Tractor Supply Company

dbarne20 · Jul 5, 2005

Sorry if this is a repeat post, I'm new to country living and have a nearby Tractor Supply Company store. Is this a reliable place to purchase a tractor or just a gimmicky store name to catch city folk like me with my pants down?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

thcri · Jul 5, 2005

What kind of tractor. From what I know they only sell garden tractors. As far as the company I think they are pretty good. Depending on what it is I would not have a problem buying from them.

murph

KentT · Jul 5, 2005

IMO, they're more a place to purchase tractor supplies, not the tractors themselves. They sell Cub Cadet lawn and garden tractors, plus their own branded version of MTD products. Their brand is called Huskee -- not to be confused with Husqvarna. Unless I'm mistaken, they sell nothing larger than garden tractors...

Their implements, attachments, parts and such seem to be OK quality, but not at the level of original equipment stuff nor the higher end aftermarket stuff...

It's not junk, it's not top of the line, and it's priced accordingly, and affordably...

My two cents...

Spiffy · Jul 5, 2005

I've found both the product variety and knowledge of products varies by slightly location, from another thread a while back perhaps greatly would be a better word.

TSC Thread

Around us, they're great for fencing supplies, mineral blocks, ect., but I've never seen anything heavier than low or maybe "mid-range" garden tractors there. They also have ignition kits and the like for "older" machines which I've occasionally found very convienient.

It always amazed me how one day I can speak to someone really helpful and a week later someone else with blank stares.

zekeman · Jul 5, 2005

My #1 store for fencing supplies, all else such as tack and vet supplies I have found better sources (Mail order or local auctions)
But in a pinch - I am glad to have one nearby

Ron

crown · Jul 5, 2005

Not really gimmicky just what it says tractor supplies, it is a decent place to get grease fluids, and some implements. But you will need to shop elsewhere to buy the tractor itself. Good Luck with your search. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

hobbyfarm · Jul 6, 2005

( It always amazed me how one day I can speak to someone really helpful and a week later someone else with blank stares. )

Ahhhhh, yes, the blank stares. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif We should have a smilie face for that very look /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif! A lot of times they know what they have in stock /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, but, no clue what to do with it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Cactus · Jul 6, 2005

I love tractor supply...there is a new one near my home set to open the end of July, it will be about 10 miles from my place. Tractor supply has about everything under one roof in the way of hardware/feeds/farm tools/ clothing/tractor parts ( pins,pto's decals batteries)just about anything related to farming. They have lots of pet foods/medicines. Farming magazines/horses/antique tractors.All of my friends that farm like tractor supply and are looking forward to the new one being opened in my area as well.
There is another tractor supply about 30 miles from where I live and about a month ago they let an antique power club set up there steam engines and bring there old tractors in on the parking lot on a Saturday and the customers coming in and out of the store were able to view the display. I thought it was rather nice.

Marine1 · Jul 6, 2005

dbarne,
First, let me welcome you to TBN. This is a great site with a wealth of information.
Second, If you fill out your profile we, as a group, can better assist you with your future questions.

Now for TSC. There are two TSC stores within a reasonable distance from me. The closest one gets most of my business because of location but I am not particularly fond of it. The further store I really like a lot and when I move to my bigger property they will most likely get all of my business.
The close store has a bunch of high school kids working in it and they don't seem to care about Customer Service or what they are selling. I actually ask the customers my questions because they have more familiarity with the products than most of the employees. Needless to say this store is closer into the city.

Nothing wrong with High school kids working, I did it too. Let's not go off on a tangent here. Just how this store is.

The further store is much better and is more in the Country setting. The employees know what they are talking about because they use the products at home. The people are also a lot freindlier.
Both stores have the same supplies and are stocked pretty well for Farm and Ranch. Ours here do not sell tractors just riding mowers. I have found their prices to be about average. High on some, Lower on others. Overall they are just another store with products for a specfic market.

OhioGuy · Jul 7, 2005

My experience has been similar to the other posts. Some good stores, not so good stores with respect to the help there.
Overall good products and good pricing though.

The local stores here sell a good selection of trailers, three point equipment. I bought a rotary cutter and box blade there and have been happy with them.

Good luck!
Curt

MFL · Jul 7, 2005

dbarne20,

Welcome. This is a great site for helping city guys keep their pants UP!. Lots of great info on just about anything "country".

As to TSC, we have two within driving distance, but I usually make the drive to Carrollton, Ga when I want to visit. I'm sorry to hear from others that their TSC's sometimes aren't staffed by very good people. The one in Carrollton though, is really top notch. Sure there are teenagers working there, but the 'senior' staff are almost all working farmers or people who have retired from farming. They are knowledgeable, friendly and have gone out of their way to help me or to resolve a problem for me. While the teenagers might not be as savvy as the older guys they are still as friendly and eager to help as the rest of the staff. Head and shoulders over the wall-eyed, rude bozo kids you find in your average mall store.

The store itself is a great resource for a wide variety of things needed for country living and at pretty good prices. I'll even admit that because of the great, friendly service I've gotten there, that I've paid a little more for some things just so I could throw my business to them. Good customer service is worth a lot to me!!

Not the store to buy the tractor (unless you find a good deal posted on the bulletin board), but a great store to help you maintain it and a lot of other things on your property.

Good luck on the tractor hunt and let us know how it comes out!

bikemiser · Jul 8, 2005

You can get a Chinese tractor at Rural King if you have one in your area.

Zork · Jul 8, 2005

Hi, now all TSC's are managed diffrently, but I love mine here in Va. I bought a plug type aerator and used it for a year and some of the tubes bent. I tried to purchase new tubes but that model had been discontinued. He offered me a refund or an exchange. I have had no problems with the C'ville group. I would recomend them to anyone. I try to get all my tractor and 3pt stuff from them: rough cut, finnish mower, oil, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tractorbetty · Jul 9, 2005

I agree with previous posts. If you need to buy in bulk, you may want to price shop the tractor supplies via Internet. Just be sure to calculate shipping into your per unit price b/c it may be just as cheap at TSC. It reminds me of Ace Hardware...they seem to have a little bit of alot of stuff and very convenient when you need something quick. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

buckeyefarmer · Jul 9, 2005

Not a bad store, but the ones around me (3 or 4 locally) carry king kutter mowers, but no parts for them. they will order, but I get them direct from king kutter faster ...
Bought a box blade from them once, got it home, noticed all the welds that hold the teeth on were all busted, fortunately, I had not taken it off the trailor so took it right back.
It all depends on the store management as to how good a store is.

LBrown59 · Aug 3, 2005

( Sorry if this is a repeat post, I'm new to country living and have a nearby Tractor Supply Company store. Is this a reliable place to purchase a tractor or just a gimmicky store name to catch city folk like me with my pants down?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )
==============
I'm not overly impressed an rate them just so so compared to the Farm and Fleet Store we had here.
Tractor Supply is in the building that The Farm and Fleet Store had occupied.
When TS moved into the building they partitioned off the left front Quarter. So that is all the display they have. the other three quarters of the building sets empty.

Farm and Fleet took up the whole building and had a much greater selection and variety as it was 4 times bigger than TS is.

Another thing about TS is the same 20 or 30 dollar tire from TS will cost more from them than it did at F& F.

You don't want to buy any serious tractor from a box store.

To20Chris · Aug 4, 2005

They're not perfect by any means, but I'm darned glad they've got stores nearby. I've got a King Kutter BB and an arena harrow I bought there, and I'm happy with both. Not too many other places near me that I could go & have things like that put on the truck. And when I break a PTO or 3ph hitch part on a weekend, well, they're all that stands between getting back in operation or bagging the job til next weekend. How can you not like a store that has PTO overrunning clutches on the shelf? Good selection of trailer parts too.

And I love buying bolts and hardware by the pound - same price for a given grade, nut, bolts, washers, size, whatever - just throw it in the bag. Sure beats counting out 11 cent washers at HD.

DK35vince · Aug 4, 2005

They are currently building a new TSC less than 2 miles from my house, due to open in mid Sept.
Can't wait !! I always had a 1 hour + drive to get to the nearest TSC.
Nearly all my attachments were purchased there.
6' brush mower, 6' finish mower, 6' rake', 7' Professional series rear blade, PHD w/6" and 12" augers, 5' tiller, 6' box blade, middle buster, and subsoiler.

RalphVa · Aug 5, 2005

I love TSC. Buy my tractor implement parts there but haven't bought actual implements from them yet.

Bought my air compressor, impact wrench, paint sprayer and electric fence stuff there. Think I may have gotten my sulky tires there, too (for the Gravely).

Bought my Slime there that I put in the JD front tires.

Bought my impact sockets down the street at the rubber supply company that has a little higher quality tools for hard service.

Ralph

LBrown59 · Aug 5, 2005

I'm not saying I hate TS; just that I liked Farm and Fleet better when it was here.

One thing that I really miss is when I bought tires for my MTD at F & F they installed them free in their tire repair shop.
If I pad $25 for a tire that's all it cost me.
A $25 tire from TS cost me $32 because I have to pay $7 to have it mounted at a service station cause TS don't install tires.
This Cost more & is more time consuming inconvenient and entails more running around than it did at F&F

**************
----------------------------------------------------------------------------