How good are TSC stores?

[RichZ]

Now that we know that many of the Farm and Family stores are becoming TSC stores, I was wondering if those of you who have TSC's can tell us about them. I wonder if anyone has been to both, and can compare them.

In the short time that I knew about Farm and Family, I loved them. The merchandise was good and prices were great. They carried King Kutter and Farm Star implements. I never bought anything there that I was not satisfied with. The only problem I found with them was that the employees had no clue about the merchandise. When I bought my Farm Star back blade at the Amersterdam store, the store manager kept telling me what a good price it was for a King Kutter blade. I showed him the Farm Star decal, and told him it wasn't KK, but it was still a good price, even for a cheaper quality blade. He still didn't believe it wasn't KK, because it was yellow, just like KK!

So what can we expect at TSC? I'm hoping you guys will say it's even better than Farm and Family!!

Rich
"What a long strange trip it's been."

 

[RobS]

We've had both Quality and TSC in our area for years (several of each). I've always preferred Quality for the ease of shopping. TSC stores are about half the size and tend to be very congested. TSC is a bit more ag oriented with a little less "household" stuff. Prices generally comparable.

My wife and I just noticed the Big R store in Elkhart is closed. Not sure when that happened but it didn't make the headlines like Quality has. I guess I'll have to learn to like TSC /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Rich, I think you'll be pretty happy with TSC. I've sure bought a lot of stuff from them, from livestock feed and rabbit cages to power and hand tools, electrical stuff, plumbing stuff, etc. Only twice have I been disappointed. I had a switch go bad on a drill press and they gave me another switch, and I broke the welds on two of their box blades (they said it was my choice; replacement, get it welded and bring the receipt and they'd pay it, weld it myself and they'd pay a reasonable amount, or money back, so it's a little hard to complain).

 

[rdln]

(Had) three QFFs and three TSCs within 45 minutes from home the most convenient was QFF. But I would go to TSC for Chains, binders, welding eq., trailer parts. Each of these stores are the only ones in thier town plus a brand new TSC in the process of opening since before QFF's demise. This new one will be 1 mile off my commute path. Probably bringing the total to seven stores within 45 min in any direction/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif!

I dont think I will be dissapointed only going to TSCs unless they hike up get cocky and hike up the prices.

 

[Devildog]

RichZ, I have had to good luck to visit both, I preferred the Farm and Family because they just had more stuff/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobS, I wish I was lucky enough to live by my parents because they have Rural Kings which in my opinion none of the other stores hold a candle to.<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ruralking.com/cgi-bin/locations.cgi?SPD=5Tk87937500n8Ro> Rural King Locations</A> I always keep a good list for when traveling out to the parents house to do my shopping with/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
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Take care all, Jim

 

[cedarranch]

We have a TSC in Cullman Alabama. It is poorly managed. Bins are empty but inventory says 1000pcs in stock and they can't order with 1000 in stock! The help does not know up from down! But other than that - they are great! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[IndianaPaul]

Live in an area where I have 2-Big Blues, 4-Rural Kings and 2-TSCs (and had Quality Farm & Country) within 40 miles of me. Quality Farm was not of much use due to the workers. I frequent Rural King the most, with TSC and Big Blue getting the rest of my business.

TSC is not bad, but my experience varies widely from store to store with them. Have found that the quality of the manager largely determines the store quality with all of the above...and hence determines which stores get my repeat business.

Paul

 

[gws]

We have (had) several TSC and Quality availble to us. I found that store content varried quite a bit store by store. Quality was real bad with differances. TSC a little less so, but they did add the local needs.
Once TSC had lots of horse and small animal food, another larger animal/livestock food. The ones closer into the towns had more "horse" people stuff and I want to look country stuff. THe further you got away from town the Ag business took over.

My big concern with the quality/tsc buy out is competition. Quality and TSC alway had sales and would match prices. With no one to compete against, what will happen to prices.

 

[TresCrows]

I much prefer Atwoods, they carry the real KK and also have a much larger array of merchandize from pets and horses to wildlife to automotive to outdoor to clothing and of course farm/ranch/ tractor etc.
TSC carries Wallace which is a cheapo brand of implements. I have their rear blade I bought it for snow removal and very light grading to augment my box. It is OK for that but is nothing like the KK etc. Cutting blade is not replaceable, 7 guage sheetmetal blade cut with a torch, limited swivel. It serves my intended purpose but if I need a real blade I will have to go buy another.
J

 

[Mosey]

Jim and Paul - you both mentioned Rural Kings. I've never heard of them. I have been to Big Blue (there's one in Seymour, IN). Does Rural King sell 3pt implements, such as bush hogs?

 

[IndianaPaul]

Danny:

Yes, Rural King does sell 3ph implements. If you're in Seymour, closest Rural King would be Jasper. If you want an idea of what they stock, their website is: Ruralking.com. Variety does vary from store to store.

Paul

 

[Alan L.]

I get stuff at the TSC in Sherman, Texas pretty often. I like the store. They have a pretty good inventory of small tractor implements, but the personnel is pretty much ignorant of the products. Prices are good.

 

[PaulinSD]

We have a TSC here in Sioux Falls, cluttered and sales people are lack in knowledge of their items. Prices good, though. When we lived in Cadillac, Michigan, a really nice QFF, good people there, as in Traverse City, about 50 miles north.

Paul

 

[Bird]

Alan, I've got 3 TSC stores within 55 miles, and heard last week they're going to build another new one about 25 miles from here. The oldest store has some very knowledgeable personnel and the newest one has new folks who are still lost in there./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif The other one is kind of in between, but pretty good.

 

[jinman]

Bird, I've used the TSC stores in Decatur, Gainesville, and Denton. Denton is by far the best as far as stock. Decatur has so much business, they can't seem to keep anything in stock and in Gainesville, they are somewhere in between. I guess it's like Dairy Queens... just depends on the management./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

Jinman, I've used the ones in Waco, Waxahachie, and Corsicana, and now hear they're going to build one in Hillsboro. I guess the one in Waco is the oldest, best inventory, most knowledgeable employees, etc. Reckon the fact that their distribution warehouse is right behind the store has something to do with that?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Devildog]

Danny, The Rural King in Brazil is the only one I have been to but it by far beats out any other store. But I have never been to a Big Blue, Is there any close to Va?
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Take care all, Jim

 

[smilingreen]

Rich,
We have several TSC's around the area, and they are o.k. for general ag stuff. I think they are a little too proud of their implements and trailers. Prices are way out of line on their trailers! Quality of their hardware is average when you need to get by in a pinch, but they do not seem to keep stock on very many metric bolts or nuts. Store employees are basically worthless, as you ask them for grade 8 bolts and they direct you to the bolt isle. They don't know grade 8 from grade 2. They are just shelf stockers. I buy my overalls and gloves there, as you about can't beat the prices on work clothes.