, but do they last longer than the el cheapo brands?


I was wondering the same thing, but would add, are the extra thick ones any better than the regular ones?

Also, the prices on the 4.5 and 5" abrasive cut-off wheels are pretty good there. Has anyone tried those? They're 1/2 the price of the Flexovit ones I usually use.

[SidecarFlip]

I miss, Quality Farm and Fleet. TSC is a disgrace! But I have to agree with 1 previous poster, unfortunatly the GOOD markup is in most of the crap that us farmers DON't need. I'm sure thats why Quality farm and fleet went under since they mostly catered to the farmer. I miss being able to go to the store on a sunday and buy a disc or plow shear in a pinch. Can't do that now with TSC. Oh, were sorry, we don't stock that, but we can order it and have it in a week.:mad: (Imlay City, Lapeer; Farm Country:eek:)


Edit: Hey Danman, do you know the Maurers in Bad Axe?

I still have some stuff with Quality Farm and Fleet labels attached and I too like that Michigan based company lots better than TSC but then I used to like Miejers better than Wally World but I've changed my mind on that.

[RickSidebottom]

Foot,
Those Lehigh Valley flap discs any good? I know the price is right, but do they last longer than the el cheapo brands?

I use them and the there cut off wheels for the hand grinder. I get real good service out of them

[rlnash]

I had to laugh yesterday when I went into TSC after I read what SIDECARFLIP said he calls the store. I wanted stove pipe and every piece I picked up looked like someone had beat it with a hammer. Then I looked at a jacket and it had stains all over it. :mad: Flip hit the nail on the head!
Rick

[SidecarFlip]

I had to laugh yesterday when I went into TSC after I read what SIDECARFLIP said he calls the store. I wanted stove pipe and every piece I picked up looked like someone had beat it with a hammer. Then I looked at a jacket and it had stains all over it. :mad: Flip hit the nail on the head!
Rick

When I go to a store and I'm looking around, post's pop into my mind too. It's like all the comments about Air Gas. I was in there the other day to get some bottles filled and was perusing the offerings in the store itself and I thought to myself.... My local AirGas supply isn't anything like what's been depicited on the Hobart siite....

Internet assisination is commonplace, one has to discount it.... heavily.

However, TSC (aka: Tough S h i t t e Charles, where most everything is scratched, dented or broken) appears to ring true chainwide.

I think what happens is, after closing time, the 'associates' play demolition derby with the items for sale.

I'll never forget purchasing a Cub Cadet 60" zero turn from the local TSC and having the manager load it on my gooseneck and taking the forks on the forklift and shoving it sideways, with the forks against the deck, severly denting the deck and bending the suspension mounts and then when I said something, looking at me like 'you bought it and it's paid for, so too bad'.

It came off the trailer and another one got loaded in it's place with me driving the hi-lo.

If they hadn't had a replacement on hand, I believe I would have taken out my frustration on the managers face....... I'm that kind of person.:D

I only go there to buy packaged items like motor oil or welding rod, things that can't be easily damaged. A little hint... If you happen to buy oil filters at TSC, look at the filter closely before checking out. Seems as though the 'associates' are heavy handed with box cutters, when opening cases of items. I've had a couple pleared fuel filters cut through with the wayward box cutters.... and of course put on the shelf, for sale to the unsuspecting customer.

Nice people, great business ethic.:(

Additionally...(I forgot to add this)....

I have/had a TSC credit card that I don't use anymore. Like Lowes, their CC carries an interest rate that borders on loan sharking. Lowes, TSC, Home Depot and a few others sit quietly in the drawer, collecting dust.

[Nitesky]

The TSC in Sault Saint Marie Ontario, Canada has a good selection of tractor replacement parts as well as Hobart welders and supplies. Wish we had one closer to where I live.

[mike landrich]

Foot,
Those Lehigh Valley flap discs any good? I know the price is right, but do they last longer than the el cheapo brands?

I just ordered a bunch of stuff from LeHigh Valley, including 10 of each of the 4 1/2" and 5" varieties of flap discs. I'll let you know how they hold up.