Tractor Supply is Coming

[Tractor Seabee]

We are getting a new TSC store in Port Orchard WA to serve the west side of Puget Sound. They open on May 22. From you long TSC time shoppers what are we in for?

I have not been impressed by their web site or their Blue Book catalog. Hope their in store stock is not representative of what the web and catalog indicate. They stuck their new store back in a strip mall commercial area. You cannot see their sign from the close main intersection. Their lack of visibility may cause their sales to lag behind. I have seen no advance advertisement. Even their web site does not have any thing about the new store or in its store search.

How competitive are their prices? They have had a Del's farm store in the area and their prices are 10-15% above the competition. They offer no discounts for anything. In this area Military discounts are very common so that makes the difference up to 25%. I have been buying at a NW CO-Op called Wilco for that reason. I told the Del's manager this as the reason I stopped buying there when Wilco opened. He stated his hands were tied by corporate management on discounts.

Ron

 

[farmall 55a case]

We have one in Boonville Indiana. Not impressed at all! They don't really sell much for around the farm. They are more like a glorified lawn and garden center. They seem to be a little more expensive on stuff too! I feel like there line of equipment is always changing. It will look the same but have a different name? But it is nice having them in town and I do buy dog food and such from them!

 

[k0ua]

They are good for some things. I like their nut and bolt selection. You buy in bulk, by the pound by grade. They have a fair selection of cable and chain, and associated hardware. They used to have good tractor paint... they don't any more. A good selection of agricultural sprayer items. They are not a total loss... but they have a lot of junk too.

 

[smstonypoint]

I agree that "they are more like a glorified lawn and garden center" with the addition of some hardware,fencing supplies, pet food, animal feeds, clothing, boots, and lubricants. Nothing to get too excited about, and the prices aren't that great IMO.

Steve

 

[Katahdin]

I tell my wife I'm "going to Tractor Supply for bolts" so often, that my wife is convinced I'm carrying on an affair an that is my cover story. Its the only place in town to buy grade 8 bolts by the pound. For me its handy store to have around, I'll visit there most weekends, and its my closest hardware store, I only live 2.5 miles away.

Most of the tractor implements they sell seem built for CUTs for 40hp and below. 6 foot wide bush hogs, tillers, and box blades are as big as they go.

Every now and then TSC has a sale and 10% off coupons, that's when I do my larger purchases. Once you are on their mailing list you'll get coupons and flyers in the mail.

Stuff I've bought there...bolts, air tool quick connects, air hose, paint, paint hardener, 6 foot scaffolding, tarter box blade, 3 point post hole digger, gates, mower blades, UTF and sae90 lubricants, diesel biocide, compressed sawdust bricks (firewood alternative), rubber matts, drill bits, mig welding wire, cross hydraulic valve handles, battery cables and terminals, tire slime and valves, wrenches I need in a pinch, etc.

I don't have any other farm stores nearby to compare, but I would only put them slightly more expensive then Harbor Freight as hardware stuff goes. Cheaper then Sears, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, and Lowes, etc. A lot cheaper then tractor dealer prices for implements, fluids, and supplies.

 

[KubotainNH]

It is nice to be able to buy bolts by the pound, that seems to be the biggest like here...lol. They have a decent amount of fasteners, springs, tools, pulleys, welding supplies, tires for trailers & 4 wheelers plus some tractor stuff. I get my hydraulic hoses and such there.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Liked Quality Farm and Fleet better before TSC took them over here. TSC is OK, but wish we had some competition in that market here, like Rural King or agrisupply.

 

[Red Horse]

IMO, just hope the longshoreman don't go on strike again. If they do their China supply chain is broken. Then again, I guess that applies to all retailers. Sad state of affairs

Only "values" I see is occasionally they have good pricing on Shell Rotella

 

[Dftodd]

Tsc is ok. Times three on the glorified lawn and garden center. They do have a good selection of tools, and have the most welding supplies. There "tractor" section is one isle:confused3: pay attention to the pins and such. Most of the employees fill a bin and don't pay attention to the size. Same with pto adapters and parts. Actually come to think of it, you have to pay attention period Customer service is terrible in the local one. Might as well not try to order a part for a mower on the weekend. And half the time they will just let you stand there and look foolish till you get mad and leave :thumbdown:

 

[dave1949]

Nuts and bolts by the pound, like everyone else. They have 3pt hardware, top links, pins, etc. Handy place to buy tire chain hardware like screw together links, etc.

Our local store has "chick days" in the spring. They sell chicks and ducklings. Animal feed in bags. Lots of pet supplies and food.

I buy some work clothes and boots there once in a while.

 

[jymbee]

I was looking for an edger tool-- flat blade on the end of a handle that you step on to cut sod-- and at TSC they had one. It was relatively thin metal attached to a wooden handle with a single bolt for 23 bucks. Figured I'd break it within 10 minutes. The one I was replacing only broke after many years of use. Stopped at local hardware store and they had one. Much stronger metal with a securely fastened sturdy fiberglass handle for 21 bucks.

Very minor example of course of but just one tool but it left a sour taste in my mouth.

 

[Creamer]

I only go there when Rural King doesn't have it. I find their quality is at the bottom and the prices are higher. The only thing they have a better selection on is hydraulic components.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

TSC came to our little town about 2 years ago. While some say it's just a this-or-that store ... for a small community it was a nice addition. I've been able to find a lot of things at our TSC without having to drive 50 miles.

 

[ultrarunner]

About 50 to 70 miles any direction unless I want to pay bridge toll and then it's 45 miles.

I live in an area with 9 million people and tractor supplies are hard to come by...

My brother handled the build to suit for the Tractor Supply that is 70 miles from me... told him to ask about one closer and there was laughter... at least I tried.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Thanks guys for the info. You all confirm the impression I got from their catalog and web site. Our WILCO Co-OP is a True Value hdw store also and they have bolts by the pound. WILCO gives me a 10% military discount also. Automotive stuff and lubricants I go to NAPA as they give me their fleet discount which is a high as 45% on some items. Looks like I will probably stay with WILCO and my other sources; even Lowes and HD with their military discount.

Ron

 

[Jisgren]

I much prefer the mom and pop hardware stores that carry everything. TSC is th K-mart of the ag-hardware store. For chain stores around me Mccoys is far better!

My true test of a mom and pop store is if they carry axe and hatchet handles.

 

[s219]

Main benefit to me is that they are the closest hardware store to me, and they carry a range of agricultural/tractor/trailer stuff that I can't get at the other hardware stores. Prices range from OK to high, but their sale prices are usually good. I like getting fence posts and bolts there. Wife likes getting bird seed there. My daughter loves the toy section. For a small town, I'm glad to have them around.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, they have baby chickens every spring..... now who doesn't like baby chickens? :laughing:

 

[bdog]

I think tractor supply is full of Chinese crap. There is one about five miles from me. Probably the closest store of any type to my place so I go there often when I need something in a hurry that they carry. There is a local farm type store about 15 miles from me that has virtually everything TSC does but it is all better quality and about the same price.

Like others said I like going there for bolts, pins, stuff like that but most everything else they sell is made in China as cheaply as possible.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I have no vested interest in TSC, so I'm really not compelled to get into a defensive position for them. However ..... especially for those living in small communities with a TSC store - they came to your town when most others did not. They provide local jobs and pay local taxes. They provide a wide variety of useful items, even if they aren't the very best. If I need "something" TODAY - they probably have it.

Would I like to see the Mega-Farm-Tools-Tractors-Toys Store come to town? You bet! Guess what ... They aren't coming .....